Marshmallows, Persecution, and the tears of a Hardened Criminal

Well, for Marshmallows, very simply this week we rebuked our investigator (lovingly) for believing false doctrine. We have been working to help him get baptized (and he really wants to) but due to some things that he believes currently it would be bring him condemnation rather than blessings if he were baptized. So we were teaching him, and he's a very somber man. Things can get serious pretty fast, and they were extremely tense right after I rebuked him with scripture for missing the mark (missing the point) of the gospel of Jesus Christ. We sat in silence for about 3 minutes while He looked at the ground (and hopefully contemplated what I said). He then looked up at Elder Cox, and asked "can I share with you my version of the Garden of Eden?" up to this point we had been considering whether or not this man was a false prophet, and I was extremely worried about what he was going to say. "sure!" elder Cox said. And so this man commenced "In God's living room a long time ago was a boy named adam, and in the living room with adam god placed 2 marshmallow's. One was the marshmallow of life, the other the marshmallow of the knowledge of good and Evil..." This man's fellowshipper who was in the lesson with us during this tense moment busted out laughing, and couldn't stop! the man stopped and looked at his fellowshipper for a second, but then continued. He continued for another 10 minutes, meanwhile my companion and the fellowshipper and I were working so hard not to bust up laughing! it was one of those moments that was so ridiculous you had to be there. The Persecution. Simply enough, we knocked a door and a lady opened and said "Oh, the mormons. You have no respect for women." and she went off. I sat there with my righteous pride, waiting till I could lovingly correct her, because my mamma taught me to treat women the best! and this lady was just way off in left field about us. Well, we know from the scriptures that "contention is not of God" and so we just did our best to love the heck out of this lady! we found out that this random outlash was due to a lot of challenges in her life at that time, and since we acted out of love, and didn't argue (or contend) with her we parted ways with her having a better day. In another experience this week we were able to teach one of our investigators who is just a bro! we read 3 nephi 12 with him, and at the end of it he just poured his heart out to us. He told us about the guilt and shame he's struggled with a lot of his life for the decisions that have taken him in and out of Jail since the age of 11, and he was tearing up hard (tear like crying)! we were able to testify that god loves him and that through repentance he would be able to find the relief that he's looking for. We invited him to seek forgiveness and make reconciliation with those who he has harmed. The atonement of Jesus Christ is real, and through the sacrifice of our savior we can and will find healing in our lives, for all of the hurt and short comings in our lives. Elder Johnson Have a Merry Christmas! Feliz Navidad :)

"So is your official title like Mormon Catholic?"

We were blessed to meet a man that I've grown a great love for in this past week. His name is Mike Macneil, and He's cleaning up his life! He's 23 and after a rough past he found God about a year or 2 ago. He's got 3 pit bulls, the biggest being 140 lbs of pure muscle, and skull (it's head is the size of a boulder). We've been able to teach him multiple times in the past week, and he's just ready to "come unto christ". We were able to teach him yesterday, and he asked us "So is your official title like Mormon Catholic?" we were just like "What?" "You guys aren't a part of the catholic church?" *Cue lesson The Restoration of the Gospel Of Jesus Christ* Afterwards he was like "Oh ok, makes sense. Book of Mormon, Cool stuff!" he looked over at his girlfriend, and said Stephany! I'm gonna be a mor-man! you can be a mor-woman" His girlfriend wasn't as excited, but that'll change once we teach her more this Friday :) so that's mike! This is a thought that's been playing on my mind this week. Jesus Said "Ye are the light of the world" I've pondered on that throughout my life since i first memorized that way back sophomore year. This week, I've been thinking about the real meaning of Christmas, and how the world these days is just so focused on stuff! But as a missionary, where we are basically traveling hermits, we don't really worry about stuff. Occasionally we find a cool knick nack and we go for it, but It has taught me to find that true joy comes in our interactions with our fellow men and women. We are the Light of the world! Joy comes in being with family! With Friends! with talking with the random punk kid at school, or the old lady next to you in the shopping line! I challenge you to reach out to someone today and have a great conversation with them, face to face. I promise you that you will find true joy! as you are do this you will find the light in your lives! Also fun thing. This week, we had a parade here in New glasgow. Our challenge bring christ back into christmas, how we did it. we took the only trailer we could find, and we filled it with hay. I suddenly was Joseph, and Sister Nowlon (one of the sister missionaries here) was mary. My companion elder cox, became the purple wiseman, and sister osborn was the angel. Well, it was awesome :) Elder Johnson

Old fella, Big fella, and the Young fella's

This week I had the opportunity to drive up to Cape Breton to Go on an exchange with some missionaries way up there! We were able to help one of the members move out an older woman who is moving into a nursing home. We showed up, and due to the woman's recent poor health we put on face masks and Latex Gloves in prep to enter her home. Once we entered, we found it wasn't as bad as the member had supposed it might be, and got to the work. The Member, Bro Demeer, Brought one of his Workers. "Big Fella" A big ole first nationer (for you americans that means indian in Canada). Well, big fella grabbed a deep freeze and started dragging it straight out of the house, he was banging it side to side to move it little by little forward, and It was one of the most violent moves I've ever been a part of. "hey young fella" he said, gesturing to me. "grab the other side of this and help me out" so I did, and he had me walk and wiggle it out with him. Well, my hand and fingers were destroyed by that 😊 as they hit the walls, and the ground. But we got it out! with less damage done to the apartment than I had originally thought might occur. We continued to move out this old womans stuff, and time and time again Bro demeer ("old Fella") would look to Big fella, to get this stuff out of the house. There were a couple of specialty items, such as a $10,000 bed, and $5,000 chair. both with hydraulics and stuff. This big old native guy would just rip it right out of the house! I'm sorry, this email isn't very spiritual. but It was the event of the week! the most violent move I've ever been a part of (with perhaps the most expensive items). As a thank you for the help, Old fella gave Elder cox an I some moose steaks On a more spiritual note, yesterday the lords promises were fulfilled, as I taught our investigator Carmen about Jesus Christ. He has some strange beliefs, as he self-taught himself religion from the bible from an early age. But as we were reviewing who our savior Jesus Christ is we dove into really what he is saving us from. The lord Unloosed my mouth as we were able to review Alma 7:10-13, and we helped Carmen understand very plainly that Jesus Christ saved us from Eternal Physical Death, and from Eternal Spiritual Death as well. We helped him understand how Jesus did this through his atonement, the suffering in the garden of Gethsemane, as well as his death and resurrection. I am grateful for our savior Jesus Christ, and I know through his grace we can overcome sin as we act in faith. I know simply because I've experienced the change of heart that comes as we exercise Faith unto repentance in Christ. I love Ya'll lots! Elder Johnson​

Light The World

Alright, alright, alright! So, Christmas is rolling in for all of you americans now (its' been rolling in since the beginning of november for us here, since thanksgiving is in October here) but I am so excited! I love Christmas, I love serving others, and I love Jesus! So as a missionary I've been working hard to help roll out the "Light the World" Challenge issued by the Church. Its simply serve others in 25 ways for the 25 days leading up to christmas. I'm stoked for it! Many people we talk to in an average day, are quick to say "I've got my religion! have a nice day..*SLAM*(door now in my face)" but now it has been going "I have my relgion!" but before they slam to door "Oh, yes? you Love jesus? I love Jesus! Here's a challenge Jesus issued to us..." Mat 5- Ye are the light of the world, a city that is set on the hill cannot be hid neither do man light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candelstick! that it giveth light unto all that are in the house "So here we see that Jesus Challenged us to be lights to the world. We are inviting you to take that challenge! and be a light to the world!" "oh how wonderful" they say, "how can I do that?" "Well, we are inviting people to serve 25 ways in the 25 days leading up to Christmas. What better gift could we give to Jesus?" And so many people have been accepting the challenge up here in Nova Scotia! It's too legit to quit my friends. I want to throw down the same challenge to all of you! Will you follow the example of Jesus christ, and serve your fellow men this christmas season? Love Elder Johnson

The Power of Faith and the Book of Mormon

Hello! I'm not sure when the last weekly email i sent out was. Maybe last week, maybe a couple of weeks ago. Either way, To update Ya'll, I'm here in New Glasgow Nova Scotia Now! My companion is Elder Cox, and he's just a fun guy with a lot of heart. We walk and drive through the streets of new Glasgow singing constantly! The wise Elder Cox said "It's not a joyful heart that leads to singing, but singing that leads to a Joyful heart!" So we sing a lot, people look at us funny but its' awesome. I've been able to do this a lot of my mission as I followed the example of my uncle Kyle in some mission stories he's sent me, and its' so true! singing leads to happiness. (We'll have to send our mixtape out sometime) The past two weeks have been awesome! God has been rewarding our acts of faith, and we have been able to pick up four new investigators! and we hope to pick up their familiies soon as well. One of them is a man named Glen. He is a recovering drug addict, and was raised without the idea of God in his life. He's recently been attending the Christian Fellowship church! So he's working to draw closer to Christ. We were able to meet him and share with him the message of the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He told us that he's a very logical and well thought man, and after we explained the apostasy and first vision, we shared that the "Straight" and "Narrow" way that Jesus Christ taught in the new testament has been restored through the prophet Joseph Smith. I asked him "how can you know glen, if what we are sharing with you is really from god, and not just another false pathway?" "Well," He said. "I just believe it, I struggle with just believing things, but for some reason it just makes sense" and in my head I was just like "Thank you so much Heavenly father!" Because god is awesome, and it's the spirit that confirms truth to people's hearts. That is why it's so important to seek out the spirit in our search of truth. I can help confirm truth to us 😁 Elder Johnson