Greetings from the Great OCM!!!
This
is all unbelievable! I have always felt drawn to find Grandpa Feeney. I
remember when Dad told me what he knew about him when I believe I was a
senior in High School and I just felt a strong desire to find him and
do the family history work on his line. That day I committed to God that
I would do their work. It was this desire that caused me to attend the
family history center for the first time in college, and from then many
more times in an attempt not only to find him, but also my new found love
to find all of my ancestors. From here I was able to set my sights to
the temple, and my love for the temple has come from and is rooted in
Family History. I never imagined the blessings would be so great though.
I am amazed at God's plan as it continues to unfold in my life. We
finally found them, now we can bring them home.
I
was ecstatic when I hopped onto family search last Monday and saw the
two pictures picture tagged John Feeney. I had no idea what had happened
and until I received that letter that settled my questions it was all I
could think about. The spirit of Elijah is real, and it is one of the
most powerful feelings I have ever had. This is so ridiculously true.
This gospel is! Shall we not go on in so great a cause! I look forward
to hearing your experience as you meet my aunts?!?
Here
in the Ohio, the blessings have been great. Winter seemed to hit in
full force this week, reaching below zero and it is currently snowing
and 7 degrees outside as I write this email. This week looks like a very
good one to have a car and some snow shovels! We were greatly blessed
to put 2 people on date for baptism this week, and they seem like they
will be kingdom builders. March 7th and 14th are the days and I look
forward to seeing a little bit of heaven as they take part in that
ordinance. These are the most solid converts ever. They are going to
build the kingdom after they are baptized.
We
were also greatly blessed in terms of finding this week as our teaching
pool took a drastic growth spurt. We were very close to accomplishing
every single one of our weekly goals this week in every indicator and we
probably would have if church hadn't been cancelled due to the extreme
cold (sub zero).
There was actually one day
this week where there was a crazy blizzard in Columbus so the mission
president asked everyone to either go back to their apartments, or pull
over and wait it out. Here in Dayton area we only saw about 10-15
minutes of heavy snow, and then it stopped so I was a little
disappointed we missed the blizzard. But we were able to go out and
work, while those in Columbus were indoors.
The blessings continue to come.
I
was able to find a lot of high school yearbook pictures online of a John
Feeney living in Missouri. I believe it is the same person (it looks
like him and the information matches up) if you go to John Feeney's
profile, you can go to memories and view the pictures.
I
am so grateful for this glorious gospel which gives us a knowledge of
the plan of salvation. It is all so amazing to me and so true. So many
people today are looking for evidences. They will say where is that in
the bible, and then they will analyze the verse until they convince
themselves that it is not true. Many people will say God has given us a
brain to think, and so where is the evidence that what you are saying is
true, that Joseph smith was a prophet, that the Book of Mormon is
true.
Yes, God has given us a brain to think but he has also
given us a heart to feel. People forget that in Christ's primitive
church there was no bible. There was no physical evidence that Jesus
Christ was the savior of the world. So then how did they come to
believe? The bible tells the story over and over again of the Apostles
going out to teach and the Holy Ghost falls upon them and they are
baptized. God is the same yesterday today and forever and by that
statement we know that it is through the Holy Ghost that comes the
evidence of truth. That is how it worked in the past and should it work
any differently today? Well, it doesn't. There is no other testimony that
will stand over the ages than that which comes from the Holy Ghost.
There are lots of physical evidences out there that the bible is
authentic, yet look at how many people do not believe in the bible.
Evidences never proved anything spiritual and they never will! The Holy
Ghost is what people need. And I am so grateful I can stand before
someone and say when I am asked "Why are you a Mormon?" I can say
"Because, The Holy Ghost told me that Christ's church has been
restored!"
May the blessings continue to come to all of our family!
Love,
Elder Beutler
