Miracles Can Only Be Wrought Through Faith

Buenas Tardes Todos.

I hope everything is going well with all of you and that you strive to serve our Heavenly Father first in all things. I had a really good week this week and am super excited for the next two weeks to come. We have so much work that our schedule is normally booked a few days in advance, but we are now starting to see some real progression. Not just the progression where the person is really just doing it because they will feel embarrassed when we ask them if they did it or so we will stop coming, but the real progression that comes from a sincere desire to find an answer, repent, and become part of this eternal family.

This area has not seen a baptism since it opened in January, but I get a good feeling that in the next few months, Heavenly Father will bless us with some converts in the church. Elder Humphreys and I are everyday, evaluating and correcting our lives to be more like the missionaries we know we can be. The big step this week for me was on the day that I packed up all the stuff that I had gotten from members or investigators, that I probably should not have had still, and sent it all home to my family for after my mission. I took Elder Holland's advice on getting rid of the things all together that tempt you.

After that day we had some big miracles in our area that really came out of nowhere. The biggest one came from a less active member named Lorenzo. Two months ago Lorenzo requested that we come by his house so that we could help him return back to church. He had had his records sent to Salt Lake and wanted for them to be brought back into the ward. We went over and talked to him and 3 weeks in a row, he would tell us he would make it to church but he didn't show up. After the third week we lost all contact with him. I'm not sure what happened but he started ignoring our calls, our texts, and wouldn't answer the door when we went by. It honestly was very discouraging because we went by diligently, and called him about 3 times a week for about 5 weeks, with no response.

So Tuesday, we went by and the TV was on and I could see Lorenzo laying on his bed. I was so excited because we had him. We knocked..... no answer. Knocked again.... no answer. So I decided to call him. It was kinda humorous because I could see him lean over, look at the phone, and silence it. Once it stop ringing I just said "Lorenzo... we are right outside your house..." Since the window was open he was able to hear me and came to the door.

To be honest I was about ready to just lay into him, show him the story of Esau and tell him that he was selling his birthright for a bowl of porridge. He opened the door and I could already tell he was expecting me to be mad. But as I went to open my mouth, I was stopped. And my feelings were suddenly changed and the words that came out of my mouth where not my own at the time. I apologized. I don't know exactly what I was apologizing for, but it was what I did.

You should have seen the look on his face. It changed his whole demeanor and he asked us to come inside. He was confused about why I would apologize and opened up to us. We found out he was going through a hard time financially and that he is

about to go under. The stress was to much for him to handle that he didn't really want to talk to anyone. We promised to return the next day so that he could talk to the Bishop. We got a text that night that said "Thank you, I will start being at church after this weekend, I want to serve Christ in any and every way I can. You all woke me up and restored my belief in Christ. Thanks"

The next day we went over with the Bishop and he was able to take over. He bonded with him, and offered a blessing. Lorenzo asked if we could bless his home too, so Bishop did the blessing of the home and then turned to me to give Lorenzo the blessing. After I gave him the blessing the spirit was strong and he talked to the bishop about getting some help.

So on Saturday, the Bishop and the Elders Quorum President went and took him to the Bishop's store house. He was able to receive the help from the church that he needed and there was food again in his house. Also the Bishop gave him a Book of Mormon to give to his son's wife, who is not a member, and highlighted 3 Nephi 11 for her to read. When we went over on Saturday she was there, and she had read the verse! Within the few hours between Lorenzo getting back and us arriving she read the whole chapter, and the food was not even put away yet. We taught her a lesson about how to receive an answer and she was excited to learn more. So Sunday, when she came to church with her newborn son and husband(who has not come to church in 4 years), we were totally surprised. We knew that Lorenzo could not make it this week so we were sure that they probably wouldn't come. But they did! And it was an awesome experience. After church I got a call, and she asked us if she could get her babies baptized. I explained to her about how we don't baptize till 8 years of age because babies are perfect. She was happy to hear that and said "but I can be baptized right?" "well of coarse" I was totally floored. What a blessing it is to be part of this young family's life.

Sunday night, we had Juan Gomez come out with us, who is a less active, who this week is now counted for full activity. He is so close to my heart and will be my friend forever. We went and saw the Marquez family, who is the family I was teaching in my last area, but since the family lives in our area, the elders passed them back to us.  Sergio Marquez has been an investigator for a few years now and his wife and kids are super active members in the church. He is ready to be baptized, he just needs to receive the answer and make the decision. Well, we went over there and the first thing he says is "I need to go in 10 mins so can make this quick?".... we had a really spiritual lesson that lasted 45 mins.

Juan bore a super strong testimony (which I think was his first in who knows how long) and Sergio had the desire to get an answer. But the thought came to my mind that he should try out our ward, and not the ward his wife and kids are attending now. Everyone knows him and when he goes to church everyone there is expecting something big to happen and the pressure makes him miss the Holy Ghost. So we made a plan and he committed to come to our ward next week, (which is something that I have never seen him commit to) and we are all super excited.

I got a text after leaving the house from Juan that said "Wow that was amazing. :) if he had not felt something, he would’ve left 10 mins after you guys got here. It amazes me how you always have the right thing to say. You Elders have gotten him closer than any Elder ever has. Thank you for planting that seed in his heart and nurturing it even though he won't let himself sometimes. :)"

I know that he will feel something, but just to make sure we are going to have a fast next Sunday. A fast that he will come to church and get an answer that he can not deny. If you want to join us you can. His name is Sergio Marquez, and we need a miracle to be wrought in his life.

I know the letter is really long this week, but I love you all!

-Elder Stewart

Best Friends Forever" Can Only be REAL In The True Church

Dear Friends and Family,

          Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers out there. Thank you for being so great and amazing. The best blessing in the world is to have a mother who cares and loves you more than life itself, as well as, do anything for you if the need arises. I like to think of the example of a female bear. Everyone knows not to go near a baby bear cub because it means that the mother is close by, and that mother is ferocious when it comes to protecting her kids. Im so grateful for my mom and everything that she has done for me. Also to all the grand mothers and aunts and all they have done to set an example for me. Including all the mothers in the church who have been there and have taught me lessons on what I should look for in a wife. One that I know that she would love God as well as me. I hope you had an amazing Mother's day and that you all feel the gratitude of your family who seems to always be ungrateful for all the things you do. Remember that even though they my not remember, God will remember your good works.

         This week I really wanted get an answer for an investigator of ours, Ruben. He is having a really hard time in his life with his sons. No matter how many times we promise him that if he starts to live the gospel and his family will be blessed, he won't do it. So I prayed for help in how I could help him feel the desire he needs to come to church and figure out its truth for himself. I also thought of some of my friends back home who are struggling due to children who seem to not understanding or following the principles that they have been trying ever so hard to teach them.

         I was reading in the Book of Mosiah this morning and came across the story of the conversion of Alma the Younger. He actually had an angel appear to him! Even though he was doing all sort of bad things and was successfully destroying the Church! I thought, how unfair! Why couldn’t I have an angel appear to me when I was going through the hard times in high school? But it says in the scriptures that Alma's dad, Alma, prayed with everything that he had, that God might do a miracle in the life of his wayward son. He didn't get upset or depressed to the point where he gave up on his son. He prayed and probably fasted for a miracle.

Ether 12: 

12 For if there be no faith among the children of men God can do no miracle among them; wherefore, he showed not himself until after their faith. 

     He had faith so great and he prayed with so much real intent, that Heavenly Father blessed his son with a miracle, even though Alma the Younger had no faith. Remember this with all your children. That as you raise them in the correct principles, to be like Alma, and don't let a day go by that you do pray for that miracle in their lives that truly converts them to the things you are trying to teach them.

        I feel like the message of the conversion of Alma the Younger could really be the changing point in the conversion of Ruben. And I can not wait till we see him next. I hope that it also comforts anyone out there that reads this, and that they learn there is a way to teach you kids, and help them live a righteous life. Just remember, Don't Give Up.

I love you all, thank you for all the support you have shown me.

Elder Stewart

A little Missionary Humor

Now I Know What is Meant by "The Spirit of God Like a Fire Thats Burning"..... or maybe thats just the weather

Hello Family and Friends,

I hope everything is well, and that you recognize the hand of God in your lives every day. I certainly am getting better at that. Not to mention that I haven’t burnt to a crisp yet. but really, this last week has been one of many blessings and spiritual experiences. I proud to report that I'm still going strong with my goal to be like Nephi in all things and now going on 17 days of keeping the morning schedule. We have seen a huge difference in our investigators plus we have been blessed with 11 news since this all started 2 weeks ago and broke the area record with 23 lessons this week. The best thing of all is that we had 2 investigators make it to church this week and loved it, even tho they are very devote Catholics.


As we draw closer to the Lord each day and show him that our studies are important to us, he will open up the secrets and the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, and if we act upon these secrets that are opened unto us, he will bless us with more..... I can not tell you how many times I have heard that in talks, teaching of Grandparents and parents, and leaders that have tried to drill that into my head, but for some reason I couldn’t understand what that fully meant. I mean don't get me wrong, I have a study journal and everything, and the stuff that i have written in there I always thought was spiritually inspired, but as I look over it now, i realize that it wasn't as i expected. There are some parts that are pretty inspired, and many other parts where i can now tell that i used more of my own intelligence with a portion of the spirit rather than just entirely the spirit. The difference between then and now is the relationship I have built with my Heavenly Father, and not doing just a "portion" of the things i need to do but as much as is possible to do. The more "portion" of the rules, laws, and teachings you follow, the more "portion" of the spirit you will have with you, and thus be able to receive the mysteries of heaven.


One of the things that I learned this week from my studies in the Book of Mormon is how right after receiving a blessing from the Lord, a righteous person would immediately go and give thanks to our Heavenly Father. Now I never have actually done that, just the kind of thing where if I remember to thank him for it in my prayers at night then it gets done, but I decided to try it out for myself. This week whenever I saw some kind of blessing in the work or in my life, I got down and gave thanks to my Heavenly Father, if there was any time that I couldn’t do it right then, I wrote it down, and once I had the time or was in a setting to pray, I did it. I found out that my Heavenly Parents have some of the same characteristics as my earthly ones do as in, they give more blessings to people who show gratitude for them. I would like to challenge you all this week to try this, see the blessings in your lives, act upon the promptings, and write down what you learned.


Other than that I wanted to thank everyone who sent me letters or packages this last 2 weeks. Im sorry I have not been super speedy in writing a response but can promise you that I will have them in the mail by next monday, thanks for all of your love and support.



Que Dios Les Bendiga,


Elder Stewart