Are we saved by grace?

                                                                                 Carlos and the Hermanas

Dec 12, 2021 

 

Dear Family & Friends, 

I returned from my Thanksgiving at home with a souvenir in the form of a cold. Consequently, I’ve been 

spending a lot of time inside my apartment consuming vast quantities of cold remedies.  But Wednesday 

was memorable.  

I went to a local eatery with the other missionaries in my district, and while standing in line, I got into a 

religious discussion with the man standing next to me.  I guess that’s why they call this part of the country 

“The Bible Belt.”  Everyone I’ve met believes in the bible and I’ve had many uplifting conversations.  

He told me he believed that Jesus Christ was his savior and asked me how I viewed Jesus Christ.  I agreed with 

him and testified that Jesus Christ is the Savior and Redeemer of the world, that He suffered for our sins and 

made it possible for all mankind to be saved and live again with our Father in Heaven.  I offered him a 

Book of Mormon, another witness of Jesus Christ, explaining that after our Savior was resurrected, he came 

to this continent and taught the same beautiful truths He had taught in the old world, showing that He is the 

god of the whole world and is mindful of all His sheep. But he declined, stating that the Bible was complete.  

After that, we got our food and went to our separate tables.  But my friend had further questions. 

After he finished eating, he came over to where I was sitting with the other missionaries and said he admires 

our dedication and asked a few more questions regarding our Savior Jesus Christ: Does he have a body? 

(Yes, the apostles saw the resurrected Lord.) Did He create the world? (Yes, “without him was not anything 

made that was made. John 1:3) Are we saved by grace? To which I responded, “Let’s talk about grace.” And I 

used an analogy. 

Imagine you’re dying of thirst in the middle of a desert.  You see a well in the distance.  You believe this well 

can save your life.  You drag yourself across the hot sand to the well and drink the water and it saves your live.  

So what saved your life, your belief in the well, your efforts to get to the well, or the water in the well?  All of 

them, of course!  So it is with grace.  Faith is a gift from God.  Your life is a gift from God.  And the Living Water 

is God’s ultimate gift.  So if grace is a gift of divine help from God, then of course we are saved by grace. 

He liked my answers and responded that we have more in common than he originally thought.  Yes! It is so 

delightful to eliminate contention and find common ground.  I’d liked to have been able to talk with him about 

the Bible, which some people seem to think just sprung up--fully formed--like Athena out of Zeus’s head!  But 

we were interrupted and I didn’t get his contact information.  I pray he will keep seeking for truth. 

On Friday I was able to meet with Hermana McHenry and Hermana Morales to teach a man named Carlos.  

(See attached photo.)  We met in a restaurant which was kind of noisy, but Carlos came to church Sunday, so 

I guess he understood the message despite the noise.  Yay!  It’s such a privilege to serve the Lord by sharing the 

Good News. 

 

I love you all, 

Sister Manwaring

 

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