Elder Braden Miles, Washington DC South Mission: September 22, 2014

Elder Miles and the other Elders from his apartment

I am really sorry that I didn't send any emails last week! Last Monday we went to DC. The first stop we made was at the Holocaust Museum. It was a pretty solemn place, but I wanted to see it at least once. After that we were planning on seeing the aquarium. We walked all the way over there to find out that it doesn't exist anymore. For my whole mission, up to this point, the Washington Monument had been covered in scaffolding and was fenced off, but it has recently been reopened to the public. We knew that you could go up to the top and get a great view of DC, but you needed to reserve tickets in advance. We started heading towards the monument just to get a close up view and as we were heading over there someone called out "Elders!" The guy ran over and told us he was from Springville. He had printed out 4 extra tickets because he figured someone might need them and he gave them to us! The problem was that the

Elder Miles in the Washington Monument

time he reserved didn't give us enough time to get back and email before preparation day was over. After waiting for over an hour it was our turn to go to the top. There was a big elevator in the middle of the monument that took us all the way to the top. At the top of the Washington Monument there were tiny windows on each side to look out over DC. It was a great view and a really awesome experience. Sadly it gave me no time to email when we got back... So sorry about that!

The Washington Monument

Last week we had an amazing lesson with one of our investigators. One of our zone leaders came on exchange with me to the lesson. The investigator’s name is Jimmy and he was taught by the missionaries over a year ago. He has family members that are part of the church. In previous lessons, he had brought up several concerns when we would invite him to be baptized. He has been dealing with a lot in his life and as we were walking up to the door for the lesson the spirit told me that we needed to share Mosiah 18:8-10 with him. I’m not sure why I hadn't thought about it before because that scripture applies directly to his situation. Towards the end of the lesson, we started teaching him about the feelings of the Holy Ghost. One of his concerns was that he hadn't received an answer to his prayers yet. We read in D&C 9:7-8 about the "burning in the bosom" feeling. Then I had him read Mosiah 18:8-10 out loud.

As he read, the spirit began to fill the room. He began to read very slowly and intently. Then he reread the scriptures to himself. The feeling in the room was unmistakable and I was feeling the spirit so strong! After he finished reading, we just sat there in silence and the spirit continued to burn within me. He was obviously feeling it too and sat there to think for a moment. I wanted to speak, but the spirit constrained me from saying anything. He finally broke the silence by telling us he was feeling very strange, so we asked him to describe how he felt. Jimmy told us he felt like he was on fire and there was a big weight/pressure inside of him. He also said he felt very peaceful and calm. We testified of that being the spirit confirming the truth of what we were teaching him. At that point the spirit was the strongest I have ever felt it! Right at the strongest point of the spirit, we invited him to be baptized. I had no doubt in my mind, as I extended the invitation, that he would accept it. He said yes to the invite and kept talking about how crazy he felt.

We are currently working with him to choose a date to be baptized. As I reflect on that experience there are several things that stick out to me. First is the power of the spirit. We didn't do much in that lesson besides have him read some scriptures, testify, and invite him to be baptized. The spirit is what converts people. Even though he had concerns and questions, the witness of the spirit was all he needed. The same is true for us as well. Even though doubts or questions might arise in our lives, the testimony that we have gained from the spirit is enough. The spirit led us to what we should say and what scriptures to share with him in order to bring the spirit into the lesson. Second, is the power of the Book of Mormon in conversion. The scripture we shared was exactly what he needed to hear. Third, the church is true! That lesson also strengthened and renewed my own testimony of the Gospel and this church.

We had Stake Conference yesterday and a "Why I Believe" fireside. The speakers at the fireside were a couple from Maryland who used to be ministers in other churches. They each had a congregation that they led. They shared their conversion stories and it was awesome. They talked about how even though they were preaching to others they still felt "hungry" and that they were missing something still in their lives. They eventually found the church through some members and after several months of meeting with the missionaries they were baptized. Each of them gave up their careers to join the church! Both of them were very good at public speaking. It was a great fireside.

Love,
Elder Braden Miles