Letter #81 . . . comforting assurance has come line upon line!

This week has been good! I'm guessing I'll probably be leaving this
week, but I'm not sure! Just cause I've never stayed in an area more
than 4 and a half months! But I don't know . . . we'll see!

His trainer, Elder Amosa, sent him this cool tie!

Saturday we had the David Whitmer family reunion/community celebration of his life here in Richmond!! It was pretty awesome! Most of David's
descendants are not LDS. A lot of them spoke and it was amazing to hear of their testimonies that the Book of Mormon is true, even tho they aren't members of the church!! A lot of the family was under the impression coming in that our church taught against David Whitmer. But judging by the fact that our Ward was named, "The Whitmer Ward" I don't think that's the case. All their minds were changed and their hearts were softened toward us. :) Me and Elder Fallon gave the family a tour of the "Mormon Room" in the Ray County Museum, which displays the significance of the role that David Whitmer played in the coming forth of the Book of Mormon, and in the early church. Although David Whitmer left the church because of disagreements with Joseph Smith, he stood true to the fact up to death that he saw the angel Moroni with his own eyes that showed him and the other 3 witnesses the Plates. David's 
descendants in the tour were pretty impressed by 
that, and a few of them took Book of Mormons to read!

This week I have felt the Spirit strong, and my conviction of the reality of Jesus Christ & the reality of His Restored Gospel has been
strengthened. I feel such a comforting assurance these days. That feeling hasn't come suddenly, but slowly, line upon line! It's happened as I've humbled myself more and more, and grown more and more in my faith in Christ. This morning I studied the testimonies of the Book of Mormon of early church converts. It was so cool reading about these people whose lives were changed by reading it, as mine was. They dropped everything and dedicated their time, talents, and everything to their God. I was humbly amazed reading of the sacrifices of those saints! It may seem like a sacrifice, but it's really not... How amazing the peace that comes to a man, in this often lonely and dreary world, who studies the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ!? How was I so lucky to have ended up born into the situation I was, with the amazing people I've been surrounded by? How did I get lucky enough to have a peace that comes from knowing that God loves me and has a plan for me, and has given me the path to happiness in this life and in the life to come?! How amazing is it to know that the all powerful Heavenly Father loves me enough to never give up on me, and continually forgives me of my persistent weaknesses! To know that I don't need to define myself by my weaknesses, but by my strengths!

Love y'all!

- Elder Townsend
 

Broken glasses :(