The Power of the First Vision

Hello Friends and Family!

We had a great first full week of work together here with Elder Pantano. It's been super fun to see his progress in this short time that we have had together! It makes companionship studies super fun. We have lots of time to study doctrine and practice different teaching techniques with him. He has lots of good insights and great questions, and it's super fun to open up the scriptures and see his reaction each time we find the answers. He is transforming into a truly fantastic missionary with a powerful testimony of the truth, and is gaining more and more experience in teaching and testifying clearly of what we believe as members of the church.

We had an interesting experience this past Thursday with Fermin Lara. He invited us to visit him on Thursday. We arrived, and he quickly briefed us that he had invited the "Anciano" (basically the pastor) of the Jehovah's Witnesses to come and explain a topic that Fermin was NOT in agreement with, and had invited us to come at the same hour to discredit the anciano's argument. We told him that it was ok for this once, but that we normally don't Bible bash. Well, the anciano arrived, we listened to the scriptures that he had to present for the case of that blood transfusions were not Biblical. We analyzed the scriptures that he presented, and took them in context, and concluded with Fermin there present that there was nothing in the Bible that stated the impurity of blood transfusions, seeing that the scriptures he had shared spoke only of sacrifices and old testament practices. To press that point further, we shared John 6:63, which says, "It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life." 

After sharing that scripture, the anciano could only try to defend his standpoint with personal interpretations and opinions, which we quickly identified as not Biblical, and we politely excused ourselves. We truly saw the completion of the promise read in Doctrine and Covenants section 71:7 "Wherefore, confound your enemies; call upon them to meet you both in public and in private; and inasmuch as ye are faithful their shame shall be made manifest. 8 Wherefore, let them bring forth their strong reasons against the Lord. 9 Verily, thus saith the Lord unto you—there is no weapon that is formed against you shall prosper; 10 And if any man lift his voice against you he shall be confounded in mine own due time. 11 Wherefore, keep my commandments; they are true and faithful. Even so. Amen."

The Lord makes manifest of truth! I felt the reality of this divine truth as we testified of the Restoration again and again this week. Each time we relate the words of Joseph Smith describing his first vision, I have felt the confirming witness of the Holy Spirit testify that it is true. Everything that we believe as members of the Church of Jesus Christ depends on the reality of the First Vision. I know that it is true, not because I was there, not because somebody has shown me physical evidences of the reality of this world shaping event, but because I have received an answer from Heavenly Father through His Holy Spirit that it is true.

Here are a couple of scriptures that really called my attention during my studies this week.

Doctrine and Covenants 42:6 The pattern established by the Lord to preach his word.

Doctrine and Covenants 61:36 Be of good cheer, I am with you..

Well, I hope you all have a great week! Put the Lord first and keep the faith, and you will be blessed!

Love, Elder Newman

Dad, sounds like a great week, spending some time with Steve and Jeremy. Thank you for your words of encouragement, and counsel dad. I love you so much, hope you have a great week!!

Mom, wow, looks like you and Emma had quite the week! What a great trip, and those are some great pictures! Love you so much Mom!

Jackson, juggling all sorts of responsibilities this week! Well done filling in a bit for mom and staying on top of classes and work too! Sounds like things are going well! Love you bro!!

Emma, I was looking at the pictures and it looks like you guys had quite the week! Nicely done talking in Spanish out there! That's super cool! Te amo hermanita!

Sarah, that's so cool that you had a good time out in Vegas in your Basketball camp! Well done!! Way to ball out with all the high schoolers! Love you Bear!!

Callie, sounds like you had a great time at Grandma's with the scavenger hunt! I would have gotten pinched yesterday if they celebrated St. Patrick's Day here because I forgot to put on green!! Can't wait to see your glow costume! Love you Callie!!

Mom's Questions:
1. Tell me three things about your new comp.

Elder Pantano is from Bogota Columbia, He is the second of three brothers, is extremely talented as a musician, and understands English pretty well when I don't talk fast.

2. What is the best thing about training a new missionary? What is the hardest thing? 

Best thing about a new missionary is their pureness in every thing that they do. Their testimonies are so heartfelt and sincere. The hard thing is that sometimes I have to take more of the load in some of the administrative stuff like the area book and working with the branch, But Elder Pantano is learning really fast.

3. Who are your current investigators and how are they doing? 

Rosa and Jimena Sanchez are super awesome, they have come to church three times, and the Familia Sanchez Renaga is a solid family that we recently found that is very receptive and yesterday accepted a baptismal date.