Oh man what a great week, I hope you all had a fantastic time over the last 7 days! T hope you all had the chance to to watch general conference and were able to get something great out of it cause i know that I sure was able to get an lot out of those 10 hours! But i will try not to talk about it too much.. I will tell you a little about this week! Oh and a disclaimer: Missionaries weeks are usually so awesome you cant rate one above another, so my top ten is not always in order!
1. Brother Rooks, the Marianna wards young men president was talking to the youth in a lesson I was helping out with and he said the gospel is like shaving! No matter how good you do you have to get up and shave again the next day! The gospel is not a one day a week thing, we have to do it everyday! He then told all the kids how missions help you grow and pointed to me and told me that I had grown so much and am so much more confident now. I really liked tha,t it is nice hearing from outsiders that you have grown and that means you are changing and becoming better! The whole point of the gospel!!!!
2. This week we had an awesome district meeting and read the talk "missionary work and the atonement", by Jeffery R Holland. He talks about trials missionaries face and why missionaries face trials in the first place! He said Christ's mission was not easy why should ours be? In revelation received by the prophet Jospeh F. Smith, which is now d&c 138 says "25 I marveled, for I understood that the Savior spent about three years in his ministry among the Jews and those of the house of Israel, endeavoring to teach them the everlasting gospel and call them unto repentance; 26 And yet, notwithstanding his mighty works, and miracles, and proclamation of the truth, in great power and authority, there were but few who hearkened to his voice, and rejoiced in his presence, and received salvation at his hands." Not even the son of God converted thousands so why should we? The talk goes on to say missions are hard because "SALVATION IS NOT CHEAP" Salvation comes through our own personal walks through Gethsemane, we do not save ourself but we must know how Christ felt to appreciate that gift he has given us! Man i really loved it and realized that I sometimes get angry when the work doesn't go how I want, but it is not my work but His!
3. We had another great lesson with Mark and Brenda! It was great, I sat next to the 4 year old who ended up being super distracting as we taught the plan of salvation. Elder Farris had never taught it before so he was super nervous and Even the 4 year old was going crazy next to me but it just showed how the spirit works! I was trying my best to say what needed to be said and I would only hear about half of the question and then start talking and the spirit would guide me to the answer. It was a true testimony of opening my mouth and it being filled!
4. We talked about disobedience this week as a missionary and one of the quotes of the last assistant to the president came up. He was older and much wiser so everyone referred to him as Father Norton. He said that "disobedience is spitting in the face of the Son of God". This sounds very harsh, but sadly it is true. When missionaries that have been called by a prophet that represents Christ willing disobey their calling just so they can have "a little fun" they are walking on this gift that Christ has sent them. It is a sad thing to see but i am grateful I understand my calling as a missionary!
5. Conference was so great! I really loved it! And i hope we all took Robert D. Hales' advice and not just listen to the talks but hear the spirit in them and apply them to our life! I only took about 21 pages of notes for help! The first song right after Thomas S. Monson opened the conference was Isreal Israel God is Calling! I thought it was very interesting that some of the lines in that first song were " Israel Israel God is speaking!" I know that is a true statement and that all of those messages were inspired from God! So it really was him speaking!
Here are some of my talk highlights:
6. Edward Dube gave a talk on unity in the church, about how we should not look back and boast in our accomplishments but look forward to how else we can serve. I liked his analogy of the Ox, although they are not the biggest animals or strongest they move the most because they work together!!! We as a church have to apply that all of us missionaries, members, youth, leaders all need to work hard to keep this world wide organization moving forward.
7. Jeffery R. Holland gave his talk on emotional health! a suprising topic but an amazing talk! he talked about how he had strggled through depression and countless latter day saints struggle through it. that it is so dangourous. he said we all are leaving by choice in this fallen world and sometimes it gets the best of us but we should not be discouraged. i think all can relate to this talk in aspect of trials that we all have bitter cups and sometimes they do not pass but we have to drink it and move on stronger than before. Hold fast to faith and Hope.
8. I though it was interesting in the Priesthood session of conference that closing remarks were given on home teaching!!! The prophet took his time to speak on this important task that we all have! I guess it really is important right? I loved how he told how we are all given a portion of the Lord's vineyard to labor in and we are expected to report to the Lord about it. Home teaching is essential in this church for our salvation and others. I promised a man in the Marianna ward a few months ago that I would be the best home teacher i could be once I get home to those that i am assigned because he was brought back to the church because of a home teacher
9. President Uchtdorf gave a great talk on joining the church, or rejoining the church which was just so great. His message was that all are invited to come and join. That this church although its founder, Jesus Christ, is led by imperfect, that although we try our best we are far from Christ. He said that "this church only be perfect if led by perfect people but God uses imperfect people; yet god is perfect and the doctrine is pure". We do the best we can to do great things although imperfect through our perfect God.
10. I do not want to bore you all with my conference summaries about talks most of you have heard but I could just talk for days and days about what i have heard and how I was able to listen! I loved the main themes I got out of conference of womanhood being so important in this church and also members and missionaries working together!
I love you all and wish for a good week ahead of you.
PHOTOS:
1 Me and a spider last p day. I like bugs
2 Me, Elder Bochenek, and Elder Mafi (in the back, from belmont shores rugby)
3 Me and cats some member had
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