Good and Faithful

"Good and Faithful" was the the subject title of this email sent to us by Sister Diane Simmons, the wife of Landon's mission president, President Jeff Simmons. We received it on March 4, 2011, the morning after it was decided that he would be returning home after serving 17 months. She sent some pictures that I will hopefully be able to post as well but if I can't they are just some pictures of his totally trashed shoes.

Dear Broughs,

I took this picture of Elder Broughs shoes while he was on the phone to you tonight. I saw these and teared up. This says it all. This picture represents a boy who gave every last ounce that he had to give. He gave it all. He was in so much pain- but walked through it anyway.

I feel like I took a picture of something sacred.

What relief came over him when he got the special confirmation that only the Lord could give him---that his sacrifice was accepted. I wish that you could have heard the exchange between Elder Brough and Dr. Richard Ferre....and the power of the spirit to confirm the TRUTH. He needed that witness...before he came home. You can't tell me that God does not know His child.

Elder Brough is a mighty and great soul. I honor his sacrifice, his courage, his wonderful tender heart. I don't even have the words that go wide enough or deep enough to tell you just how much I honor and love this great young man and what he has done. Maybe someday he can see and feel how much he was loved by every single person that crossed his path. I hope so. I hope that joy will come very soon. I miss him so much already. I love, love love, my Elder Brough. There just are never enough words to express what is in my heart.

President and I are so blessed to have been able to walk just a little of life's journey with your beautiful son.

Love,
Sister Diane Simmons

This is my response to Sister Simmons:

Dear Sister Simmons,

Thank you so much for your beautiful words of love for Elder Brough. We can never thank you enough for all that you and President have done for our son and us. We KNOW that you two were handpicked to be Landon's mission president and wife. Your compassion, understanding, patience and inspiration through all of this is remarkable and something that we are eternally grateful for.

After we talked to Landon last Sunday and then to President I just had a pit in my stomach and neither of us slept a wink on Sunday night. On Monday I just wanted to curl up in a ball and not do anything. I just kept thinking that Landon's pain each day was probably ten times worse than what I was feeling and couldn't bear the thought of him having to feel like that for 7 more months. I really felt like he had given his all up to this point and that we just needed to get our boy back and take care of him and his issues. I prayed that if this anquish and turmoil that he has endured could not be lifted that he could somehow be at peace with coming home and getting additional medical help. I prayed that he could know that he had persevered and never given up. My friend and I spend Tuesdays in the temple - an endowment session in the morning and then a five hour shift in the baptistry. I was worried that I was going to be a wreck that day, but after a decent nights sleep and pleading with Heavenly Father for Landon, I woke up very rested and calm and was able to go through my day at the temple. When I got home Don told me about his conversation with you and the upcoming visit with Dr. Ferre. I knew that this was an answer to our prayers and that even though I didn't know what the outcome would be that the right decision for Landon would be made. We know that this is the right thing for him. We pray that we can continue to be guided as we search for help for Landon.

May the Lord bless you and President Simmons as you lead the missionaries of the Australia Sydney Mission. Our prayers continue to go to you all as you share the blessings of the restored gospel with our brothers and sisters in Australia. We love you and President Simmons!

Love,
Nancy

P.S. Thank you for the sweet pictures of his shoes!

Then we received the following back from Sister Simmons:

Dear Don and Nancy,

This was an answer to prayer- for all of us. The spirit told me to call Dr. Ferre. I did.

Through the spirit, Dr. Ferre delivered a message straight from God. It was powerful.
The Lord saw Elder Broughs sacrifice as VICTORY- not defeat. Elder Brough had to hear and get that message into his spiritual DNA, BEFORE he left the mission. The only way a message like that is absorbed into the DNA and every fiber of your being- is through the spirit.
That is what took place.

It was a beautiful thing to witness.

One of the things that spoke to Elder Brough was the story of Abraham and Issac.
Abraham answered the call that the Lord gave him, to sacrifice his only son.
But God didn't intend Abraham to kill Issac to complete the sacrifice, as Abraham understood it. God provided a ram in the thicket. But Abraham, BEING WILLING, to answer God's call--was enough. That is what God was looking for. Abraham passed with flying colors.

Elder Brough passed with flying colors. He was willing in the end of his mission, to completely sacrifice HIMSELF--God did not want that. That was never the plan.
He wants Elder Brough to go home now and heal, and know that his sacrifice was more than enough. I am convinced that the God accepted Landon's sacrifice with tears in his eyes. It was MORE than enough!

Elder Brough knows that way down deep in his soul right now.

I love the way the spirit works. God used Dr. Richard Ferre, one of HIS BEST angels here on Earth, to help Elder Landon Brough know THE TRUTH. The message was delivered by the Holy Spirit. The message was recieved by the Holy Spirit. All of our prayers were answered the way God Himself intended. And that, is the way God works.

....."and then, may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for His arm to be revealed."

His arm has been revealed....and it is a beautiful thing to witness, isn't it?
God is the best Father, isn't He? I thank Him for letting me watch His hand unfold in Elder Brough's mission life. I have seen miracle after miracle, and besides my own personal ones, this one has been the sweetest.

I love you all. Especially "MY Elder Brough."

Love,
Sister Diane Simmons

These sweet messages from Sister Simmons truly sustained us as we prepared for Landon's return. Stay tuned for pictures of our joyful reunion with Landon.