Week 60

추석(Holiday Conference) I think that it is just what we all needed. It was a huge spiritual experience for us all! It surely was for me. Probably the most spiritually experiences I have had! Really! I was preparing for the conference! Right as soon as I got the transfer training plan I had been doing everything I could to ponder and study exactly according to the transfer training plan. I had been praying to have a spiritual witness.

The Spirit throughout the conference was strong. Starting with the "Sacred Grove". We went out in the wood as a group, and Sister Taylor had me share Joseph Smiths's First vision experience. I felt the Spirit so strong, and I found myself teaching it differently than I had ever had before. It was almost like God was telling me what I needed to hear through my own mouth. It sounds a little weird, but I could hear God voice there.

 And, then once it got towards the end of the day they showed us a video they made of the missionaries. That video really hit me, because there were so many stellar missionaries that I had worked with and had touched my heart, but have finished their missions and are now home. After that we got to hear from 6 great missionaries whom I have looked up to since the beginning of my mission, all of which are going home in the coming weeks. Three of their talks felt as though they were directed toward me, but that could have just been the Spirit talking to my heart. The Spirit really was so palpable there. I was feeling so loved, warm, and constantly having the Spirit confirming truths to me, that it my eyes started watering. 

Once they ended their testimonies, they had Brother Brower say the closing prayer. He was so sincere, and earnest in his prayer for the missionaries, I don't even remember, exact what he said, but it was all for the missionaries.  When the prayer ended, I still felt the comfort of the love of God wrapped around me by the Spirit. The other missionaries started getting up. You know me. Of course I was smiling the whole time, I could not help it from the joy I could feel. And, even though tears kept coming down, I found my self laughing, almost giddy. It was a beautiful experience. After about 2 mins I finally got up. 

I know that God is with us in this mighty work! I know that God wants to talk with us, it is up to us to a line our will with His and do what we can to follow his words. His commands can be whispered to us personally by the Spirit. The word of God is the word of God!

 I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet, the prophet to open up the last dispensation, the fullness of times. I know that God works through his servant to touch the hearts of man. I know that through the Spirit we have access to all of the God's spiritual blessings, revelations, testimony, and access to the healing power of the atonement. That is why we NEED the Spirit as our constant companion! And that is why it is the first gift promised to us in covenant, because it is essentially for our salvation. The greatest witness we can have from the Spirit is of the divine mission of Jesus Christ.

This is the work of the Lord. And, I will do all I can to make sure that his children in 강원도, get the chance to hear the word of God like he has done for me, many before. God is the same then, now, and forever! 

Dearest love from Elder Alger!