Baptism of Igor!

Dear Family and Friends,

It has been another crazy but satisfying week! We have been working hard and have seen the Lord´s hand in the work. First off I want to start off by telling everyone that if they have written me lately I have probably already written them back but sometimes with the Argentina correo system here I don´t think hardly anyone has received their letters. If this is the case I will try to write you all again but know that I really am grateful for all the support and love! I haven´t forgotten about any of you!

I had the opportunity to perform a baptism this week of a man named Igor. He is a man who has searched his entire life for the truth and had it confirmed to him by God that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is where the truth is found. He had spelled put the 47 churches and congregations he asisted and attended for the past 30 years. From Catholicism to Baptists, from Evangelicals to every Protestant sect and a plethora more. He is a very humble man who has more faith than any man I have ever known. He has a love for God and calls himself a ´´Warrior Christian.´´ He has a love for the Bible and the teachings that it gives.

As we taught this man he immediately had a change in his life. He bore testimony to the fact that if he completed with God, God would complete with him. He did that and was touched to the very core of the things we taught him. When we told him that we didn´t want him to believe us, but to only ask God about it, he had the faith to know that God loved him another to answer him.

You see there is no middle ground in the things that Latter-day Saints believe. It is either true or not. You have to search spiritually and ask the fountain of all wisdom and truth if it is true. He will either say Yes or No. It is so simple that it hurts to meet people who are not even willing to ask or it doesn´t even matter to them. Some people use doubts, prejudice, misunderstanding or misinformation to scare themselves away from even considering that it could be true. Some look to those who have become disaffected from the church, had a bad experience or genuinely hate the Church and it´s teachings. It is basic logic and will change the person into an understanding being if they would do such a simple thing as to ask the person what they believe rather than asking a person who doesn´t like that person. Think about it. If you had someone that didn´t like you for some reason or another would you want someone you didn´t know to ask that person who you were or would you rather them ask you. It´s the same with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. If you want to know what they believe ask a member, ask the missionaries, and ask God. Go to church websites such as www.mormon.org, or www.lds.org for information. I am bold in my declaration but let me make a promise to those who search for information in the wrong place. They will feel angry, hate, they will not understand and I am a thousand percent sure they will not be edified from what they have read. If it is an honest seeker they will feel the seeds or prejudice and hate that flow through misinformation, fear and a biasis understanding. It has always been the way that the Devil has worked. He promotes fear, not faith. He is the Father of lies and he will lie about everything so that misunderstanding and confusion persist until the end of time.

I promise you that I have studied more things against the Church than almost anyone you will know. I never felt good while doing so, it was full us half truths and everything had an answer to which they acted like there wasn´t. I am firm in my conviction that I am a Christian. I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I love my Father in Heaven more than words and describe. I love my Savior Jesus Christ and rely on His atoning sacrifice every day of my life. I serve them and love them and will worship them until the end. I know these things are true. Here are a few suggestions to those wondering about our faith and who we are. Read the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ. Look at the organization of the Church and see if it is not the same as Jesus Christ established. Talk to a member of the Church and look at how we try to live our lives (although we are nowhere near perfect, nor profess to be) and ask youself these questions, ´´Is this person a good person, Do they try to live in accordance with certain standards, and do I know any that are trying to live as Jesus Christ would?´´ A sceptic would say they know members of the Church who have messed up, who have done bad things, but I promise if you look hard enough, we are really trying to become more like our Savior Jesus Christ and follow his teachings. It´s hard but I promise if you pray to God and ask him with all the energy of your heart if members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are Christians, our Heavenly Father will proudly reply, ´´Yes.´´

As for Igor, he had a series of powerful but simple Spiritual experiences which led him to believe in the truth of the work. He had a stronger conviction that God lives, that Jesus is the Christ and that God still is extending His hand among the children of men through ´´his servants the prophets.´´Amos 3:7 I will end with his own words and testimony as he stood at the pulpit and spoke after his baptism. ´´After attending 47 other churches, although good and having much of the truth, I have found the true Church of Jesus Christ. I know that I am in the right place. God has answered my prayers and sent me two angels to declare his truth unto me. I know that I was baptized with the holy Priesthood of God, and I know that it is true.´´

I love you all have a great week!

Sincerely,
Elder Brian Passantino