A great week

Familia! What a great week this has been! I love my mission so much.

This past Saturday, I was able to attend the Logan, Utah Temple with the Jackson family for their endowment and sealing. Oh, man.. It was an incredible experience. Elder Freitag and I were there as well as the first two missionaries that taught them. We were talking to those first two missionaries and they told us about how Brother Jackson was not interested at all and he would always fall asleep in the lessons. They would go over there every single day at 6pm. They did this for two months and they told us that in one lesson, he completely changed. His desire changed. His mentality changed. He wants to get back active but didn't really put the effort into it. The Lord helped him. The Holy Ghost converted Brother Jackson and that alone changed his life. 

They could not believe that he got re-activated and now, sealed to his family for all time and eternity. It is incredible about how far he has came. I am so grateful to be a part of it. The Jackson family is so amazing.

The biggest thing that I will take away from this amazing experience is seeing the family get sealed in the sealing room. The Spirit was SO strong. Brother and Sister Jackson was so happy. You can see the light bursting from their eyes and it was incredible. After they got sealed, they sat back down and they were so delighted. All of the sudden, their three old son, Aaron, ran up to them. It was so adorable and all three of them sat down on the altar and Aaron got sealed to them. Nikki Jackson was not able to get sealed because of his biological mother (who is Jehovah's Witness). She didn't grant permission. 

While Brother, Sister and Aaron Jackson were on the altar, the Spirit was much more stronger. The Spirit was bouncing off the walls and it was incredible. I will never forget this experience. It was incredible. I cannot wait for my turn to be able to get sealed to my future wife in the Temple. I know that families can be together forever, even after we die. 

Last night, we had an incredible lesson with the Jackson family. We read Alma 29:9-10 with them. We specifically asked Brother Jackson about this scripture and what it meant to them. After that, Brother Jackson told us his entire story about his conversion and how the Temple is the closest he has got to Heaven. He will be attending the Temple every Saturday morning to do the work for the dead. 

After that, we talked a lot about how there is a lot of people out there that don't have this privilege of being able to have the blessings of the Gospel in their lives. This is the reason why we are commanded by Jesus Christ (Matthew 28:19-20) to bring His Gospel to all those around us. At the end of the lesson, he committed to bearing his testimony about the temple and missionary work, also committed to start doing Family History and talk to his friends about the Gospel. 

This is my favorite part about missionary work. Seeing other people become converted unto the Lord. That is what makes all the hard times worth it. This is why I love my mission so much. I have taught many many people and some of them became converted. It is amazing to see them change for the better and lead better lives as disciples of Jesus Christ. 

The Hillcrest 2nd ward is very concerned about MahRyan and what happened to her. We told them what happened and a lot of people are trying to help her out. The Bishop assigned her Sunday School teachers (they are really good friends with MahRyan) to visit her. Please pray for her that she will be able to start meeting with us and meet her baptismal goal of November 22nd.

So, last Sunday, the Utah Ogden Mission had the Musical Fireside that they held at the Logan Tabernacle. We invited so many people to come and we had our Senior Couple Missionaries (senior couples that is assigned to serve alongside full-time missionaries in the stake they reside in) invited so many people. I am SO happy to report that there was a BIG turnout at the musical fireside. The tabernacle was completely packed. Elder and Sister Murphy (of the Logan East stake) had a NONMEMBER family of 5 come with them. Elder and Sister Murphy said that they should be ready to be taught by next week. I am so PUMPED to start teaching them and help them get on the road to the Temple. 

And guess what, Cherry and Frank Lui came to the fireside. Before that, we had a sick lesson with them. We talked about the last half of the Plan of Salvation and she said that "this all makes sense. I can see a purpose in my life now!"! :D She and Frank is progressing quite well. They are attending Church every single week and they are feeling the Spirit. 

I truly love my mission so much. I love being a missionary in the Utah Ogden Mission. I am so grateful for Jesus Christ and what He has done for each one of us. I know that He is our Savior and Redeemer. With His Atonement, we can become clean and prepare to return to live with our loving Father in Heaven and our family for all eternity. I am so grateful for the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the happiness that it brings by obedience to the principles and ordinances of the Gospel. 

I love you all and have a wonderful week. Stay strong and close to the Lord. :) Love, Elder McGrath