President's Devotional Fireside

We had our bi-monthly Devotional Fireside at the Historic Liberty Jail tonight.  The first Sunday of the month, we meet at the Visitor's Center and the third week we meet here at the Historic Liberty Jail.  Recent converts bear their testimonies and Sister & President Keyes speak to us.

        Here is a random picture of some of the people attending.  Most of these are the Sisters serving in the mission.  Sister Keyes is the sweet lady in pink.  President Keyes is talking in the background.  They have only 6 weeks left before Mission Presidents change.  They have and are still doing an incredibly wonderful job for all of us here.

        This is Barbara.  She joined the church one year ago.  She went to visit a quilting friend in Oklahoma who just happened to be Mormon.  So, she attended church with her.  That was all it took.  She felt like she was, "coming home."  Her friend told her to contact the missionaries when she returned home.  But, she was too shy and uncertain.  Then, when Sister Erickson and her companion passed by her home, she couldn't get them into her home fast enough.  She just wanted to know more and more.  She is still learning as much as she can, while she serves as her Ward Missionary, Visiting Teacher Supervisor, and does lots of Indexing.  She is getting ready to go to the Temple for her Endowments.  The Gospel has given her so much to live for and enjoy.

        This is Jessica with her three daughters.  Her mother was born into the church but not active.  Jessica began searching for a church where she could bring up her daughters in good religious beliefs.  Then, the missionaries came to her mother's home to teach her again the doctrines of the church.  Jessica wasn't really interested, but as her daughters began to ask questions about Jesus, she began to listen.  Her mother is now active and Jessica was baptized a month ago.  She says, "it is where I belong."  The most important thing to her is to teach her daughters the right pathway back to their Heavenly Father.

        These three young men weren't bearing testimony.  They are here for the summer working for Vivint, installing alarm systems.  But, Elder Haines on the left, was a missionary who served here under President Keyes a year ago.  It was great to see him back.  He attended the Riverview Ward where we attend.  It was the last area he served in.  All three of them are returned missionaries.  Three of our own sons worked for Vivint also.




        We ended with a powerful Testimony from President Keyes.  He talked about testimonies and said many important things about their power to affect others and ourselves.  He mentioned a story of when he served in this same mission 40 or so years ago.  He and his companion entered the home of a scripturally well read man.  The man listened politely and then said, "I have studied extensively and have come to the conclusion that if the church was restored again to the earth, it would have to have these points."  He proceeded to list and tell each point the church would have to have to be TRUE. At each point, Elder Keyes and his companion said, "yes, our church has that."  Finally, he said, "it has to also have direct Priesthood Authority from Jesus Christ himself."  At that point, Elder Keyes's companion, pulled out his Line Of Authority paper and showed him his direct line to Jesus Christ.  The man was astounded.  He joined.  It was a wonderful testimony of how TRUE the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is.  It is absolutely the Church  that Jesus Christ came personally to the earth to restore.  It is His Church!  I know this as sure as I live.  I'm blessed to be a member.