Hey everyone!
This week has been a pretty crazy one! Coming into a new area is always new, fun, and exciting thats for sure. Its always a big adjustment for me because I probably am a little particular about how i get things done and organized as it helps me think things out and figure out what is the next step for the area, but my new Companion is Elder Rymer! He is from Bountiful Utah, and he is 6'4
" 1 And now it came to pass that Ammon and king Limhi began to consult with the people how they should deliver themselves out of bondage; and even they did cause that all the people should gather themselves together; and this they did that they might have the voice of the people concerning the matter.
2 And it came to pass that they could find no way to deliver themselves out of bondage, except it were to take their women and children, and their flocks, and their herds, and their tents, and depart into the wilderness; for the Lamanites being so numerous, it was impossible for the people of Limhi to contend with them, thinking to deliver themselves out of bondage by the sword.
5 And the king granted unto him that he might speak. And Gideon said unto him:
6 Behold the back pass, through the back wall, on the back side of the city. The Lamanites, or the guards of the Lamanites, by night are drunken; therefore let us send a proclamation among all this people that they gather together their flocks and herds, that they may drive them into the wilderness by night.
7 And I will go according to thy command and pay the last tribute of wine to the Lamanites, and they will be drunken; and we will pass through the secret pass on the left of their camp when they are drunken and asleep.
8 Thus we will depart with our women and our children, our flocks, and our herds into the wilderness; and we will travel around the land of Shilom.-- "
So you can add him to the list of super tall companions that I have had ahah. He has been out for 17 months so he came out a transfer before i did. I am currently serving in the Meridian North Zone covering the Bristol Heights, River Heights, Banbury, and Boise YSA 3rd wards. Its going to be a fun area to serve in as there are alot of things to get done and accomplished. Elder Rymer will most likely be leaving at the end of the next transfer so I will be most likely leading the area next transfer? but hey.. you never know what happens! This week we have our Christmas Conference on Wednesday and that should be a good time for all of us. I will most likely be playing a cello solo or something and then our zone was going to do some skits that we came up with about missionary work!
As far as my thought for the week. My mind has been pondering and in a state of amazement the past week. Leaving Caldwell was strangely hard for me to do because i felt like there was so much that was still left to be done that in ways i felt as though I failed while serving in that area, because it seemed like I barely made a dent. And if I made a dent was it the right one? I ponder frequently about the Lord's Work and what that means for me, and all of us. Ultimately, I have come to the conclusion that really because its His work we should always consider and include Him in our decisions. This is something that i have reflected on to check and see if im allowing Heavnely Father and the Holy Spirit to guide me in my life enough. Because of these thoughts my personal prayers have been centered on gaining more of this guidance in my day to day life. I can honestly say, this area in Meridian I have felt very strongly that this is where I need to be and this is has come faster than any other area I have served in. We dont have a ton of investigators but each one that i have taught this week I have felt like i have met them before and have talked to them before. This all has come as an answer to my prayers in alot of ways. I can testify that I know that God loves us and he answers our prayers. It reminds me of this thought shared with me from the Book of Mormon in Mosiah. Chapter 22 and chapter
Mosiah Chapter 22 we read about the people of king Limhi were trying to get out of bondage under the Lamanites.
Mosiah 22 Versus 1-2; 5-8
2 And it came to pass that they could find no way to deliver themselves out of bondage, except it were to take their women and children, and their flocks, and their herds, and their tents, and depart into the wilderness; for the Lamanites being so numerous, it was impossible for the people of Limhi to contend with them, thinking to deliver themselves out of bondage by the sword.
5 And the king granted unto him that he might speak. And Gideon said unto him:
6 Behold the back pass, through the back wall, on the back side of the city. The Lamanites, or the guards of the Lamanites, by night are drunken; therefore let us send a proclamation among all this people that they gather together their flocks and herds, that they may drive them into the wilderness by night.
7 And I will go according to thy command and pay the last tribute of wine to the Lamanites, and they will be drunken; and we will pass through the secret pass on the left of their camp when they are drunken and asleep.
8 Thus we will depart with our women and our children, our flocks, and our herds into the wilderness; and we will travel around the land of Shilom.-- "
We learn later that the people did indeed escape in the night going out the back pass and around the land of Shilom to the land of Zarahemlah and this was done with the help of making the Lamanite guards drunk so they could do so safely.
Contrast this with a similar situation in the Book of Mormon in Mosiah 24 versus 9-20. This is where the people of Alma are also under bondage by the Lamanites but notice the difference in how they are freed from bondage.
"9 For Amulon knew Alma, that he had been one of the king’s priests, and that it was he that believed the words of Abinadi and was driven out before the king, and therefore he was wroth with him; for he was subject to king Laman, yet he exercised authority over them, and put tasks upon them, and put task-masters over them.
10 And it came to pass that so great were their afflictions that they began to cry mightily to God.
11 And Amulon commanded them that they should stop their cries; and he put guards over them to watch them, that whosoever should be found calling upon God should be put to death.
12 And Alma and his people did not raise their voices to the Lord their God, but did pour out their hearts to him; and he did know the thoughts of their hearts.
13 And it came to pass that the voice of the Lord came to them in their afflictions, saying: Lift up your heads and be of good comfort, for I know of the covenant which ye have made unto me; and I will covenant with my people and deliver them out of bondage.
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.
17 And he said unto Alma: Thou shalt go before this people, and I will go with thee and deliver this people out of bondage.
18 Now it came to pass that Alma and his people in the night-time gathered their flocks together, and also of their grain; yea, even all the night-time were they gathering their flocks together.
19 And in the morning the Lord caused a deep sleep to come upon the Lamanites, yea, and all their task-masters were in a profound sleep.
20 And Alma and his people departed into the wilderness; and when they had traveled all day they pitched their tents in a valley, and they called the valley Alma, because he led their way in the wilderness."
10 And it came to pass that so great were their afflictions that they began to cry mightily to God.
11 And Amulon commanded them that they should stop their cries; and he put guards over them to watch them, that whosoever should be found calling upon God should be put to death.
12 And Alma and his people did not raise their voices to the Lord their God, but did pour out their hearts to him; and he did know the thoughts of their hearts.
13 And it came to pass that the voice of the Lord came to them in their afflictions, saying: Lift up your heads and be of good comfort, for I know of the covenant which ye have made unto me; and I will covenant with my people and deliver them out of bondage.
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.
17 And he said unto Alma: Thou shalt go before this people, and I will go with thee and deliver this people out of bondage.
18 Now it came to pass that Alma and his people in the night-time gathered their flocks together, and also of their grain; yea, even all the night-time were they gathering their flocks together.
19 And in the morning the Lord caused a deep sleep to come upon the Lamanites, yea, and all their task-masters were in a profound sleep.
20 And Alma and his people departed into the wilderness; and when they had traveled all day they pitched their tents in a valley, and they called the valley Alma, because he led their way in the wilderness."
The people of Alma relied solely upon the Lord. They had so much faith in the lord that they believed wholeheartedly that He would deliver them. Can you imagine what that would be like? to gather all your stuff in the town square not knowing how God was going to do it but he would deliver you? And if he doesn't imagine what the Lamanities would have done to them if they tried to leave that morning and nothing happens! Ultimatley, They walked straight out of the front doors of the city. not the back pass. They relied upon the Lord. Not on things of the world or philosophies of men. This is a great example of the contrasting ways of how we can have success one with the Lords help and one with a little less of his help. My prayer is we can allow God to be a little bit more apart of our day to day lives.
Keep smiling!
Love, Elder Gerrard
