Peter on the Sea of Galilee - Week 56

October 2, 1017

This week was a really great opportunity to be able to work with some other missionaries in the mission. Me and Elder Pettijohn went on two exchanges this week. I went with one of our District Leaders in Nampa and then with one of the Assistants to the President in their area as well. It was alot of fun. There is nothing quite like a solids day of missionary work. We were able to find a few new potential investigators, teach some lessons, and to top it all off a dollar shake at the local burger joint to top of the night. With General Conference this time around it seemed like everyone was on the same page with the idea that you treat General conference like the Super Bowl. We were able to watch each session with a different family and some investigators this go around. The only problem in this is each family feels the need to go all out for us. Saturday sessions of conference I ate a 1/2 pound burger, mac-salad, fresh honeydew, We then headed to the next session where they had cinnamon rolls, sliders, meat tray, veggie trays, and expecting us to eat it all. I don't know how it happened but i did it! The only side effect is I when it came around to dinner time it was impossible to eat any more haha. 

My thought from the week comes from the account of Peter on the Sea of Galilee. I was pondering a talk that was given by Dieter F. Uchtdorf to the new mission presidents called in the year 2017. President Uchtdorf states: 

It was Peter who, when he saw the Savior walking on the Sea of Galilee, called out, "Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water." While the other disciples were content to remain safely in the boat, Peter somehow knew that with the Lord's blessing, he too could walk on water. So when Jesus said,"come," Peter boldly stepped out of his boat, and for a few steps he had such great faith that he could walk on water! But " when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me." (
Matt. 14:23-33) immediately, impulsively, automatically, Peter reached out to the Savior for help.

And the Lord did save him, and as Peter followed Jesus, he continued to show remarkable courage, mixed with a  good measure of human weakness. he was always willing to take risks, to open his mouth and say what was in his heart. At times this led to blunders, but more often it led to precious learning experiences not available to those who held back." 

I really loved this description of the experience of Peter. It makes me think about who would I be? Would I be the one to step out of the boat and draw nearer to the Savior? Or would I be one of the disciples that wanted to remain safely in the boat where I would feel comfortable?  

I loved hearing the words of our modern day prophets and apostles. Elder Holland talking about how we all aspire to be more Christlike. So we should see one another as human beings striving to progress forward to help each other. President Uchtdorf talking about how much light do we have and allow in our lives?  Are we allowing comfort and habitual routines to hinder us from obtaining more light?

May I add my testimony to the ones in which we have already heard this weekend. The Book of Mormon does and will add more light into our lives as we not only read it, but ponder the message it contains and then to ask God to open our understanding.

Love you all,

Love Elder Gerrard

Elder Pettijohn has some kicks!