I feel that God has helped me understand the principles of Faith, and Agency, and Judgement (Accountability) this last week. We listened to Elder Ukchdorf's Fourth Floor, Last Door talk. I had heard lots of great stuff about it from other missionaries, but this last week I finally listened to it and loved it.
I loved the understanding the limits of faith.
"Yet some might ask, 'If faith is so powerful, why can’t I receive an answer to a heartfelt prayer? I don’t need a sea to part or a mountain to move. I just need my illness to go away or my parents to forgive each other or...뭐뭐뭐. Why can’t my faith accomplish that?'
[1.)] Faith is powerful, and often it does result in miracles. But no matter how much faith we have, there are two things faith cannot do. For one, it cannot violate another person’s agency. [God] will not force anyone to choose the path of righteousness. God did not force His own children to follow Him in the pre-mortal world. How much less will He force us now as we journey through this mortal life?
[2.)] Something faith cannot do is force our will upon God. We cannot force God to comply with our desires—no matter how right we think we are or how sincerely we pray."
Just because something doesn't happen the way we feel it should (outward results). It does not mean, if you are jumping quickly to conclusions, that your lack of results is a lack of your faith.
But, the lack of results or information or stats, should NEVER EVER be used as an excuse or the OK to slacken the ropes or to not put as much effort, or diligence.
There are amazing examples of these all through out the scriptures...
Mormon to his son.. (Moroni 9:6)
"And now, my beloved son, notwithstanding their hardness, let us labor diligently; for if we should cease to labor, we should be brought under condemnation; for we have a labor to perform whilst in this tabernacle of clay, that we may conquer the enemy of all righteousness, and rest our souls in the kingdom of God."
Lehi comforting his worried, scared, and doubting wife, in a time where all things seem to be going wrong. They had traveled away from the place they had lived their whole lives, leaving all their belongings on a leap of faith. And, after a little whiles journey, Lehi tells his sons to go back and get records from a powerful and wicked man Laban. And, right before the sons returned successfully, Sariah being worn down by this dramatic change and complains to her husband.
This was his response. (1 Nephi 5:4-5)
"...I know that I am a visionary man; for if I had not seen the things of God in a vision I should not have known the goodness of God, but had tarried at Jerusalem, and had perished with my brethren. But behold, I have obtained a land of promise,(despite the present state, having hope in the promises of the Lord; "Faith it" till he makes it) in the which things I do rejoice; yea, and I know that the Lord will deliver my sons out of the hands of Laban, and bring them down again unto us in the wilderness."
There is also, Alma who preached to the people in Ammonihah. He had no direct results and was rejected when an angel comes and says to him... (Alma 8:15)
"Blessed art thou, Alma; therefore, lift up thy head and rejoice, for thou hast great cause to rejoice; for thou hast been faithful in keeping the commandments of God from the time which thou receivest thy first message from him."
As missionaries we know Moses 1:39 (For this is my work and glory —to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man) about God's purpose. But, have we ever thought about what OUR work or OUR duty is as humans? It is clearly stated in this passage. (D&C 11:20) "Behold, this is your work, to keep my commandments, yea, with all your might, mind and strength."
Sometimes we can't control everything that happens outside of us. Not saying that it takes away our personal responsibility, or even implying that things are just the way they are and you can't do anything to change it. NO! We are all agents, to act and not be acted upon (2 Nephi 2:14). So, the thing, in which we can have the most impact, is our everyday choices. On a mission, the thing we can control is our own obedience, the type of person we become, what type of attitude we have, whether we have the Spirit with us always, and if we always teach and invite according to what we KNOW is true. We do everything with-in our power, to bless the lives of others. Not only all successful missionaries, but all successful people in life, have come to understand the principle of agency one way or the other.
We all are to help others become agents unto themselves, by helping them understand truths. Recognition and awareness makes us liable for our the actions we make later on. It gives us the opportunity (2 Nephi 2: 27-29).
After we share with them the things they didn't know that they didn't know, it gives them power!!! We all know that, "With great power (like knowledge of truths, laws and promises of our loving Heavenly Father), comes great responsibility."
Thanks Spidey ;p!
A wise man told me once that Spirit testifies of truth, no matter where it comes from. So make sure to lean in closely, no matter where you're at, the Spirit might just be teaching you something.
The next time you learn a truth by the Spirit, I would hope that you literally think of it as power given to you from Heaven! What have you come to know by the Spirit?
Love you ALL! You're in my prayers.
And, 화이팅 (good luck fighting the good fight)
Rootless plants are always fun, right?
Getting some 떡뽁이 (Pronounced duck-bow-key)
I don't know if you all heard, but there was a typhoon that came over Korea. There was no big damage from what I have heard and seen, other than fact that the kids didn't have to go to school for some days :p.
Food I made at home. Green apples taste remarkable with chicken! 해보세요!
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