Tuesday, October 30, 2012

October 29, 2012


Dear Family & Friends,

This week has been great! I am trying to respond to all the letters and things ya’ll have sent me.

I will just send one experience I had this week.

For a while now, we have been teaching a man—the “loin cloth man”—on his front porch. This last Friday we read the Introduction of the Book of Mormon including the Testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith with him. Here is an excerpt from what we shared:
“He called me by name, and said unto me that he was a messenger sent from the presence of God to me, and that his name was Moroni; that God had a work for me to do; and that my name should be had for good and evil among all nations, kindred, and tongues, or that it should be both good and evil spoken of among all people.
 “He said there was a book deposited, written upon gold plates, giving an account of the former inhabitants of this continent, and the source from whence they sprang. He also said that the fullness of the everlasting Gospel was contained in it, as delivered by the Savior to the ancient inhabitants.”

As we were reading I felt impressed to read Revelations 14:6–7.

"And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters."

When I compared these two passages, it was a witness to me that the Book of Mormon really is true and that the Angel Moroni was that angel that declared the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ.

It was amazing—although I had not known what to say before hand, with the help of the spirit, I was able to share my thoughts as I was realizing them myself.

The eyes of the man we were teaching lit up as he understood the gravity of what I was testifying. The Bible really does foretell of the coming of the Book of Mormon! The last living, John the Revelator, saw it and wrote about it as a revelation that would come in the last days. This is a revelation and prophecy fulfilled.

Please, I challenge all of you to read it for yourselves:


I know that this is The Gospel of Jesus Christ and that it has been restored in its entirety for all of us living in these great and last days before the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. I know it! I know that Joseph Smith was and is a prophet of God called on the earth to restore Christ’s original church and "one faith." The evidence of this is found in the Book of Mormon.

I am so glad to be a missionary and to share these glad tidings of great joy! I say this as a representative of Jesus Christ. In His holy name, amen.

Love,
Elder Gomm

Pre-missionaries: write me ASAP

Monday, October 22, 2012

October 22, 2012



Dear Family and Friends,


My birthday was great!  Thank you all for your great letters and packages.  It really made my birthday special. It’s weird to be 20, but that’s ok.


Life is going well.  The work is really starting to progress, and things are really picking up.  

Miracles are happening.  This last week we gave several priesthood blessings to some members of our ward who were sick.  I laid my hands upon this boy’s head and when I started to speak I felt something powerful and overwhelming come over me.  It was as if fire was all around me and my chest was burning as if I was in an oven.  It was spectacular to witness the power of God searing from me to this boy.  I am not much for words, as ya’ll know, but it wasn't the words I spoke that mattered.  It was the power of God flowing through me as I gave this boy a blessing.

Jesus Christ had the power to act in God's name to heal the sick, cause the blind to see, and the lame to walk.  He could command the winds and seas to obey him.  The power he had was the priesthood.  He gave this same power to his apostles and called them to preach the Gospel to the world.  When Christ and his Apostles died, this priesthood power was lost.  No longer was there anyone on earth who had the priesthood authority given by Jesus Christ.

In 1829, Peter, James, and John, under the direction of Jesus Christ, conferred the Priesthood upon Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery.  It has now been passed down even to me.  I know that I hold that same priesthood and that I have felt its power to bless the lives of God’s children here on earth.

Those of you that are going on a mission, please write me!  I really hope to hear from you.  That goes for you sisters as well.

That’s it for this week.

Love,
Elder Gomm

P.S.  We went to old Salem, NC today. I got a Confederate hat!!!! haha  

Love Ya’ll!  Please write to me! I am doing my best to write back as soon as I can.

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Happy Birthday Elder Gomm

Whenever one of our kids has a birthday we spend the day thinking about all of the joy they have brought into our life. We see in our minds many images of the past and hope for the future. So, today we would like to share a picture from the past of one cute little 4 year old boy who always dreamed of serving a mission. We are apart this year because that dream has now come true. We are so proud of you!
HAPPY 20th BIRTHDAY ELDER GOMM
Love, Mom & Dad

Monday, October 15, 2012

October 15, 2012

Dear Everyone,

This week has been pretty good.  I had many spiritual experiences.  I will tell you about a really cool experience.

Elder Christensen and I were going to an appointment on the bad side of town, the really hood area. That is usually where we are at.  This was on Friday.  We were peddling on our bikes really fast to get there.  I stared to have this weird feeling; kind of a sad, dark, heavy feeling.  I started to pray to get this feeling off of me.  I felt like I did something wrong.  The feeling changed however, to a feeling and thought of warning.  I went through a light but my companion didn't make it.  I looked up and down the street in front of me and I heard the word "STOP!" in my head.  I slammed on my brakes and waited until my companion caught up with me, then we continued on to our appointment.  We went in and the feeling left and we taught a great lesson.  We walked outside and both of us felt it again!  We got on our bikes; we looked at each other and knew we needed to get out of here and home immediately.  As we were ridding back to our apartment, strange things were going on all around us.  There were drag races, marijuana smoke, guys walking with big sticks, crazy drivers trying to run us off the road, just weird stuff.  It felt like we were being attacked or chased.  We were trying to get out of there as fast as we could.  We passed under an overpass and the dark feeling left.  We felt peace again.  When we arrived back to the apartment things were good. 

Challenge for everyone that reads this is to make a mormon.org account!!!  I saw Maggie on there and that made me happy.  Maggie you are the best!!!!  I also would like all the people who are thinking of are going on a mission to write me.  I would like to share with each what would help you prepare for your mission. 

That’s it for this week here in North Carolina.

Love ya’ll,
Elder Gomm

Monday, October 8, 2012

October 8, 2012

Hello One and All,

This week was fantastic!!!!!!  First off, Conference was amazing!!!!  For a missionary it is like Disneyland or a midnight showing of the coolest movie in history!!!  I loved Priesthood Session and especially the talks from the First Presidency.  Being spiritually in tune as a missionary made that the whole time my chest was burning, and it felt like electricity was surrounding me!!!!  This was an exceptional conference to hear from the Prophet and the Apostles!!  Wow!!!

So spiritual story of the week!  We invited one of our investigators, who is just fantastic and whose heart has truly been prepared by the Lord, to conference.  He came to the Saturday Morning Session at our chapel.  He sat down just as the Prophet stood up to give his historic announcement. I leaned over to him and whispered, "That’s the Prophet."  He pointed and said, "There's something about that man… I don’t know what it is… it’s like Jesus is speaking through him…" Tears began to run down his face. He was like a little kid, seeing the Prophet for the first time. As I turned and gazed into the eyes of President Monson, I too saw what he was seeing.  Thomas S. Monson really is a prophet, and yes Jesus speaks through him!  There really are prophets again on the earth today!!!  And we had the fantastic opportunity to hear his words.

Oh, and I met Elder Bowen, who spoke Saturday afternoon at our Mission Tour a few weeks ago.

Funny and cool stories of the week:
We taught a guy in a loin cloth. Yep. We are knocking on doors on this really weird street.  This man was wearing nothing but these shorts that were shredded up to the belt, and a loin cloth.  He was soaking up the sun, listening to Briana and drinking Cherry Dr. Pepper.  It was awesome!!!! We have been teaching him all week.

Our car is fantastic!!!! The president called me and gave me special driving privileges for a meeting that my companion would be going to and I would be staying in my area with the car.  I am the youngest missionary to ever have driving privileges in this mission.  (Oh yeah!)  It was great.  I made history.

Went to Goodwill for fun today, and I almost bought a teal suit jacket but decided not to.  We went down this one isle and people we franticly loading their carts up with shoes.  Fights were breaking out. My companion and I looked at each other, and looked back at this odd display before us, with bewilderment.  It was like Black Friday or something.  So we left.

Now a special note to you young men and women: SERVE A MISSION.  Young men, I would ask you when you should start preparing for a mission?  The answer is NOW!!!!!!!!!!  May I speak boldly to you as a missionary who represents the Lord and Savior.  You are needed!!!!!  The 2000 stripling warriors need the reinforcements!!!!  Prepare NOW!!!!!  All you young men, in the Green Valley Ward, PREPARE NOW!!!

Young Women: I expect you all to take the challenge and serve missions.  The time is now!  I was discussing this with the Elders in my district; all of them want to marry a spiritually prepared and mature young daughter of God.  I know of no better way that you can become converted to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, than by teaching faith, repentance, baptism by water and of the spirit, and enduring to the end.  Within my first 3 weeks, just at the MTC, I became converted.  I had my own Alma the Younger experience and I had a mighty change of heart.  I am not that Chris Gomm you all knew before I left to serve.  I predict that the Church will be strengthened because of the young women of this great church!  You will become better wives, mothers, daughters, and disciples as you go out to serve the Lord.  We NEED you!!!!  I exhort you, to ponder it in your hearts, and ask God the Eternal Father, in the name of Jesus Christ if you need to serve a mission.  The battle is waging with the adversary, I do not doubt, my mother knew it.  I am Elder Gomm.  I am a warrior.  I am a missionary.

With Love,
Elder Gomm

PS  I used up all my time.  I love you all!!  Happy Birthday Jess!!! Yes, I did get the coat, thanks.  Love you!!  Keep up the good work.

New Age Requirements for Missionary Service

Monday, October 1, 2012

October 1, 2012

Hi Everybody,

Sorry not much time again hahaha :)

Pretty good week this week.  We are gonna have a car this week.  Its been raining a bunch and that was fun on a bike.

There is a awesome member of the ward.  I want to be like him when I grow up. He is the most fun and enthusiastic person I have ever met.  We asked him to take an investigator to church and he told the following story in a letter to my Mom and Dad:
Two Sundays ago, Elder Christensen and your son were expecting my wife and I and our kids to pick up an investigator and bring her to Church. We were very excited because we knew the missionaries were counting on us, and we had already began creating a great friendship with this person. Therefore, it was to our complete dismay when, after getting the kids in the car ready to go pick up our new friend, we realized I had accidentally locked our car keys inside our house. With no way to get in our home, and no time to arrange a back-up plan, there was only one thing to do (and it was my wife’s idea!!!): Break through the backdoor. We did, and our friend made it to church! The pictures show the aftermath.
I wish there were more people like him and his family.
My companion and I are getting along great!  We are great friends and are really hard at work. That is all for now. I will look for some fun stories this coming week. 

Love,
Elder Gomm

Oh and one of our investigators will probably be getting baptized this month.