Chapter 11: The Gateway to the Kingdom of God
- Amber Prior
- Jul 14, 2025
- 6 min read
Updated: Jul 28, 2025
June 2, 2025
Weeks in the mission: 15 Companion: Elder Winter Area: Corona Ward: Del Rey
"I got another one I got another one" proceeds to crash
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Hello to friends and family across the globe! This is Elder Prior on his 15th week as a missionary. There were some awesome miracles and things that have happened this week! First off, WE GOT A BAPTISM!!! Our friend Manuel Ibarra came in clutch and got somebody to watch his mom for him on Sundays during church, which allowed him to come! So we baptized him that same Sunday! Elder Winter baptized him in the font and then I confirmed him a member and gave him the gift of the Holy Ghost.
It was an honor to give a living person the gift of the Holy Ghost. And in Spanish. I've done plenty in temples, but it's just different when the person I am giving it to is right in front of me.
Being out here in the field has helped me realize the importance of baptism. I was baptized when I was 8, so it was a long time ago and I didn't really think much about it. But my eyes are opening out here. Baptism really is the "gateway to the kingdom of God." That's how you get on that path.
Is it really June already? I can't believe it! That means that everyone back home is either on summer break or graduated! Which means that it has been one year since I have graduated. That's crazy to think about. It certainly doesn't feel that way, I'll say that much.
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🙏 Prayer request 🙏
Will you please include the following friends of ours in your prayers?
Otis Saldinas. He is an amazing guy. 26 years old. He loves the community of the church and comes to church, English class, and sports night every week. But he won't get baptized because he doesn't understand the importance of doing it under the proper authority, nor does he fully believe yet that we are THE restored church of Jesus Christ. And the only way to do that is to read the Book of Mormon and find out for himself. So please pray that his heart will be open to the Spirit as he reads from it.
Manuel Ibarra. This was our friend that was baptized this Sunday. Please pray that he will recognize the gift of the Holy Ghost that is now with him, so he can continue forward on the path of truth. The worst thing to happen is when recent converts fall away, but that won't happen if they truly understand the realness of the Spirit.
The Recna family. We haven't been able to contact them since Tuesday. They didn't come to English class and aren't responding anymore. We don't know why. Perhaps it's because they're too busy, but either way, pray that they'll contact us and allow us to give them the gift of the Gospel.
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📅 Daily Events 📅
🔸️Monday A wonderful P-day! I'd say the best one yet. I had a very productive morning. It included cleaning the apartment, writing my email, and scripture study. Our ENTIRE zone went to a bowling alley at noon! It was so much fun! I scored a whopping 144 points in my second game! After bowling, we went over to the stake center and spent the rest of our P-day there, like we usually do. The highlight of the day though is definitely when we got to teach a FAMILY!!! They are absolutely golden. They are the Recna family and they're coming to English class tomorrow. We're gonna show them the immense joy that comes from the gospel as we teach them English.
🔸️Tuesday Another good day here in the CRM (California Riverside Mission)! Today was a bit strange, though. We hardly got any finding time because we had DCM, interviews with President Hendrickson, a member dinner at 4, and English class from 7:00–8:00. But we still had some AMAZING things come to pass today! First off, we put Manuel on date for this Sunday! When he gets the gift of the Holy Ghost and greater access to the Atonement of Jesus Christ, it'll do him so much good. English class was a huge success as well. We had like 10 friends there this time! Most of them were from last week, too! Unfortunately, the Recna family didn't show up. It looks like they're just busy.
🔸️Wednesday The big thing that happened today was an important lesson we had with Otis about baptism, and it literally went for an hour and a half. It was a great discussion and he genuinely listened, but he doesn't think he needs to get baptized again. So we still have some work to do. So we'll put all of our focus into the Book of Mormon. Because when he finds out that it's true, it'll change everything. When it was time to log onto Zoom for our weekly mentoring session, Elder Winter tried like 3 times to get in. But it told him that it was blocked. So I said "let me try" and he handed me the phone, doubtful that it would make a difference. But it worked haha. Then he signed out and tried again, only to see the same result. So I said "lemme see that again" and got us back in. I don't know why it was like that haha. I guess I have the magic touch 😂
🔸️Thursday Today had some ups and downs, but we saw some major progress with our friend Hector Garcia and his girlfriend who is an inactive member. Hermano and Hermana Salas came with us to the lesson and got straight to work. The plan was to go through the plan of salvation but we ended up putting him on date in the end. The members were PERFECT for them.
🔸️Friday We talked to some friends today and went by Manuel again to make sure he's ready for his baptism on Sunday. We went over the baptismal interview questions to prepare for his interview on Saturday and he said yes to all of them! It was great to see his progress that he has made since the beginning of the transfer.
🔸️Saturday I'm exhausted. There was a huge ward party held at the bishop's house today, which was a golden opportunity to get friends there. Otis himself actually drove us over there and we spent some time there talking with the ward and eating treats. It was great. Manuel passed his baptismal interview! We'll be baptizing him tomorrow, and he wants me to give him the Holy Ghost and a blessing. I've never done that for someone living, let alone in Spanish.
🔸️Sunday Today was my first baptism as a missionary! We got Manuel baptized into the true Church of Jesus Christ! A lot of people showed up for his baptism as well, even though it didn't get announced to the ward during sacrament meeting. It must've been spread during 2nd hour. There was also the glorious dinner with the Piquet family tonight. We had a great time. That family is just incredible and absolutely consecrated. I'm gonna miss them after I leave Corona. I found out today that the APs are coming here on Wednesdays for exchanges. I was informed that I will be going with Elder Roche for the day! I am so excited. Elder Roche is a light. It'll be great to talk with him, work with him, and learn from him.
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☀️ Spiritual thought ☀️
In my scripture studies this week, I read 2 Nephi 25:17. It reads:
"And the Lord will set his hand again the second time to restore his people from their lost and fallen state. Wherefore, he will proceed to do a marvelous work and a wonder among the children of men."
This verse is part of Nephi's prophecy about the latter-days and what is going to happen. A "great and marvelous work?" That sounds amazing! I wonder what it means? When will it happen?
Well guess what? IT'S HAPPENING RIGHT BEFORE OUR VERY EYES! I don't think we understand that. We have the honor to be part of the "great and marvelous work" not just as missionaries, but as members of His church!
Too often I've seen complacency in some members of the church and some missionaries. It's so easy to forget what our purpose is, who we truly are. It's why Elder Patrick Kearon spent his whole talk in General Conference with an allegory about how to "receive" a gift. That gift being the understanding that we are children of God, LITERALLY. Our purpose down here on earth is something so grand.
If we all truly understood and accepted the reality that we are children of God, things would fundamentally change forever for the better.
And I don't think enough missionaries realize that. If we did, none of us would take the mission for granted. Because we have been selected by God himself to take part in this great work. We could have been born in any part of the world at any given moment in time, yet we are here. Do you think it's coincidence?
I implore you to realize the knowledge that you have. Think about what your life would be like if you did not know about the plan of salvation. Seriously, try to envision it, and you'll come to understand that the knowledge you hold is sacred.
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📸 Photos 📸
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