Victoriaville, Quebec April-June 1998
Dear family,
... the work is going great. And I was correct. The Lord was preparing this area for something big... Can you believe all these things that are happening?! Now I know why the adversary was pulling me down. These experiences have really fortified my testimony, especially after conference. I feel like shouting Hallelujah each time I think about all these things. There is a prophet! There is a GOD! Isn't it wonderful?! No matter how hard to understand or how great are the mysteries of GOD, this doesn't destroy the fact that it IS true. And what a miracle it is! "Brethren, shall we not go on in so great a cause? Go forward and not backward. Courage, brethren; and on, on to the victory! Let your hearts rejoice and be exceedingly glad. Let the earth break forth into singing Let the dead speak forth anthems of Eternal praise to the King Immanuel, who hath ordained, before the world was, that which would enable us to redeem them out of their prison; for the prisoners shall go free! I love this work! I love this gospel! DO IT! OK! I love you all. Be good.
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How lucky I have been to serve in Quebec for 2 years. This is where I was supposed to come, and I feel that it is the only mission that could have changed my heart so much. My mission might not be the best 2 years of my life, but it certainly has been the best 2 years FOR my life. Last thursday, I was in a little interview with President Froerer, and we were discussing the work I've been doing, my personal life, my thoughts and feelings (as we always do in our once-every-two-month interviews). He said something to me that I will never forget "You're a changed man, brother." I was moved, almost to tears, as I realized it. All this time, I had been focusing on the things I couldn't do and my weaknesses. I had completely ignored to notice how much I have grown and changed. Not of anything on my part, for I owe it all to my Savior. I think that we, as humans, have a tendency to get down on ourselves. We need to notice the strengths we have and use them to overcome our weaknesses. I have learned so many profound truths in reading the words of the ancient prophets, as well as modern prophets. I am reminded of when I was in my first area. I had been praying to be closer to the Lord, to have a stronger testimony, etc... One morning, I woke up, and I heard a voice in my head which said, "Where much is given, much is required". Ever since then, I have tried to sacrifice for the Lord in order to receive his promised blessings..
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We are teaching many people right now. Lise is still hanging in there. She has a hard time understanding the importance of [priesthood] authority... She LOVES the Book of Mormon. She knows it is true. I just have to help her understand what that means when the Book of Mormon is true.... The power within the pages of that book is more powerful than anything else on earth... The Lord is blessing this area despite my many weaknesses in this work. I truly feel unworthy of all the blessings the Lord has poured out on me these past few months.
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Well, I'm loving every moment of my mission. I owe a great debt to my Savior for making all this possible. Amber, put your faith in Christ always. Live pure and expect that the Lord will bless you. Search him. Seek to get to know him. He is a being with feelings and thoughts and emotions. He knows you. He knows everything about you. Get to know him a little more. I know you will. I love you.
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My faith in the Lord has never been tried so hard in my life. To tell you the truth, I was very very close to denying my testimony altogether. But as it says in the Book of Mormon, we don't receive a witness until after the trial of our faith. I have learned that this is true. I know that the Lord's hand is in this work. I know this. We are his tools. When I was in my first area, Elder Hales, my trainer, told me that there would be many times on my mission that I would say that the church can't be true. At the time, I thought to myself, "Yeah right!" He was right. I have never been tried so hard and tested in my life. I have been so close to just throwing my arms in the air and saying, "Forget! I give up!." The adversary works hard on missionaries. I want to tell you, my family, I know GOD lives. I know Christ lives! I know they have a plan for our happiness. Joseph Smith is the prophet of the restoration. He opened this dispensation which has the fulness of the gospel. Gordon B. Hinckley is a prophet of GOD. It is all true. It is all good. And I love it. I love the Book of Mormon with all my heart. I cherish the Bible. I was reading in the Book of Mormon, and I learned a profound truth in Alma 34:14-16 Look at it. We need to always look unto Christ. Look unto Christ and live. He is the master teacher, the master healer. This is my testimony. I will not deny it. I cannot deny it. I love you all so much. Be good and always remember to look unto Christ and live! Think about Ephesians 2:8-9. Just to clear up any confusion on the subject, I will be finishing my mission 29 July 1998. Please keep me in your prayers. I know you will.
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And I try to be worldly,
but I just can't cut it
because
Well, because it's like I know about what is what. About the fig tree lumber and the nails that were much larger than sixteen penny
And I've smelled
the wet straw that became a cradle.
I've feasted
When there was nothing
and caught a descending dove.
When there was need of repair,
I've called the carpenter's son
who stripped all the old paint off my house, and
gave me a new many-colored coat, free of charge (because I was a friend), and then I try to be worldly, like I can forget who I am or where I came from or something, but I just can't cut it because I know what is what.
Sunday, May 29, 2011
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