"So you believe in the Apostasy!"

This week was so legit. We were extremely bold this week about
preaching the gospel to everyone. We had many occasions that were
quite historical. One in particular was when we were knocking doors at
8:30pm. We came across this man vacuuming his front room with the door
open. He saw us coming, he stopped and said "alright what do you
want?" I gave him our spill and he said: "I don't like religion, all
church's just confound one another, and want money, and build
themselves up to get gain. I'm not a fan" I said without a moments
hesitation: "Brother, you believe in the apostasy! So do we! Our
message is that the church of Jesus Christ is restored." He said: "Do
you really want me to slam this door in your face?" And I said: "sure,
but I'll be back. I love ya!" I truly did see the hurt in that mans
eyes, but I saw his countenance change as I bore solemn witness of the
restored gospel.

On another occasion we came across a Baptist Preacher. (This was our
third for the week.) He had attended the temple open house of the KC,
MO temple in 2012. He said he had a few questions, and we were happy
to answer them for him. His 1st was the account in the Book of
Revelation Chapter 22:18-19 18 "For I testify unto every man that
heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add
unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written
in this book: 19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the
book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of
life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written
in this book."
These verses of scripture have been cited repeatedly by those
attempting to discredit the Book of Mormon. After I let the Man go on
for about 10 minutes, he finally came to the end of his rope, and I
was finally able to answer his question.  To use John’s words, only to
the words of “the book of this prophecy.” That is, the prophecy
contained in the book of Revelation. This is held by the fact that
some of the books of the New Testament had not yet been written when
John wrote the book of Revelation, and even those that had been
written and were in existence at that time had not yet been gathered
into one compilation.

After this, he looked puzzled. I then had room to testify of the truth
and divinity of the Book of Mormon, and of the restored Gospel. He
accepted a copy, and said he would read it. He then started to go off
about the Trinity, and how we are not Christians because we believe in
the GodHead. I quoted Acts 7:55-56 when God and Jesus appeared to
Stephen.  "But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly
into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right
hand of God, 56 And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the
Son of man standing on the right hand of God." Clearly enough, we see
the testimony of 3 separate personages. One in purpose. I then
testified of the first vision when Joseph Smith saw God the Father and
his son Jesus Christ in the grove of trees in 1820.

Something clicked in my heart this week after being rejected several
times Elder Burke said: "should we just go rest or something" I said
without even realizing it: "No, I love preaching this gospel too much
to give up now. We can rest later." I grew 10 feet tall after that,
and we had many fruitful conversations with people this week. I don't
know what happened, but the Lord had strengthened me. And I was able
to carry out his work.

I have a testimony that Jesus is the Christ. He has taken upon himself
our infirmities, that we might return to our loving Heavenly Father,
and become like him.



Elder Greenburg
Missouri Independence Mission
Kansas City Missouri Area