Stan's the Man!

Dear family and friends!

This week has been a pretty rough one for me, but I've pushed through it and it's finally over! I don't have a lot to write about, but I'll talk about a few experiences I've been able to have this week. There's a man we're teaching named Stan. He's a member, but when we first went over he told us straight up, "I've been thinking a lot about this and I think I want my records removed from the church." He proceeded to tell us about all sorts of problems he has and biggest one was that he doesn't feel like he really feels the Spirit anymore. This is a guy who was baptized about twelve years ago and has served two missions for the church in communist China teaching English. He's read through all of the Standard Works.  He's just been having a bit of a hard time recently. He told us he hasn't opened his scriptures in several years. We went over on Wednesday.  He got us some lunch, and we taught him a little bit. We left him with an assignment to read 3 Nephi 11 and went on our way. Later that evening we got a text from Stan that read, "The goosebumps are back! Thanks Elders!" It was incredible how simple it was for him to feel the Spirit again! All he had to do is open up his scriptures and start reading again.

Saturday we went over to Stan's again and read through 3 Nephi 11 with him. I've been having a hard time sleeping and haven't really been eating this week. I just haven't been feeling like myself recently. Anyway, when we read through that chapter I was able to help clarify some things for him and testify of the truthfulness of the things that we were reading and teaching and learning together. Later I felt prompted to have him read Alma 32 as his reading assignment because he had been having struggles with his faith. He asked me if I could read one of my favorite verses out of that chapter and expound on it. The things I said and read brought me such an overwhelming feeling of peace that I could hardly believe it. Literally, all week I have felt absolutely horrible and then at that moment I received comfort. I don't know what comforted me because there are still things that I am worrying about, but I'm not anxious or stressed over them. Later that night we got another text from Stan with a scripture reference and a thank you. He had read almost fifteen chapters more than I had assigned him! Haha! That guy is on fire! 

I'm so grateful that I was able to be comforted when I needed it the most. The love of our Father is incomparable. "The tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom he hath chosen, because of their faith, to make them mighty even unto the power of deliverance." (1 Nephi 1:20) As my faith and feelings of humility have grown, I have been learning to pray with more conviction and earnestness than I ever thought possible.  I have been able to act as an instrument in the hands of the Lord.  I have gained such an immense testimony of the enabling power of the Atonement. My patience has been tried more than I think it ever has before in my life, but I've been able to experience what Elder Bednar spoke about a year ago in the April 2014 general conference. As my burden and my load has increased, I've gained the traction I've needed to progress! Our Heavenly Father loves us and will put us through what may seem to be impossible or unwanted trials, but He truly knows best!

Love,

Elder Mullins