May 23,2016

Hey guys!

This week was pretty eventful. Our new investigator friend couldn't
come to church, so we had to push his date back to the 11th. But
that's okay because he's super prepared. Love it.

I learned a lot about humility this week. It's humbling to know that
the lord would have me to be his instrument.

Viewing, and recognizing our weaknesses enough to the point that we
are discouraged instead of encouraged, is when we have gone too far,
and we have become self critical.

I find a significance in the words written in Doctrine & Covenants
Section 4:5 "And faith, hope, charity and love, with an EYE SINGLE TO
THE GLORY OF GOD, qualify him for the work."

There is an example in Alma 29 of having an eye single to the of God.
Alma expresses his desires to cry repentance with Angelic zeal. He
bares humble testimony that the Lord grants unto men according to
their desires, whether that be to destruction, or Salvation. With this
testimony he asks a few questions: 1.) Why should I desire more than
to perform the work to which I am called? 2.)Why should I desire that
I were an Angel, that I could speak unto all the ends of the earth?

In answering these 2 questions, he shows the perfect example of being
an obedient, purpose driven missionary. "I know that which the Lord
hath commanded me, and I glory in it. I do not glory of myself, but I
glory in that which the Lord hath commanded me....and this is my
glory, that perhaps I may be an instrument in the hands of God to
bring some soul to repentance, and this is my joy."

The joy of a missionary should not come by his peers watching him, or
his parents and family back home being proud of him, or merely his
leaders. The greatest joy and fulfillment comes when he is an
instrument in the hands of God. The brethren knew this when they gave
us the white handbook, God knew this when he gave us these
commandments to live the highest standards of conduct. That perhaps we
might become the Lords instruments, and thus feeling the joy that
comes within. A consecrated missionary does not measure his success
with numbers, or being set as an example to other missionaries. He
measures his success based on the peace he feels within, knowing and
feeling the joy that comes with being obedient, and being an
instrument in the hands of God. If that is our desire, than it will be
granted to us. I pray that I will make the sacrifices necessary, to
qualify for the Lords great work, and feel of that joy. It is a
blessing to know that you are trusted by the Lord enough, that he
would use you each day to teach the most sacred part of his gospel,
the plain and precious truths, the Atonement of Jesus Christ.


Here is a face swap with me, and Channing Tatum. A member took this
photo. Also, we had dinner with this super cool family in our Ward. I
was packing heat (JK, that's an air soft gun)