"And it came to pass..."

Our mission president likes for us to have our own "and it came to pass story" (a popular phrase found in the Book of Mormon." Here are a few of mine.

And it came to pass... that we were able to use online proselyting in a miraculous way! I had a thought to message an old friend from high school when I saw that he posted something on Facebook. Memories flooded back of how he had approached me and asked if he could come to church with me. I told him the address of our local church building. I was so excited to have a non-member friend accompany me to church. He came to church once and that was the end of our religious affiliation. I didn't know how to be a great member missionary. I had the desires to share the gospel but I didn't have the knowledge or guidance of how to do it. Now with the guidance I have received as a full-time missionary, I was able to take steps towards inviting him to partake of the wonderful fruits this gospel brings. When I saw his post a week ago, I messaged him to see how he was doing. I found out he is currently going to college in the Philippines. I told him I had a lot of missionary friends serving in the there. I asked him with love and boldness if I could send missionaries to come visit him. He gracefully accepted and I referred him online using Mormon.org. I hope they will take this opportunity with love and responsibility, like we try to do with the media referrals we've been blessed with in our areas.

And it came to pass... that I saw yet another miracle using Facebook! I messaged a non-member friend who I hadn't talked to awhile. I told her purpose as a missionary using Facebook and she thought it was so neat and abruptly said, "You'll be pleased to know I am getting baptized on Feb. 8!" I was overcome with the Spirit as I read of her choice to be baptized. We were able to have a few lessons online where she bore testimony to me of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon. I felt inspired to mail her my testimony and I now await a letter from her describing the feelings she had at her baptism. I know that I was not necessarily a part of her choice to be baptized, but I am so humbled and grateful for the opportunity to strengthen her as a new and important member of this church. She messaged me after her baptism and asked me how I decided to serve a mission. I'm so grateful that she has the ability and resource, through Facebook, to ask me questions that will strengthen her testimony. It has truly been a miracle and motivated me to be more productive with my use of Facebook time.

One more... And it came to pass... that my companion and I put fear on the sacrificial altar. After much prayer and following the guidance and prompting of the Spirit, we tried to creatively find new investigators. We went downtown to contact people outside of the Durham Performing Arts Center after the Book of Mormon musical. We highlighted and tabbed copies of the Book of Mormon with "questions of the soul" (an idea given to us by other missionaries). We had high hopes to lead these people to the true source. We read the quote from the leaders of the church about how the play may attempt to entertain for an evening, the Book of Mormon as scriptural literature has the power to change lives by bringing people closer to Jesus Christ. That encouraged us and motivated us to follow the promptings we received. We had a few very meaningful contacts. We were able to give out a few copies of the Book of Mormon and share our testimony of its truthfulness. One man even asked my companion and I what our favorite verses were and marked them down. We felt so amazed by the promise being fulfilled that the Lord truly would fill our mouths with what to say. He did not leave us. He did not let the "wise" confound us. I have such a strong testimony that we as missionaries can truly be led by the Spirit. After we were finished, my companion said it reminded her of the courage Samuel the Lamanite or Abindai had. We were truly instruments in the hands of the Lord. Alma 26:12 "As to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God."


Thanks for your patient in reading this.
With love,
Sister Ray