The gospel really does bless the family

This week was a really good one. We are working a lot with Fam. Z. In total there are two grandparents (less actives), their sons (less actives as well) and three grand kids (investigators) that are listening to our lessons. It's kinda crazy how much the gospel really can change people. When we started teaching them they refused to come to church, the grand kids were all Little punks and all of them just didn't care. After about a month and a half everything has changed, they are coming to church, the dad's are starting to really think about the responsibility that they have to their kids and their families and more than anything the grand kids are really starting to understand that God means something and He can help them.

The first time they actually showed up to church, we had to show up to their houses, practically force them to come to church, and they all came un-showered, in clothes covered in paint (they paint houses for a living) and just with a bad attitude. So to be honest wasn't the best of situations, but after three weeks of going to church and doing when the gospel teaches them to in their daily lives, they are changing. They have more life and light in their faces, they just look happier. They come to church all cleaned up and ready to go without us even having to come by and remind them, and one day we came by unexpectedly and to our amazement they were all reading the Book of Mormon together as a family and told us that they started reading every day about a week ago.

The dads are changing a lot, they want to help their sons and set the example and it's so cool to see but to be honest it's the kids that are really understanding the point and are keeping their commitments. K. is 10 and he is an amazing kid, his older brothers all treat him like crap and they refuse to listen to our message but he always is ready and waiting to listen to us. He always asks really good questions in lessons and has real concern for his own spiritual welfare but more than anything for that of his older brothers. The other night we were talking about baptism and how we need to be baptized in order to be an eternal family and all of a sudden he says "well what's the point then of me being baptized? My brothers refuse to do it. so they can't come to heaven with me." (Hahahha the grandma responded faster than us and said "well its better to live with God than your family anyway." hahahaha it was funny but we had to shut down that answer real quick) It just amazes me that this kid really does worry about his brothers and so we told him he's gotta set the example and they will eventually realize how the gospel can bless them as well. Haha its weird how kids really do understand the message faster than their parents, the point is not to choose between God and family but to be with both for forever. He also asked us how he can really know if our church is true (his mom is very anti-mormon but his dad is a member so its another obstacle to overcome.) and accepted the challenge to read, ponder and pray about the Book of Mormon.

The gospel really does bless the family, I have seen it so much in my mission. You don't realize how much it really does bless and strengthen us until you find a family who doesn't have it. I'm so grateful to God that I had the chance to be born into a stable home where the gospel is present and more than anything I am now able to bring that stability and help to those that are searching and need it.

Elder Roberts

Go read D and C 138. I don't know why but it really impressed me this week and I feel like you should go and read it and more than anything do the work that they need. Love you and hope life is good.