Another great week!

Just thought I'd let everyone know we have had another great week here in Montgomery! One of the highlights was the zone conference we attended. Lots of great speakers. Bruce Porter from BYU (Ancient History Proff) and an archeologist, Brother May. They were talking about the Book of Mormon, all the references to this land being the promised land. This land being here in America! The archeologist was an expert on the Hopewell Indians( algonquin, Iroquios) all the Indians on the east coast and in the mid west. Scientist have found DNA markers to link them to Mid-east ancestry(Israel) They have also found relics of Egyptian nature throughout all the mounds they have excavated. It was very interesting. The church has no official stand on this. But all the facts these two presented were very convincing that Lehi landed probably in the Gulf of Mexico and came up through, Alabama, Mississippi area, and moved north. The Mulekites and Jaredites probably came in through the St Lawrence and moved south and west through Missouri. They both stated it doesn't really matter. The Book of Mormon is true where ever it took place but it sure seemed right, that it would have taken place right here! In the United states of America. This was the promised Land!!!! By all indications! We will still need to build our testimonies on faith not facts!

We also had a recent convert speak to us. He was about 45-50. He had been raised in a good baptist home and even attended a bible college after high school. He head down the wrong path after a while and ended up involved in the KKK and The Aryan Nation. He was the Grand Dragon of KKK in Alabama. He was arrested several times and in Federal prison a few times(Firearms). He was also one of the Skin heads on the Geraldo Rivera show a few years ago when they threw a chair at him and busted his nose. (Some of you may remember this incident) He said he almost starved to death in solitary confinement in Alabama prison, but a little hispanic guard (LDS) would sneak him a little extra food which saved him. He remembered the kindness and that he was a mormon. Last year he was going around the country attracting Aryan brothers through heavy metal band concerts. He realized his life was going nowhere. He was tired of going to jail or prison every few months. He prayed that God would show him how to turn his life around. He said about 10 minutes later two elders knocked on his door. He let them in and made all the other young men at his house sit down and listen to them. He said he felt the spirit which he had not felt in a long time. He decided to have the Elders back. They invited him to church after the next visit. He went and hasn't missed a Sunday yet. He was baptzed after an interview with President Tate. He has had a total change of heart! That is what the gospel can do in our lives if we just let it. He remembers the Elders telling him to read about the iron rod. He did and he continues to hold to it! He has been given the Aaronic Priesthood and serves and blesses the Sacrament each Sunday with a young black priest. He has learned to love him and they are helping each other to prepare for the next step in the priesthood. The gospel is truly amazing. The Atonement is magnificent! It can change anyones Heart.(Alma 5:12,26).

As you can tell we are so blessed to be here at this time doing this mission. There are literally thousands just like the man above. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the only answer! Please pray that we will be able to go out and share this message with everyone we meet! People are looking! New neighbor just moved in and we met him in the parking lot. He said the other neighbor had told him we were missionaires. He said "I would like to talk to you about your church!"

We said great. Pray for us to have the spirit to teach him. He is looking!



Bye for now. Thank you all for your prayers. We can feel them. We love you all.



Elder and Sister Stewart