Week 22 - Faith, Hope and Charity

To my Dear Family and Friends:                                                                                       Jan. 30, 2017

This week has been one of particular great joy, and gratitude as I reflect what it means to be a representative of Jesus Christ. As I quickly approach my 6 month mark, I ask myself what have I learned? What can be learned? What will I do next? I ponder these questions and realize very easily that these are questions all of us will ask ourselves many times in our lifetime. I had the privilege to visit and partake with many elderly individuals in a small twig ( its like a branch but even smaller). Many of these individuals are over the age of 70 and are living in the retirement/ assisted living resort called Meadow Lake. As we sat and sang the song I know my redeemer lives.. it just hits me.. here we have a dozen individuals that have seen so much.. and been through soo much, and here they are in church, still testifying that they know, their redeemer lives. Tears swell into my eyes as reflected this idea and what it means to be sharing this message that has been the Rock for so many today... I reflect upon the scripture that we shared this week found in Moroni 10:20-21:

20 Wherefore, there must be faith; and if there must be faith there must also be hope; and if there must be hope there must also be charity.

 21 And except ye have charity ye can in nowise be saved in the kingdom of God; neither can ye be saved in the kingdom of God if ye have not faith; neither can ye if ye have no hope.

We learn that faith, hope and charity are essential to have to be in the kingdom of God. lets take a moment and reflect on this scripture, but before I do that I'll mention what the Gospel of Jesus Christ is. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the first principles and ordinances of the gospel, which essentially translates into the well known and rehearsed 4th article of faith 

4 We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost. 

This is also quite similar to a missionaries purpose: 

Invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end.

Each key point in the Gospel of Jesus Christ is something that depends and relies upon the next and should not be viewed as separate check boxes, but as a woven rope that combines to make it stronger and stronger!

So how does this apply to faith hope and charity? well...

Faith is somewhat of a big subject to talk about, but I would like to focus on the scripture found in

James 2:26  For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

This is something that is a hot topic between other churches. Many people believe we are in the wrong for believing we can "works" our way in heaven. However they often have a misconception of what we mean by "works." I have heard people say it's wrong that we believe the amount of money we pay in tithing, is what determines where we go in heaven. Obviously we know this isn't actually how it works, but many people don't understand what it means to do works. This is where charity comes into play. When we think about charity, there is two ways we can think about it the first is one of performing some act or service for someone else, which can be defined as "works." 

we learn more about service in mosiah 2:17

17 And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God.

We learn more about charity in Moroni 7:47:

47 But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him. 

Doing service is important as we are serving God and spreading the pure love of Christ, but I would say the type of works that many miss would be that of repentance.

Repentance is an action. To change and become better! And we must be actively repenting and putting off the natural man, or else we truly are enemies to God. 

And this is where Faith and Hope become so monumental! If we don't have faith and hope that Christ completed the Atonement then we will never have the hope to endure to the end! 

I can testify that He Lives! and that the Atonement will allow us to change and become magnificent creatures in Christ! Let us all have Faith, Hope, and Charity and live the Gospel of Jesus Christ believing that every week partaking the sacrament is a fresh start because it is! God loves us and wants to help us let us please go to him:)

--

Keep smiling!

Love, Elder Gerrard

Week 21 - The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ

January 23, 2017

I send my warmest greetings from the cold and snowy Idaho!! 

This week was soo soo wonderful! The week started out in a interesting way, such that all of our set teaching appointments for the first two days got cancelled! Conveniently, done either right before we were going to meet them or an hour before that! But what amazes me soo much every time is the way that our Heavenly Father provides and like Elder Lawrence of the seventy said," Where God closes a door.. He always opens a window!"  Elder Shoemaker and I were truly blessed this week as we were given the privilege to add four new investigators to begin teaching the message of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ! It all really does work out in the long run! 

The thought I have this week was sparked from the remarks of someone we meet this week. 

As we discussed with this lady she made the statement that, "I have read the Book of Mormon and it bothers me it doesn't once talk about Jesus Christ." When I first heard this I was in shock as to how in the world did that conclusion come about!? As I have pondered this week about my studies I have felt my testimony grow towards the Book of Mormon and its inspired writings! Every time I read I become enthralled with its storyline and teachings of Jesus Christ and specifically his sacrifice that will be made! I add my testimony that, "The Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book.” (History of the Church, 4:461.) 

https://www.lds.org/ensign/1984/06/the-most-correct-book?lang=eng

Its an interesting statement to say the most correct book and I would encourage you to take a look at this article!   

This is where I will make my stand that its by living the precepts of the book. Applying, pondering, praying, likening. All these things will draw us closer to receiving revelation, inspiration, and comfort to those that are seeking.

My other thought comes from when I was particularly struck at the comment that was made from a member that talked about how he struggled to think why would the greater sin be upon the person that judges someone for breaking a commandment rather than the person that actually committed the sin. This member shared his insight. The sin is greater because we are denying the power that the Atonement could actually forgive that person. We are saying that individual has gone farther than the grasp of the Atonement.. This statement has just struck me this week.. I pray we all can forgive one another as Jesus Christ forgives us!  

Alma 7:11-12

11 And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.

 12 And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities.  

I know we can be forgiven for all things. Strengthened in all things. and comforted through all things because Jesus Christ our Savior and Redeemer!

ps. I only slipped once this week! but it happened to be into a huge puddle of water haha

Keep smiling!

Love, Elder Gerrard

Attachments area

Attachments area

Week 20 - Come all ye Faithful - Jan 16, 2017

Hello Everyone,                                                                                   Jan. 16, 2017

I hope everyone has been able to stay warm this chilly winter season! This week for Elder Shoemaker and I has been everything but normal. For starters transfers got cancelled so we had to postpone it too Wednesday because of the crazy weather! So from Monday-Wednesday we did a lot of final goodbyes with Elder Mata (as he has been in his area for 6 months and he was going to be transferred). When Wednesday came around we welcomed the new missionaries to our zone and helped them get their things to their new apartments and such! The best part about this transfer is the car that Elder Mata was in gets left in the area so Elder Shoemaker and I claimed it haha and we were told that we could keep it as long as we shared it with the other missionaries in our area! And we would rather have a car half of the time compared to none at all so it was awesome! So Elder Shoemaker and I were planning on keeping the car for the week until... I lost my card that I have to use to log in to the car so they can track where we go, how fast we drive and what not.. well me losing that card means we lose the car.. So we had to hand it over to the other Elders and wait for my new card to get here. We tried to find it but it was particularly slushy that night and then went below freezing temperatures.. so we believe it's under some sheet of ice somewhere.. But like I said it was a week that was anything and everything but normal! The following morning Elder Shoemaker got really really sick! We had to go to the doctor to get him checked out as he had a pretty nasty stomach virus! So we had to stay inside for two days, since he could barely walk or even talk! I can gladly say that by Saturday, whatever it was had passed. And we were able to continue our work!  

As I sat in our apartment as Elder Shoemaker slept I had quite a bit of time to think to myself. As i listened to a lot of General Conference talks I was quite moved as I received a renewed testimony of what the Atonement means to me. Many people know and recognize that the Atonement is for those that fall short of keeping the commandments of God, and that if we don't use the Atonement we will find ourselves wishing we used it once we are standing before God at the time of judgment. We know however that the atonement is soo much more than that. We simply cannot forget that the Atonement is for improving and changing. When we look at our past we must look briefly to see how and where we must change. That change is possible through the Grace of the Savior's atoning sacrifice. I loved this Statement that Elder Holland makes in his talk "Remember Lot's Wife: Faith is for the future"

 "Let people repent. Let people grow. Believe that people can change and improve. Is that faith? Yes! Is that hope? Yes! Is it charity? Yes! Above all, it is charity, the pure love of Christ. If something is buried in the past, leave it buried. Don’t keep going back with your little sand pail and beach shovel to dig it up, wave it around, and then throw it at someone, saying, “Hey! Do you remember this?” Splat!

Well, guess what? That is probably going to result in some ugly morsel being dug up out of your landfill with the reply, “Yeah, I remember it. Do you remember this?” Splat.

And soon enough everyone comes out of that exchange dirty and muddy and unhappy and hurt, when what God, our Father in Heaven, pleads for is cleanliness and kindness and happiness and healing."

I pray that we all excercise faith as we use this wonderful and glorious gift and allow it to change and improve our lives, as well as allow ourselves to believe and have faith that it can change others lives too. The sacrament truly becomes a wonderful, refreshing, renewing thing as we partake of it with a assurance that we did our part before hand to account for and plead for help and strength. It's not easy to endure to the end but if we take to the council found in the Doctrine Covenants: 123:17 "Therefore, dearly beloved brethren, let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed."

I add my testimony to the atonement and its healing and curing power.

Keep Smiling .... Elder Gerrard

Week 18 - He Lives (Dec. 26th)

I appreciate all the warm notes and emails that i have received this wonderful Christmas season. This week was a wonderful time to look outwardly and help others around us and ill cherish it for years to come! it makes me sad to think ill only be able to go through that experience one more time! It was wonderful to see my family Christmas night.. Crazy as usual!  Alot happened to Elder Shoemaker and I! We had Christmas Conference where half of the mission came together and we enjoyed songs and each others company! I was able to play the cello for us all using a members cello up here, which is awesome! I also had an exciting thing happen where i got permission from the mission president to bring my cello up from Las Vegas so ill be able to play for the mission and my wards more, which is something im super excited about! The spirit is so strong through music, which is why i enjoy sharing my talents! simply so the spirit can manifest truth for others! Something that was pretty crazy that happened this week was that We turned into a trio Elder Mata, Elder Shoemaker, and I will now be togeather for the rest of the transfer! This was a answer to Elder Shoemakers prayers haha because we are in a car for the rest of the transfer haha! So know we cover 5 wards! Which is all but two wards of the Meridian East Stake! So its going to keep us soo busy i wont even be able to think right! but its going to be awesome! I just wanted to share my thoughts from my studies this week. As i was reading my scriptures i asked my self the question " what does it mean to council with the Lord?"  This thought stems from 2 Nephi 28:4 & 2 Nephi 26:20 where we read about our day and we read about " contending voices" and "stumbling blocks" because of they preach by their own learning and their own wisdom. As I thought about this i came across some interesting scriptures! We learn in Alma 37:37 that we are to counsel with the Lord in all thy doings, and he will direct thee for good; yea, when thou liest down at night lie down unto the lord.  This lead me to psalm 34:10 where we read ".. they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing" and was also lead to Proverbs 13:25 " the righteous eateth to the satisfying of his soul, but the belly of the wicked shall want" which finally lead me to the last two scriptures 2 Nephi 9:50-51 "come quench yourselves... stop laboring work that doesn't satisfy, Hearken Diligently  1 Samuel 12: 20-21 "dont turn aside from the lord but serve with all your heart if we turn aside we will be going after vain things and they wont profit us" I found this study to be particularly enlightening that when we council with the lord in all that we are doing we will know we are being lead by him and that we will be satisfied! I hope you are all doing well and i appreciate and love you all We can be quenched when we council with the Lord! (sorry i ran out of time to finish my thought)

Keep Smiling ... Elder Gerrard

Week 19 - Many are Called but few are Frozen "(D&C 121:40)

Happy New Year Everyone! I hope you all had a wonderful celebration of the joy that comes from self reflecting and wanting to become better! Its a comfort to know that the Atonement of Jesus Christ is there for that very specific thing! This week will be a week that I will always remember! The Lord has truly blessed us as we have had a goal as a companionship to find new investigators as we baptized all of our serious investigators weeks prior! My testimony has truly grown once again in faith and what it means to find those in whom the Lord has prepared! We tracted into a new family (the Smiths) that welcomed us in and wanted to hear our message and we will be teaching about the restoration this next week! We also finally got to teach two other families that I have known since I got here 4 1/2 months ago! So im excited to see that it is in the Lords timing that they are ready to be taught by the missionaries! In total we have 6 new investigators this week and potentially 4 more on the way! Im so grateful that Heavenly Father has trusted Elder Shoemaker and I to bare testimony of this wonderful message of the restoration to these children of His! There is truly no better feeling that you can get than when you are teaching and testifying of this message! Its a gospel of Happiness! So we should look back on all the blessings and thank God for the things he gives us that we take for granted every day!

We gave talks this Sunday on how members can help and assist in the missionary work! I gave a talk on faith to find.

 My thoughts stemmed from Ether 12:4 " wherefore, whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which hope cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast, always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God." 

 We read from the scripture that those that believe in God hope for a better world and to have the chance to be on his right hand one day. I found this scripture particularly interesting about the use of talking about and anchor. It states that if we don't have faith and hope we wont have an anchor, and if you have seen a boat trying to weather the storm without an anchor it becomes quite difficult! But we are promised if we have that faith and hope, we will abound in good works and to glorify God! Now if we pair this scripture with missionary work if we dont have the faith that our neighbors or friends wont be interested in the gospel you already lost the battle! Your ship has sunk. May I suggest each of us to think and come up with a list of people that could use the gospel! If you simply write down peoples names as they come regardless of how ready we believe they are, we will come up with a great list in which we can then pray and ask God who is ready? who shall I focus on? And our small efforts for that family or individual won't go wasted.. I promise it won't.

The next scripture I came across was:

Moroni 7:42-43 "Wherefore, if a man have faith he must needs have hope; for without faith there cannot be any hope." "and again, behold i say unto you that he cannot have faith and hope, save he shall be meek, and lowly of heart."

This scripture reminds me of the Atonement. We need to approach the Savior with a meek and lowly heart to truly be sincerely repentant; However, The atonement isn't for those that make mistakes. The atonement is the ONLY way in which we could ever develop any Christlike attribute. The lesson to be learned is true faith and hope come from those that use the Atonement to gain that true undivided faith and hope. The kind of faith that brings forth miracles small and big! Its this type of faith that members of the church should have with anyone they talk about the gospel is to see them as God sees them with the hope and faith that we will make the right decision with our agency! 

This leads me to my final scripture found in 1 Nephi 17:8-9 " And it came to pass that the Lord spake unto me, saying: Thou shalt construct a ship, after the manner which I shall show thee, that I may carry thy people across these waters." " And I said: Lord, whither shall I go that I may find ore to molten , that I may make tools to construct the ship after the manner which thou hast shown unto me?"

President Thomas S. Monson said, “Now is the time for members and missionaries to come together … [and] labor in the Lord’s vineyard to bring souls unto Him. He has prepared the means for us to share the gospel in a multitude of ways, and He will assist us in our labors if we will act in faith to fulfill His work” (“Faith in the Work of Salvation” 

The boat in which the lord is asking to be built right now is now boat it is to hasten the work! "...We as members fit into the larger picture of hastening the work of salvation. We are not being asked to engage in a new program. We are simply being encouraged to be true disciples of Jesus Christ. Our role is to immerse ourselves in loving and serving those around us—comforting a co-worker in need, inviting our friends to a baptism, helping an elderly neighbor with his yard work, inviting a less-active member over for a meal, or helping a neighbor with her family history. These are all natural, joyful ways to invite less-active members and those not of our faith into our lives and consequently into the light of the gospel. Sharing with them the fun times and the sacred times of our lives may actually be the most effective way any of us can “labor in [Jesus Christ’s] vineyard for the salvation of the souls of men [and women]” (D&C 138:56)." 

I know that as we do these things we will hasten the work!

 https://www.lds.org/training/wwlt/2013/hastening/members-and-missionaries?lang=eng&_r=1

Fun fact! We broke a record in Boise! Most snow in 30 years!

Week 17 - Frosty Nights with Warm Christmas Lights

Merry Christmas everyone!

I hope that you all have a wonderful time as you draw close to the fire with family and enjoy the blessings that come from remembering the Savior!

For all those that are wondering we have been getting pretty close to hitting the mysterious 0 degree weather! So far its hasn't been to bad because we have people we are teaching so thats a tender mercy of this season! People's hearts truly are softened... or they see a vegas boy and a california kid shivering in their boots.. either or we have some amazing people to teach.

Because of the snow thats been falling this year, Elder Shoemaker and I have had an opportunity to shovel peoples drive ways for them and its been amazing as we have done these small acts of kindness for people they just break down in complete shock and thanksgiving for the gesture at the perfect time. I know however that this isn't just a coincidence for us being a missionary, but everyone has the opportunity to be the Lords Instrument in his hands. 

I just want to testify that the reason for this season is for charity and our Savior. We have had the privilege to help some families that aren't members or even people we are teaching currently by giving them financial aid to get by this season, which is truly a joy that has warmed my heart this christmas season. I pray that we can all embrace that love and light and ask God to give us charity, the Pure love of christ!