10/19/09

Dear Family,

What a week this has been. I have been so blessed to be working in this area (Brighton) and am contually feeling the support of your prayers and the hand of the Lord in all that i do. I have had so many special experiences that have made me appreciate the great blessing it is to have the gospel of Jesus Christ in its fullness. I received an email from Clayton about conference two weeks ago mentioning Elder Holland's talk on the Book of Mormon. What a powerful testimony that was! It truly did inspire me and gave me a renewed desire to share that message with all that would listen. I have pondered especially since then about the Book of Mormon and about Joseph Smith. As i visited with our investigators and less active members this week i felt impressed to talk about that subject with many of them. I thought that the DVD "The Restoration" explained much better than i ever could and so watched that short film with many of those we are teaching. Each time, i felt a quiet witness that the events depicted truly did occur in the very manner that Joseph Smith described. I felt an exceptionally strong need to affirm that witness in prayer one night. I had always felt that it was true but never questioned it....

I had always relied on the testimonies of others. As i heard others bear witness of those truths i felt the witness of the spirit but i had never sought it out myself. Elder Holland spoke to us in the MTC declaring that we all at some point in our lives need to go to our own Ssacred Grove and eventually to our Gethsemane and Calvary. I wanted to know myself. As i knelt in prayer that night i began to plead with the Lord that He would bless me with that confirming witness. To my surprise nothing came. I was determined not to leave my knees until i knew. I asked again with the same result. I sat wondering why i could not be the recipient of such a witness that was promised the honest seeker. I thought to inwardly analyze if i was honest in my search. Slowly i began to be humble. My layers of "natural man" began to peel away to reveal the core of my soul. Then my true desires were manifest. When i asked this time, i knew it was from my heart. The witness did come, as it always does and as it is promised. My heart swelled within me and i knew that when i asked about the truth of the Book of Mormon and the prophet Joseph Smith that the things i already hoped to be true were confirmed. I understood what it was Lehi was describing in his vision of the tree of life. That fruit which is most desirable above all others is the love of God and we become partakers of it as we follow the path paved by our Savior and strengthened with the iron rod, His words. Nothing has brought me greater peace and more purpose. I am so grateful to be sharing this message with others that they may be partakers as well. That was the first desire of Lehi after he has parteken of the fruit of the tree of life. I hope to be successful in doing so. Thank you all for all that you do. Thank you for making the mission possible and for your many prayers and sacrifices. I am grateful for you my family and hope that you continue to enjoy that desirable fruit as you hold to the iron rod and continue down the path. I want you all to know that i am doing very well and that everything is working together for my good.

Elder Cabrera