So here´s a little bit about my week:
The Gomez family came to church this week! There is absolutely nothing worse that when the families you teach and invite don´t show up, but they came! We´re working really hard to reactivate Veronica (The Mom) and help her two kids learn more about the church. If all continues well, Kimberly and Edwin will be getting bapized the 4th of June! This sunday when they came it was Ward Conference, so they got to meet lots of new people!
Another little weekly observation: Who remembers the story of the Zoramites in Alma 31? They were dissenters who had fallen into ¨Great Errors¨. One of these being their super redundant and blasphemous prayer (Verses 15-18). Now compare that to Alma´s prayer in verses 26-35. See any differences? One thing I like is that Alma doesn´t say ¨Thanks for making us better.¨ Nor does he say ¨Make them change.¨ I have heard many prayers in sacrament meeting lately where they pray for those who didn´t come. and that´s ok. But do we honestly believe that just because we pray for them to come back, that the´ll wake up with a change of heart? No. I´m 150% sure that when we are brought before God after this life, we can ask him ¨Why didn´t you help (Insert name of inactive member here) come back to church? Why didn´t you send an angel to teach him and show him the way?¨ And you know what I think the answer´ll be? ¨I did. I sent you. Why didn´t you do your visits?¨ Now look again at Alma´s prayer. He doesn´t ask God to force them all back to church or magically change them. But look at what he prays for:
¨Behold, O Lord, their souls are precious, and many of them are our brethren; therefore, give unto us, O Lord, power and wisdom that we may bring these, our brethren, again unto thee.¨ (verse 35)
He prays for Gods help as they exercise their faith as agents. Not as objects. They Still Had To Work.
When Elder David A. Bednar spoke to us in the Mexico MTC, he taught us a lot about that principle. He understands and teaches it in way so clearly that it´s hard to misunderstand. look up his talks on this topic, they´re all really good!
Sorry if I ramble a little, but I guess the point I´m trying to make is: DO YOUR VISITS!!! Exercise your faith.
God will use you to effect miracles.
Here´s another semi-amusing anecdote for you: My companion and I both got sick with a strange combination of a cold and flu. Again. However, there is no rest for the Lord´s Missionaries. We just kept on working. We left the house that morning feeling pretty crummy, but when we got home that night we felt 100% better!
He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. Isaiah 40:29-31
Put your faith in God and get to work!
I Love you all!
Elder Phillips
And Happy Mothers Day!
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