What's up, everyone?! Got some big news coming your way, so grab some popcorn and check this out. Also, don't miss the Google photos album:
Last Thursday, the very 4th of July, I experienced a miracle. A real-life miracle. This miracle actually comes directly from the scriptures, so we're gonna start with a scripture. In the Book of Mormon, there's a part where Alma, a disciple of Christ and a leader over a large group of people, was taken captive along with his people by another bad group of people, the Lamanites. These people put tasks and really hard trials on Alma and his people, but they had faith, and got through their trials. The scripture tells us:
12 And Alma and his people did not raise their voices to the Lord their God, but did pour out their hearts to him (because they were beat when they were heard praying); and he did know the thoughts of their hearts.
13 And it came to pass that the voice of the Lord came to them in their afflictions, saying: Lift up your heads and be of good comfort, for I know of the covenant which ye have made unto me; and I will covenant with my people and deliver them out of bondage.
14 And I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do that ye may stand as witnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions.
This was after their much praying and crying unto the Lord daily, both out loud and in their minds. It also says they were not only visited but delivered from their trials.
19 And in the morning the Lord caused a deep sleep to come upon the Lamanites, yea, and all their taskmasters were in a profound sleep.
20 And Alma and his people departed into the wilderness; and when they had traveled all day, they pitched their tents in a valley, and they called the valley Alma, because he led their way in the wilderness.
21 Yea, and in the valley of Alma they poured out their thanks to God because he had been merciful unto them, and eased their burdens, and had delivered them out of bondage; for they were in bondage, and none could deliver them except it were the Lord their God.
Brothers and sisters, I confirm the veracity of this scripture with my own experience. My last area was really really tough for me. I battled with a lot of self-doubt and even hatred, I didn't see any progress in the work, people hated us, didn't want anything to do with us, and much more. I do, however, remember vividly multiple nights where God visited me with His spirit, and He did, in reality, help me through my afflictions. As for the miracle, well, it's exactly what happened to Alma here. Last Thursday, on the 4th of July, on the very day we celebrate freedom, I was delivered to a valley. A valley in the center of the island called Maimón. This place is nothing if not absolutely beautiful. It is the land of God. Every day I have found myself looking at the great, green mountains that surround the area and thanking God for being so good and thanking Him "because he had been merciful unto [me], and eased [my] burdens, and had delivered [me] out of bondage." Maimón is my miracle and connecting it with the scriptures and Alma and his people's experience, this area is a testament to me that God truly knows me, and is truly watching me, that he appreciates me and my efforts, and most importantly, that he "remembers the covenant that I have made with Him."
I know now with a certainty that God really is with us IN our trials, and really does listen to our prayers. I also know that blessings come in His time, not ours. Although that sometimes is hard (it was for me), I know that God truly is ready and waiting to bless us greatly. I am so ready to work even harder than I did before, and to push myself and devote myself even more to the work. That's about it, though for this week, and I'll keep you guys updated for baptisms and other miracles I'm sure I'll end up seeing.
I must go (to bed it's really late) -Elder Barlow
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