WEEK 59 - IT'S ALL TRUE

Hey everyone, it's just me again, Elder Z.S.Weber. Another tiresome week has come to an end, and so here I am with the news for the week. To be roughly honest, this week was perhaps both my hardest and most draining week yet. Another apostle died this week, Elder Richard G. Scott, someone I had not been anticipating dying for another while. President Packer back in July had almost been expected, but not Elder Scott. Then, later on in the week, we found out we were going to have to drop Sophia because of problems with her family situation. She was going to move in with her birth father, and wasn't going to be in our area often enough for us to teach her, so our teaching days with Sophia are over. So, yeah, it's been a very tiring and laborious week.

Elder Weber and his district during a visit from the Mission President

That being said, I feel it's important to point out that the tender mercies of the Lord are all around us, to lift us up when our hands hang low and our knees are feeble. For me, I think it came in several different short spurts over the week. Monday evening, we gathered together as a Zone for Zone Dinner, and it was nice talking with old friends and familiar faces. On Tuesday, we were doing service at EFAA again, and enjoying our time together—me, Elder Hale, Elder Olson, and Elder Mortensen—was fairly relaxing and worth while. Even Wednesday had some peace to it, as we were able yo do some work at Josephine Commons, the retirement center, in the kitchen. Spending the time serving the elderly was a great way to get our minds off of the troubles of our area, and just lose ourselves in service.

However, the best recuperation time came on Thursday. There were really just small things that happened throughout the day that lifted our spirits—a member asked to pay for our lunch at Taco Bell, we got letters from home, I got a couple packages from my mom and dad. 

Dad sent Zack a little something to help him blow off some steam.

However, there was one much greater moment that really helped push through the clouds of depression that had been hovering over me these past few weeks. We met up at the Broomfield building for District Meeting again. Because last week had been more of a rushed event, we spent the first half of the meeting getting to know each other better. It was a real nice way to kick back and unwind before we all got serious about the work and the meeting.

The meeting was on the First Vision. To begin the meeting, we recited the words Joseph Smith wrote on his vision—"I saw a pillar of light, above the brightness of the sun, which descended slowly until it fell upon me...when the light rested upon me, I saw two personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name, and said, pointing to the other, This is my beloved Son. Hear Him." Even now, when I read that text, I feel cool goosebumps travel down my spine and leave me all tingly. After we finished reciting the passage if scripture, we then went around in a circle and stated what truth revealed through the First Vision we felt was most important for us.

Now, I could go on and say what everyone said, but I don't think that's what's important. You can take whatever you see fit to take from the First Vision, and as long as it is a true gospel principle, it'll have value and importance to you. But what I find important to talk about now is the simple fact that had this moment in church history not happened, then this Church is not the true Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. If God the Father and the Savior Jesus Christ did not appear to the boy Joseph all those years ago, then he was not a prophet, did not receive the gold plates, and created a false religion that has been able to trick millions of people for almost two-hundred years. That's why the message I have to tell you all now is a very simple three-word sermon.

It's all true.

Every revelation this church has ever brought out, every blessing and proclamation to its people and its world's people. Indeed, every word that has proceeded out if the mouth of a prophet of the One True God has been, and ever will be, true revelation from God. Because Joseph Smith truly did speak to God the Father and the Savior Jesus Christ in the Sacred Grove. Because Joseph Smith truly did find the lost record of gold plates in the Hill Cumorah. Because Joseph Smith truly did translate them through the power of God, and was the man through which the gospel in its fullness was restored. Because he did all of that, I know without any doubt in my mind that this church, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints truly is the restored church, the only completely true church in the entire world.

There are those that may see differently than me, and while I applaud you for your devotion to a God—any god—I can't help but feel you are missing out on something much grander that you can't even yet comprehend! There's so much more out there than what you yet know. Please, if you'll only take the time to test the words I speak, the words our prophets speak, I can promise you that you will see what I mean. For those who are willing to take this test, may I offer a challenge. This coming weekend, on Saturday and Sunday, is the General Conference for the Church if Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The sessions are 10am-12pm and 2pm-4pm (Mountain Standard Time) on both days. You can find where to watch it online through BYU tv or LDS.org. My challenge is simple.

Watch it. Listen. Hear the words the prophets declare. Listen with an open mind, an open heart. I promise you, the truth will be revealed unto you, if you only let it in. I can promise you this, both as your friend, your spirit brother, and as a representative of the Lord Jesus Christ, in whose hallowed name I praise. Amen.

—Elder Z.S.Weber