Week 5/104

April 11, 2016

Hello Everybody!

You know, I'm really grateful to be in the circumstances that I am in for my first area, because I'm learning the up's and down's of missionary work. The two investigators I mentioned last time are still on date for baptism, but they've been difficult to contact, and complacent about keeping commitments when we are able to contact them. They're still willing to be baptized (I think), but I don't think they quite understand how important it is for them to do so. I'm super grateful to be learning what it truly means to work. What's awesome is that as time has progressed, we have grown to love all of our investigators and become invested in teaching them what they specifically need to hear. It's incredible to see the hand of the Lord in everything we do.

Fun fact: The rain in Arizona smells differently than the rain in Oregon; the rain kicks tiny particles of dirt and sand into the air, making it smell more earthy. Also, because there's sand everywhere, when it does rain (which happens very rarely), the sand becomes something like mud, but much less runny. This sticky-mud isn't very obviously mud, because it's surrounded by sand. A few days ago, Elder Hemsley and I were biking from our last lesson of the day to a church building where we'd sync our iPads and plan for the next day. The road we were biking on  had no bike lane, but plenty of sandy space to ride on. It had rained the previous day, so there were still puddles of water, which we avoided, and puddles of mud which, by now you may have guessed, we were not as successful in avoiding. We got mud sprayed up the sides of our legs, and I got some in my eye. Pictures to follow.

I love that insight from the war chapters, Dad! As I have been studying what to teach our investigators, I have been reading chapters and stories that I've always known, and I've had insights and thoughts that apply the scriptures to my life in ways that I haven't seen before. For example, one of the lessons that we teach new investigators is about the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which has five key focuses: Faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, Repentance, Baptism, Receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost, and Enduring to the End. There are a few chapters in the Book of Mormon that really focus on these points (2 Nephi 31, 3 Nephi 11 and 27), but as I've been reading other parts of the scriptures, I've seen that everything in the scriptures (Yes, even the Pearl of Great Price) is focused around the Doctrine of Christ. 

Alma 32:15: "he that truly humbleth himself, and repenteth of his sins, andendureth to the end, the same shall be blessed."

Hebrews 6:1-2: "Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment."

Moses 7:10-11: "And the Lord said unto me: Go to this people, and say unto them--Repent, lest I come out and smite them with a curse, and they die. And he gave unto me a commandment that I should baptize in the name of the Father, and of the Son, which is full of grace and truth, and of the Holy Ghost, which beareth record of the Father and the Son."

It's awesome!

Mom, I'm in the same boat as you. I usually end up zoning out during talks given by women, but Sister Oscarson's talk was on point! My companion and I have been sharing parts of that talk with our investigators all week. Here's one of my favorite quotes from that talk: 

"We have a knowledge of these things, but do we believe them? If these things are true, then we have the greatest message of hope and help that the world has ever known."

This really puts into perspective the importance of the message we share as missionaries every day, as well as the importance of the teachings we live by as members of Christ's church. Because we have "the greatest message of hope and help that the world has ever known", we have been commanded to share that message with those around us. Imagine how much happier their lives will be when the come to a knowledge of the Gospel! Of course, going along with the theme of the talk, they have to believe it rather than know it. Alma says: "Yea, there are many who do say: If thou wilt show unto us a sign from heaven, then we shall know of a surety; then we shall believe. Now I ask, is this faith? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; for if a man knoweth a thing he hath no cause to believe for he knoweth it." (Alma 32:17-18)

I love you all, and thank you for the prayers on my behalf. I've felt them bearing me up every day.

Love,

Elder Grover