B. Got Ordained

October 30, 2012

First of all, please thank Brother Bennett for his email. It was VERY good to hear from him. I know that he was inspired at that time to write to me. I'll do what I can to write him back.

Well, a lot has happened since the last time I've talked to you. Quite frankly we've been learning the pains of having to drop investigators and less actives as well as the pain of being dropped by investigators. Oi! It's alright. The gospel is still true ;)

We have a rather frustrating situation going on with L. We've taught him the Word of Wisdom about 3 times and he's still resistant on cutting his coffee. There's something there that is holding him back. He wants to be baptized but is saying that he doesn't want to do it until December. We've been working with him since I got here over two months ago. We told him to pray about things but he kept on saying that he wasn't getting an answer. So I prayed to know why he wasn't getting and answer and I told him what my answer was, which was that until he quits coffee he won't receive an answer. I feel like maybe he doesn't have the desire to repent fully. Or maybe the thing is that he doesn't understand that repentance requires change in order to bring us closer to Christ. Maybe that's what we need to talk to him about. Writing this has been very revealing to me right now.

B. is still as gung ho as ever. He's timid at first but every time we talk about 2 steps ahead he's willing to take the next step. He's a real go getter. I love him. He's taken a real liking to the Young Men's president which is a good thing because he's the only priest in our ward. In fact the only other active Aaronic priesthood holder is a deacon who's why psyched about the missionary age change. He was ordained in front of all the young women this last week because it was ward conference, which  was a very spiritual experience.

The bishopric was almost completely changed this Sunday. The new bishop is a guy that has been serving as high council member for another ward for the last 2 1/2 years so he pretty much has no idea what's going on in the ward. However, we had a brief chat with him on our way home from church and he's really excited to put the theories of what he's been taught by the stake president to use when it comes to how a ward should be working with the missionaries. He really wants to use us much more effectively than we have been used in this area for the last 6 years.

It is truly only through charity that His work can be accomplished. Without Charity we are nothing. I never understood this until today in my personal scripture study. Charity is what makes us able to have good, loving, healthy relationships with those around us. It is only through these relationships that we can have joy. That is what it means in 1 Cor 13 when it says that you could have faith to move mountains but without charity you are nothing. Without charity, who would want to be around you. Our joy is in those that we love, not ourselves and what we alone accomplish. If you have no charity, who will be your friend in the eternities to come. If you have not charity, what joy do you have.

When we have charity it qualifies us to become pure, even as Christ is pure. It also qualifies him to have the Spirit with him. It is only through charity that we can teach with power. It is only through Charity that other people's lives can be changed. I urge you to think to yourself if there is someone that you come in constant contact that you do not feel complete love for. I testify that it is possible. Pray for it with full energy of heart and act on that desire! I have come in contact with several criminals in this area, and no matter what their indiscretion has been, Christ gives the power of Charity to me as I seek attune my will to his and accomplish His work rather than my own. Your work will almost always be frustrated; His work, as he has promised, cannot be. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

I love you all, and I can't wait to hear from you next week. It'd be good to hear from somebody than just Mommy.

Happy Halloween everyone! Don't drink too much candy for breakfast the next day!