Week 27: Book From Heaven

March 12, 2020

Week 27: Book From Heaven

Mission "dad" and "uncle" in front of the temple

Hvad så! My goodness, is it P-day already? I feel like I was writing a draft only moments ago and here I am again in the Roskilde chapel typing a million miles per second. Times flies when you enjoy your companion, ward, and area! :)

As you might recall, 15 possible friends came out of our blitz splits last Saturday. We, as in the Roskilde Elders and APs, attempted to contact each one throughout the course of the week. Most of them weren't home in a specific area so we continued to knock apartments close by. At one door, Ældste Jensen stood on a level above us with a Book of Mormon in hand. After about a thousand knocks, the door swung open and Ældste Brown proceeded to say, "Hej, vi kommer ud fra Jesu Kristi Kirke og vil gerne dele en Bog fra Himlen med dig." (English translation = "Hey, we come out from the Church of Jesus Christ and would like to share a Book from Heaven with you") Right as my comp said the word himlen (heaven), Jensen dropped the book from heaven and it fell into my hands. I don't think I've ever seen someone so terrified in my life, haha! The lady that answered was so confused and awkwardly shut the door in our smiling faces. Worth a shot, I guess..

Fortunately, we did have some better luck at another door. Brown and I visited a cute African family that he found during the splits. They joyfully accepted us into their home and listened attentively to a brief message about Jesus Christ. We talked a lot about the Holy Bible and the Book of Mormon, specifically about how both the books support each other and contain the words of God. We also brought up the priesthood, or the power of God, and the modern day prophets and apostles. The family loved hearing about our beliefs and sharing their own beliefs with us. The mother, father, and children also taught us a lovely praising chant as a token of gratitude. We were amazed with how beautiful their voices were! As we departed, they invited us to come back again and offered to allow us 5-10 minutes of airtime on the father's radio station. Sounds like a pretty creative finding method, am I right or am I right?

I have been told by several people that I look like Elvis Presley but this week I was being told that I look like Clark Kent. I finally let go of my pride and got some glasses. My eyesight was slowly worsening over time in college to the point that I had to sit in the front row in order to see the whiteboard. Out in Denmark, my vision has gone even more downhill and I decided to have my eyes checked by Daniel, our favorite optometrist. He told me that I would've failed the Danish driving test and recommended to wear -1RE / -1.25LE prescription glasses all the time, except when reading things up close. He warned that my vision would only get worse if I didn't fix it with lenses. I modeled a bunch of unique glasses, with Daniel and Ældste Brown as my judges. We all agreed on a dark green, modern frame called Metro made by Ricardo Nordica, a Swede. I hope they look good on me and I'll let y'all decide what you think for yourselves.

The greatly anticipated temple trip came to pass! :D Natasja got her temple recommend and we helped her find some names on FamilySearch to take inside the Lord's holy house. The Nørrung family came along with the Roskilde elderhood (idk if that's a word) to support her and witness the sacred ordinances. AP Jensen had the honor to baptize her in behalf of her deceased mother and grandmothers. The spirit was overwhelmingly powerful! The peace we felt cannot be described with how limited our capacity truly is! It is breathtaking to experience the significant contrast between the feelings within the walls of the temple and the feelings on the streets of the world. I miss going to the temple as much as I can and encourage everyone to set aside time to enter the temple at least once a week. It is a safe haven where God's presence can be felt! God lives and His temples manifest that truth!

With some extra motivation after the temple trip, Brown and I completed Sister Montgomery and President Olsen's challenge to listen to "Safety for the Soul" by Jeffrey R. Holland and hand out two Mormons Bøger on Saturday. Something from Elder Holland's talk moved me and I thought to share it. He said, "Now, I did not sail with the brother of Jared in crossing an ocean, settling in a new world. I did not hear King Benjamin speak his angelically delivered sermon. I did not proselyte with Alma and Amulek nor witness the fiery death of innocent believers. I was not among the Nephite crowd who touched the wounds of the resurrected Lord, nor did I weep with Mormon and Moroni over the destruction of an entire civilization. But my testimony of this record and the peace it brings to the human heart is as binding and unequivocal as was theirs. Like them, '[I] give [my name] unto the world, to witness unto the world that which [I] have seen.” And like them, “[I] lie not, God bearing witness of it.'"

Brothers and sisters, along with the prophets and apostles of this ancient and modern times I add my name as a witness unto the world that the Book of Mormon is the word of God. It was saved and translated by the power and mercy of God for the benefit of His children in these perilous and confusing times. This record provides "safety for the soul" in both good times and bad times. If you ever feel your faith shake, open up that book and find solace in the word of God, for “the Book of Mormon [is] the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man [will] get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book.”

Make a fantastic week and remember to stay positive! ;)

Kærlig hilsen,

Ældste Moore

P.S. Happy belated 44th birthday to my old man! Hope you didn't work too hard and felt special with some sort of celebration! Love you, Dad!

P.P.S. I think I'm gonna start including a few pictures in my emails from now on. They'll act as previews for my lovely blog eldermooremission.blogspot.com. Thanks Kaylee for keeping that updated for me!