Fasting. Works. Period.‏

Hello Family, how is everybody doing?

We've had a truly inspiring week. I don't even know where to start. First of all, after months of trying to contact a less-active, part-member family, we've finally been able to teach Christina and her 10-yr old son, Ethan (who isn't yet a member). Once we got smart and realized that a couple in our ward knew them and had a great relationship with them, it was a cinch to just have the member couple invite them and us over for dinner and a lesson. We had a good discussion (and meal) and committed Ethan to be baptized. We will continue teaching them at the members' home. They committed to come to church this week (they had an unavoidable family function yesterday), and when we followed up with them the other day they had been reading and praying daily.

Lisa was quite ill yesterday and thus unable to attend church. We had a good lesson with her last week, though and committed her to baptism as well. She enthusiastically agreed and, grabbing her calendar, wrote down the date. She had been taught by missionaries before, but doesn't seem to have talked about baptism with them. She has difficulties with WOW, which is why she was dropped by previous missionaries, but has had some awakening experiences with liver problems that are giving her more motivation.

Finally, Saturday we fasted for help finding new investigators since we've been struggling in finding for a while and at church Sunday we were approached by one of the young women who asked if we could come to her home later and teach one of her friends who has questions about the church. Her friend was way prepared and open and has a great relationship with the member friend as well as other members. It was a great lesson and she's excited to read, pray, and come to church. We've got really high hopes for her.

Overall, I'm doing great and so is Elder O'Donley. We're seeing a lot of miracles and having a lot of success. I've got nothing about which to complain.

Over the past year I've learned a lot, and my testimony and conversion have grown in ways that I never before imagined. I have come to see by experience and feel by the Spirit that the gospel of Jesus Christ as restored through the prophet Joseph Smith are true and that exercise of faith always yields blessings.

Got to go quickly, sorry, I'll write a letter.

Elder Matthew Smith