Devotional at Liberty Jail

        This is outside the Historic Liberty Jail where Joseph Smith spent the hard cold winter months and yet received the revelations in the D&C.  Inside they take tours and tell his heroic story.  But, on the third Sunday, President Vest & his wife (above) listen to new members of the church bear their testimonies of the gospel and their baptisms.  They then, conclude with their witness of God the Father, His son, Jesus Christ, the prophet Joseph Smith, the truth of the Book of Mormon, and their love for all.

        This week, we heard from Carlos.  He is between two of the missionaries who taught him, Elder Javeloza and Elder Tillett.  Carlos was only here for the summer and goes home in a week.  When he met the missionaries, he prayed, "Please God, tell me, I want to know truth."  He felt the answer that he had to continue and study.  He read, studies, went to church, and later received his answer.  When he was baptized, he felt clean.  And every day he feels cleaner and cleaner.  He is now going back to his country excited and eager to tell his family and friends about what he has learned.  He also said, "It is no accident I came here for summer."  "I'm a Latter Day Saint Kid!"

        This is Katie Chapman with her two children and her mother.  Katie met a girl online who became her friend.  One day her friend told her she was LDS.  Katie said, "What is that?"  Latter Day Saint.  "What is that?"  Finally, she found out she was a Mormon.  Her friend came to Missouri and took Katie through the sites and VCs.  Then, she sent the Missionaries to Katie's home.  Katie's son was wearing his BYU sweatshirt (which her friend had also sent him.)  So, Katie began to learn.  She read the Book of Mormon which gave her, "...insights to things I did not know."  This is Elder Tillet, Sister Ray, Sister Allan, and Sister Wood.  Several missionaries helped to teach Katie.

        This is Martino Brown.  He was dissatisfied with his religion.  He studied several, looking for the spirit of the Lord and a comforting feeling.  He studied Islam, then Hinduism.  But, when he entered the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints he had a feeling he could not explain.  He was crying all the time.  He was emotional, but in a quiet sincere way;  Nothing he had ever experienced.  He knows the church and the gospel are true.

        This is a new senior couple, the McCuistons, who have come from Virginia to work with us in the Family History Record Preservation area.  We just met them last night.  Their story was:  He was a member of the church, but not active, unless visiting his extended family who were active.  She was a Southern Baptist.  They were married while he was in the service and later moved to Virginia.  She of course attended her church there, but didn't find it quite to her liking.  So, she said to him, "What about your church?"  He said he would check to see if they could find someone.  But, sooner than they knew, two young men knocked on their door.  These young men were about to go home, but decided just one more door.  They had been tracting in a somewhat hostile neighborhood.  So, when she opened the door and said, "Where have you been, I've been waiting for you!"  they fell backward in astonishment.  As they taught her, her Pastor brought other members and came to their home to save them from the missionaries.  They were also invited in.  At each comment, the conversation became more heated until, one of the missionaries closed his book and said, "I'm so sorry, we have lost the spirit, could we come again and teach you.?"  It was then that the husband said to the Pastor,"You are welcome to stay, but we want to hear what these missionaries have to stay."  Unfortunately, he had to escort them out.   But, his wife felt the spirit she was looking for and joined the church.  Now, they are serving a mission to help others come to know what they know as the truth.  They are so much fun and have great personalities.

        These are a couple of pictures at our Zone Conference just this week.  Sister Currie, Sister Moody, Sister Hansen, Sister McLing, Sister College, Sister Sumsion President Vest is in the background.  The Relief Societies of different stakes furnish & serve the lunches.

        Elder Cam Christensen, Elder Parry, Elder Harrod, Elder Kaafi, Elder Jones, Elder Ingram, & Elder Dayton, who reminds me of Porter.  These are only some of the missionaries.  The Zone Conferences are divided into thirds because we have so many missionaries.  In December, they all get together for the Christmas Zone Conference.

        This is a picture of most of the missionaries singing to the ladies who served lunch.  They do this every time and the servers love it.  Of course, they sing, "Called to Serve."