I also had the opportunity this week to teach a lesson to a
Mandarin (Chinese) speaking couple who don't speak a word of English. That was
an amazing experience that I could spend hours writing about. It was a miracle
that we even met them and that we could teach them. I was truly blessed to be
there. They are the parents of the Chinese Branch President visiting from China
for three months. They are not members, they don't even really know that much
about Christ, but they are so very open to learning and have very big hearts.
We called the member family because (unbeknownst to us) even though they attend
a different unit since they live near us they have records here and so they were
on our Ward list. When we called Sister G told us that they have not had
English speaking Missionaries to their home in over four years, and the week
after her Mother and Father in law arrived from China we called. Inspired or
what? We went over to their house and talked about Christ (Sister G translated
for us) we shared the “Finding Faith in Christ” DVD in Mandarin and left them
with a copy so they could watch it again on their own. They are attending the
Mandarin Branch and being taught by the Chinese Sister Missionaries. I was so
happy for the chance and miracle it was that we were able to meet them and
share with them about Christ.
I was rather blessed to learn something in a new light this
past week. in sacrament meeting on Sunday Brother L spoke of the path to
exaltation, and he mentioned five steps (go figure) that at first sounded
unrelated to the five steps to the Gospel of Jesus Christ that we as
Missionaries preach every day, but upon further reflection started to sound
very, very familiar. The five steps were these:
Desire to Believe:
Not everyone has faith, in fact we run into dozens every
day, many even say that they wish that they could believe they wish that they
could be partakers to the gifts of peace that come from strong faith and trust
in the Lord. But for some reason they consider themselves separate, and unable
to develop such faith, they recognize in themselves those human doubts and
adversary inspired cynicisms that keep them from developing such faith. Such obstacles are easily overcome if we can
just desire to believe. Alma 32:27 "But behold, if ye will awake and
arouse your faculties, even to an experiment upon my words, and exercise a
particle of faith, yea, even if ye can no more than desire to believe, let this
desire work in you, even until ye believe in a manner that ye can give place
for a portion of my words."
Develop Testimony:
Once we have exercised this desire and developed a particle
of faith it is then our duty to nurture the seed we have planted to nourish it
and help it to grow. We do this but study and prayer, keeping the commandments,
statutes and abiding by the precepts of the Lord. When we do this our testimony
is strengthened and we gain a more sure knowledge of the goodness of the seed
of faith.
Strengthen Conversion:
Conversion is more than a testimony. We become converted not
just by believing or doing but by becoming. Believing and doing help us to
become more like the Savior, but to be truly converted we must have a
"mighty change of heart", and have "no more desire to do evil,
but to do good continually". True and lasting conversion comes over time,
by continuing to strengthen our faith repent and follow the Savior in all
things.
Luke 22:32 "But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith
fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren."
Partake of Salvation:
The ordinances of Salvation are essential to our eventual
exaltation and we cannot receive exaltation without them. The Atonement of
Christ delivers all that with believe on this name and keep and do his saying.
But for those that continue in rebellion against God, mercy cannot claim them,
unless they will repent. Though we may continue to fall short of our potential
(and we will fall short, we are only imperfect beings), our ultimate destiny
(and Divine Potential) begins to be realized as we faithfully and diligently
follow the Gospel of Jesus Christ. As we partake of the ordinances of Salvation
we become partakes to the fullest degree in the Atonement of our Lord and
Savior.
Receive Exaltation:
Preach My Gospel tells us that the Gospel brings us
happiness and joy not only in the eternities but right now. Adherence to gospel
principals brings peace. John 14:27 "Peace I leave with you, my peace I
give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be
troubled, neither let it be afraid." As we develop testimony, strengthen
conversion, partake of the ordinances of salvation we come closer to our Savior
and our Father in Heaven. As sin separates us; Faith, Repentance, Baptism, and
receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost bring us back to God.
John 17:3 "And this is life eternal, that they might
know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent."
I am so grateful for this time that I have to serve as a
full time Missionary. I am grateful for this Gospel and the immeasurable
blessing it has been in my life. I am forever indebted to the Savior for his
Atonement and for the blessings he gives me every day, a debt made even larger
by my frailties and insufficient gratitude for those blessings. I am grateful
for and testify of the restoration of the Church that Jesus Christ the Son of
the Living God established, and of the restoration of Priesthood keys. I know
we have a living Prophet and Twelve Apostles on the earth today.
Love,
Elder Thomson
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