Well it's Mother's day again. Guess I had better put
together the usual 5 minute card that I usually make for her (or maybe I could
find last years and give it to her...would she notice?)...
NOT! I had the wonderful opportunity to talk with my family.
I love my parents. It's a lot more profound and exaggerated, the reality of how
much closer they are as parents. They may only have 4 kids in the house right
now, but in this season, I want to thank my mom for supporting me in all my
decisions and in correcting me for the decisions I make that may not be
necessarily the most positively affecting. She's always seeking to find people
that she can strengthen, but not simply for the purpose of getting a blessing. I
believe that she does it because she is so naturally charitable and caring for
others and their concerns. I try to seek her example very often as I strive to
be more nurturing towards those around me. I know that simply because I am a
man, I am not as naturally designed to be that type of person, but thankfully,
man and woman are supposed to be equal partners, which leads me to think that
we should then be able to learn from their gifts and seek them in all efforts.
I am glad to feel at least a little more deserving of their
being proud of me. I only say that because I know and they know that this is
where the Lord wants me to be. I also miss them very much, and that's okay. I don't need to
let that take control of me. I hope that they continue to strive to keep the
commandments of our Heavenly Father.
That's something that I have been studying very in depth
recently. In the third chapter of Preach My Gospel, the fourth lesson is about
all of the commandments that are required for us to be worthy members of this
kingdom of God on earth. I have been studying for weeks at a time, and I am
only just finishing writing down what I believe to be a quite thorough
compilation of all the blessings of Obedience, Prayer, and Scripture Study.
Pages upon pages of paraphrased scriptures, general conference talks, personal
thoughts, and highlights in the Preach my Gospel manual. I have that much
stronger a testimony therefore of the reality that the blessings far outnumber
the most thorough requirements that are written in the scriptures for us to
view, observe, apply, and magnify.
President Monson has made it more simple than I believe any
prophet save the Savior Himself in last General Conference: Keep the
Commandments. Just keep them. REALLY, that's all you have to do. Don't
complicate it, don't embellish it or chisel at it. Just keep the commandments.
If you feel you are not familiar enough with them to keep them well enough, I
have news for you: No one knows anything perfectly. There will always be doubt
and apprehensiveness seeking our attention. Brush it aside. 3 Nephi 13:33
(super easy to memorized that reference number!) Seek ye first the kingdom of
God. You think that you are saying something new when you realize that you really
do have to completely lose yourself and your habits and tendencies. You
ACTUALLY will even be required to give up the things you like that ARE good.
Interests, hobbies, family, friends, the Gospel takes it all. The portion that
enables us to do this is understanding and TRUSTING the promised that it
will come back to us as refined, sanctified, and more beautiful than anything
we could ever do ourselves. If you don't know how to "Turn it over to
Him", I suggest you spend more time on your knees. I suggest that you
spend more time in the scriptures. Remember that Christ doesn't need fishermen
or pharisees like Simon bar Jonah or Nicodemus. He doesn't need men zealous for
the Law like Saul of Tarsus or Chief Judges like Alma before his ministry. He
needs real men like Peter, the rock that he built his church on. A man that
will be born again. One like Paul who, rather than kicking against the pricks,
stands as a soldier at the fight of faith and the championship of charity. An
Alma that gives his seat to other able men in search for something more
fulfilling. He needs disciples. So maybe next mothers day, or even on fathers
day if your quick to observe, you won't take so long to start on that thank you
card. I testify that Christ didn't take any moment to procrastinate the
Atonement for our sins and suffering. He willingly drank the bitter cup, and
because he died of the pain, being a perfect individual, we can be forgiven.
Because he is all powerful and is now a resurrected being, we can live and die
without fear. Let the peace of the spirit hush your fears. Let charity be your
guiding light. It will never lead you astray. Jesus of Nazareth truly is the
resurrected Lord of the Earth. He truly is our advocate with the father. Seek
His approval in your actions. I leave my testimony of His justice, mercy, and
grace in HIS name, even Jesus Christ, amen.
My companion,
and the elders of the district on the way to a banana farm that turned out to not have any bananas. Just a bunch of fermented stuff that he is using to make mulch (I hope he's not drinking it because the stuff we were pouring smelled STRONG!).
These are just a few of the many friends that I made in my
last area. I love them very much and I wish them the best. William,
A-Keun,
and
Hugo Lee and his mom.
Tai Wai forever. (Sheung Shui is awesome too
though...like really awesome!)
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