This week our zone set certain goals on putting people on date for baptism as well as finding a certain number of new investigators. It would be the highest our zone has achieved this year. So we were knocking on doors especially hard this week. Our area is notorious for being hard to find investigators through tracting. We have been working with the members of the ward, and things are looking up, but we were set on finding a new investigator through tracting. We knocked a lot of doors, got a ton of potential investigators, but none of them turned into investigators. A spanish companionship came with us to our area and helped knock with us. I was with Elder Anchondo-Perez from Cuidad, Mexico. We were standing on the corner of the street trying to decide which direction we should start knocking. We said a prayer asking for revelation on where we should start. I told him to close his eyes and I would close mine, and we would point to where we should start. We did this and then opened our eyes. We were both pointing at the same house. We knocked on the door and this old 80 year old man answered named Bob. We started talking to him and asked him what his name was. He told us that it was Mitt Romney, and then started laughing. Great (or so I thought). He told us to come in. We sat down and he said that he never has been religious growing up. He had abusive parents that never took him to church. He told us that he wants to learn about our church to see if it is the right church. We taught the restoration and committed him to read the Book of Mormon. He seemed eager to read it. We are seeing him this Wednesday to talk about what he read (3 Nephi 11) and, if the Spirit directs, teach him the Plan of Salvation. We were really excited about that. Later that evening, we talked to 2 girls on the street who were walking their dogs. We found out that their Mom was very curious about our religion. I guess she had seen missionaries out and about, but never had the courage to go talk to them. We are seeing them this week as well.

However, the sun cannot shine forever. We had a lesson with Chris at a park. We were so excited to finally sit down and teach her, as well as talk to her about her reading in the Book of Mormon. We had some small talk in the beginning, and then transitioned into the Gospel. Right off the bat, she had us turn to Deuteronomy. She had us read a scripture that said something to the effect that if a Prophet prophesies something that doesn't come true, he isn't a true prophet. Curious, I asked her why she had us read that. She told us that there were prophesies in the Book of Mormon that didn't come true. When asked which ones, she "couldn't remember". We talked about how come prophesies are going to come true in the future. She said that was impossible. (she is a christian woman). We asked her where the ark of the covenant was, she said that it hasn't been found yet................................. Oh geez... she said that there isn't physical evidence that the Book of Mormon is true. She kept asking where the Gold Plates were. What kind of faith is that? This woman is like a female Korihor. I asked her that if I got the Plates, would she then believe. She said no, because they don't exist. I asked that if God came to her and told her that the Book of Mormon was true, would she believe then? She said no, because the Bible is the only Holy writ. I told her that she hasn't been praying with real intent (like she professed she had). If she wanted an answer from God, she had to be willing to act on the answer. She then told us that she had recieved an answer that the Book of Mormon wasn't true. I then told her that our purpose as missionaries is to invite others to come unto Christ. Our time is precious, and we are here to teach those that will receive us. We left by letting her know that when she decides to be humble and pray with a sincere heart, we can show her the way to eternal life. But until then, we cannot waste our time with such arguments. God does not tell people that the Book of Mormon is false. I have such a strong testimony of that. It is true.

Stake Conference was this last weekend for our stake. President Riggs spoke at the Sunday session. He stressed that members need to pray for revelation on how to conduct missionary work. Since President Riggs has come in and instituted a program where we stop by members homes and ask if they have received revelation, our refferals have soared. Our people on date is at a record high as a mission. He is such an inspiring man. For the Saturday adult session I, along with another Elder and 2 Sisters, sang a song. The stake really wants to have the missionaries as noticeable as possible. I felt the song went well.

Love you all!

Elder Michael Litchfield