September 13, 2021 "The Book Of Mormon Is From Satan"

 Well, I promise I'll do a better job this week of emailing. First off, I want to say that I hope everyone had an AMAZING 9/11th and that you were able to do something with your families. Second of all, this week was crazier (at least a little crazier than normal).

Some worthy side notes of the week:

We had exchanges and zone conference! 

We had two lessons this week that were very similar. In the first one, we went over to a house of woman that we had just BARELY started teaching. It was humid enough to fill a bathtub and she wanted to sit outside, so we sat on her doorstep. I positioned myself carefully to allow for maximum air flow, though I could already feel condensed water dribbling down my back.

"Hey Carolyn! How are you doing?" I asked. 

"I'm doing really well!" She responded, leaning back in her camp chair. The sun shone brightly and the air smelled like grass so you could tell that we were in Nebraska.

"I went to goodwill this week and I found this book I want you to read." She continued, holding up a worn hardcover with curly red letters. 

"God is... my CEO?" Sister Pace asked as she read the title.

"Yes. I just saw this at goodwill and I flipped through the covers. Here look, the author says he's Christian." Carolyn said, flipping to the last page.

"Wow, that's always nice." I replied. Carolyn nodded.

"I just have this feeling that it's from God." She said, handing it to me. I flipped through a couple of the pages. 

"Hmmm... Looks good." I concluded. 

"This would be a good book to read with the Bible. You know, to switch back and forth? I just looked at it quickly but I know this is from God. You know how you can do that? You just read it and then pray about it." She explained. "I love doing that with all sorts of religious books."

"That's so awesome. I love to do that too." Sister Pace said. "Speaking of religious books, have you heard of the book of mormon?" Carolyn's face darkened like a storm cloud. It actually scared me.

"Yes." She said, "but no." 

 "Oh, well it's another testament of Jesus Christ, just like the Bible!" I announced, beginning to share my testimony.

"That book is from Satan." Carolyn announced. I blinked. Just so you know, proving the Book of Mormon is true is my JAM. I have so much evidence for this. But nothing really works if people aren't willing to listen. 

"Oh, have you read it?" Sister Pace asked. Carolyn shook her head.

"God told me not to read it." She declared. I spoke up again.

"Well, we believe that we can read the Book of Mormon and pray to know for ourselves, just like what you were talking about with the Book 'God Is My CEO.' And that's awesome, becuase we believe that we have this additional witness that helps add to our knowledge-" I was cut off.

"Look honey, I know you're young and you were indoctrinated probably at birth, but I'm not going to read that book." She declared. "Also, if it was God's word, everyone would know about it."

"Carolyn, we have been sent to tell everyone about this message. And I was raised with this book but that doesn't mean that I haven't asked and learned for myself. This book testifies of Christ. There's a scripture in the Book of Mormon that says: we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we talk of Christ-"

"I'm going to be honest with you girls. I'm comfortable with what I have and I don't want to know more." She interrupted. And though we tried to help her understand a little bit more, than was pretty much the end of our conversation.

We had another lesson with another man who refused to read the Book of Mormon this week.

And honestly, I have met so many people who love our message and who we are, but they hate Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon and are not willing to read and pray for themselves.

But I testify that every humble and earnest heart who seeks an answer and is willing to work for that answer and act on the knowledge that they receive WILL come to know by the power of the Holy Ghost. Their sincere desire will be answered and they will feel more peace and joy come into their lives than they thought possible before. 

If you don't know that the Book of Mormon is true, pay the price to find out for yourself. I promise you that it's worth it. 

With all my love and with faith that no matter where you are our Savior Jesus Christ loves you and wants to help you grow,

Sister Brice

P.S. some highlights of the week include:

- a less active man in the ward told us he wouldn't pray with us until we apologized to his ex wife for sending her scripture verses

- together my comp and I were asked on 3 dates this week 

- a man proposed to me

- A fireman showed us his gear

- a woman cancelled a lesson and straight out told us it was because she was playing video games