Baptism of Fire!

Wed Aug 26- last email from MTC:

This last week I did a doctrinal study on baptism of fire. I guess I didn't really understand what it meant. So I found a talk by Loren C. Dunn and read it and some scriptures and it really helped my understanding. I just want to share one specific thing that I learned. As we allow the Spirit of God to cleanse us and sanctify us, our hearts start to change. Our desires are different and we only want to follow the will of God. In Alma 5:14 Alma asks "..have ye been spiritually born of God? Have ye received his image in your countenances? Have you experienced this mighty change in your hearts?" I know that as we repent of our sins and allow the Spirit to do its job and cleanse us as if fire, we can have this mighty change of heart and our attitudes about everything we do will change. In Alma 13:12 we read about high priests that are called and the change that occurs within them concerning sin because of the fire of the Spirit. "Now they, after being sanctified by the Holy ghost, having their garments made white, being pure and spotless before God, could not look upon sin save it were with abhorrence..."
I hope that we can all have this change in our hearts and constantly feel the fire of the Spirit, so that we can hate sin, and only desire to follow strictly the commandments of our God. I know that the Holy Spirit has that power because I have felt it in my life and that is the greatest feeling- to know that I have used the Atonement in my life and have allowed the Spirit to burn me clean.
Last night for devotional we had the extreme privilege of being visited by an Apostle of the Lord. Elder Richard G. Scott came and bore simple witness, as a man with the mantle of the Apostleship, that Christ lives, and he knows it because he knows Him. What a great blessing. I know that I felt within me the fire of the Spirit confirm to me that there is nothing more true. I also know that Richard G. Scott is truly a special witness of Christ. The most special thing for me was when, with the power of an Apostle of the Lord he conferred upon me (all in the MTC) the Gift of Tongues to make it easier to speak and bear testimony in another language. He also invoked upon all of us a blessing of protection by an apostle of the Lord as I used good judgment and am righteous. He literally said the words a shield of Protection. I know that as I am worthy and choose to always follow the Lord's will through the promptings of the Spirit, I can receive these blessings.
I can't even explain how I felt last night- but it was the best feeling ever. I am so extremely happy to be where I am studying the gospel of Christ, and have my testimony of His sacrifice continually grow stronger and stronger every day. This is truly the Lord's work. I hope to do the best that I can in order to be an effective tool.
I leave on Monday for Argentina. I am sad to leave the people that I love here. But I am excited to go meet new people that I know I will love just as much or more. I can't wait to share with them the joy that I feel from the blessings of this gospel and knowing that I can be saved and return to live with my Heavenly Father because of my Savior Jesus Christ.
Thank you all for your love and support! I feel it everyday. I love you- my family, so much.
Love, Hermana Carmen Dunford