Hello Everyone!
This week has been good. We have been helping members and nonmembers that haven't gone to church (any church) in over 20 years come back - which has been really cool. We are also working to help a couple of people finish the final steps to be baptized. One of the people we are teaching is teaching me guitar which is fun.
Some miracles this week… We have been working hard, going door to door, trying to find new people to teach. While this hasn't been the most effective, we have been blessed by the Lord for our efforts, with referrals and an increase of ward/stake support which is good. We also have been working to find all the doors we, or other missionaries, might have missed or overlooked in the past. We have also been in the right place at the right time to be of service to others. Just as I began this email we had the opportunity to give a blessing to a member in need.
Some of the people we are teaching are so close to baptism. Unfortunately, three unbaptized children (who want to be baptized) are being held back by a parent, which is sad to watch. If there have been two lessons I have learned in abundance it's these. First, to never underestimate the spiritual capacity and desire of a child. The things they say sometimes astonish me. They look at the world with very simple but precise lenses. The second is that the family is truly a centerpiece of the gospel. With its destruction through abuse, divorce and other problems, many gospel truths and pillars are not available to the children. The children often get torn between opposing parents, ideals, and ways of life. A loving family unit truly is the best way for children to grow up.
Seeing this has been making me very grateful I was raised in such a good family, one centered on the gospel and truth. I am so thankful my parents were such great role models and examples. It has staggered me how much knowledge even other missionaries lack that came from "active families". I don't think the resources or materials were any greater for me, but I did have parents who loved the scriptures and made it a priority to read them with us daily. Looking back, I can see why they tried to impress upon me the importance of personal and daily scripture study and prayer. While I can't say I was the best at it during my teenage years, it means a lot to me now. Every day I learn so much and see the scriptures in a new light. I thought I would send a few quotes and scriptures that made an impression on me this last week.
Because I Have A Father, by Paul H Dunn
"I remember a great phrase I learned from my father some years ago. He said, “It matters not if you try and fail and try and fail again. It matters much if you try and fail and fail to try again.”
The First Great Commandment, by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland
"I need someone to feed my sheep and save my lambs. I need someone to preach my gospel and defend my faith. I need someone who loves me, truly, truly loves me"
Know Thyself, Control Thyself... Paul H Dunn
"My father used to say, “Paul, there are dozens of rules for success, but none of them work unless you do.”
"...Be not afraid, only believe"
"...Behold, I speak with boldness, having authority from God; and I fear not what man can do; for perfect love casteth out all fear."
"Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not."
"And whoso receiveth you, there I will be also, for I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up."
Something else I have been studying is what Hyrum Smith called the Belief Window. It's based on the idea that people have four great needs: survival, importance, to be loved, and variety. People then create beliefs to meet these needs and act accordingly. Often times, the problem becomes someone has a false belief and acts wrongly and instead of correcting the belief or satisfying the need in another way. People try to change the action/behavior of the person. The problem with that is the belief remains the same so the person will still act accordingly to that belief. However, repentance is a change of heart which is reflected in action. Or in other words, a change of belief to satisfy our spiritual needs which is shown through our faith. Marion G Romney once said "convert means “to turn from one belief or course to another,” that conversion is “a spiritual and moral change attending a change of belief with conviction.”
What's cool about the belief window is that it applies to almost every situation and through it one can determine one's and others beliefs, behaviors, and needs that still have to be met. Though sometimes the results take time to measure.
This week has been great and I hope yours has been great too.
