Wow! This week was A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!! In so many ways! And the best part of it was that it all is centered around Personal Priesthood Interviews. Wow! And it didn't start with my interview with President Hale, but with the discussion I had with Elder Olsen while waiting for my interview. From those two discussions - President and Elder - I have a 360 degree perspective change on missionary work. I probably can't fully explain everything that I learned! But I'll share a few things.
This year, we are focusing on the Book of Mormon. Of course we know of its importance, we know it answers questions of the soul, we know it is the keystone of our religion ... but knowing is so hollow. What is important is to understand and do. I need to understand how the Book of Mormon is my own personal keystone and then make the Book of Mormon the keystone in my life. It is true that without the Book of Mormon, we are just like any other religion. If Joseph Smith didn't translate those golden plates, he wouldn't have had the question about how we are to be baptized, therefore he never would have received the Aaronic Priesthood from John the Baptist, therefore there would be authority on this earth to restore Christ's full gospel. Wow, there is a thought to ponder. I believe most, if not all the revelations from the Doctrine and Covenants are answers to questions. The Lord does not just give us what we need. We must first ask for it. Joseph Smith read in James 1:5 that if he lacked wisdom, he needed to ask God. He acted upon that scripture, and the First Vision occurred. How many restored truths of the gospel was received from reading the pages of the Book of Mormon and asking a question to the Lord? What is my life without, that I could receive if I but ask? We need to liken and feast upon the scriptures - which means to do it, not just know it.
Another thing I learned was that we are finding the elect saints. "And ye are called to bring to pass the gathering of mine elect; for mine elect hear my voice and harden not their hearts;" (D&C 29:7). Not only are we finding those people who are ready, but we ourselves must become elect saints. Just because we are born into the church doesn't me we are saved. We much hear the voice of the Lord and act upon it. I see within our ward here in Boca who are the elect saints. Who know their purpose, who share their love of the gospel, who are following the words of the prophets, and who are striving to live as Christ did. I want to be that. I want to make sure I am an elect saint. And then I want to know how I can help others become elect saints.
So, that is two things I learned from my discussion with Elder Olsen. Then, I went into my interview with President Hale. There, I learned something I really needed. I have two personalities: one for when I'm in public - righteous, social, happy, willing to do anything for anyone; then one for when I am at home in private - introvert, stubborn, apathetic. The more I think about it, the more it ticks me off. Why is that? Why does my worst attributes come out around close family and friends? I don't want that! I want to be the same personality no matter the situation. President had told me who he sees me as, what he knows I can do - basically he stated my potential which is something I have been searching for. As he spoke, I realized I may appear to be like that in public, but when I'm in the apartment, I don't act that. I'd rather have the other companion plan everything. I'd rather be to myself and not share anything. But not anymore. I have no excuses to hide now. President sees who I can become and the Lord knows of what my potential is, so now it is time that my companion sees me live my potential no matter where we are.
This week has been amazing! I am being more active in decision making, I am showing that "Mesa Fire" that President describes me as! I am trying to work on having faith that people will invite us in, faith they will keep their commitments, faith that they want to be baptized. With that, the Lord is blessing me with seeing that occur. Right now, we are working a lot with tracting and finding, but each day, the Lord gives us a tender mercy. We begin to see those elect who are ready to hear the gospel. With the new year resolution to focus on the Book of Mormon we are loving talking about it and focusing on it. I am actually finding goals that I can set for myself and the plans necessary to accomplish it! And that is not a skill I have! I am so excited for this year of jubilee! It is going to be amazing! I can feel it! All I need is to continue for with faith and the desire to continue towards my potential and the potential of this mission.
TENDER MERCY: I AM GRATEFUL FOR THE PEOPLE WHO ASK HONEST QUESTIONS. THAT IS THE ONLY WAY WE CAN REALLY KNOW WHERE WE STAND. IF I WANT TO IMPROVE AND GROW, I HAVE TO STOP JUSIFYING AND ASK BRUTALLY HONEST QUESTIONS TO MYSELF. I AM LEARNING DAILY FROM EACH MISSIONARY I MEET HOW I CAN BECOME A MORE CHALLENGING AND TESTIFYING MISSIONARY. TO APPLY THAT TO MYSELF, I HAVE TO ACCEPT THOSE SEEDS ON FERTILE SOIL SO THEY CAN GROW. TO TRY AND JUSTIFY SOMETHING IS TURNING SOIL INTO CONCRETE. I WANT TO CONTINUE TO LEARN AND GROW FROM EVERYTHING I HEAR FROM OTHER MISSIONARIES. I AM GLAD THAT THE LORD IS CONSTANTLY TELLING ME HOW I CAN IMPROVE AND HAVING PATIENCE WITH ME AS I SLOWLY START TO RECOGNIZE AND LEARN THESE THINGS.
‘Make no small plans: They have no magic to stir man’s souls.’ This is the vision I have for the South. I believe that one day the South will baptize more people into the church than all other English speaking missions in the world together. There are great hosts of marvelous Baptists, and members of the church of Christ, Methodists and Catholics who are honorable people, and have faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and love him. As they see their church veering off to the right or to the left of these basic teachings, they will begin to search for the truth. And as pivotal teachers come into the church and have influence, we will see the time when we baptize hundreds and thousands, tens of thousands. In your day you will see a million members of the church in the South. There will be Temples plural in the Southern States. What a great call you have to serve with these marvelous people. ~Spencer W Kimball (1974)
