Revelation‏

Can you remember an experience when you had a stupor of thought? I mean, like you were deeply in a train of thought, and then all of the sudden *poof* and it's gone? I feel like I have those stupors every now and again as I think about what I should teach and where I should go. It says in the Doctrine and Covenants that we need to pray and ask God if what were doing or the decision we've made is right, and if it's wrong, we'll experience a stupor of thought that causes us to forget the thing that was wrong. Every now and again, my companion and I will be walking down a street when I will have the idea, "Let's go that way instead." or "I feel like we should turn down that street." or "Let's knock this door.". I usually follow such promptings instinctively. Sometimes I have a stupor of thought that steers me away. It's an incredibly interesting process of revelation or inspiration. I had one particularly awesome experience this week on that note. We were walking down a busy road near downtown Providence as we passed by a heavily wooded park that I'd never walked through before. "We should walk through there." came the thought to my head. "Nah. There's no one in there, and there's a far greater chance of talking to people out here on this busier road.", I retorted to myself. As I thought that, the idea about staying on the busier road *poofed* from my head, and I said to my companion, "Let's walk through this park. There must be someone in here we need to talk to." He kind of shruggingly followed, probably retorting in his own head why we would walk into a vacant, wooded park, but followed me anyway. It was really pretty with all the brilliant fall colors of the leaves, and it seemed like a black and white difference from the buzz of the city. It was peaceful. It was trainquil. I could feel the spirit in here.

It wasn't long after we wondered into the park that a man seemed to show up out of nowhere. He was walking just off the paved pathway. As we got nearer to him, he saw us and motioned for us to come closer and talk to him. Both surprised and excited, we went to introduce ourselves and see if there was anything we could do for him. His name was Micheal, and he'd struggled a lot as a youth with drugs and alcohol, but he'd fixed his life and turned to God. He had gotten into an argument with his wife, and he'd been fighting the temptation to fall back into alcoholism when he decided to go into the park into some trees and pray. That's when we found him. He was convinced (as was I) that we came in answer to his prayer to receive additional guidance and help from God. We taught him about the atonement and prayer briefly, and we offered him a copy of the Book of Mormon. He accepted it with the determination to go into the trees and read through it's pages and pray and ask God if it was true. We exchanged information, and we went our way as he went into the trees. Isn't that AWESOME!? He doesn't speak spanish, so we have to pass him on to the english speaking elders, but I know that God led us to this man.

Revelation is a very interesting thing. I don't know if you know this, but we as members of the Church of Jesus Christ, having made sacred covenants with God and having received the gift of the Holy Ghost, are entitled to divine guidance from heaven. We can call upon heavens aid when we need it, and we can, in essence, require that the Lord reveal His hand in our behalf. (Enos 1:15-18)  That's what the gift of the Holy Ghost really means. This gift comes with conditions. Predicated upon our faithfulness, personal righteousness, and obedience, we can request this guidance from God, and He is bound to honor it. (D&C 82:10, D&C 130:20-21) I pray every single day for the guidance of the Holy Ghost to help me, and I exercise my faith through obedience and good works, knowing that I will receive the guidance I need when need it. (D&C 84:85) I just had the thought this week that personal revelation is pretty much the coolest thing ever, and I wanted to share that.

Jose is still cruising through the Book of Mormon. He will finish it this week. He is such a good example for his non-member and member friends alike. I see a future leader in him.

My clock is running out! I only have 42 seconds left to finish this email!

I love you! The church is true!

   With love from your favorite elder,

               -Elder Shepherd

Serving is fun!‏

I had a way cool service opportunity this week with my El Salvadorian friend Teresa Flores and her corner store, "the Pulgarcito". OK, so as we walk into her store, she calls out to me," Elder! Do you know how you are always asking me if you can do anything for me? Well I have a favor to ask," she say as she puts a confusing-looking manual in front of me for a 340-ZA Sharp cash register. "My register keeps showing this error sign, and I don't know how to fix it! I can't sell anything. Can you help me?" I impulsively responded, "Of course I can!". As I sat down in front of her register with this weird manual in front of me, I remembered something, "Oh yeah... you don't know anything about cash registers. You don't know where to begin." I puzzled for a moment over this situation that I'd gotten myself into when I thought, "Well, I'll just say a prayer in my heart, and put myself to work." I began reading the manual and looking for any information about the error message that popped up on her register. I eventually found out what the message meant-"Error 02=incorrect key entry"... yeah, that was helpful. I didn't feel any closer to solving the problem then before, and the manual didn't tell you how to fix it. I was kind of hoping for an easy answer, but I wasn't getting out of it that easy. Anyway, I kept reading the manual and troubleshooting this register, and after about 30 minutes of trial and error with it, I finally pin-pointed the problem-the batteries that are used for storing the memory in case of a sudden power outage had run out, and the manual had mentioned that if that ever happens, and you switch the machine accidentally to another certain function, that this error would pop-up. (keep in mind, these answers came very spread apart over a long period of troubleshooting) I promptly replaced the batteries, but to my dismay, that only meant that the memory would be completely erased, and that I would have to reprogram the register from scratch. I had to follow a very long and tedious process, leaving the machine unplugged for EXACTLY one minute, then punching in a code as you placed the batteries in, and then programming in the tax rate and other functions following a really long series of codes in the book which, if not pushed in exact sequence, would result in a failure and I would have to start all over again. I followed the instructions to the tee, and at the end of a very long process, I had a cash register that was working properly and a very grateful El Salvadorian woman. "You fixed it!" she cried. It was one of the most satisfying feelings I've ever had.
This experience was great for a lot of reasons. I felt good knowing that I'd confronted a challenge that I knew very little about, but was able to overcome employing perseverance and the 'instruction manual'. I would have been totally lost without the manual. It was frustrating because it didn't give me the answers easily, and I had to search hard to find them, but when they came they were clear. It's satisfying when you overcome something difficult. It was also great knowing that I'd been able to make someone else's job a little easier and lighten the load for them. Service always gives you a really good, satisfied feeling afterward. This whole experience was very reminiscent of many gospel principles of which I teach every day. The 'manual', or the scriptures, truly do give us the answers to how to face our little and big problems in life, but oftentimes it requires diligent study in searching them out to find them, and usually, an answer doesn't come all at once or even in the way that we expect. Of course, it's always more satisfying afterward when you overcome something that was difficult. I remember the great words of a family favorite baseball movie, "A League of Their Own". "Of course it's hard! If it wasn't hard it wouldn't make it great!" (or something to that effect). [sister's note:  Actually, the real quote is, "It's supposed to be hard.  If it wasn't hard, everyone would do it.  The hard is what makes it great."  The middle of which doesn't fit quite as well with the point he was making, but I think we can forgive him for that.]
Hold to the rod! Even if you have no idea how to confront the next challenge ahead of you, I promise you will find true and wise counsel and direction if you hold to the iron rod. Obedience can sometimes be difficult or tedious, even undesirable, as was the case with the cash register, but 100% obedience will always yield 100% blessings. ALWAYS.

 OK, the other service opportunity I had this week has to do with the picture I attached to the email of us trying to fit that couch through the window. That was really hard. The couch didn't fit through the door, and their was no other way to get it into that house except through that window. It sure as heck didn't seem convenient, or desirable, but we just put our shoulder to the wheel, and got that couch into that house. (It took 8 elders working on either side of the couch to do it, but we did it) It was totally worth it.
Halloween was really laid back for us. We had a great day at church, then all of our appointments canceled, and we had to be in the apartment before it got dark, because Halloween is really crazy and dangerous here. I made some really good food (I cooked some chicken with green peppers, tons of spices, and rice) and we read our scriptures and talked and laughed about good ol' times. It was relaxing.
Missionary life is great. I have lots of fun experiences to share, but I usually can't remember a lot of them when I write this email. Any questions?
                                 With much love from your favorite elder,
                                        -Elder Shepherd

Stories?

I just spoke with a man here in the library named James while I was waiting for the computer. He is 22 years old and feels lots of remorse from his rebellious and wild youth and wants to change his life. I had a really good talk with him about repentance and the Atonement and I gave him a copy of the Book of Mormon with a commitment to read Alma 36 about the story of Alma the younger. I feel kind of giddy because he's in the corner reading it right now. Cool, eh?
Last night, I spoke with a man near our apartment late at night named Paul. Paul was pretty drunk, but sober enough to have a decent conversation with us. He told us that he's not a drinker, but 2 weeks ago his mother died and last night his father died, and he has 7 brothers and sisters who have shunned him and won't talk to him, and so he decided to turn to alcohol and get plastered enough to numb the pain. I felt really bad for him, and we spoke to him for about 20 minutes in the street offering counsel and comfort. It's really difficult to explain to someone who has suffered a whole lot of adversity why bad things happen to good people and help them see that among all the hardship God loves us, and has always loved us, and always will. He left the conversation feeling slightly better, and we asked him not to do anything that he would regret. I'm pretty sure that he slunk back home and wept bitterly like he told us he was going to. It would be nice to remember him in your prayers.
Yesterday, I spoke to a man named Jose who moved here from Guatemala 3 years ago, and is still working through the process of bringing his wife and 5 young children over here. My heart breaks for all the people who are separated from their families that I teach. Many of them have worked for the past 10 years or more to try and bring their families here legally because the process is so ridiculous, impossible, and expensive to get 'papers'. He was the pastor of an evangelical congregation in his country, and was really surprised to hear that 'Mormons' believe in Jesus Christ, because he'd always heard that we were a cult that worshiped the devil. He was most intrigued as we said a prayer with him to hear that we prayed to God the Father, in the name of Christ, and not that we prayed to Joseph Smith. He liked that, and again, it cleared up prior misconceptions he had. We hope to be able to help him continue to grow closer to Jesus Christ.
Earlier this week, I spoke to Plutarco, an immigrant from El Salvador who has lived in the US for 10 years working to be able to get his citizenship and bring his wife and 3 children here. Out of the goodness of his heart, he houses 2 other recent immigrants in his apartment who have no where to stay, and pays their portion of the rent to the landlord, while exhausting the rest of his money the he's saved up over the years in costly court cases to finish the process in getting his citizenship with hopes of reuniting his family. He recently was laid off at work, and greatly fears not being able to continue to cover the rent, because failure to do so would lead him to being deported and having to start the long 10 year process over again. We offered help and our love and prayers.
I think that I could share a hundred similar stories like these. All of them break my heart when I see the intolerance of others towards them, and the struggles that they go through. I ache to be able to help them and serve them. God didn't send me hear to be with the high and mighty, but the lowly, down-trodden, and battered. Frankly, this work would be incredibly depressing if it weren't for one universal truth of which I bear witness: God loves us. The effects of that love are far-reaching and far more powerful than you can imagine. I testify so because it has been the love of God, extended to me by both seen and unseen forces, that has lifted me higher and beckoned me on when I get so tired that I don't think I can take another step or knock another door. When my reservoir of energy and empathy runs dry, God quenches that thirst with living waters that sustain me.
I hope to be able to communicate to all of you through these emails what I truly feel is important about my mission. There are a lot of little things that I have recorded in my journal and my new voice/audio journal that I've been keeping up on my voice recorder(I hope to find out how I can send those entries through email) and I will cherish all those little memories, but I also hope that the change in me is evident to all of you, because I have seen such a profound change in myself.
Thanks for all your love and prayers, and thanks for reading my emails and sharing my mission with me.
       With much love from your favorite elder,
             -Elder Shepherd

Another Transfer in Providence‏

Transfer calls are in and I'm staying in Providence again! Yay! I'm keeping my greenie, Elder Hansen, as well. At the end of this transfer I will have spent the same amount of time in Providence that I spent in New Haven. 2 areas, and 5 companions later, and I'm in the 14th month of my mission. I'm sure I comment on it every single email, but time really does fly faster that Superman to the rescue. Time especially flies when you've got a great companion like I do. Elder Hansen and I are Zion.
We're receiving 2 new Spanish missionaries into our ward this week which is going to help us out a lot! There is a lot to do here in Providence, and it will be nice to let the other 2 elders focus on Central Falls and Pawtucket (2 neighboring cities to Providence) so that we can focus on our teaching pool here.

However, this new transfer does bring some bitter-sweet changes. My district is getting split up into 2 smaller districts to make it easier for us to do exchanges with our missionaries. My new district has only 6 elders in it, but we're all speaking Spanish and/or Portuguese, so we'll be a language speaking district. I'm stoked for that, because that means that I can do our weekly District Meetings in Spanish again. I am really sad to lose my old district though. This was a really special group of elders and sisters for me. This district has been the favorite of my entire mission. Just look at the picture I attached--don't we look so great?
 I got to speak in church again yesterday. I was really impressed to talk about love and service. We should always be striving to live the first great commandment to "love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind." and to fulfill the second to, "love thy neighbor as thyself." (Matthew 22:36-40). No one should ever be left to struggle through this long journey of mortality alone. We are all members of God's family, and we should treat one another as such. This involves more than merely being conscious of others around you, but being willing to help!  When we see a fellow brother drowning, we shouldn't just yell, "Hey! Stop drowning!" and watch him go under, but we should jump in after him. See a need and fill it. Oftentimes, in and out of the church, we wait to be asked, compelled, or required before we take action, or we wait for a curriculum to be drawn up, debated, and accepted before we do anything about the problem. We even use our callings to serve as excuses for doing less than we should by reasoning that we are solely to check off our checklist, and leave the rest undone because someone else should pick up the slack. This doesn't mean that we should be over-accountable and not hold others accountable, but it means that we should adopt the attitude of President Hinckley when he said, "Roll up your sleeves and just do it!" This becomes natural as we develop a Christlike love for our brothers and sisters, which, in turn, cultivates the desire necessary to motivate us into action (Alma 32:27). Alma and the sons of Mosiah exemplify this principle when, after their conversion, they let their love and desire motivate them to preach the gospel to the Lamanites (Mosiah 28:3-5) We could develop the love of Alma that he showed to a sinful, hard-hearted, and stiff-necked people, entrenched in terrible traditions, by recognizing that the poor, down-trodden, and even sinful are still our 'brethren', and that their souls 'are precious' (Alma 31:34-35)
Elder Hansen and I taught a really good lesson on faith yesterday by using the picture of Jesus Christ knocking on the door as our example. What is Jesus doing? Knocking on a door. What's interesting about the door? It has no handle. How will Jesus get inside? The person inside must open the door. Would  you open the door if you knew Jesus was knocking? OF COURSE! Opening the door is called exercising faith. When we exercise faith, we act upon true and correct principles. What's the difference between 'belief'' and 'faith'. Faith is belief in true things put into action. How do we exercise our faith? Open the door. Real-life application: KEEP GOD'S COMMANDMENTS, and your faith will grow and blossom. Obedience yields all the blessings of heaven, and an obedient heart is manifest in faith, and faith is manifest in action on truth. (James 2:17,26) What's the first and great commandment? Love God. How do we love God? Keep His commandments. Thus, our love of God is manifest in the faith we have and exhibit, which yields promised blessings and brightens our hope for future fulfillment of promises by acting in faith, interlinking the three great virtues of faith, hope, and charity (the greatest of these being charity, Moroni 7:42,48)
I'll get off my soap-box... sometimes I get carried away. I could go on like this for hours... And I do every day here in the mission field!
Let me sum-up my experiences and thoughts from this week: "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: [Love] God, and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man." (Eccl. 12:13)
I love you all, and I pray multiple times every day for you.
              Much love from your favorite elder,
                   -Elder Shepherd

Christian Courage and love‏

OK, I attached 2 pictures: One is of our baptism last Saturday, and the other is of the lunch that I made last Saturday (I thought it was really clever).
Our wonderful friend Mirian was baptized this last Saturday! Yay! She is a sweet old lady from the Dominican Republic that we've been teaching for quite a while now. She has gone to lots of different churches in her life in search for something that 'felt right'. She came to church and immediately noticed something different about it, and she felt like she'd found that 'feeling' that she was looking for. She will be a faithful member of the church here, and her decision to be baptized and be faithful will greatly influence her life and the life of her family.
This next week will mark another 6-week 'transfer' that I've spent here in Providence. I sure hope that I get to stay here, and chances are that I probably will, but you never know. I've been here almost 6 months now. I've seen a lot change here since I came-I've split the area into 2, combined the areas again, split them again, and then combined 2 other areas into mine, and probably will have to split off another portion of my area in a week as we'll have some new elders coming in. Things are constantly changing and life is constantly hurtling onward without slowing down. I can't believe that I've already been a missionary for 14 months, and that next summer I go home. I'm glad that amongst all the changes and curve-balls that life throws at you that there is something that always stays constant: Jesus Christ as our 'rock' and 'sure foundation'.
The world has changed a lot, and the problems that we face today in the world are very different than those of old, but the manner in which we face those problems has ALWAYS been the same! We must confront adversity with hope and unwavering faith in God. We must learn to be obedient and thereby enjoy the only true and lasting happiness in life. If you don't know what it's like I dare you to see what having an obedient heart feels like. God's laws remain unaltered, and this 'very old' notion of 'obedience brings blessings' remains unaltered as well. No matter who you are or what your circumstance, obedience to God's commandments is ALWAYS the right decision, ALWAYS. Christ's teachings of love and acceptance are never old-fashioned or out of style, no matter how much the world changes. There is a lot of hate and anger in the world, and the best way to fight it is to love your neighbor as yourself and treat them how you would like to be treated. What this world needs is a generation of Christians who will stand up for what they believe in, be respectful and loving to people from all walks of life, and be firm examples of the believers. God taught us to love everyone, including the sinners and outcasts, and bigotry and anger, no matter who it's aimed at, is never acceptable. Remember, the worth of every soul is great in the sight of God. (D&C 18:10) Let us reach out in love and service to those who despitefully use us and oppress us, and may we have the courage to choose faith (for surely it is a choice and not merely incident). Choose the high ground. Choose the path of a disciple of Jesus Christ, remembering as well that the hard thing to do and the right thing to do are usually always the same thing.
I love you, and pray for you with 'all the energy of my heart' (Moroni 7:48)
       With much love from your favorite elder,
               -Elder Shepherd

TEMPLE IN HARTFORD CONNECTICUT!!!! WOOOO!!!!‏

For those of you who tuned in to General Conference this weekend they announced the construction of 5 new temples around the world. One of those scheduled for construction is the HARTFORD CONNECTICUT TEMPLE! WOO!!! I was so stoked when I they announced that they were building a temple here that I shouted,'YES!' out loud. There was quite a buzz among the members here. We're all so excited that the blessings of the temple will be brought closer to us so that we can be enriched and strengthened by the power of the Lord here and take part in the fulfillment of Malachi's prophecy and the mandate that, "he shall turn the heart of the fathers to their children, and the heart of the children to their fathers."  Temples bring SO many blessings! General Conference was really awesome for a long list of reasons: I had 5 investigators who came to at least 1 session with their spouses, the spirit and the speakers answered tons of questions for them as well as me, it feels as though the work has a new energy, and I am spiritually rejuvenated. I particularly enjoyed the talks given by Dieter F. Uchtdorf about simplifying our lives and pride. President Monson's talk about gratitude was great, and I really really liked Richard G. Scott's talk about faith and character. Boyd K. Packer's comments about the family were right on target, and I knew that others who were listening felt of the power of his words. Conference weekend was full of spiritual power, and I can't wait for the November issue of the Ensign to come out so that I can spend some real time studying their words and getting the revelation and learning out of them that I need.
I pondered a lot about how we can deepen our conversion to the gospel and change our thoughts and desires to be more in harmony with God's will, and I received a lot of insight from conference about it. D Todd Christoffersen offered lots of helpful insights about consecration. Consecration is the process by which we are made holy, by which we truly cleanse the inner vessel. We are to offer up our "'bodies as a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, [which sacrifice] is your reasonable service" (Romans 12:1). M. Russell Ballard was talking specifically about addictions, but his advice about change and repentance applies to all of us regardless of whether or not we struggle with substance abuse or pornography. He said that our minds, bodies, and spirits can be transformed: "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God" (Romans 12:2).   He said that the key is sincere, fervent, and consistent prayer. There is hope for recovery and change wherever there is a righteous desire to do so. We have to recognize that we can't change our minds or hearts by ourselves--that change comes from the grace of God, and is communicated by the spirit. As we consecrate our time, talents, thoughts, and actions to God, He consecrates and transforms us, giving us, "A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh." As we think about what may be required of us in this process of consecration and change, we may tremble inwardly at what may be required, but remember that feelings of inadequacy are common, so are feelings of fatigue, hence the needed warning of our being "weary of well-doing"(D&C 64:33); but please keep in mind that God has already said that "[His] grace is sufficient for you"(Ether 12:27, D&C 17:8). There is always hope where there is faith, and there is always faith when their is trust in God sufficient enough to put that trust into action and test it. The key to it is to constantly move forward! Like the Apostle Paul taught, "this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before. I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." (Philipians 3:13-14) Put one foot in front of the other, and keep going forward! It is not the speed of your pace, but your diligence that wins you the prize! (Mosiah 4:27)
I have so much to be grateful for. I thoroughly enjoy every second I have out here in the mission field. It is by far the hardest thing I've ever done, and I won't sugar coat it by saying otherwise, but it would be dishonest of me as well to not acknowledge that it's by far the most worthwhile thing I've ever done. I'm grateful for all who strive to live in the best way they know how and constantly move forward despite heartache and travail. Their examples of faith and perseverance are a legacy for me to follow. I pray that I will never do anything with my name that would bring it shame; that is, in two senses: First, the name I carry on my chest that reads 'Jesus Christ', as well as the name I inherit from my exemplary parents and predecessors of 'Shepherd'. There have already been several 'Elder Shepherd's' who have served the Lord with all their heart, and I wish to continually bring honor to the name I carry as 'Elder Shepherd' from my father and 2 older brothers. (Thank you for serving and showing me how to do so).
Life is good, and I am happy, healthy, and filthy wealthy (with spiritual currency).
          With much love from your favorite elder,
                    -Elder Shepherd

"Do you play piano!?"

email 9/27/10
I have a super-awesome-musically-talented group of elders and sisters in my district. Both of the sisters in my district sing very well, and 1 in particular was a soloist and toured Europe. Another elder in my district studied musical theater and opera, and he sings very well and plays piano so-so. Another elder can sing fairly well and he plays piano fairly well. My companion is a great bass singer and he plays piano so-so as well along with trumpet. I play piano and sing, and together we make a really great group. I've never been so deeply touched by the power of good music in my life then out here in the mission field. I'm organizing a mission musical fireside right now, and I'm sorting through music and searching for talent in the mission. I've reflected oftentimes on the inspired words and moving music of the songs I've selected. I did a test-run with one of the songs by having a sister do a special musical number at our weekly district meeting this week. It's a song about the Atonement of Christ called 'For Me Alone' (it's a free download from the Sally Deford Website). Everyone was in tears after the song, and the spirit seemed to envelop us in a thick cloud. It was a really special meeting, and I attribute it to the selection of inspired music that brought the spirit into the atmosphere like nothing else can. Elder Hansen asked me, "Why don't we utilize music more in our proselyting?" I thought about it, and I realized that we really could use music as an effective missionary tool. God gave us our talents so that we would use them to bless His kingdom on the earth. Why wouldn't I be able to use mine to preach the Gospel? We were randomly speaking to one elderly man in front of his house as it started to downpour out of nowhere, so he invited us in. In the first several moments of conversation, I found that this man had a genuine love for music, particularly big band music from the 30's and 40's and crooners like Sinatra. It didn't take long for him to ask me, "Do you play piano!?" He showed me to his piano in his front room, and his impressive collection of sheet music from that golden era of music. I felt like this was way to big of a coincidence to be a coincidence, so I teased him a bit by playing and singing a song or two. He was so giddy that I thought he might die of a heart attack. I then played and sung one of my favorite hymns, I Need Thee Every Hour. The spirit descended and we had a good conversation after the fact. I remember leaving the appointment thinking,"Why can't missionary work always be like this?"
Music is one of the reasons I really look forward to General Conference. The General Authorities of the church understand the crucial role that music plays in worship, and the music for General Conference is always magnificent. It always fills me up spiritually. I can't wait for this weekend to again be richly fed by the spirit in both the music and the spoken word of God. Prepare yourselves for General Conference so that you might be fed as well. Fast and pray that the speakers will be inspired, and that the Lord will speak to you through them. Go into the conference with a prayer in your heart, questions on your mind, a blank sheet of paper, and a soul that hungers and thirsts after righteousness, and I promise you that you will have a miraculous spiritual experience. If you have any doubt at all as to the divinity of Jesus Christ or the truthfulness of His modern day work in His restored church, bring it to the table and prove the Lord at General Conference. I can boldly testify miracles because I have done so and received such in my life. Prove the Lord. He will prove you. (Abraham 3:25, Deut. 8:2, Malachi 3:10, Phillipians 1:29, D&C 84:79, D&C 98:14-15, D&C 101:2-9... just to name a few.)
I know that this church is true, and that this work is so much bigger and grander than I ever imagined it to be. I know that God loves us and will sanctify and strengthen us if we let Him.
  With much love from your favorite elder,
          -Elder Shepherd