Week 65

I had great week here in East Sea Branch of Korea!

Honestly, I have more people here to teach than in any other place and I am so grateful for the chance to be able to testify of the truths I have received and that I am able to be part of this work.

One of the truths I hold dearly is that God is our Heavenly Father. I believe that it is the greatest truth that one could learn. 

I feel the truthfulness of it when I pray, and when I read from His words in the scriptures and many other ways, but I have always felt the Spirit testify of the truth of His nature when I read this hymn out loud. Try for yourself. Read this out loud and... listen!

1. O my Father, thou that dwellest

In the high and glorious place,

When shall I regain thy presence

And again behold thy face?

In thy holy habitation,

Did my spirit once reside?

In my first primeval childhood

Was I nurtured near thy side?

2. For a wise and glorious purpose

Thou hast placed me here on earth

And withheld the recollection

Of my former friends and birth;

Yet ofttimes a secret something

Whispered, "You're a stranger here,"

And I felt that I had wandered

From a more exalted sphere.

3. I had learned to call thee Father,

Thru thy Spirit from on high,

But, until the key of knowledge

Was restored, I knew not why.

In the heav'ns are parents single?

No, the thought makes reason stare!

Truth is reason; truth eternal

Tells me I've a mother there.

4. When I leave this frail existence,

When I lay this mortal by,

Father, Mother, may I meet you

In your royal courts on high?

Then, at length, when I've completed

All you sent me forth to do,

With your mutual approbation

Let me come and dwell with you.

I would like to end with a scripture. 

Romans 8

16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

"Our Heavenly Father’s goal in parenting is not to have His children do what is right; it is to have His children choose to do what is right and ultimately become like Him. If He simply wanted us to be obedient, He would use immediate rewards and punishments to influence our behaviors.

But God is not interested in His children just becoming trained and obedient “pets” who will not chew on His slippers in the celestial living room. No, God wants His children to grow up spiritually and join Him in the family business.

God established a plan whereby we can become heirs in His kingdom, a covenant path that leads us to become like Him, have the kind of life He has, and live forever as families in His presence."

Recently, I asked one of the people we are teaching "What do you think the purpose is behind all of what God does?"

I was surprised when his response was something to this extent. "God was bored, so he made this earth and us just as a sort of experiment and to use us as his play ground." 

I am soooo grateful that I have come to learn that there is a deeper purpose behind everything that He does. I know that God's "...work and... glory [is]—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man."  which entails that we can become like Him and experience the fullness of joy that He and the Son have.

Lots love from Elder Alger in Korea!