But before I get to much into my email I would like to share with you something that I really liked that has really helped me this week. This comes from President Ehlerts email to my mission, that I got to read today. It is a letter to his son and he sent it to us, because while he was writing his son he was reminded of us missionaries in the MMM.
This past week in my personal study hours, I have diligently sought to better understand Moses' great inquiry: Who am I? Or, more specifically, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt? (Ex 3:11) I love his question! So much so that it has become my question. Who am I, that I should participate in this work? Who am I, that I should teach missionaries? Who am I, that I should judge whether a soul be ready for baptism? Who am I, that I should counsel with a missionary, and that I should pray with and for one? Who am I, that I should pronounce a blessing in the name of the Savior? And finally: who am I, that I should be entrusted with children, and that I should be worthy of the title "father?"
I have carefully studied and pondered those questions, throughout this past week as well as over many years :) (but let's focus on the week). I love God's response to Moses found in the Pearl of Great Price (isn't that an appropriate name?): thou art my son (Moses 1:4). That one declaration has made all the difference in my life! But God doesn't stop there; He adds: And I have a work for thee, Moses, my son; and thou art in the similitude of mine Only Begotten; and mine Only Begotten is and shall be the Savior (verse 6). My desire has been to understand as Moses, Nephi, Enos, Benjamin (after whom you are named :) ), and Alma all understood. They understood who they were and the work that they were called to do. Moses came to appreciate that without God man is nothing, which thing he never had supposed (Moses 1:10). I suppose that none of us ever really supposes that (Helaman 12:7). I remember some time ago looking out my window on the plane and being impressed with how little man is on this world, not to think about the universe. Armed with this great knowledge, Moses declares his divine heritage to Satan (Moses 1:13). Or, said another way, knowing who we really are...makes all the difference. It makes the difference in faith. It makes the difference in humility. It makes the difference in obedience. And as such, it makes the difference in our ability to experience exceedingly great joy--that only comes through the ordinances and covenants of the atonement. As I further studied in Helaman 12, I have asked: do I desire that the Lord my God, who hath created me, should rule and reign over me? I hope that I will always answer: Yes!
I really enjoyed reading President Ehlerts letter to the mission it helped me to understand a little more clearly what my purpose as a missionary is and what it is that I am trying to help others understand for themselves. I often feel like Alma when he declares "O that I were an angel" sometimes I wonder how easy it would be to declare this message unto this people if I were an angel. I think it would certainly help others understand and feel the joy I feel from recognizing my divine Identity as a son of God. I have been working to more fully understand who I am as a beloved son of God. As I look back I can see the effects of trying to understand my divine identity, I have received more joy and happiness and I have acquired this new desire to help others discover their own divine identity for themselves. I have been striving to teach with more love and compassion and with kind and caring words so that I may invite the spirit of the Lord to abide with me as I teach. Because like Moses I have realized that man is nothing without God.
I have seen the effects of this in my teaching especially when teaching our newest investigator Hawkens Lumis. He is an interesting character he is a retired Marine who has been through a lot in his life and before we found him he had absolutely no relation with or interest in God. But his heart and mind are open. I believe that over the years the Lord has softened his heart and now he is slowly but surely coming to a knowledge of what we say is true. Brother Lumis attended church with us this week. It was a huge success he has met many of the members and hopefully they have left a good impression on him, however, there are still many things we have to do for Brother Lumis. But I know that if he keeps his mind open and his heart sincere he will come to a knowledge of the truth.
I think I will keep the weekly sum up brief this time seeing that I have already written much and "these plates are small" or in other words my time is short.
Monday we went bowling with the Zone leaders for P-day then we visited some really nice people. A former investigator named Sarah Longen, a less active member named Jamie Halfen and another former investigator named Mike who strangely reminds me of my brother gabe but only fifty or so years older.
Tuesday we had an awesome district meeting and we got some great help for working with one of our less active members named Davide. We plan to make a member action plan (MAP) with one of the members in the ward so that David will feel more comfortable in the ward. Hopefully he will see the love we all have for him and won't be so anxious about church anymore. Then we talked with one of our long time investigators Josh, we boldly but lovingly explained to him the importance of saying specific prayers to receive a specific answer. Then we taught Brother Foster about prophets and showed him a video of Thomas S. Monson.
Wednesday we had an accountability call with the district leader, and then we went and did some service for a disabled man named Leon, we helped him move some old furniture into the dumpster. Then we had lunch with one of our investigators named Ken. After we decided to do some finding and found a really neat guy named Kyle and we taught him the message of the restoration, till we had to leave and go to dinner. Then we taught Hawk, he is so cool and sincere about trying to learn more about the gospel, Its awesome to teach him. Latter that night we found three college age women named Elle, Lynn, and Terisa, we taught them the message of the restoration but they didn't seem to interested in listening and we were laughed out of their apartment. I think the only one who was taking us seriously was Elle.
Thursday we went to the temple and it was amazing I love being in a temple district I felt so good afterwards. After the temple we stopped by a few people before dinner. Then we went to teach one of our investigators named Jack he is from China and has lots of good questions I love teaching him. We went and taught him with Brother Marlow, and after the lesson we went made a MAP with Brother Marlow for Jack. Then we made another MAP for with Brother Langford for Brother Foster.
Friday we taught a really cool guy named Travis with Brother and Sister Burton, that lesson was so much fun we taught him lots and we had a great time teaching hm the Burtons were the icing on the cake and they made the whole thing even better. I really like working with members and its really easy to teach with missionary minded members.
Saturday we went and stopped by a couple of people to see if any of them would come to church with us this Sunday. Then we went visited Andy who is a really sick all of the time and has had multiple health problems throughout his life. We were there to help him and talk with him in his time of need and it made him happy it also made me happy too.
Sunday we had four investigators to church and it was awesome!!! Hawk asked some really great questions that got everyone thinking and we all got to help answer them. Best Sunday ever!!!
Well I gotta go
Sincerely
Elder Hurd.
Elder Hurd.
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