November 4, 2013

Hey everyone!

   So highlight of the week, We have iPads. I'm not sure if I like them yet but that's probably because I haven't gotten used to them yet. This week went by extremely fast but then again most weeks do now. The days are long but the weeks are short.

   Elder Meline and I got to go play frisbee golf with a member today. That was pretty fun. I hit a duck so I was pretty proud of myself. Other then that It's safe to say that I need practice.

   We had exchanges this week so I got to be companions with Elder Stuart for a day. The first appointment we had was interesting...we got to listen to a guy go through a chart he had created that proved that aliens created the Earth. He also explained to us his somewhat logical explanation for God's ability to warp to earth and live inside us. Somehow it ended up being a good lesson towards the end but he is still pretty attached to his chart.

   I think the biggest thing I learned this week was how much God leaves up to us. In Philippians 4:13 it says we can "do all things through Christ". I knew the principle of doing things right and living by gospel standards but I don't think I truly understood it until now. God does his part only after we have done all we can do. Because God loves us he gave us agency, or the ability to choose. All of God's gifts require action and if we act in faith we use those gifts to their true potential. As a missionary I have been called to teach the gospel and invite others to come unto Christ. In Doctrine and Covenants it says "Seek not to declare my word, but first seek to obtain my word, and then shall your tongue be loosed; then, if you desire, you shall have my Spirit and my word, yea, the power of God unto the convincing of men". In other words if I don't do my part and learn what I need to teach through gifts God has given me such as the scriptures, preach my gospel, etc., then why should he help me to speak it when that time comes that I am provided with someone who needs to hear it? Why should he give me more when I don't use what I've already been given? He shouldn't and He won't.

   In the words of Dieter F. Uchtdorf "Spiritual light rarely comes to those who merely sit in the darkness waiting for someone to flick the switch" God's light shines whether or not we flick the switch. However it is up to us to let that light shine on us. Use the gifts God has already given you. By doing so is how we find the countless other gifts He already has waiting for us.

    Sincerely, Elder Earl