August 11, 2014

Elder Low's report:

This week I've been reading in Alma 32, as it talks about faith. In the missionary training center one of my companions always expressed his love for this chapter. He loved how Alma showed so simply how it was that we could obtain and grow our faith, which he knew would be a principle of great power in his future missionary work. He loved the doctrine demonstrated there that shows that as we act first then the Lord would little by little show his nature and power unto us and through us, growing our faith even as a seed grows. He would often refer back to this principle as we saw our investigators there progress and as we discussed what it was they needed. This time around reading this chapter, a new part stuck out to me though, which is Alma’s demonstration of this very principle, recorded in verses 6 and 7 by taking a leap of faith:

6 And now when Alma heard this, he turned him about, his face immediately towards him, and he beheld with great joy; for he beheld that their afflictions had truly humbled them, and that they were in a preparation to hear the word.

 7 Therefore he did say no more to the other multitude; but he stretched forth his hand, and cried unto those whom he beheld, who were truly penitent.

At this point in the chapter Alma demonstrates the very principle that he later teaches. He demonstrates faith without first seeing the blessings that will come. Instead of continuing to teach those he had been teaching, when he found who it was that he felt he was sent to find and help, it specifically says that he said "no more" to the rest. Immediately he stopped teaching them. He didn't know if this new people would stay and listen. For all he knew he might have lost everyone he'd been trying so hard to help. But he acted upon an impression and as a result converted those who were ready to be converted.

This week we were very busy. Everyone seemed to want to hear from us. We would run and bike to appointment after appointment. This was great at first. Then we started getting behind. Lots of new investigators were coming into our teaching pool, as hard as we tried; we seemed to simply not be able to make all of these appointments. We came to a point in the week when we were just swamped. We thought about what we were going to do. Finally after some discussion we decided that we would drop a lot of our investigators even though many of them were new. It was hard but we felt it was for the best of the area as the investigators weren't progressing very well. As a result many of our other investigators began to progress including a family who we are helping prepare for baptism.

 I know as we put our faith in God and truly help those who are repentant the Lord will bless us.

 Elder Low     

August 4, 2014

Elder Low's report:

This week I was reading quite a bit in Jacob. For a reason I never can quite put my finger on, one of my favorite chapters in the Book of Mormon is Jacob chapter 4 which talks quite a bit about our belief in the coming of Christ. In particular this week what caught my attention was verse 3 which talks about the power of Christ in relation to the purpose for which Jacob goes (as well as why we should go) to such lengths to bring the gospel to others:

3 Now in this thing we do rejoice; and we labor diligently to engraven these words upon plates, hoping that our beloved brethren and our children will receive them with thankful hearts, and look upon them that they may learn with joy and not with sorrow, neither with contempt, concerning their first parents.

Jacob and the other prophets of the book of Mormon engraved ever word we read in the
Book of Mormon into metal. The reason they did it was to help those they loved to understand the joy the Christ brought them, and as a result the joy that it would bring those who would continue to believe.

This week the great miracle in our area was not worked by me. Elder B while on an exchange with Elder T during a particularly difficult harvest session knocked a door of an elderly man. He answered the door and let them in. They prayed with him and invited him to be baptized. He was an avid reader of the bible, and in spite of him being 75 years old, he accepted the invitation with thanksgiving, knowing it was what Jesus wanted for him. In the middle of this his daughter came down and being of another religion told him not to accept our invitations. Instead of giving heed, he simply stated, "I need to be baptized." I can personally attest to this man's firmness. Though I did not meet him in the beginning, he came to church this week. Throughout the whole meeting block, he referred to us as representatives of Jesus Christ. He will be baptized this week.

I know as we diligently strive to help others to receive the joy that Jacob talks about, we will, as he did be given the urgency and diligence that drove those men to spend such painstaking hours carving the Book of Mormon, and we will do great things despite our weakness, being made joyful ourselves in the process.

Elder Low.

July 28, 2014

Elder Low's report:

This week I've been reading in the first few chapters of third Nephi. These chapters record the period of time between the signs given in the American continent of the Lord's birth and death. In this period the Nephites go from states of general wickedness and states of general righteousness several times. The part that caught my particular attention this time though was in chapter 4. Faced by the possibility of utter destruction through war as a result of their wickedness, in this chapter the Nephites finally turn unto the Lord. They forsake their sins, and, understanding now their need for divine intervention begin to pray continually to be saved. As a result the entire story switches. They are given incredible strength and wisdom, and what seemed impossible, obtaining this salvation, is done in a very short period of time. In the end having finished the battle and won the war they cry in great gratitude unto the God which they know has saved them:

30 And they did rejoice and cry again with one voice, saying: May the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, protect this people in righteousness, so long as they shall call on the name of their God for protection.

31 And it came to pass that they did break forth, all as one, in singing, and praising their God for the great thing which he had done for them, in preserving them from falling into the hands of their enemies.

32 Yea, they did cry: Hosanna to the Most High God. And they did cry: Blessed be the name of the Lord God Almighty, the Most High God.

33 And their hearts were swollen with joy, unto the gushing out of many tears, because of the great goodness of God in delivering them out of the hands of their enemies; and they knew it was because of their repentance and their humility that they had been delivered from an everlasting destruction.

As we turn from our wickedness the Lord will help us, leading us by the hand even unto our salvation.

The week started really promising. Lots of people through door knocking were accepting our invitation to baptism and to be taught. This resulted in a lot of return appointments, which accumulated until we had filled much of an entire day with just these return appointments. The day came, and we started to go to the apartment building where they all lived. As we started I realized that many of them would be single women who we would only be able to teach at the door if we didn't bring a male member. In the past I didn't usually consider using members on the first lesson as it involved more finely tuned teaching skills, but I continued to feel that we should bring a particular member. I heeded the prompting and we went to his house. He answered the door (being 73) with "hey there elders! Come on in." We told him we'd love to but we actually needed his help in going to some lessons. He asked, "When are these lessons?" We looked at each other both knowing how crazy a request it was. "In five minutes," we answered. He smiled and got changed. For one and a half hours we taught three groups of people of differing backgrounds and ages, yet every single one was touched by the testimony and kindness of this seventy year old man. They felt comfortable and two of those groups accepted baptism. From now on, I will always remember that day. The power of members is incredible, and as we cease our idleness in using them, we will see many thousands of souls receive their salvation.

That day I repented of my laziness, and the Lord blessed us for it. As we cease our fight against God and cry unto him, he will help us. We too may be struck with such amazing joy, even as the Nephites.

Elder Low.

July 21, 2014

 Elder Low's report:

This week I've been reading in the book of second Nephi in the Book of Mormon, particularly in the 4th chapter. Near the end of this chapter, after his father has passed away, Nephi begins to speak of the great things the Lord has done for him. He talks about many of the experiences he had as recorded in the first book of Nephi in which miracles occurred as he put faith in the Lord and trusted in his promises. He talks about how the Lord sustained him in the wilderness, protected them in crossing the sea, gave him visions, and power even unto the trembling of his enemies before him, all of which resulted from his obedience. However when I read this part of the chapter this time around I noticed something else as well. Though Nephi talks about the incredible joy that he has received from the goodness of the Lord, he also talks about how this joy is restrained as he thinks about how unworthy a servant he is.

 16 Behold, my soul delighteth in the things of the Lord; and my heart pondereth continually upon the things which I have seen and heard.

 17 Nevertheless, notwithstanding the great goodness of the Lord, in showing me his great and marvelous works, my heart exclaimeth: O wretched man that I am! Yea, my heart sorroweth because of my flesh; my soul grieveth because of mine iniquities.

When reading the accounts of Nephi, it is hard to imagine that a man of such great spiritual power could have ever experienced such sorrow. When reading the accounts of the people of the Book of Mormon, sometimes we see the example they have set and forget that though good, they were not perfect and that such miracles are available to all as a result of the atonement of Jesus Christ who will repent and who will change and who will become better, trusting in God, and being more obedient day by day.

 28 Awake, my soul! No longer droop in sin. Rejoice, O my heart, and give place no more for the enemy of my soul.

This week we were honestly having a really hard time. Another companionship had gotten sick, and needed a lot of attention. This resulted in us having to take a lot of time out of our labours in the area. When we were working in the area, I felt myself being rushed and often frustrated in the circumstances we had been put in. The week trekked on and I felt like I had not done everything I could. Finally Sunday morning, seeing our weaknesses, we kneeled down in our apartment, thanked the Lord for what he had given us, and asked him if, despite our weakness, he would help us to finish the week, to somehow, in his mercy, give help from heaven and send a miracle. That Sunday the person we were hoping to baptize did not show up to the meetings but instead, two people, who we had not even spoken to, did show up and one of them accepted a baptismal date for the following Sunday.

I know the Lord heard our prayer. I know he will send help if we will but follow him and if we offer all we have; he will make up the difference.

Elder Low.