It been a bit of a fast week but also a slow week. We've had pretty much all
of our appointments cancel on us
My missionary scripture has been on my mind recently. I find it ironic
because I think the Lord is putting it to the test for me to see if I truly do
believe it. It is Alma 36:3 and Mosiah 23:21-22.
3 And now, O my son Helaman, behold, thou art in thy youth, and therefore,
I beseech of thee that thou wilt hear my words and learn of me; for I do know
that whosoever shall put their trust in God shall be supported in their trials,
and their troubles, and their afflictions, and shall be lifted up at the last
day.
21 Nevertheless the Lord seeth fit to chasten his people; yea, he trieth
their patience and their faith.
22 Nevertheless—whosoever putteth his trust in him the same shall be lifted
up at the last day.
I am so grateful to be serving right now! Because this scripture is
so true!! One thing I think the Lord is trying to tell me is that I need to stop
believing in huge road blocks and just keep taking life one day at a time. Push
forward and work. And just see if I (the Lord) will bless you for your efforts.
He's not just going to heal me from everything over night. He's not going to
bless the area with huge success or baptisms over night. It's a process. In
church yesterday a question was
asked how long does one really need to repent. And one answered for our entire
lives! It's time to just put the hand to the plow and keep pushing forward and
never looking back. This work is truly amazing! It may seem slow some days but
this is everything to the Lord. Who doesn't enjoy being in the service of
God!?!?
Especially for what happened with a couple we taught Thursday night. It truly was probably
the best lesson that I've been too. The Spirit led the entire lesson! The couple
were so touched by the Spirit. At the end they both had the desire to act on His
(the Saviors) invitations. It completely shocked me on how much the boyfriend of
the couple was touched. At the end he offered the first kneeling, closing
prayer. It's one of the best prayers I have ever heard from him. You could
literally just hear the desire of the promises that were just made to him. He
truly wanted to make an extra effort to read and make his way back into activity
in the church!! The girlfriend could really feel of the Spirit and it helped
increase her desire to be baptized!!!
I suppose that I should explain what
happened. It was a lesson that was completely taught by the Spirit. It really
helped me to understand how much He really does help us and how He is the one
that teaches people and not us. I really felt like we were instruments in God's
hands for this appointment. The lesson plan was just absolutely so small and so
simple that anyone could have taught it. Yet, it was exactly what not only what
this couple needed to hear but what Ældste Jensen and I needed to hear as well.
I have so much a deeper respect for Alma 37:6 "behold I say unto you, that by
small and simple things are great things brought to pass".
The lesson we planned to teach them
was about pray and scripture study. Haha what do you know small and simple
things. Our commitment to this couple was to read the scriptures daily and then
to kneel in prayer, while thinking our their feelings for each other and their
feelings for their Heavenly Father, daily for a week. Not too big of a
commitment but absolutely so powerful. Our plans for them changed at least 5
times at least because every time we roll played it. We found something that we
needed to change or do better. And that was only possible because they canceled
all of the appointments we had until last Thursday. Where we learned the final piece of
information that we needed to learn. Which was in our zone training earlier that
day where we again roll played that same lesson again another 3 times. Which, we
learned from each other things that they would say and how they would react. It
really was the most refined lesson I have every heard. We were 100% sure on
every single point of our lesson. Anyway, we came to find out the last thing(s)
we needed to have in our lesson. That was 3 questions to ask on following up
with our investigators. These three questions are as follows: 1) What did you
learn? 2) What did you feel? 3) What are you going to do? Beautiful questions
that not only can be used for following up but during the lesson. Oh, how
grateful I am for this.
We came to their house and started asking how
things were going and began with a prayer. In which girlfriend (investigator)
gave a wonderful prayer to know and learn what she needed to. So great! We then
asked them if they had been reading and they said yeah a little bit. So we asked
them the three questions which was absolutely great. In which they responded
exactly how we did when we roll played the lesson for the last time. How great
the Lord has been to us for giving us what we needed to know to teach. Which we
let us dive right into our lesson. We started by reading from Alma 37: 35-37
then 38-47. Talking about scripture prayer and scripture study and the
importance of it. After reading these few scriptures the thought came to Elder
Jensen again to ask them the same three questions. It was absolutely beautiful
what they said and they really understood what the scripture was being said. We
then told them why we picked out this lesson for them and all the preparation we
went through and told them that this lesson is one that we know is just for them
to help them. We told them the biggest part of the lesson was the commitment we
were going to give them. We than gave them the commitment to read daily together
and to pray together daily, while thinking of their thoughts for each other and
for their Heavenly Father, for a week. We bore powerful testimonies when they
did daily scripture study and prayer together. Than Elder Jensen promised them
that if they would be 100% obedient to this and be diligent in doing it that
their love for each other would grow 10 fold. And that they would feel a more of
the love that our Father in heaven as for them. Also, that they wouldn't have to
worry about their economical problems that they would be ok as they put the Lord
first. Then Elder Jensen came back with those 3 questions again and some other
questions absolutely being lead completely by The Holy Ghost. He asked: With
what you have learned and felt today, do you believe that you have a Father in heaven who
loves you? Do you believe that Jesus is your Savior and Redeemer and that you
can do all things through him? (To which they answered "yes") With this
knowledge are you willing to be agents to act and do what we have asked you to
do? They said YES!!! It was so powerful! We than bore testimony again and
promised them the same things as we did before.
This will absolutely be one experience that I will
never forget. One that The Holy Ghost still testifies to me is true and is what
they needed to hear. Also, what I needed to hear. I love this work and I hope
everyone has a wonderful week! Keep reading from the scriptures and Praying. It
really does work!!!
Ældste Jantzen Read
