There were some really high highs. One of the top ones being the inspiration and revelation that came out of Zone Conference. And through the week there were some lower moments.
But, I think you all know me well enough that even if something outside of me and my control is happening, it will NEVER take my passion for the work of the Lord and I will not let it effect my attitude for very long at all. I think that it is all thanks to my understanding of the principles of Agency and Hope.(Something I shared as part of training during exchanges this last week, no coincidence as to why I was prompted to teach that. God wanted to reinforce what I already had come to learn.)
This last week in Taebaek, out of our 5 lessons, there were 3 spectacular lessons with progressing investigators. (You know that it is a good lesson if the person you're teaching finds out for himself and says in prayer that they have come to learn that the Book of Mormon is the Word of God, or that they ask questions about doctrine they heard from youth conference, but especially when you yourself have had your understating enlarged in the Gospel.)
After one of those 3 great lessons, we texted the person we taught to check up on what she understood from the scripture we had sent. And from that simple attempt to follow up it lead to the person we taught going straight to expressing that she would never like to meet us again. It really caught me and Elder Boden off guard.
I was sort of shocked at first, but later on in the night, when that shocked feeling started to fade away, the feeling started turning to an achy heart. But, only because I could feel that she was just on the grasp of partaking of the fruits of the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ, to feel that peace and purpose in life that you can find nowhere else in this world. I put in a lot of thought and studying with Elder Boden, to make sure that all our investigators can start to hear the voice of God in their lives, but the person we had been teaching used her agency to choose not to accept it, the opportunity. An opportunity to partake of the blessings God has in store for each and every one of his children that ask or seek for it.
And, I don't think that she has shut herself off for eternity. That would be way to dramatic, but I believe that it is for a moment. We have taken the time and care to make sure we planted a seed correctly, and I believe that later it will start to grow, as God's servants continue to watch over that seed and she chooses to water it until it can finally take root, flourish, provide fruit.
This transfer President Taylor, other missionaries and I have be told through multiple means, that the Lord need us to reach out our light even further to find new people to teach, take them to church and ultimately bring to the waters of baptism. For baptism is the place where they can partake of the first fruits of repentance. (Moroni 8: 25)
If we follow each step of the gospel, pure doctrine of Christ (Faith, Repentance, Baptism, Receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost, and Endure to the End), the fruit of the first harvest will be sweeter than any other fruit we have eaten before. (1 Nephi 8:12) I promise you. And that is only the first harvest, imagine what the tree's fruit will be like when it has been nurtured over the years until it is fully matured! (Alma 32: 42-43) And this tree will never wither away. (If you endure to the end; Alma 32: 41) That I can promise you!!!!!
Christ is the Shepard.
Alma 5
33 Behold, he sendeth an invitation unto all men, for the arms of mercy are extended towards them, and he saith: Repent, and I will receive you.
34 Yea, he saith: Come unto me and ye shall partake of the fruit of the tree of life; yea, ye shall eat and drink of the bread and the waters of life freely;
[...nevertheless have gone astray, as sheep having no shepherd, notwithstanding a shepherd hath called after you and is still calling after you...]
41 Therefore, if a man bringeth forth good works he hearkeneth unto the voice of the good shepherd, and he doth follow him...
This Shepherd knows the name of all his sheep, and not one can come to harm with in his keep, but if they wander from the keeper into the this fallen state of a world, there is no reason to fear! For there are angels watching over the Shepherd's sheep, to warn them in the cold and stormy nights and guard them still! They are there to guide them safely to the fold again. They need to know that they will never walk alone.
"...the arms of mercy are extended towards [us all]..."
Sometimes we forget the fact that we believe in the same things and and can experience the same things as was in the primitive church.
I believe in the Gift of Tongues!!! It is a miracle that I can speak as much as I can in Korean, it truly is a Spiritual Gift from God, and it has come after earnest prayer for the gift and all that I can do.
I believe in Revelations. I have accepted our modern day Prophet's invitation to "stretch beyond your current spiritual ability to receive personal revelation, for the Lord has promised that “if thou shalt [seek], thou shalt receive revelation upon revelation, knowledge upon knowledge, that thou mayest know the mysteries and peaceable things—that which bringeth joy, that which bringeth life eternal.”
Oh, there is so much more that your Father in Heaven wants you to know. As Elder Neal A. Maxwell taught, “To those who have eyes to see and ears to hear, it is clear that the Father and the Son are giving away the secrets of the universe!” As I have accepted this invitation I have come to realize the same. God is more willing to give us understanding of these important and eternal doctrinal truths then we think.
I believe in the Gift of Healing. I know that very priesthood that was given to the apostles by Christ, was restored to Joseph Smith. It is the same priesthood used to bring people back to life and heal many manners of sickness. I have see these types of miracles come to pass in our day through worthy priesthood holders and the faith of those the receiving these blessings!
I believe in the Ministering of Angels. As I mention before, there are angels watching over the Shepherd's sheep. We just need to open our eyes!
I love you all and sorry for the surplus of thoughts, and I am sure you don't have all the time in the world to read this, but I hope that you can get a little something out of it.
God Bless you all!
Friends keep coming out of Goodyear Arizona!!!!!!!!!!
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