For reasons not fully explained here, I'm reminded of an old Greek mythology story thing, that I'll probably butcher, but the point will still be there. Something about a god who was punished for something he did (tends to be the case; maybe he was a Titan?) and had to push a giant rock up a hill, and when it got to the top of the hill, it would roll back down the other side, so he'd have to push it back up, it'd roll down, etc etc rinse, lather, repeat.
Anyways, that's what this area feels like. Every week, we work our butts off in sharing the Gospel, helping people make (and keep, if possible) commitments, and invite them to Church. They love the lessons, they learn all week (if they bother to keep their appointments, that is), but then Sunday comes, and absolutely no one shows up. No one progressed, our dates have to be shifted and re-extended, and the week starts all over again from square one, with - seemingly, anyways - nothing accomplished. Granted, something is almost always accomplished because they've been taught something new in their lives that they will hopefully remember and apply, so they might at least receive greater blessings in that way. But, the entire point of life is missed, and they fail to do those things that put them on the most important path they will ever travel - the path to exaltation.
That's about all I'll talk about for this week. We worked hard, and it ended in a bummer, and I don't feel like dwelling on such things, so I'll just say that we're gonna work that much harder this week, and hopefully they'll decide to do those things God asks of them, and finally receive those blessings He has so richly promised and desired for them.
One thing I do like to look at is the true reason for Missionary Work. A lot of times, we see it as 'baptizing.' Missionary Work is not about baptizing; at least, not entirely, nor in final accomplishment. Baptism is only the beginning; the true point of Missionary Work is helping the people get to the Temple, and helping them to receive those ordinances God has decreed a requirement for Salvation, for reasons beyond my understanding (in most cases, anyway. LDS.org has talks and stuff; you can look up those reasons if you want! But I don't have time to go over them here). It's one thing that we tend to lose sight of in this life. When we see someone working down the pathway that leads to Exaltation - or, in other words, meeting with the missionaries - we picture baptism as the goal. But we need to remember that, as is with us all, the Temple, and ultimately Celestial, or Eternal Marriage, is the true point of Missionary Work. Being able to see those we help bring unto Christ enter the Temple and receive those blessings is the true Joy of His Work. What could be better than knowing that you were the tool God used to bring His Children unto Him, and have them be sealed with their spouse for time and all eternity?
As we go forward in life, let us remember that God is our everything, and that Christ is our foundation. If we do not build everything upon Him, it will, eventually, fail. No matter how strongly we feel about something, no matter how powerfully we want something, Christ is the only way by which things may last forever. Joy, happiness, peace, and Love; all these things must be sealed with the Priesthood Authority of God, in the name of Christ, if it is to be of any worth in the next life. Let us always keep in mind how important these things are, and use that knowledge as a prompting for us to help our fellow brothers and sisters along the path to exaltation, to live with God and Jesus Christ again. How blessed we are to have these things! And how blessed are you who will yet receive these things.
If we but give God a chance, He will show us, by the power of the Holy Ghost, the Truth of these things. Read the Book of Mormon; meet with the missionaries in your area. See for yourself about these things, and then decide what you can or cannot do. For, "with God, all things are possible" (Mark 10:27).
I love you all! Take care, and God bless! I pray you all have a wonderful week!
This Gospel is True! His Work is Great!
--Elder Collings
Anyways, that's what this area feels like. Every week, we work our butts off in sharing the Gospel, helping people make (and keep, if possible) commitments, and invite them to Church. They love the lessons, they learn all week (if they bother to keep their appointments, that is), but then Sunday comes, and absolutely no one shows up. No one progressed, our dates have to be shifted and re-extended, and the week starts all over again from square one, with - seemingly, anyways - nothing accomplished. Granted, something is almost always accomplished because they've been taught something new in their lives that they will hopefully remember and apply, so they might at least receive greater blessings in that way. But, the entire point of life is missed, and they fail to do those things that put them on the most important path they will ever travel - the path to exaltation.
That's about all I'll talk about for this week. We worked hard, and it ended in a bummer, and I don't feel like dwelling on such things, so I'll just say that we're gonna work that much harder this week, and hopefully they'll decide to do those things God asks of them, and finally receive those blessings He has so richly promised and desired for them.
One thing I do like to look at is the true reason for Missionary Work. A lot of times, we see it as 'baptizing.' Missionary Work is not about baptizing; at least, not entirely, nor in final accomplishment. Baptism is only the beginning; the true point of Missionary Work is helping the people get to the Temple, and helping them to receive those ordinances God has decreed a requirement for Salvation, for reasons beyond my understanding (in most cases, anyway. LDS.org has talks and stuff; you can look up those reasons if you want! But I don't have time to go over them here). It's one thing that we tend to lose sight of in this life. When we see someone working down the pathway that leads to Exaltation - or, in other words, meeting with the missionaries - we picture baptism as the goal. But we need to remember that, as is with us all, the Temple, and ultimately Celestial, or Eternal Marriage, is the true point of Missionary Work. Being able to see those we help bring unto Christ enter the Temple and receive those blessings is the true Joy of His Work. What could be better than knowing that you were the tool God used to bring His Children unto Him, and have them be sealed with their spouse for time and all eternity?
As we go forward in life, let us remember that God is our everything, and that Christ is our foundation. If we do not build everything upon Him, it will, eventually, fail. No matter how strongly we feel about something, no matter how powerfully we want something, Christ is the only way by which things may last forever. Joy, happiness, peace, and Love; all these things must be sealed with the Priesthood Authority of God, in the name of Christ, if it is to be of any worth in the next life. Let us always keep in mind how important these things are, and use that knowledge as a prompting for us to help our fellow brothers and sisters along the path to exaltation, to live with God and Jesus Christ again. How blessed we are to have these things! And how blessed are you who will yet receive these things.
If we but give God a chance, He will show us, by the power of the Holy Ghost, the Truth of these things. Read the Book of Mormon; meet with the missionaries in your area. See for yourself about these things, and then decide what you can or cannot do. For, "with God, all things are possible" (Mark 10:27).
I love you all! Take care, and God bless! I pray you all have a wonderful week!
This Gospel is True! His Work is Great!
--Elder Collings
No comments:
Post a Comment