why, but I guess that happens from time to time. We had an awesome
Mission Leadership Council this week. We went fasting for answers to
improve our mission. We broke off into groups with a set of questions
on where things could improve. President Vest left the room to council
with the Lord about them, and the council discussed the same questions
for 45 minutes. He came back Into the room, and the council and
President Vest came up with the same exact answers. The spirit guided
both of us, and it was amazing, we could see the hand of the Lord that
day. After the council we had to get Elder Fillerups temple recommend
renewed. I had a great discussion with Sister Vest in the mission home
about the Council. She expressed gratitude for having such young
people be mature enough to follow the spirit. I had a prompting to ask
President Vest for a blessing, I wasn't sure why, and I wasn't sure
what his response was going to be, but i did it. It's A testimony to
me that what the Lord needed me to understand was answered upon my
head as the blessing was being given. I know that the Savior Lives.
And he is pulling for each one of us. "Every soul is great in the
sight of God" and that's why "He gave his only begotten son, that
whosoever believeth in him shall not perish but have everlasting life"
he has not forgotten us. He will never forget us. What he asks from us
is that we exercise Faith. Which for some reason in the church is a
confusing Concept to understand. Each time I hear someone talk about
their Faith they always start with how much faith they "Don't have".
What a copout! We get what we focus on consistently. If we desire more
faith, we must be obedient. We must pray earnestly for the guidance
and direction of the Holy Ghost, and live in harmony with it. We might
be surprised at the changes we realize we need to make. As we make
those changes, we are increasing our faith. As we focus on that change
consistently, we rely on the Lord for help, and we get to work our
faith will grow, and we will gain stronger testimony in the doctrine.
The most miserable missionaries I know are those that 1.) Aren't
living their lives in harmony with spirit through disobedience,
dwarfed goals, and lukewarm commitments, but want the blessings that
come from the spirit. 2.) have the ability to listen to the spirit,
they live in obedience to the material things like staying clean,
listening to approved music, and watching their time. But they are
quiet within their hearts. They don't act on the promptings they
receive, and become frustrated within. They too, want the blessings of
Baptism, and they might Baptize, but a part of them dreads the day
when the teaching pool is low, and they have to start opening their
mouths. They don't baptize with "an eye single to the Glory of God"
but they do it for themselves. Some will step up, others with rely on
their companion, and the rest usually fall back into category #1 The
greatest missionaries I know Have the spirit, the courage to act on
the message he receives, and he does it. He gives all emotions to the
Lord, he understands his weaknesses of Faith, but recognizes the
principle that it will not GROW if he does not ACT. He doesn't need
much attention, but he gives everything he has. He is made strong, he
is happy, and he loves his mission, good times and bad. The conclusion
is that if we want more Faith, we must Act on the impressions we
receive. The Lord blesses those who act constantly.
We were able to find 7 new people to teach this week, and we have put
6 people on date for baptism. The Lord has blessed us with building
this area. We have literally asked every person we talk to if they
would be baptized, no matter where we are at, door step, mall,
anywhere. We haven't had a single person tell us No. I know the Lord
is a part of this work. I know that this church is true, I know that
the Book of Mormon is true, and is a blessing to all who will only
humbly submit to him. He wants to help, we just need to submit.
Here's a picture of Elder Garrick and I on exchanges after a 5AM
workout. He's from Stansbury, we went to junior high together,
Love ya!
No comments:
Post a Comment