Email 4/22/13

Dear Mother,

Well it is good to hear that everyone is doing well. What an exciting time this is for the Eagar, AZ Stake. It will be sad to see Pres. Hunt released; he has been such a great influence not only to our stake, but also to our community and, if I am not mistaken, I do not think there has been a family in the community that has not been affected for the better because of Pres. and Sis. Hunt (even though they are a bunch a Utah fans...that might not be quite so forgiveble). I think that whoever is the next stake president has big shoes to fill.

This week has been like every other week, just too much to do and not enough time slots in our planners to do it all in. I will admit this week has been a little slower, but it has been a good week nonetheless. I just hope that you all are doing well.

This week I had an opportunity to go on an exchange with a young Elder in my district (Elder Burk is training him). We went out tracting and ran into a couple different characters. One of the men that we knocked into opened the door, saw who we were, and said "I know who you are, but if you want to come in and sit for a minute I will explain to you my theory." Of course we accepted...who would turn that down? We entered into his home and sat down. He asked us why we were there. I blatently told him that I was there for him. Confused at my response he again restated his question and I readily repeated my answer. Still confused he asked me if I was there for God or for morals, and again I told him that I was there because I knew I had a message that would change his life and again restated my answer that I was there for HIM (he did not seem to get it...). This gentleman then told me that I was there to make him conform to our morals and proceeded into a well thoughtout discouse on the "history" of religion and how it is nothing more than a pety attempt to govern people. He was not angry, in fact he encouraged what we are doing. He believes that we can spread good to people but he believes that "God" is within us. No matter what he said or how satisfied he is with his life, he needed God. We both were able to bear testimony to him that what we know is true.

This story ends there. He did not have a revelation in that moment that told him that what we said is true. We were not able to get a return appointment. I will probably never see this gentleman again, but the "moral" of my story is this--when we do all that we can, when the mighty storms beat against us, and when the devil attempts to drag us down, we must be founded upon the first and second laws of heaven. "Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men" (2 Nephi 31:20). I love you!

Love,
Elder Hamblin