So, big thing this week was that, Benedicta Adu - the 16 yr old daughter of a recent convert family of Elder Malley's - died unexpectedly in the hospital on Friday. We spent a few hours at their place trying to help them in any way we could; it was really hard on them, especially her twin brother. They were very close, and she was the first-born, which was incredibly hard on the parents. The father, Bro. Adu, is doing very well though; he's a convert of a long time (it was a Part-Member family) and has a strong testimony of God's will and eternal families. Right now, we're working on helping them prepare for the temple to be sealed together for time and all eternity.
That is perhaps the most wonderful thing of the Church, and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Families can truly be together forever. Through ordinances in the temple, family relations can be perpetuated beyond the grave. There is no other way that this can happen. Only through the ordinances performed in the temples of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints can a family - a man, a wife, and their children - be united for time and all eternity. I love this principle; where else can you find the promise of marriage and family for time and all eternity? All other's exist "till death do [they] part." Such is truth; for the Lord has said:
"All covenants, contracts, bonds, obligations, oaths, vows, performances, connections, associations, or expectations, that are not made and entered into and sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise, of him who is anointed, both as well for time and for all eternity, and that too most holy, by revelation and commandment through the medium of mine anointed, whom I have appointed on the earth to hold this power...are of no efficacy, virtue, or force in and after the resurrection from the dead; for all contracts that are not made unto this end have an end when men are dead" (Doctrine and Covenants 132:7)."
I have such peace in knowing that I am sealed to my parents, my siblings, and the rest of my family for time and all eternity, and that I can be sealed to my future wife, and all of my posterity, for time and all eternity. I have such joy knowing that this blessing is extended to all who will enter into it, and abide by the covenants therein.
Concerning another matter, Pres. Smith is heading home soon; we had Zone Interviews on Tuesday so that he could have a final farewell with all of us. He's a wonderful Pres., and I truly appreciate all that he has done for the mission. He works people very hard, and I think that too many people resented that because they weren't expecting all the work that is required of them on a mission, and because of that they resented him; but I have loved the hard work and effort he's put into the mission, and all the love and support he and Sis. Smith have given us missionaries. We would be doing so much better if these missionaries would learn that it is not enough to simply go on a mission; we must be missionaries. It is as Elder Oaks said:
"The Final Judgment is not just an evaluation of a sum total of good and evil acts—what we have done. It is an acknowledgment of the final effect of our acts and thoughts—what we have become. It is not enough for anyone just to go through the motions. The commandments, ordinances, and covenants of the gospel are not a list of deposits required to be made in some heavenly account. The gospel of Jesus Christ is a plan that shows us how to become what our Heavenly Father desires us to become" (Elder Oaks, "The Challenge to Become," Oct.
2000 Address).
That is what Pres. Smith tried to teach us missionaries, and for those who accepted his advice and applied it, they will be eternally blessed for it, they and their families. I am thankful for the blessings that I have received due to his guidance and leadership, and I pray that all will be well for him and his family as they move forward into bigger and better things. I also pray that Pres. Judd will be able to touch our lives as Pres. Smith has. I'm sure he will do wonderful as well.
I know that we are accountable unto the Lord for every thought, deed, and action we take. I think the reality of this fact is not understood well enough by too many people. Every time we decide to relax instead of work, God will ask us why; do we have a good enough excuse? When the Lord asks us, "I gave you the chance to teach these, My children.
Why did you forsake them and the ministry, and relax inside instead?"
what are we going to answer Him then? What excuse can we possibly put forward that will satisfy the Lord with our slothfulness? If we cannot pray to God and answer that directly, then we cannot allow ourselves to do it. This applies to so much more than just Missionary Work; this is a lesson for life. We are blessed, however, with the chance to serve a mission for a mere 2 years so that we might better understand this, and have the chance to build it. I pray that none of us waste it, simply because we feel we have more exciting and better things to do than to try to progress His children unto eternal salvation.
I love you all! I pray that you are all reading the Book of Mormon. It is one of the greatest shields we have against Satan and the influences of the world. Read it, at least 5 minutes every day, and your life will be blessed beyond measure. Of this I testify.
Take care, and God bless!
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--Elder Collings
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