This week we watched General Conference! I took tons of notes and, rather than just spew a bunch of them out, I'll finish today's letter with the themes I spotted in conference -- ideas, phrases, and such, repeated by several speakers throughout the sessions.
I learned a lesson about perspective last week while trying to find less-active members. We had received a new list of people last Sunday from our Ward Mission Leader, so I distributed the names and we made it a priority to confirm all of them this week. Elder Ryu and I went to find a family out on the outskirts of our area. We ended up spending around 4 hours trying to find where their apartment complex was, and if it wasn't for a very helpful realtor's office, I'm not sure we would've made it that quickly! When we got there, we were surprised by the tall wall, topped with barbed wire fence that surrounded the apartment complex. There was a large office building near the entrance, and as we walked in, a window opened and a man shouted, "Why?!" We responded that we were here to visit a member of our church, and he told us to go inside and talk to someone. We weren't too happy with that; lots of people assume we just show up to knock on doors and tell people to repent, so we get reactions like that a lot, if they don't just tell us to leave.
So, we walked in and asked this woman about the names we had with us, explaining we were looking for a family. Without looking up from her phone, she told us they weren't here. We left, walked down the street, then Elder Ryu stopped and said, "It took us four hours to find this place... If we could confirm it that would be good." So, we came back and told the woman this, explaining that we've promised to find these people. She searched a bit on the computer, and explained that not only were those names not on their records, but that it was nearly impossible for them to be here -- because that complex was for women living alone. Elder Ryu and I were startled by that, and left after thanking her for her help. We laughed about it on the street, and suddenly the security and briskness made sense. Of course we looked suspicious! Two twenty-ish year olds, one of them white, striding into a place where there's no men besides the guard outside! When we know things we didn't know before, everything can change.
Another thing we tried this week was visiting members at night, sharing a message with them across their step, and quickly leaving. One night we talked to two families, and shared a message from 3 Nephi 1, which I'd read that day. We discussed how those who follow the prophets of God will make it out alright in the end. Things may take time, but God will always, always vindicate His prophets -- because they speak in His name. And as the scriptures teach, none of God's words will fail.
Another message was from Alma 48, explaining the preparation that Moroni underwent to prepare his people for war. The principle we highlighted was that Moroni first prepared his people spiritually, then he went to work and prepared them physically, too! He didn't expect God to do everything, but he also put the issue in the Lord's hand, making himself a willing tool in God's hands.
The final message we shared was from Alma 37:37, counseling us to pray with God and seek his advice. I thought about this a lot because our mission president recently stated to the mission that, "Our biggest problem -- probably any mission's biggest problem -- is that we don't pray enough." We pray a lot -- every meal, when we leave the house, when we begin studies -- but do we pray with intent? Do we pray every time we want to receive inspiration? We ought to.
In between sessions of conference we met with our investigator. We aren't sure how much interest he has in changing his life and accepting the gospel, even though he keeps commitments, so we asked him straight up what he wants in life. He thought about it a bit and responded that he wants to find happiness. He said we find it through lots of little things; which we agreed with. We talked a bit about God's purpose and plan for us, and how God wants us to be happy. We'll begin teaching more in-depth about the Plan of Salvation next week, and hope that the beautiful truths it contains will touch his heart.
I learned a lesson about perspective last week while trying to find less-active members. We had received a new list of people last Sunday from our Ward Mission Leader, so I distributed the names and we made it a priority to confirm all of them this week. Elder Ryu and I went to find a family out on the outskirts of our area. We ended up spending around 4 hours trying to find where their apartment complex was, and if it wasn't for a very helpful realtor's office, I'm not sure we would've made it that quickly! When we got there, we were surprised by the tall wall, topped with barbed wire fence that surrounded the apartment complex. There was a large office building near the entrance, and as we walked in, a window opened and a man shouted, "Why?!" We responded that we were here to visit a member of our church, and he told us to go inside and talk to someone. We weren't too happy with that; lots of people assume we just show up to knock on doors and tell people to repent, so we get reactions like that a lot, if they don't just tell us to leave.
So, we walked in and asked this woman about the names we had with us, explaining we were looking for a family. Without looking up from her phone, she told us they weren't here. We left, walked down the street, then Elder Ryu stopped and said, "It took us four hours to find this place... If we could confirm it that would be good." So, we came back and told the woman this, explaining that we've promised to find these people. She searched a bit on the computer, and explained that not only were those names not on their records, but that it was nearly impossible for them to be here -- because that complex was for women living alone. Elder Ryu and I were startled by that, and left after thanking her for her help. We laughed about it on the street, and suddenly the security and briskness made sense. Of course we looked suspicious! Two twenty-ish year olds, one of them white, striding into a place where there's no men besides the guard outside! When we know things we didn't know before, everything can change.
Another thing we tried this week was visiting members at night, sharing a message with them across their step, and quickly leaving. One night we talked to two families, and shared a message from 3 Nephi 1, which I'd read that day. We discussed how those who follow the prophets of God will make it out alright in the end. Things may take time, but God will always, always vindicate His prophets -- because they speak in His name. And as the scriptures teach, none of God's words will fail.
Another message was from Alma 48, explaining the preparation that Moroni underwent to prepare his people for war. The principle we highlighted was that Moroni first prepared his people spiritually, then he went to work and prepared them physically, too! He didn't expect God to do everything, but he also put the issue in the Lord's hand, making himself a willing tool in God's hands.
The final message we shared was from Alma 37:37, counseling us to pray with God and seek his advice. I thought about this a lot because our mission president recently stated to the mission that, "Our biggest problem -- probably any mission's biggest problem -- is that we don't pray enough." We pray a lot -- every meal, when we leave the house, when we begin studies -- but do we pray with intent? Do we pray every time we want to receive inspiration? We ought to.
In between sessions of conference we met with our investigator. We aren't sure how much interest he has in changing his life and accepting the gospel, even though he keeps commitments, so we asked him straight up what he wants in life. He thought about it a bit and responded that he wants to find happiness. He said we find it through lots of little things; which we agreed with. We talked a bit about God's purpose and plan for us, and how God wants us to be happy. We'll begin teaching more in-depth about the Plan of Salvation next week, and hope that the beautiful truths it contains will touch his heart.
Lastly, these are the 21 themes I noticed from General Conference.
1) God takes us as we are.
2) God will shape and mold us.
3) Ask yourself questions to lead to self-growth.
4) Trust God, no matter what.
5) God helps us to accomplish things we cannot do.
6) Keep the Sabbath Day Holy!!!
7) Boats!
8) The world is cynical.
9) Satan's after us! He's trying to drag us down.
10) The commandments help us simplify our lives.
11) Isaiah is a really valuable book of scripture.
12) We can't compromise -- in any way -- with evil and the world.
13) Belief is a choose -- choose to believe!
14) The Spirit grows brighter in darker and darker world.
15) The world is different from who we are.
16) Lots of people die. Death's a big part of life.
17) One person can make a difference through their refusal to compromise and standing up for what they believe in.
18) Don't excuse or explain away God's doctrine.
19) There's a lot of teaching about life beyond the veil.
20) President Monson has served faithfully for a long, long time.
21) Daniel and the latter-day prophecy were mentioned a lot!
1) God takes us as we are.
2) God will shape and mold us.
3) Ask yourself questions to lead to self-growth.
4) Trust God, no matter what.
5) God helps us to accomplish things we cannot do.
6) Keep the Sabbath Day Holy!!!
7) Boats!
8) The world is cynical.
9) Satan's after us! He's trying to drag us down.
10) The commandments help us simplify our lives.
11) Isaiah is a really valuable book of scripture.
12) We can't compromise -- in any way -- with evil and the world.
13) Belief is a choose -- choose to believe!
14) The Spirit grows brighter in darker and darker world.
15) The world is different from who we are.
16) Lots of people die. Death's a big part of life.
17) One person can make a difference through their refusal to compromise and standing up for what they believe in.
18) Don't excuse or explain away God's doctrine.
19) There's a lot of teaching about life beyond the veil.
20) President Monson has served faithfully for a long, long time.
21) Daniel and the latter-day prophecy were mentioned a lot!
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