Another great week has flown by yet again. And week
after week the Lord is continuing to bless us. This last week has been amazing!
We had the opportunity to be able to go to the temple this last week as a
district. And it was much needed. Our mission president has talked about
how he wants to continue to build our faith in Jesus Christ.
He explained how
he was pondering on how to do this, and his thoughts came to the old testament.
He remembered the experience of Moses shortly after he was called to be the
prophet and to go talk with the people. He prepared by to going up to the
mountain of the Lord. Now anytime the scriptures talk about the Mountain of the
Lord we know the Lord is referencing the temples. And so by Moses going to the
mountain of the Lord he received strength. And so after thinking about that
President asked for each district to attend the temple and ponder on these
questions.
What are the blessings of faith?
How do we increase our faith?
And as we were able to ponder on these questions so many
answers and impressions came to me for the people that we are teaching now, and
as well as thoughts about my own faith. And just being able to ponder on those
things brought me so much closer to the Lord. And coming out of that temple
session I just felt so amazing! It helped strengthen my testimony for the need
of going to the temples and the happiness that is found with in.
Going to the temple is one of the biggest
blessing we can experience on this earth. It is the place in which we can feel
closest to God. And as faithful members of the church we are able to enter the
temples and experience the greater sense of peace and clarity that comes in to
our lives as we focus on the things our Father in Heaven wants for us. I would
invite each of you to evaluate your efforts in making it to the temple.
Many
times in our lives we think that we don't have time to be able to make it to
the temple. And truthfully by not going to the temple you are denying yourselves
the blessings that our Father in Heaven wants to give you. Life does get busy,
but I promise each of you that as you show your faith by setting aside the time
to go to the temple the Lord will bless you with the time to accomplish the
other things you need to get done.
Just as we learn in the Ether 12:6, we can
only receive a witness after the trial of our faith. I also promise you do this
you will have a great sense of purpose and peace in your lives. And the
blessings you receive will go far beyond what we can see now.
In addition to this week we were able to set another
baptismal date with someone in the YSA ward that we have been working with. His
name is Michael, and he has been progressing well. He mentioned to us that his
reading in the Book of Mormon has helped him to feel so good! And we were able
to teach him how those feelings come from the Holy Ghost and it was testifying
to him that the things he was doing was right! And then we were able to teach
the plan of salvation and then set a baptismal date for July 18th. The Lord
continuing to place people in our path that are being prepared!
And then last night was probably the best way to end our
week. We were able to teach Brother Hoyer last night. And just seeing him each
week there has been a change in his countenance you can tell that he is feeling
the spirit that comes from reading the Book of Mormon.
And we were
following up on his experience in reading the Book of Mormon while he was gone.
He read from the end of 2nd Nephi up until Mosiah 20 in less than a week. And
he just said he feels really good about it. And then we followed up by asking
him the big question. We asked how he was feeling about this baptism.
He paused
and then went on to continue by saying he was excited as he could be! He said
he felt he had received his full answer this last week and is ready to go
forward with being baptized. Now before hand we had set a date with him to be
baptized July 4th 2015. But after talking yesterday he asked if we could move
it to this weekend. He said he would do anything to be ready by then. We only
had two more lessons to teach him before he would be fully ready, and he
assured him that he would be able to do ready by Friday. And he then said
Friday is the day he wants to enter into the waters of baptism.
The Lord
answered our prayers. Since we have been back in College park we have prayed
for him continually, and then we were able to start teaching him. And then we
continued in fasting and prayer that we could be ready and receive his answer.
And as always when we sacrifice for the Lord he will answer when we call. And
he did that by helping giving Brother Hoyer the answer to his prayer.
And in
addition to that he has asked that this upcoming Friday that I go forward with
baptizing him. I promise Brothers and Sisters that the Lord does hear and
answer our prayers! If you feel you haven't been receiving the answers to
prayers, continue to hang on and know that he will answer. And have the faith
that the answer that comes is what will be best for us. The Lord is
mindful of each of his children. And Many times our faith and our answers to
prayers depends on us going to the Lord and asking for his help. And when we
depend on the Lord he will be there to lift us up and help us with what ever we
need if it be his will.
So last night we were able to finish the commandments
lessons, and then we will be going back tonight to finish teaching him. And he
will be interviewed and ready to go by tomorrow! Things truly are going so so
well! I am grateful for the chance I have to be a missionary. I now this is the
Lords work, and testify and we unite with his will and do our part in helping
with his work, great shall be our joy!
Well I hope all y'all have a great week!
Elder Joshua V. Christensen
No comments:
Post a Comment