May 4, 2010, 8:34 PM

Wow.  So now you get three letters

Its interesting. A while ago, I remember that Ben wrote me a Dear Elder asking me how I know that the church is true. I lost the Dear Elder and forgot to write him about it. But as I've pondered that question recently, I've come to the realization of something. I never prayed about the church. I didnt have to. The key to my testimony lies on three things: Jesus Christ, The Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith. Those three things I know of a surety are true. I know that Jesus Christ is our Savior. I know that He loves us. I know that his sacrifice for us was so perfect and so flawless that we can all repent of our sins and return to live with Him and God again. As such, the Book of Mormon (whose purpose is to testify of Christ) is true. I know that without a doubt. I LOVE the Book of Mormon. I have since I was a kid --thanks to a dozen or so well-made cartoons depicting some of the best stories therein. haha. But those movies led me to read the Book itself and I never even had to ask if it was true. As I read it as a kid, the feeling that I had was the same feeling that I would have gotten as if I had finished it and asked in prayer. Because I know that I had a prayer in my heart all the while wanting to know if it was true. And the feelings that I had while reading it--the same feelings that I know are were an answer to that prayer in my heart--testify to me of the divinity and truthfulness of that book. As such, having a testimony of the Book of Mormon and knowing of its truthfulness gives me the most rock solid testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith. What a hero! He's my hero. He has been for a long time. I have had experiences in my life that most people may never get that have culminated into the testimony of the Prophet Joseph that cannot be shaken...ever. You cannot tell me anything that will decrease my knowledge that that man knelt as a 14 year old boy, prayed and saw God the Father and His son Jesus Christ. You cannot tell me anything to deter me from the knowledge that he unearthed a record of such perfection which he translated by the Gift of Power of God. And as a final note--if Jesus Christ is our Savior, the Book of Mormon His book, and Joseph His prophet; then who is to tell ME that this church isn't true, that Thomas S. Monson isn't a prophet, that the Priesthood isn't on the earth, that I'm "wasting my time" when everything that I believe points back to those three keys of my faith that I KNOW are true. That is MY testimony.

Wow. So I'm gonna step off my soapbox now. Its been a long past three days. We've dropped three investigators. Its the first time I have had to do so. So thats tough. We just kinda went in there, told them we're there to answer any final questions and then bore our testimony. I dont think my companion understands the power of a testimony. I know he has one but its kind of like when he testifies that he just kinda bakes a pan of brownies, tosses it on the table and says, "Hey, I made some brownies.". Its tough, because I put everything into it when I testify to people. And I think that a little more effort on his part would give that extra push. Its the testimony of TWO witnesses that has the strength to convert--not 1 and 1/2. Hopefully this week is better. Its gotta be becuase he told me he doesnt want to work too much on the last week of the transfer. He thinks he's getting transferred so its no skin off his back. But I'm like, what about me? I'm still gonna be here!!! Do you know what a week of no work would do to our teaching pool? Its small enough already!!!

So I think that I'm going to call you early Sunday morning MY TIME. Which should be early Saturday afternoon I think. I'm gonna call you on a cell phone with a calling card.

Alright. I'm gonna send this off so you can know when I'm going to call. Also, I'm going to withdraw $100 if thats alright. I'm not supposed to use my support to by things for me. Only food and transportation. And I need a new towel, new t shirts because our clothes washer accidentally bleached holes through all my clothes and I need to by some calling cards to call you on Sunday morning for me which should be Saturday afternoon for you again. Just be home Saturday. And can Tyelar and Daniel be there? I want to have some mission talk for a little bit....if thats okay with you.

Alright sending..........now.

Love you.

Brandon