November 17, 2014

Elder Low's report:

This week I had the chance to read quite a bit in Alma, particularly in his preaching’s to the people of Ammonihah. One of the chapters that really caught my attention this time area was chapter 13 as it talks about the purposes and calling of those called to the priesthood:

 6 And thus being called by this holy calling, and ordained unto the high priesthood of the holy order of God, to teach his commandments unto the children of men, that they also might enter into his rest—

I love this because it demonstrates why the priesthood has been given to mankind at all. The Lord gives us the ability to act in his name that we may help others to enter into his rest. No person can exercise the priesthood authority that they hold to act in the name of Christ, if they do not do so to act as Christ would, to inspire uplift and bless.

This week our district saw amazing miracles. I felt very inspired to talk to the district members in comp studies and district trainings about being challenging and testifying missionaries in helping our investigators accept dates, and man did they apply it. All of the companionships in the district as they prayed with faith and went out knowing they had been sent there saw incredible miracles. Each companionship was able to get an investigator to church and set one of their investigators with a solid date. Our companionship as well really tried to apply this. We had no investigators at
Sacrament meeting that we knew of. We walked into gospel principles a little discouraged and sat down. However God was aware of us. During the class a man in the back spoke up and though neither of us knew the ward very well, we felt that this man was not a member. He was super elusive, but we knew God wanted us to talk him. We finally trapped him as he tried to escape and set him with a return appointment, but he wouldn't accept a date, but we felt the spirit knowing we were doing what God wanted, and as a result he blessed us. After church we went to go post round-up. One of our investigators accepted a solid date. He told us "if my parents had been Mormon, I would have joined as a boy, and I would have served a mission."

I know as we help those who we have been entrusted with, by both living and teaching the principles of Christ, we and those we serve will have that same opportunity, to "enter into his rest."

Elder Low.

November 10, 2014

Elder Low's report:

This week I've been reading in Mosiah and Alma, and I was really impressed by the verse found in Alma 3. It describes the curse that was brought upon the Amalekites and shows how it demonstrates an eternal principle concerning blessings and curses:

19 Now I would that ye should see that they brought upon themselves the curse; and even so doth every man that is cursed bring upon himself his own condemnation.

I love this principle, because it shows as people probably the greatest lie that Satan puts upon us is that there is nothing we can do to change our circumstances. Though we encounter problems that are not necessarily of our own making, those who fight for righteous are promised that they shall receive according to their works.

This week we had a really hard time finding people. We knocked a ton, but even the people who we found who were really receptive at the door, even to the point of accepting baptism, after an appointment would completely change. We were really trying to find what the Lord expected of us at that time. Then, as we were knocking doors, a lady across the street called us over. We talked to her and found out she had been baptized years earlier, but after moving lost contact with the members for 10 years. When she saw us she said she couldn't believe it was us. We prayed with her and invited her to come back to church and share the joy it had brought to her with her sons. With tears in her eyes she accepted.

I know that it was because of both the faith and patience of that woman, and our own that God was able to help both of us, fulfill our purpose.

Elder Low. 

November 3, 2014

Elder Low's Report:

This week I’ve been reading in Mosiah. The part that particularly struck me this week I found in Mosiah 8. As Ammon talks to King Limhi he tells him some exciting news about the power of God given to individuals on the earth. When the king hears this, in his joy he talks about the great mercy that God has for man, made evident by the fact that he gives such power unto men even when they so often leave his protective care:

 20 O how marvelous are the works of the Lord, and how long doth he suffer with his people; yea, and how blind and impenetrable are the understandings of the children of men; for they will not seek wisdom, neither do they desire that she should rule over them!

 21 Yea, they are as a wild flock which fleeth from the shepherd, and scattereth, and are driven, and are devoured by the beasts of the forest.

I love this because many times we also act like that. We don't want to be ruled, even if it would have been wisdom that would rule over us. however, also found in these verses is the promise that the Lord in his mercy will still protect all those who will humble themselves and come unto him, even as a shepherd protects his flock.

At the beginning of this week we had a lot of trouble finding people. We kept trying to apply the principles that we knew brought success, but we just weren't having success. Finally we decided to pray to the Lord, put in our best effort and let him take care of the rest. We did so, and still through our practical methods we didn't find anyone. As we continued working however we got a text from a member. She told us her mother had at one point in time been to church and accepted a baptismal date, and would be coming to church. We also on Sunday morning knocked on a door of a less active that was super happy to see us and came to church for the first time in months.

I know that as we apply the wise principles the Lord has provided, he will bless us, not always how we expect, but he will bless us.

Elder Low. 

Ward Cultural Celebration

Fun Ward Cultural Celebration

October 27, 2014

Ward Trunk or Treat

Elder Low's Report:

This week I finished second Nephi and Jacob. One part that always hits me as I read through this part is the testimony that Nephi gives of Christ in the 33rd chapter of second Nephi. It says

10 And now, my beloved brethren, and also Jew, and all ye ends of the earth, hearken unto these words and believe in Christ; and if ye believe not in these words believe in Christ. And if ye shall believe in Christ ye will believe in these words, for they are the words of Christ, and he hath given them unto me; and they teach all men that they should do good.
 11 And if they are not the words of Christ, judge ye.

I love this because it shows that as we trust in Christ trying to follow his word through the voice of others, especially inspired leaders as we come to understand they are words of Christ through the spirit, we will be blessed.

This week we were really inspired as you told us in our interviews that if we wanted to find and build our areas, then we needed to knock doors, but we also needed to find the less-actives and the former investigators. We really took that to heart and we began to go out every day with specific less actives and formers in mind while still continuing to harvest. We saw many miracles from this. One of which was a lady who came to church this week with her three kids. She had been formerly taught by our zone leaders. When we went to her house we weren't super sure how interested she was, but we went over with a member again who then invited her to church. She committed really solidly, but we weren't sure if she'd come as she said we shouldn't come knock on her door in the morning.

It was a huge surprise to us when she came with her three kids. Another miracle that happened occurred as we were looking for a less active member. We knocked the door but found that no one was home but we saw someone was sitting outside of an efficiency built onto the side of the house. We prayed with her and her son. We asked them to be baptized. They said, "We’ll have to think about it... but the time we went to the temple open house was really cool." 

I know that as we follow the vision of the Lords leaders, regardless of what we have to change in our own lives of vision, we will be blessed, and we will be on his path.

Elder Low