Popped Tires ;) literally maybe

- March 29, 2021

We have a friend that has plans to get baptized next Sunday. Jairo came to the institute today and was really outgoing. We were busy with the tires so we got there late. He made friends with everyone, and a couple different people came up and told us that he was golden.

On Sunday he came to Elder's Quorum and near the end of a somewhat dry lesson he piped up and said that he had something that he'd like to share. He came to the front and asked each person the reason for why they come to church. He summarized it all and talked a bit. In the end he made us all really excited to be a brotherhood of individuality in christ. This is the first time he's come to church in person and he's already so willing to give.

We have another friend of ours that was planning on being baptized next week, that decided that he wanted a break from us ;(. He believes that God has all power and exists, but he doesn't believe that God can save him. He's so disheartened by that that he doesn't even want to get out of bed. There was nothing we could say to change his mind or help him to understand grace:(. We'll come back in a couple weeks, but for now we'll let him experience the consequences for his choices so that he will have a testimony that sadness comes from wallowing in the "I can't"s. It hurts my heart to see that he's no longer willing to try the things that will give him joy.

Miracle! We found a wide open parking lot when we were looking for some parking. When I got out of the car, I heard some hissing… the right tires had been popped by some tire spikes! Apparently the entrance to the parking lot was spiked even though there was no sign that showed it! Weird. We called some other elders that had a Malibu and they let us borrow their spare tire. It was epic 🤣 We're calling it a miracle because nstead of popping 4 tires we only popped two.

Testimony is experiences that lead you to believe certain things

Conversion is being true to what you believe

Thus we are always building our testimony of something. We are also building our testimony of something when we lack it in our lives.

We can build our testimony that baked bread is tasty by eating it.

But we can also build our testimony that baked bread is better than dirt by eating some dirt. The contrast builds our testimony of baked bread.

It is all too often that we talk to less-active members who are convinced that they "don't have a testimony", but after this basic understanding of what is a testimony, and a couple follow up questions, they realize that they do in fact have a testimony that being a disciple of Jesus Christ helped them to have greater joy.

I have seen that it is a question in the hearts of many if Christ can save us. Will He save you from your sorrow, your fear, your physical weakness? Behold I will testify unto you of myself that I know that He is our savior. I invite you to experiment on the word of Christ see for yourself exactly what He can do for you.

Another friend of ours told me of her great desire to overcome her addiction. One day, she relapsed but in the middle of the relapse she wanted to stop but didn't know how to because of how intense the craving was. She felt unworthy to ask for help from God, but she knelt down anyways and humbly expressed the desires of her heart and asked for the craving to be taken from her. It wasn't taken way immediately, but she had a distinct impression to do a simple task. Despite the simplicity of the task, she did it. Immediately after, the craving was completely gone. It was not force of will, but it was a miracle given to an undeserving recepient.

Her testimony teaches the infinite love of God, and teaches that Christ can be our savior in every situation that we allow Him to be. Are we humble enough to do the simple things He asks us?