The Difference Between Believing and Knowing!

Hola Familia,
Glad to hear everyone is doing good, and having fun. Yes I can’t believe I’m so old haha. I was going to go out to eat Saturday with my comp but we weren’t able to, so I might some time this week. Anyway, everything here was doing great. We had a pretty busy week this week helping other areas prepare for baptisms, but it was a good week, we had 143 people at church which is really good, the most I’ve ever had. We are going to look for some more investigators this week.

Um the thing about Copan, it might be good to have one more day, but it’s up to you, it might give us a little more time. Oh and about the house well I’m sure the Marriott would be nicer but I’m pretty sure the house would be fine. Here in the city it’s pretty good, and this family has good houses, so I wouldn’t be worried, but it’s up to you.

That’s fun that Bro Powell is in the single's ward, maybe I’ll go just for that. I’m excited to help the church when I get back. That’s unfortunate that a lot of youth are making bad choices. A lot of it is related to people that don’t have testimonies. I’ve said it before, but it’s the difference between believing and knowing. Believing is a testimony given by parents. Believing will only help you for so long. On the other hand knowing is knowledge that comes from personal experience. Yes it starts with believing, but it is believing that has been tested. Believing put in action, that through personal experience and gospel living has allowed us to know these things are true, and that knowing is what sustained Joseph Smith through trials, that knowing is what carried pioneers across plains, and that knowing is what allows us to have an eternal perspective and make decisions differently. It’s like normal glass and tempered glass. The normal glass when the rock hits, it shatters. It’s strong, but not strong enough. The other is tempered glass. That what ever you throw at it won’t break it, even if you shoot it. It might make a hole, but it won’t shatter. But what’s the difference, how the two are processed, and it’s the same with us we have to have experiences 'temper´' our testimonies so when the rocks come they just hit but we are not shattered.

Oh ya I talked to Elder Zolman and he told me that Adalid from my last area directed sacrament meeting on Sunday. That makes me happy. Well I love you all, and we need to temper our testimonies because the rocks are coming and we can’t shatter.
Love Elder Brinton