February 18, 2013

Dear Family and Friends,

Well, this week was pretty good. I just got over a cold so that was a nice trial this week. We have been having lots and lots of meetings lately. Thursday I went to a trainer/trainee meeting. That was pretty neat. We have been having some pretty good success lately. And the ward really loves us! We have been getting fed so well!

 

Ernest T. Bass

So Mom, you asked about any Ernest T. Bass (from the Andy Griffith Show) experiences. Well, in this area, like I have said before, there are quite rustic folk. I love them! Some members said they were going to feed us raccoon Wednesday. I got pretty excited. We came to their cabin in the backwoods, but they fed us biscuits and gravy and some really good grits. Then suddenly in the middle of dinner, their cousin, who lives right close to the family, came over. Everyone is related to each other here in this ward. So he came in and he had a rifle in hand and a raccoon in a cage. They told me they are going to skin it and give it to me! Hahahaha oh man! I love rustic backwoodsmen! So Mom, you might be getting a raccoon in the mail. Hahaha! I love the that family! Liver mush is another food we get a lot, and of course LOTS of biscuits and fried chicken!

So I have been working really hard to be the best I can be so I can have the Holy Ghost with me always. Before a lesson yesterday, I decided to get down on my knees and pray. I had much of the same experience as Joseph Smith in JS-H 1:29 but instead of seeing a heavenly messenger, I felt a very warm feeling come over me. I prayed to know what to teach. The answer rang in my head to read from the Introduction of the Book of Mormon. We went to dinner and the family we taught is the best family ever! The family is very active in the church but the husband is not a member and missionaries have tried for many years to get him to join the church. So after a great meal we went to the living room to have a lesson. I was very nervous about this tender situation, and so I prayed mightily in my heart to be endowed with power and have help in softening his heart. We began to teach and began to talk about the Book of Mormon. We each read a paragraph and explained and internalized it together. All the time I was speaking to the family rather than just him. I believe that all men must read the Book of Mormon and test to know if it is true or not, even if we have read it 7 times before. We continued to the last two paragraphs that tell us what we must do to find an answer. We must read it, ponder it in our heart, and then ask God in the name of Christ if it is true. We can know and gain a testimony of its truthfulness by the power of the Holy Ghost. When we know that the Book of Mormon is true, we then know by the same power that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world, that Joseph Smith is his authorized servant and Prophet in these days, and that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the Lord’s kingdom on the earth.

The Holy Ghost prompted me and these words came out, "Myself and Elder Call ask you, standing as witnesses and with God as a witness, will you read from the Book of Mormon every day?" I was overwhelmed and almost in tears seeing the eyes of those in the room. Each of them committed and we committed to read as well. It was a very sacred and humbling experience to be a worthy conduit of the converting power of the Holy Ghost.

The Spirit then directed me to leave the Savior’s peace and blessing with the family. The Spirit was so strong the room felt like it was on fire. It is such a feeling that can’t be explained. But I bear my solemn testimony that I know the Book of Mormon is true! That the Holy Ghost does testify of its truthfulness and that Jesus is the Christ! In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Love,

Elder Gomm

February 11, 2013

Dear Family and Friends,

This week has been quite exciting. Many of the people we are teaching are very “golden” in their search and it is amazing to watch the Spirit of the Lord change their hearts and minds. It is amazing to just watch it happen and see how merciful the Lord is to his children on the Earth. This week has been a little bit slower with finding new people to teach; I think God is teaching Elder Call and I some patience because at the moment no one is letting us in. But that’s ok because "we must endure well."

The absolute highlight of the week was when we got the opportunity to meet, and be instructed but an Apostle of God on Saturday, in Charlotte. What an amazing experience!!!

Elder Russel M. Nelson

We sat in the chapel silently studying and praying, after a glorious reunion with fellow missionaries and dear friends. In this reverent room with over 150 missionaries, we sat and waited to be in the presence of an Apostle, a special witness and minister of Jesus Christ. Suddenly we all stood, I glanced to my right and watched as an older gentleman walked down the isle and a powerful feeling entered in the room. We were directed to sit down and one-by-one got to meet Elder Russell M. Nelson.  Finally, it was my turn to shake his hand. He shook my hand and peered into my eyes and said...."Elder......Ggg...(Looking at my name tag) i finished it for him and he asked me where I was from…it was really, really neat. He thanked me for my service and I moved on to great my mission president. What an overwhelming feeling it was to look into an Apostles eyes and see the awesome power and purity in him. I sat down and he spoke to us. We learned so many things! He spoke many things to us, some of which are too sacred to write. We then got to do a question and answer session.  The Holy Ghost was so strong that it felt like I was in an oven because of the warmth in my heart from pure love that I was feeling. He then closed his remarks and we sang and prayed, and got back to work. What a terrific privilege that was!

Current 12 Apostles

I testify that Jesus Christ called twelve ordained men to run His church even authorized prophets, seers and revelators as in ancient times. I know that those men held the Power of God to serve mankind. But that power was lost when those authorized men died and truth was changed. But I testify with every fiber of my soul that God loves His children. He reached out in love and called another prophet in these last days. (Learn about the Great Apostasy & Restoration) I know that Joseph Smith is a prophet and that he called twelve men to be apostles. And because of that we still have apostles today. They lead and guide Christ's ONLY church. I have seen one, I shook his hand, I have learned from him, and I have felt that power of God radiate from his being. (Learn about the Current 12 Apostles) I testify that as the Lord lives....that Elder Russell M. Nelson is an Apostle and a special witness of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Jesus is the Christ! This is the testimony that is in me and I pray that in the name of Christ, that the Spirit of God will carry this truth through my words to you that you too can know it. Amen.

Love,

Elder Christopher M. Gomm

February 4, 2013

Dear Family and Friends,

This last week has been awesome!!! I am training a new missionary, his name is Elder Call. He is a fantastic missionary and well trained from the MTC. He hit the ground running here. It doesn't even really feel like I have to train him. He is 19, for everyone who was wondering, but he did come out with a few 18 year old's. The group he came out with had 28 new missionaries!!! That was record breaking for this mission and next transfer will be double that!

I still really love this area. I am becoming a true southerner. My companion said I do have a pretty good drawl.

We are having a special surprise this week. Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles will be coming to our mission. We will get to hear from him Saturday and each of us will get to shake his hand and get to meet him. I am pretty excited.

This week I have been studying really hard. I have been studying the simple and basic doctrines that we teach, such as the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It has been really paying off. I have been exactly obedient to every little rule and commandment that we as missionaries have to live by and it has really been paying off.

Yesterday we taught an investigator that is really looking for a better path and to just feel loved. We shared the Restoration of the Gospel. We followed all of the guidelines of Preach My Gospel, and taught with power! Usually it is hard for me to get across what I try to say, or I stutter. I am not a great speaker at all but something miraculous happened to me. I became as one of the Sons of Mosiah, who we can read about in The Book of Mormon.

“Now these sons of Mosiah were with Alma at the time the angel first appeared unto him; therefore Alma did rejoice exceedingly to see his brethren; and what added more to his joy, they were still his brethren in the Lord; yea, and they had waxed strong in the knowledge of the truth; for they were men of a sound understanding and they had searched the scriptures diligently, that they might know the word of God.

But this is not all; they had given themselves to much prayer, and fasting; therefore they had the spirit of prophecy, and the spirit of revelation, and when they taught, they taught with power and authority of God.

Alma 17: 2-3

I shared with her Joseph Smith’s experience. She said that she felt kind of creeped out. Perplexed at her statement I asked her what she meant and what she was feeling. She told me that when I said, “God told Joseph Smith to join none of the churches, and that they were all wrong,” that she felt this warm feeling come over her. She also said that she felt really happy and that she got chills and that she felt full of love. We used the Bible and helped her recognize that what she was feeling was the Holy Ghost testifying of truth. She agreed.

It was an amazing thing to watch the Holy Ghost give me the words to say and to speak through me and be an instrument of God. I also watched as the Holy Ghost testified to someone who is looking for the truth. I testify, in the name of Christ, that I know with all the surety of my soul that the gospel of Jesus Christ, and His one Faith, has been restored by Jesus Christ, through his Prophet, Seer and Revelator, Joseph Smith. I know that he saw God, and He saw Jesus Christ. And this I know and testify of in Christ's Holy name. Amen.

Love y’all,

Elder Gomm

Congrats to Jess and Steve on their new baby. What an honor and privilege it is to have a sacred spirit straight from the presence of our Heavenly Father to them. What a gift.

January 28, 2013

Dear Brothers and Sisters and Friends,

Wow this week has been nuts!!!!!

Some really big news . . . I am STAYING in this area! I will be training a new missionary!!!!!! Crazy, right?! But it gets crazier. So, right now Lincolnton is divided into two areas with two sets of missionaries. But that will be changing. Elder Lolofie and Youngstrum are being transferred out. For one transfer (6 weeks) there will only be one set of missionaries, then they will move Sister Missionaries in as the second set. So for now I am in charge of two areas!!!!!! I was a little stressed out the night I found out that I would be working two areas and training a new missionary. I was shocked that the Lord would trust me with such a great responsibility. I am working hard to live up to it but I will need lots of prayers and help from y’all.

Other than that this week has been crazy in and of itself. We had an ice storm a few days ago. One of the elders had an allergic reaction to the flu shot so we took him to the hospital. His companion had to go to the doctor’s office in Shelby, and so we went on a temporary exchange. I went to the doctor with the one elder and my companion stayed at the hospital with the other elder. I’m pretty good friends with that temporary companion so we had fun on the way to the doctor’s office. However, that was the day of the big ice storm. It would rain and then freeze to the ground, car and everything! The windshield kept freezing over! We finally got back to the apartment only to get frozen in. Imagine snowed in only with ice. It was a crazy day.

All in all I really love it here in Lincolnton. I would love to labor here all of my days. I am becoming a true Southern backwoodsman. My grammar and vocabulary is diminishing and I have a slight drawl. I think big trucks and camo is kind of cool. This has been a pretty fun transfer. I have made some life long friendships with the other Elders.

The work is starting to pick up here. A few families are becoming interested in the gospel. I have been asking the Lord to bless Lincolnton with His spirit and prepare the hearts of the people here. I testify that the Lord does answer our prayers!! 

Wow, send a shout out to all my friends that are going on missions!!!! Write me!!!

Love y’all!!

Elder Gomm

I have been working really hard! I wore out my shoes in only 6 months.

January 21, 2013

Dear Family and Friends,

Wow this week has been great! My mission is starting to come alive! So many miracles are coming to pass! We have been doing a special thing with people at their door, as a new way for people to experience the gospel; it is called the Savior’s Peace and Blessing. The whole mission is doing it and a few other missions as well are doing it. This is not a new thing however; we find it in the scriptures both in the Bible and the Book of Mormon. It is what the Lord’s authorized servants did since Adam.

Alma 10: 5-11 please read the testimony of Amulek of witnessing first hand the power of God through, the missionary Alma.

5 Nevertheless, after all this, I never have known much of the ways of the Lord, and his mysteries and marvelous power. I said I never had known much of these things; but behold, I mistake, for I have seen much of his mysteries and his marvelous power; yea, even in the preservation of the lives of this people.

 6 Nevertheless, I did harden my heart, for I was called many times and I would not hear; therefore I knew concerning these things, yet I would not know; therefore I went on rebelling against God, in the wickedness of my heart, even until the fourth day of this seventh month, which is in the tenth year of the reign of the judges.

 7 As I was journeying to see a very near kindred, behold an angel of the Lord appeared unto me and said: Amulek, return to thine own house, for thou shalt feed a prophet of the Lord; yea, a holy man, who is a chosen man of God; for he has fasted many days because of the sins of this people, and he is an hungered, and thou shalt receive him into thy house and feed him, and he shall bless thee and thy house; and the blessing of the Lord shall rest upon thee and thy house.

 8 And it came to pass that I obeyed the voice of the angel, and returned towards my house. And as I was going thither I found the man whom the angel said unto me: Thou shalt receive into thy house—and behold it was this same man who has been speaking unto you concerning the things of God.

 9 And the angel said unto me he is a man; wherefore I know he is a holy man because it was said by an angel of God.

 10 And again, I know that the things whereof he hath testified are true; for behold I say unto you, that as the Lord liveth, even so has he sent his angel to make these things manifest unto me; and this he has done while this Alma hath dwelt at my house.

 11 For behold, he hath blessed mine house, he hath blessed me, and my women, and my children, and my father and my kinsfolk; yea, even all my kindred hath he blessed, and the blessing of the Lord hath rested upon us according to the words which he spake.

We introduce ourselves as representatives of Jesus Christ, and state that we would like to leave the Savior's Peace and Blessing upon their home. We then take the names of family friends and kin of that person and kneel down and offer a blessing. It is not just a prayer; it is a blessing using the priesthood authority of God. This creates a spiritual environment where the person can feel the Spirit testify of the truths that we share.

This is not all we have been doing. We have been sharing this sacred blessing with members of the church after we eat in their home.

Saturday we knelt down in a home and offered the Savior’s Peace and Blessing and I felt that I should give it. I haven’t given too many of these so I was a bit nervous and doubted myself. I knew however that this family needed this blessing and that I shouldn’t have such selfish thoughts as to limit the power of God through me. I chased those thoughts of doubts away and cleared my mind. I paused for a little bit and then began to speak. I do not remember many of the words I spoke, but I do know that it was a simple blessing. However, I testify that the Holy Ghost was putting the words I needed to say into my mouth because the Spirit was so strong in the room. I began to be warm all over, and felt as though my clothes would catch fire. I finished the blessing and we all continued to kneel not saying anything, marveling in our minds about what had just taken place. I opened my eyes and looked up to see everyone in tears and the head of the house was staring at me. After a few more moments of silence, in a whisper I asked what thoughts and feelings did they feel as we left this blessing upon their home. The head of the house, without hesitation, told me that it was as if the Savior himself was there during the blessing and that His arms were encircling us. We all marveled again together in silence. Then I asked the others and they said that the room felt crowded. That was interesting because the wife works on family history. All in all it was a miraculous experience, and I testify that I know that the Priesthood is real and that men can once again, just like in times of old, call down the powers of Heaven and bless mankind.

Thank you for your thoughts, prayers and letters. They truly help me!

Love, Elder Gomm

January 14, 2013

Dear Family and Friends,

Life is great here on the mission. The other day I was reading in The Book of Mormon about the missionary Ammon (Alma chapter 17). Ammon, a Nephite, leaves to go and preach to the neighboring civilization of Lamanites. Traditionally, the Lamanites were unfriendly towards the Nephites, so Ammon knew he was entering hostile territory. Soon after arriving in the land, he was captured and brought before the Lamanite king.

The king asked Ammon “if it were his desire to dwell in the land among the Lamanites...” Ammon relied yes, “I desire to dwell among this people for a time…perhaps until the day I die.” I really relate with how Ammon felt towards the people. Of course, the people here aren’t hostile, (haha!) but I would truly be happy serving in this area for the rest of my mission. I love it here so much!!! I really love the people!!! The Southern country folk are really wonderful—I love being around them. I am starting to catch a slight drawl. Sometimes I even have dreams where everyone around me is good old country folk. It’s awesome!

George, we got to roast s’mores!!! Thanks for the s’mores fixings. We went over to a family's house (they have a pond) and had a campfire. They have seven kids and huge dog. It is like “The Beast” from The Sandlot. It was a lot of fun!!  

This last week flew by really fast! There were exchanges, interviews, meetings… you name it! The work is going really well though. My companion and I, along with the other Elders serving in this ward, are planning on visiting every single person in the ward. I think we will find a lot of success and bless a lot of lives. The ward is great and they seem to be catching the spirit of missionary work. They are starting to feed us more than just once a week—that is really nice. We did go “finding” in some country areas and we walked down this big driveway and saw the coolest house! There was a rustic old barn with a gazebo on a lake and a spectacular view. After we taught the owner, he invited us to go fishing on his pond! It was fantastic! This week we also met a really great lady who we hope to teach soon. Things are looking up, the work is starting to progress and I am glad!

Well, I love y’all and will write to y’all soon. I am almost done replying to all my letters so bear with me.

Also, my mormon.org profile is almost up-to-date, so check that out. Let me know if any of you create a profile, then I can look y’all up.

url: mormon.org/me/9gzk     or search mormon.org/gomm

Love Elder Gomm

  

Good luck with the baby, Jess!!!!!

Thanks for the package!

January 7, 2013

Dear Family and Friends,

This last week wasn't the busiest week we have had but we are doing well and our spirits are still high.

I love the ward I am in!  I have a feeling I will be here for a long time, but maybe not.  I wouldn’t mind it though.  Everyone here are true Southerner.  Everyone in the ward speaks with a thick drawl.  The South is rubbing off on me.  We went to dinner at my dream house with my dream family.  There is a member named Brother B.  Picture everything about Chuck Norris, except for the red hair and you have Brother B.  His house is a log cabin deep in the back woods with a giant pond out front.  We drove up and they had a campfire.  I was right at home.

I am really enjoying the mission and I have changed so much!  How many of you have been studying chapter one of Preach My Gospel?  Keep it up.

Have y’all had hushpuppies?  They are really good! 

I love and miss y’all!!!

Love,

Elder Gomm

PS  I am excited for Jess! Life is truly amazing!!! I will be praying for ya!!!