The Miracle of
The Work of Salvation

Four cousins getting ready to depart for Puerto Rico, Milan Italy, Milan Italy and Argentina.  Josh in the red tie and Sarah on the right are our grandchildren.  Rachel on the left and Stephen on the right also honor us by calling us grandma and grandpa.  Part of the army of young men and women going throughout the world to declare the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Below are some West Indies missionary experiences as well as four young adults from the Tobago Branch that are preparing to serve.

Elder Payne & Elder Dohrman

We received a Mormon.org referral to contact a man named Edward Young.  We called the number immediately and introduced ourselves.  The man who answered paused in disbelief:  “Hold on, give me fifteen seconds to breath.”  He explained that he had just tried to visit our church building, but found no one there, so he went home.  When he walked in the door, his phone rang, and it was the missionaries.

We met with Edward the next day.  He was very excited to see us and could not stop smiling.  He explained that he had grown up Catholic, but with all the confusion from many different churches, it had become difficult for him to believe in God at all.  He felt that if there was a God, why wouldn't He establish a church with new scriptures to make it clear how to get to heaven?

He was amazed to find every one of his questions answered in the Book of Mormon and the message of the Restoration.  “Would it be alright if I came to church this coming Sunday?” he asked.  He was thrilled to learn about the restored priesthood, committed to read the Book of Mormon, accepted an invitation to be baptized, and shyly offered a closing prayer.  In subsequent lessons, Nicole Garza (the recent convert who referred him) joined us via Skype from Texas and bore testimony that the Spirit can confirm the truth.  On Sunday, Edward Young Jr. came to church with his Book of Mormon in hand and a smile on his face.

He followed through with his commitment and was baptized on the twenty-third of March.  We know that the Lord is hastening his work and that Edward Young Jr. was prepared by the Lord to receive His gospel.

For the Beauty of the Earth

For the Joy of Human Love

Sister Linton and I have these four young adults in our home to teach each other in a mission preparation class.  We are using Preach My Gospel and the six of us team up in two's and make presentations on chapters every two weeks. From left to right they are Deston, Diana, Che and Nicholi.  We love having them in our home and see in them future leaders of the Tobago Church.

Yes, they love the food we enjoy with them after each class

The dinner they have enjoyed most - Sloppy Joe's or barbecue beef sandwiches.  Che, seated in the back, out-ate everyone.  Yes - he is the smallest.

Niccoli and Che below are valiant Priests preparing to serve 

There is beauty

All around

When there's Love at Home

Part of our wonderful family from left to right.  Jane, Josh, Sarah, Laura (our daughter), Jon and David.

West Indies missionaries at a baptism in Trinidad 

For the Beauty of the Earth

For the Beauty of the Skies

Exact Obedience Brings Miracles by Elder Tolman

Elder Hartshorn and I have been trying to be diligent and exactly obedient because we need miracles now more than ever.

One night last week, all of our appointments had fallen through.  It was 8:30 p.m., and we were close to our apartment.  We were both super tired and wanted to just call it a night.  We almost agreed to go in, but I had a feeling that I should honor my commitment to be obedient to all the rules.  So we slowly put one foot in front of the other and dragged ourselves back into town to talk to people, even though I was sure they were already drunk.  We went into town and of course people were yelling at us like they do at night.  I looked around to see if there were any places that I hadn't already been in that area.  I looked in front of me and just decided to walk over there.  Elder Hartshorn came too.  While walking past a bar I noticed a big piece of plywood that seemed to be a wall.  I looked through a hole and saw that there was actually a little house behind it.  I decided to call in.  Someone came out and we started explaining who we were and why we were there.  The lady invited us to pass behind the bar to her house.  She wasn't very interested, but we decided to use the 7-10 minutes we had left.  After a few minutes, her 40 year-old daughter came out and started listening intently.  She asked about the book of Mormon.  We explained it.  She asked for a copy and we gave it to her.  We left with a prayer and went home.  The next day we went and saw her.  She had read the introduction and 3 Nephi 11.  She prayed about it and told us that she knew it was true.  Her friends at work tried to tell her that the book was evil but she explained that she had read and prayed to know if was true.  Her name is Bernadette.  I believe that she is someone that we were lead to find who was already prepared to receive the gospel.  I am so thankful that we decided to keep going.  If we hadn't, I know I would never have gone finding right in that spot.

For the Joy of Human Love, Friends on Earth, and Friends 

Above