Hey everyone!
Wow. We had another great week! There is really just a ton to do up here. We just have to really work hard to accomplish it all. We have figure out who our 2nd baptism is going to be so now we just need to move along 5 other people to come closer to their Savior, Jesus Christ, by entering in the waters of baptism. This goal of 7 is definitely a lofty goal but this is the area that it can be done. I know that all we need to do as missionaries is work as hard as we can and the Lord will provide the individuals as the time becomes right and when he can trust us. I have really enjoyed the last two weeks because I have gained a greater appreciation for revelation playing a role in my mission efforts. Thanks to Elder Dunham i have started a revelation journal. Pretty much I pray with a pen and notebook in hand and anything that comes to my mind whether it makes sense or not i write it down. Its been a really awesome exercise! The important part is once I receive this revelation I need to be proactive and act upon the promptings! lets just say I have alot of things to act on now. haha
My thoughts from the week come from a Book of Mormon read that we were having with some members in our branch up in Garden Valley. We were reading out of Mosiah 18 and we came across verse 4-7 that stood out to me.
Mosiah 18:4-7
"4 And it came to pass that as many as did believe him did go forth to a place which was called Mormon, having received its name from the king, being in the borders of the land having been infested, by times or at seasons, by wild beasts.
5 Now, there was in Mormon a fountain of pure water, and Alma resorted thither, there being near the water a thicket of small trees, where he did hide himself in the daytime from the searches of the king.
6 And it came to pass that as many as believed him went thither to hear his words.
7 And it came to pass after many days there were a goodly number gathered together at the place of Mormon, to hear the words of Alma. Yea, all were gathered together that believed on his word, to hear him. And he did teach them, and did preach unto them repentance, and redemption, and faith on the Lord."
"Parents should also remember the Lord’s frequent teaching that “whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth” (Hebrews 12:6).13 In his conference talk on tolerance and love, Elder Russell M. Nelson taught that “real love for the sinner may compel courageous confrontation—not acquiescence! Real love does not support self-destructing behavior.”14
Wherever the line is drawn between the power of love and the force of law, the breaking of commandments is certain to impact loving family relationships. Jesus taught:
“Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division:
“For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three.
“The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother” (Luke 12:51–53).
This sobering teaching reminds us that when family members are not united in striving to keep the commandments of God, there will be divisions. We do all that we can to avoid impairing loving relationships, but sometimes it happens after all we can do."
I testify that our Savior loves us, but his standard will always remain the same, because he knows what we can become and there is only one way to become what he has in store for us and it is through him and his plan.
5 Now, there was in Mormon a fountain of pure water, and Alma resorted thither, there being near the water a thicket of small trees, where he did hide himself in the daytime from the searches of the king.
6 And it came to pass that as many as believed him went thither to hear his words.
7 And it came to pass after many days there were a goodly number gathered together at the place of Mormon, to hear the words of Alma. Yea, all were gathered together that believed on his word, to hear him. And he did teach them, and did preach unto them repentance, and redemption, and faith on the Lord."
The thought occurred to me.. why do we read about so many stories in the scriptures where people fled into the wilderness? (Moses, Lot and his wife, Nephi, Enos, Noah, etc)
It would be easy to think.. well.. as soon as you step out of the city you are in the wilderness duh. But the more I thought about it, I wanted to understand the spiritual symbolism that was behind it all.
As I pondered this principle something that came to my mind is that the wilderness was a refugee of safety for many of Gods children. But why would they need refugee? They needed refuge because they were being persecuted for following Gods standards.
This is where it dawned on me. We are told to be in the world but not of the world. we read in
John 15:19
"19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you."
My invitation to each of us to ponder and reflect is what will we have to do to go and believe the words of a prophet of God concerning repentance, redemption and faith on the Lord. And as we do this what are we going to have to endure from the world because of our efforts? Certainly we will have to stand up for what we believe which is the commandments but also show our love.
Elder Dallin H. Oaks address this issue beautifully in his talk "Love and Law" https://www.lds.org/
Wherever the line is drawn between the power of love and the force of law, the breaking of commandments is certain to impact loving family relationships. Jesus taught:
“Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division:
“For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three.
“The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother” (Luke 12:51–53).
This sobering teaching reminds us that when family members are not united in striving to keep the commandments of God, there will be divisions. We do all that we can to avoid impairing loving relationships, but sometimes it happens after all we can do."
I testify that our Savior loves us, but his standard will always remain the same, because he knows what we can become and there is only one way to become what he has in store for us and it is through him and his plan.
Love, Elder Gerrard
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