#GanstaBaptist.

This week was pretty sweet. I went to the temple on Tuesday, we did 2
sessions (I hadn't been for 6 months) what a lovely experience that
was. The spirit there tastes so sweet. It's always a refresher, it
puts life into such a greater perspective. Here's what happened. While
I was sitting in the celestial room, I gave the thought. Why am I
here? What can I do better? A subtle reminder came over me "because
the Book of Mormon is true, Jesus is the Christ the son of God, and
the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is gods kingdom
established once again on the earth. He has called you, to declare
that truth" I wonder if I could have a clearer answer than that. I
prayed and asked. "Well, what more would have me do?" In short, I
simply gave it all. The lord can't change our hearts without total
submission or permission to do so. I just told him how I felt, I told
him about the things I struggled letting go of (laziness,
rebelliousness etc.) but in my best reenactment of King Lamoni, I
simply said. I'll give away all that I posses, all of my sins to know
thee. Just help me turn outward, help me change to have compassion for
these people, help me have charity, and to see these people as
children of God. I felt like a kid in a candy store, I felt happiness
within me. But the very thought of those afflictions, and fear of
going back to laziness, almost overcame my faith. I opened the Book of
Mormon, just a random page, and random spot. It was Mosiah 24 "14 And
I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that
even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in
bondage; and this will I do that ye may stand as witnesses for me
hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do
visit my people in their afflictions. 15 And now it came to pass that
the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made
light; yea, the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their
burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to
all the will of the Lord. 16 And it came to pass that so great was
their faith and their patience that the voice of the Lord came unto
them again, saying: Be of good comfort, for on the morrow I will
deliver you out of bondage."

Well, I thought the answer wasn't going to come clearer than that. So,
we eventually left for home (after much soaking in the peaceful
feelings of the temple). On the drive home not even 15 minutes after
we left the temple. President Vest calls me and says this: "Elder
Greenburg, the Lord wants you to serve as a DISTRICT LEADER in the
Warrensburg Stake. Will you accept this assignment?" I accepted it
obviously. The Lord answered me. Simply enough, this assignment is
going to help me turn outward. Not just to those investigators. But to
the missionaries too. The Lord answered my call to change my heart. I
felt and overwhelming uplift within me, and I know that the lord will
ease my burdens in this assignment, but also will teach me how to LOVE
people. Because honestly, Loving the people I serve has been a
challenge.
 For example,
Friday I was very fearful of going to work, I don't know what it was,
but I didn't want to go work, I let my fear overcome my faith and I
laid down on my bed in agony. As I laid there I thought about all the
people that had ever contended with me, all of the anxiety it caused.
But then sure enough I began to pray. And I asked my Heavenly Father
to help me understand, I asked for strength and guidance, and safety,
and courage to talk to everyone. I said "I don't even know why I feel
this way, help me understand how to love these people". I felt this
urgency to get up, get on my knees and plead for the lord to loosen my
tongue, I did so. Then I got up, grabbed my Mexi companion, and we
walked for 6 hours straight, talked to everyone, handed out a bag full
of Books of Mormon, and got 3 returning appointments. Words can't
explain the way I felt after that day.

To add on to that experience though, we found a Gangsta. We were
hitting the "Wrong side" of the train tracks that day. I don't think
anything could have stopped us. This guy comes out and yells at us to
come over. "Ay! yo! What ya'll sellin?! Bibles? Can I pay ya'll for my
sins?" We explained that we don't have to pay money for sins, talked a
bit about Christ's atonement, and told him about the Book of Mormon.
He took one, gave us his number, and scheduled a follow up
appointment. We returned to the appointment and upon arrival ran into
another house of gansta. I was amazed at how well they accepted a Book
of Mormon. And sincerely wanted to know more, so on our way to the
appointment with this guy, we set up 2 other appointments. We get to
his house and he started flipping out on us, saying that he read
online a bunch of stuff about the Book of Mormon, that it was the
Devils book, and that he threw it away, I asked him if he actually
read it, and prayed to know. He said "no, I don't need to, I know it's
the devil, he's all over in it, his friends started backing him up
with all this anti propaganda about Joseph Smith". My heart filled
with anger, I wanted to shred this guy in his ignorance. We argued
back and forth for a bit, but at the end of the day, all I felt was
anger, and hatred. Further showing me, that I had a weakness, that I
don't know how to love people, and that I anger and get annoyed
quickly. Knowing this I have been calling on the lord to teach me how.
It hasn't taken its effects, but I am learning. It might take a long
time, but the lord has shown the way, and I all I could ever do, is
rely on him. Because it's the only intelligent thing to do. I asked
the lord in prayer when I was in agony on my bed that day, and asked
to help me understand. He answered me, he helped me understand my
weakness. Lots of work to do.


I bare testimony that God knows us, he knows our hearts. The Holy
Ghost not only comforts us, but it is a means by where we can be
cleansed, and that this church is the true church.

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