Hey
everyone,
With this week we have been blessed a lot. This week really built my
testimony about the Lord preparing people to recieve you. It is ABSOLUTELY 100%
true. With opening an area it has been hard and in doing so my companion and I
have been focusing very largely on the aspect of OBEDIENCE. As you are obedient
in all things and are truly DESIRING this work to go forth the Lord will use
you in his hands. He wants to bless you, he loves YOU, and he will bless you as
long as you follow Doctrine and Covenants 130:20-21: Paraphrased says
There is a law irrevocably decreed in heaven in which all blessings are
predicated, and when we recieve any blessing it is on the obedience of the law
in which it is predicated. I love that so much and can TESTIFY to you brothers
and sisters that Obedience is the first law of the Gospel without it you
withhold so much from yourself. The Lord desires to bless you in all aspects,
but because he is bound by laws he can't bless you unless you deserve it. I
love that so much, and this past week we have been talking alot about the
nature of God, in all of our lessons, and i have learned to simplify the
definition, spend more time on the nature and origin of God and then we will
establish first that sure foundation in which we can build upon in the future
lessons. In my studies this week I Studied in the Book Of Mormon, Finished
Matthew in NT, read abit in chapter 8 " Use Time Wisely" from Preach
My Gospel, and in the ensign from last conference.
In the conference
edition I studied a few really good talks which really spoke to me.
The first was The
Choice Generation- Ridd
It was all about the
amount of choices we have each day, and recently I have really been studying
Virtue on how to Improve and gain Righteous Virtue and it gradually changes,
But this talk was talking alot about How our choices impact what we do and how
easy it is to do what our heart desires. It is all about DISCIPLINE and he
gives us four things to do
1. Knowing who you
really are- here he shared a story of a boy who got a glimpse of who he was
which changed his life. This really struck me, Throughout my time in the church
I have been able to come to know Who I truly am and who I truly was in the
Preexistence. I know a part of my divine potential and we all have divine
potential and the Lord provides each of us with these things.
2. Plug into the
Source of Power: He was comparing it to our phones, how often do you leave the
house with a full charge on your cell phone, and answer texts right away? He
tells us should we not put more emphasis on the communication with the Lord. As
I studied Virtue it talked about your mind being a stage, and if wholesome
thoughts occupy it, dark unrighteous thoughts can not enter so if we are
constantly treasuring up the words of life as we are commanded to, we would
have an easier time resisting these worldly things.
3. Use Technology
Wisely, Don't let it consume your life.
4. Given to Accomplish
his Purposes:
The Lord provides
these things to better strengthen his kingdom and to be strengthened against
the temptations of the World. it provides many wonderful opportunities to do
things in a world sense.
REMEMBER THAT.
The Next Talk I read
was " I have given you an Example"- Richard G Scott
Emphasizing how big a
role being an example is on the lives of all those around you. And with
understanding who we are being an example to those who don't have that
knowledge yet for themselves.
Then I studied Where
your treasure is. It was very good at getting us to look inward and see the purposes
of why things we do, and also to show ourselves the reasons we do the things we
do.
I enjoyed a quote it
read" There is no end to what the world has to offer, so it is critical
that we learn to recognize when we have enough."
It really showed me how
vicious and debilitating the world is and if we aren't constantly being
watchful and making righteous choices we will fall to it's enticings.
I was also studying in
Matthew 27- Mark 2. I really enjoyed the command we are given by the saviour to
go into the world, to preach and to baptize and with the savior informing those
things, I love how I have the priviledge to be one of them he has sent into the
world to preach his gospel.
In Book of
Mormon I was reading Alma 2, I read about Amliki, and how he tried to gain
favor by the people, he lost the vote and when he did he reviled against the
Nephites and started trying to come upon Alma and his people to destroy them.
As the Nephites fought back they had the strength of the Lord on their side and
drew them back, and as the enemy fleed they joined with the Lamanites, Now the
Lamanites and Amlikites clearly outnumbering the Nephites came unto them to
battle, but even though the numbers were FEW they Fought back and sent the
Lamanites retreating.
I just love this so
Much, BECAUSE of the FAITH and TRUST the Nephites had in the LORD, they were
able to fight off an army more numerous then their own and cause them to flee
from before them. And in the battle Alma, is fighting with Amliki and puts his
trust in God, and covenants to spend all of his life preaching the Gospel if
the Lord were to deliver him. The Lord delivers him and throughout the Book of
Mormon you see Alma complete that oath baptizing and teaching thousands in his
lifetime.
Throughout my week we
had many miracles.
One of them was we
came to the library to do e-mails last Monday and as we came to do e-mails a
man came and started talking to us about the gospel, he is prodestant and is
very entrigued, and we have taught him 3 times since including today, he
also had a friend he introduced us too last week who is now meeting with us as
well which is so amazing,
This same thing
happened with another of the people we found, he also had a friend who was
catholic who is now learning as well.
I am so grateful to be
here, the area isn't the greatest but there are so many people who want to
change their lives and make changes to be better, and the Lord has blessed us
with so much.
We had Zone
development this week and it was fun had alot of fun activities and a funny
thing happened. We were all getting lifts in the cars,
I was in one car with
the sisters and the zoneleaders, and my companion was in another car, As they
drove us to the bus station we got mixed up and the other car, went to another
bus stop so I was to get on the bus just with the sisters, which wasn't too bad
because we were picking them up however, as we got to the stop the elders were
all at, the bus drove right by, at this point I started freaking out abit,
because I was part of a trio with two sisters for an hour long bus drive. It
was okayed by Zone leaders, but it was weird but I can now Say I have been in a
trio with two sisters, so that is funny. I got picked up by a member once we
got to the bus station in Glenrothes to await for my companion and the member
was confused, I can't blame him It was only me and the two sisters who got off
the bus, I would've been confused too, but Hey it's a funny story to tell
now.
Funny thing happened
as well we had a flat check this week, and while the flat check was happening
our neighbour had the police knocking his door pretty Loud :P it was quite
funny.
We almost have
everything we need for our flat now and it is looking like Home.
I love all of you
guys.
Happy Birthday
:)
Live long and Prosper
Elder Reece Out.
- Elder James Reece
