San Diego,
California
This is our home for eighteen months to
two years.
We baptize the way Jesus got baptized.
I didn't know spanish.
I couldn't talk to these people. I couldn't 
understand what these people were saying.
This is the story of eight missionaries,
who are called to serve.
What you are about to see is real.
-The whole tattoo thing, what is the Church's stand on that.
No, not again.
And unscripted.
"Coffee, no coffee?"
The missionaries, investigators, and members in this program are not actors.
-Baptism? 
-Yes, the B word. Baptism.
My purpose is to help build their faith in Christ. 
Everything that I do must be around that purpose.
What interests you as far as religion?
"Nothing."
That was one of the most powerful moments
I have ever been around on my mission.
These feelings, you can't describe.
Woah, are you serious?
It was perfect.
This is the story of
last time on the district
We just want to become your friend. We will offer
what we have and then let you decide. Does that sound good?
Yeah, sure.
We had kind of a rough week last week. We struggled to find people,
we struggled to teach people, it was a very trying week.
The whole concept of a living prophet is where we are in question.
It was perfect. Because that same lesson we
committed Favian and Amor to be baptized and she accepted. 
They really exemplified what 
I felt Christians should be. She just went okay.
Well good, I can't wait till next time when you are going to tell me more.
My family lives in Smithfield, Mississippi.
It's tiny but it's cute and I love it.
I remember she was about three
and she was watching this frog that had
jumped up on the porch. And she says
jump into my arms I want to hold you.
That's how Laura is she's very loving.
Most people don't know
Laura has a stuttering problem.
-Severe.
-and
cost me eight thousand dollars.
I used to say
cost me eight thousand dollars to teach her
to talk and then I'd pay eight thousand to get her
to be quiet.
-If I had to
tell you a story about Laura.
It would be Laura and David.
You can't say Laura without saying David.
And I think that most people who knew her will 
tell you that.
My brother David was born with four holes in his
heart in a pulminary artery.  
They told us he might live six months six years.
-And I prayed to Heavently Father, to allow David to live.
That we might have an opportunity
to teach him the gospel.
And to raise him up.
-He also had a soft pallette problem.
So he had a severe speech impediment.
And as he was growing up
you couldn't understand what he was saying. But Laura could.
-She became his interpreter
and she would tell us what he said.
And then he would agree that was what he said.
Laura and David had a great relationship.
They had fun together. They teased each other.
They irritated each other.
All the things that 
a good brother and sister do. 
-And if you look at pictures of Laura, when she's little 
with David. She is always looking at David.
-What does that tell you about Laura? Well...
Laura was concerned about others.
And I think that probably says as much about
Laura, as I could say.
We actually haven't had much of a chance
to, to me with Leslie over the past 
couple of weeks. So, part of me says, Yeah she
must be really busy.
And the other part of me says, 
ahh...why is it happening like this. 
-Leading up to that lesson we talked a lot
about, how
it's not about a prophet it's about Jesus Christ.
-Since we've kind of had a little
break. You know, and we're coming back
starting teaching again. How are you
feeling towards it all?
-I was willing to be as open as possible.
And say, and we were even open to the fact
Okay, it looks like we're going Mormon. You know. 
But I do have an issue with, you know
like, a living day prophet.
And I am still always led back to that aspect that
I can pray directly to Jesus Christ and get my answers.
-You feel like what we're telling you 
still is that we have to go through the prophet to get to God. 
-Yes.
-And that's not what we are saying.
-But to say 
that 
I have to believe wholeheartedly what
ever this man
says. And to question is to go against
my faith. I wouldn't
believe that.
-When you said that you can't question.
uh... one thing we've
encouraged the whole time is to question. To ask God. 
-Right. 
-And if you do you want to know if that's true. Like, we're not 
forcing you do anything. If you do
want to know if that's true. We invite
you to read the Book of Mormon and to
pray about it.
-I came acrossed uhh... the Book of Mormon.
It was handed to me by my sister.
And I read it the first time as a
college, like a college textbook.
And I handed it back to her. And I told her, well
you know that's a nice book. 
She handed the book back to me. And she said,
I want you to read it as your life depends
on it.
And uh...
and I did. And it became
different for me.
This book
is my favorite book.
It means the world to me. Um... I've been
reading this book for years.
And everytime I read it
I find something new and special.
And I know that that will be the case
for you.
-I feel that I've researched enough and heard enough
that I still feel that I would have a closer 
relationship to God and Jesus Christ
reading the Bible.
I remember thinking
as Leslie was telling all these things that
we thought we'd explained to her very clearly. I just
remember thinking like,
what did we not tell her? Like, what was the missing link. 
-I don't know everything. I could be
completely wrong. But I know that,
you know, I am Christian.
And that's where I am at.
And when they met me I was just getting back on my feet.
From two years of some really really hard
um... life stuff.
I think for me, to...
to stretch myself beyond what my
foundation is
um...
Is not some something I can do. Right now in my
life. So, am I open? Yeah, down the road.
Right now I just need to have
that firm ground for awhile.
Sometimes you just have to be patient.
And just see the bigger term. And accept that
sometimes people's circumstances aren't such
that they're ready right then. 
-We were working really hard.
As David was.
To get him ready to go on a mission.
And
I think what Laura wanted
was she wanted David on a mission,
while she was on a mission. 
-Before Sister Voyles went on her mission. She and her
brother went through the temple for the first
time together. And it was really a neat experience.
-When Laura left I think that it was hard on David.
And his parents tried very hard to fill in.
But it wasn't the same."
-There was just something about the two of them.
And you could sense their spirit together.
It was very close.
-It's good to see you.
Alydia is going
really well.
-She is living at a member's house.
And she, I think is really loving
living there and being Brittany's roomate because
they're best friends.
-Every time I was around her I just, like, felt good. And like, 
I felt like, I should do the right thing.
Look I've been marking.
Her father passed away when she was ten years old.
And as a result of that
her main interest in the church is the
fact that we can be together forever.
-If I'm hearing you right, these scriptures really spoke to you.
They really told you something that you
needed to hear.
That's how I feel when I read them.
And if she is writing 
that much and taking mental note. Making
it relevant to her. Obviously she's starting
to gain a relationship with our Fatherin Heaven. 
-The purpose of this life is to
really do
those things
that our Heavenly Father has asked us. So we can
return to him.
-It makes me want to be better. It makes me feel good. 
I want to be worthy.
Worthy of that.
-Do you know the first step that our Father in Heaven 
asks us to do to be worthy. 
-What?
-Is baptism. Is to follow the example of Jesus Christ
and to be baptized.
And after baptism we're promised the Holy Ghost.
That feeling that you have. That good
feeling that drives you to do what's right.
That's the Holy Ghost.
-Yesterday, at last night's lesson I got a really
good feeling
in my heart. And
I am getting that feeling again.
So, that makes me think that
this is the right path for me.
-Alydia will you follow the example of Jesus Christ
and be baptized?
-Sorry, that clock.
I really want to be thinking about that for awhile
I, I really would like to. So hopefully, um...
once these lessons are over and that is something I still want to do.
Which, I don't know why it wouldn't be.
And, um...
I would like my mom to support me.
She doesn't actually know that I have been taking these lessons. 
Or that I am interested in this.
So, I definitely want to talk to her and
prepare her for it.
-You know, we promise that when the time comes.
That you will be ready.
And that you will be excited for that day.
-Okay.
-We lived
for twenty four years
in expectation that David could pass away at any time.
I called him and said, Bishop, we're on our way to the hospital.
The emergency room people 
immediately took David in. And Bishop
came in
almost immediately.
And uh...
He said uh...Davids not going
to make it. 
-When I first got the call about David.
That he was gone.
My heart went out to Laura.
-President Donaldson went out
personally
and talked to Laura.
And she called us.
The subject of coming home was brought up.
-My parents
never said to me we want you home.
They never said stay out there.
What they said was is it is your decision.
I've prayed more than I have in my whole life.
And that's been very meaningful because
I have things that I desperately
desperately need. I need to be able to
function today.
-She is amazing.
She is such a good example.
I think some people might use it as an excuse
to work less or just not live up to their
potential. But she doesn't.
She never did.
-She called back and she said,
"Dad, I feel like I need to stay."
Mother and I both told her we'll support you
in that. 
That's what you should do.
She said, "Dad he is here...he's here."
So, she felt
his presence with her.
And I think
when she felt that.
There was no need to come back
because he was now on his mission.
And that was what she wanted.
-Hey there Brother Rodriquez.
How are you? Good to see you again.
-Elder Hepworth and I talked the 
other night about getting his family
more involved in the lesson.
You know, having them share the experiences.
And so, I think that'll have a lot more
powerful meaning than if it just came from us. 
-In seminary today,
we were just talking about prayer.
It's in 2 Nephi 32.
Can you guys read it?
-For behold I say unto you, that you must pray
always and not faint.
-Wow, prayer works! Huh?
-To pay back your respect, right? For what has happened.
-I love the man.
I can honestly say that already. He just got
a good spirit about him. I think once we 
create an environment where the spirit can bear
 witness to him and that it's true. He'll go for it.
-Me and Elder Christensen shared a ward withe
Elder Murray and Elder Tuituu.
Same ward. Same members. Great missionaries,
all four of them.
But they just had completely different experiences. 
-There's a lot of good things
happening in our area. New investigators
coming out of woodwork. And it's just  a lot of fun.
-We just came to the conclusion that we're
stuck here. We don't have anything
to do. We're lost. 
-The ward is good. supportive. Couldn't ask for 
anything better."
-We we felt like we were running into a brick wall
over and over again. We tried everything
we could think of to do different things.
but nothing was happening.
-But your friends and stuff
have you talked to them about this?
-I just told them I was going to get baptized.
-Yeah!
-Would there be a time when we could stop by one evening
and share this activity with you and your family
and let you see the joys that come from it.
-It's not something I'm interested in.
-Cool temperature, relatively. So...
I can't complain. Really.
 Brother Robles,
by the authority of the Melchizedek Priesthood,
we lay our hands upon thy head.
To ordain you, Priest in the Aaronic Priesthood.
In the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen.
-Thank you. Thank you for your support.
and
and I know it's not going to be easy. But
here I go.
-How did you feel about yesterday Brother Robles?
-It's a little scary. But,
at the same time, I see everybody around me
they and they're really supportive. So,
that actually, makes it easier.
-I want to be apart of this community.
Because these girls
show me a different perspective.
-Sister Tooey, could you read?
-Sure."-
And now,
as ye are desirous to come unto the fold of God.
And to be called his people.
Yea
and willing to mourn with those that mourn.
Yea and comfort those that stand in need of comfort.
-I really noticed with y'all, last week, when my brother 
passed away. You all were right there, whole time.
You already mourn with those that mourn. You comforted
me when I needed it. 
-When they spoke to us. They weren't lecturing to us. They 
were actually saying, 
hey, you know what, we also have problems.
We were wondering the other day, why us? You know, 
what was special about us? We don't see ourselves
special in anyway.
-He's known you since before you came to this earth.
And He knows and He sees things you can't see.
And I think a lot of times in this life, we 
just think...
just maybe, we're not good enough. 
-Yeah.
-And Heavenly Father knows us and loves us. And
I know that and I know that for you too.
He knows you.
And so, why us? Heavenly Father knows why.
-I feel like  
tomorrow, I will be
reborn again.
Because,
now I am accepting God
in my life.
-How are you doing?
-I'm good, how are you?
-Good to see you.
-Good to see you too.
-How you doing, Josh.
-Have you been thinking about your baptism?
-Yeah, I have.
-What are you thinking?
-That I want to.
-So you're excited for Saturday?
-Not this Saturday,
But a Saturday. Yes, I'm excited.
-Why are you not excited for this Saturday?
-I don't know, I just, I 
don't want to feel rushed.
We've been pushing with Alydia
for the twenty sixth.
Because we really feel that she is ready for baptism. 
-I want to be able to say like you two.
I know this is true.
Like, I don't want to get baptized and then a couple
months later or a year later be like, I don't want to
be like, uh...I don't want to do this LDS thing anymore.
So...whatever.
-We can all get on our knees and ask our 
Heavenly Father in Heaven if the
twenty sixth is the time you should be
baptized. And if this is true.
-Um, I don't really want to do that in front of everyone.
The motives behind
trying to get her to the twenty sixth
were more of
me, personally trying to drag
her not draw her to the twenty sixth.
-And like we've always said the first step to
all of that is
baptism.
-Yes, the "b" word. Baptism.
-And I will be standing here?
-We've helped them grow. We've grown with them.
And that's just,
all that love just grows together.
And we love them so much. They are so special.
I was all bubbly inside, you know.
it's just, wooo!
-As a father
I'm hoping
the example I am giving him
that he can actually follow my footsteps too.
These feelings you can't describe. There
is no words you can actually
put to these feelings.
Because, it just,
Feels you up completely. It just envelopes you.
-Before Amor went into the baptismal
font when she just started
crying,
that part, was so powerful.
The spirit was so strong.
And I was just so happy.
-And that moment
I just feel, something warm inside me.
And I only remember,
that I said, my dear Heavenly Father I'm in your hands now.
I can walk through now.
-It was feeling of real happiness that you can't contain.
It spread with everybody that was there.
-That was a wonderful experience.
That I will never forget.
Now I can say I am a 
Child of God.
-How do you feel?
-I feel happy. I feel.
-Overwhelming. 
-Overwhelming.
-It's too much. It's too much happiness. 
and there's nothing less than a
-Too much for one day.
-No, no. Too much happiness.
I know that, Heavenly Father
is just proud of all his missionaries.
And I feel his love.
He's just so happy that we're helping
people return again to live with him.
It's something that's so important.
This life is not
the only life.
I know it.
I know my brother is still here.
And there's a point everyone's life
where you have to have God.
Because you have nothing else.
And our job as missionaries is to make
sure that when that point comes.
That they know that God is right there.
There is no one who could go with me,
to where I went.
And there's no one who fully knows what I
went through,
but God.
It's not easy. Life isn't easy.
But if you have God it's possible.
And it's not just possible. It's fulfilling.
Up next on the district. 
-Have you prayed and asked god if the Book of Mormon is true?
-It was the first time I think I really prayed.
-I was waiting for someone to
tell me something like this.
all my life. 
-As I looked him in the eye I knew that he knew 
that the gospel was true.
-I bear testimony to you my dear, that
it is true.
-It really is something that I know for sure. 
-Do we have any road blocks to get over? I
don't understand.
-And Mike was devestated.
-Changed both of us, to this day.
Laura and I, we've stayed in contact with Robles family. And about month
a half ago we got a message from Amor.
And she told us we feel that we're ready to be
sealed as a family.
-Why is getting sealed so important for me?
Because I will be with my family forever.
-A few years ago, 
I never think about being a member of this church.
But right now, look where you are.
You're about to be sealed to your family. Because
you know this is the true church.
-I'm grateful for that, I've acutally had a second chance.
-Yeah.
We are grateful,
to be in this church.
To be part of this family.
Knowing that Jesus Christ
lives.
-Wow
