So, this week we baptized Adams Wellengton. We had been working with him since Sep 9. He took a long time, but man was it worth it! The guy is amazingly strong in the Gospel; he's practically shouting it from the mountaintops (literally; he lives at the top of the mountain; haha) and is just eating all of it up. He was able to get a hold of the Gospel Principles book, and is tearing into it like no one I've ever seen. He especially loves the organization of the Priesthood. I remember one time when we came to his shop to teach him, he was so excited that he was fumbling his words as he described how awesome he thought it all was. In the end, he ended up saying it "makes [him] very happy!" What a great way to put how the Gospel makes us feel? It makes us very happy; is there any other reason why we would want to live it?
I remember the first time we met him, he had some stupid questions. Honestly, that's the only way to put it. He was asking them for the sake of joking around; the only time he took anything seriously was when he asked about 'speaking in tongues', which is a big problem around here. A lot of people think it's some kind of 'go up and blabber whatever comes out of your mouth' thing... Honestly, you have to hear it to get what I mean. It's actually kinda scary; it's just gibberish stuff shouted really loud by tons of people and whatnot... I always feel bad, spiritually, when we walk by those places doing that. I don't like it...
Anyway, he asked about that, and we explained why what they were doing was, more or less, apostasy in a bottle. We used Paul and a few of his writings, and it made sense to Adams and so he invited us back. He kept asking stupid questions though, for the sake of asking stupid questions and having fun. I remember that after the first lesson, I thought to myself 'Well this is gonna be annoying, coming back here every day.' And it was, to be honest. But then we gave him a copy of the Book of Mormon. It was then that he started to take it seriously. He read it from the beginning; first time I saw an investigator do that. But after reading parts of it, he felt something important there. He started actually wanting to know about the Gospel, and started asking real questions. We taught him parts of the Gospel, and kept coming back. Finally, after a long while, we were able to get him to come to Church – and that's what did it. Beforehand, he was having questions about the Gospel, and was intrigued by it. But after attending Church he just loved it! He couldn't get enough of it; it was an amazing transformation.
What's more, is that, as it turns out, he was from a village; he'd tell you in an instant that he didn't always know about Christ. Combine those two things, and you have quite the colorful past, as he puts it. He was weighed down by so much stuff. But after he was baptized, and he was still in the restroom after changing into his normal clothes, he looked at us, threw up his arms, and then simply said "I'm free. I am finally free!" It was amazing; never before have I seen the Gospel bring such joy and happiness into someone's life.
And what a truth! That really is what the Gospel is all about! It's NOT 'There's a God, and He commands us to not do stuff because He likes controlling our lives, blah blah blah.' It' REALLY IS 'We have a loving Heavenly Father, and he commands us so that we can stay free from all the pains and the sorrows that come from breaking those commandments.' How many of us are chained down by sorrow? How many of us are chained down by guilt? How many of us go through life with doubt and despair, chained down by lies, thievery, cheating, fornication, drunkenness, and all manner of worldly affairs? The Gospel severs all those ties; all of them! When we receive Gospel, when we are baptized, when we partake of the Sacrament, and when we repent, we may cry together with one great accord "We are free! We are finally free!"
The Gospel frees us from our sins. It frees us from the traps of the world. It frees us from our doubts, our despair, our sorrows. Yes, we will still have problems in this life. Yes, we will still be faced with trials and travails. Yes, we will still experience sadness. But at the end of the day, when all is done, we will still be free! We will still know that our Heavenly Father loves us, that we are His Children, and that we may be cleansed from our sins, from our transgressions, from our mistakes, if we but follow Him, humble ourselves, and repent.
The Gospel is a wonderful thing. I am so happy to have it.
By the way, Elder Bills got General Conference from his mom on CD this week, so I was finally able to hear it!
As such, I'd like to take this time to quote Elder Holland, in something I truly loved and hold dear, and feel and mean with all my heart:
"To you, Mom and Dad, and to all the moms and dads and families and faithful people everywhere, I thank you for sacrificing for your children (and for other people’s children!), for wanting so much to give them advantages you never had, for wanting so much to give them the happiest life you could provide.
My thanks to all you wonderful members of the Church—and legions of good people not of our faith—for proving every day of your life that the pure love of Christ “never faileth.” No one of you is insignificant, in part because you make the gospel of Jesus Christ what it is—a living reminder of His grace and mercy, a private but powerful manifestation in small villages and large cities of the good He did and the life He gave bringing peace and salvation to other people. We are honored beyond expression to be counted one with you in such a sacred cause.
As Jesus said to the Nephites, so say I today: 'Because of your faith . . . , my joy is full.'
'And when he had said these words, he wept.'
Brothers and sisters, seeing your example, I pledge anew my determination to be better, to be more faithful—more kind and devoted, more charitable and true as our Father in Heaven is and as so many of you already are" (Because of Your Faith, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, Oct 2010 General Conference).
I couldn't have put it any better.
Thank you, Mom and Dad, for all the help, strength, and courage you have given me throughout my life, and for teaching me the things I need to be out here, serving the Children of the Lord in Ghana.
Thank you to all my other family members, who have set examples, provided help, support, and encouragement, and helped me on my way.
Thank you, all my dear friends, Mormon and non-Mormon, who have been with me, supported me, and helped me make it thus far in life, and provided me with love, comfort, and joy throughout my life.
And thank you all, for everything you have done for me.
I love you all. May God continue to bless you throughout your life.
This Gospel is True!
--Elder Collings
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