Funny; Elder Holland gave a talk with the same title.
Anyway, this week was nice. Sis. Janet, the same one we've been teaching since July! (with Elder Berry), passed her baptismal interview! She should be baptized this Saturday! Unfortunately, Peniel got sent to Togo by her father to return her niece (long story), so she couldn't make it. But - she should be baptized next week with the Teshie II baptisms. Let's hope and pray!
Something with Peniel - and from which the title comes - we taught her the Word of Wisdom (WoW) earlier in the week. She was fine with everything but coffee. She liked coffee. In fact, she's had it every morning of her life since as long as she can remember. This was on, Tuesday or something, that we taught her. We went over the promised blessings, the reasons why (God says so, basically), and how she can stop. She asked some questions, we went over stuff, and finally in the end we committed her to live it. She said she'd try. We then opened the WoW pamphlet and read that one of the steps to stopping is disposing of the stuff, and not buying more. Well, she had a lot of coffee in the house. But we committed her anyways, and she again said she'd try.
We came back later that week - Thursday or so, I think - and taught her some other stuff. Oh! I remember; she asked if she could pray and ask God to help her like Milo (breakfast hot chocolate drink thing; very nice, but she hates it) instead of coffee. We said yes, she could most definitely do that, and then left Alma 22 to have her learn of King Lamoni's father, and how he prayed to give up every sin he had to know God. We then followed up on her living the WoW. She told us that she had thrown out all the coffee that morning, and is now buying waakye instead of coffee (a really nice Ghanaian food thing; I'll make it when I get home; haha), and is going to eat that instead of coffee from now on. It was amazing! An entire lifetime of drinking coffee, and she just stops in a day, because she wants to follow God. She still probably has no idea why she's not suppose to - heck, I don't really know, other than there's bad stuff in it - but she did it based on her testimony. It made me so happy! I know that someone with a testimony like that will have a wonderful future. As Christ said, "because of your faith... my joy is full" (3 Nephi 17:20).
There is no greater joy in this life than to see someone living the Gospel of Jesus Christ and coming closer to our Heavenly Father. Such things leads to complete joy; such things lead to "peace in this life and eternal salvation in the life to come" (Introduction, Book of Mormon). I'm so happy to see these people, these beloved children of our Heavenly Father, taking these steps of faith and finding that joy.
I know that these things are true. I exhort all of you to find out for yourself. No matter who you are, no matter how impossible you might think it to be, I know that you will find peace if you but try these things. Live them for a month, and see if you do not have a greater, happier life. For, as Helaman said,
"Thus we may see that the Lord is merciful unto all who will, in the sincerity of their hearts, call upon his holy name.
Yea, thus we see that the gate of heaven is open unto all, even to those who will believe on the name of Jesus Christ, who is the Son of God.
Yea, we see that whosoever will may lay hold upon the word of God, which is quick and powerful, which shall divide asunder all the cunning and the snares and the wiles of the devil, and lead the man of Christ in a strait and narrow course across that everlasting gulf of misery which is prepared to engulf the wicked—
And land their souls, yea, their immortal souls, at the right hand of God in the kingdom of heaven, to sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and with Jacob, and with all our holy fathers, to go no more out" (Hel. 3:27-30).
I know these things are true. I know that as you read the Book of Mormon - and the Bible, for it is scripture as well - and as you pray, asking God in the name of Christ if it is true, He will "manifest the truth of it unto you by the power of the Holy Ghost" (Moroni 10:4). Why not try it? What have you to lose? You have everything to gain.
I love you all. Take care! Before I sign off, know that I have letters to send out as soon as I can. Also, I received notice that Kista is now in the mission field! That's awesome! Congrats, Sis. Wirig! Enjoy Michigan! I know there are many wonderful people there who need to hear the Gospel from you. I pray that you find them! And surely you will.
--Elder Collings
Anyway, this week was nice. Sis. Janet, the same one we've been teaching since July! (with Elder Berry), passed her baptismal interview! She should be baptized this Saturday! Unfortunately, Peniel got sent to Togo by her father to return her niece (long story), so she couldn't make it. But - she should be baptized next week with the Teshie II baptisms. Let's hope and pray!
Something with Peniel - and from which the title comes - we taught her the Word of Wisdom (WoW) earlier in the week. She was fine with everything but coffee. She liked coffee. In fact, she's had it every morning of her life since as long as she can remember. This was on, Tuesday or something, that we taught her. We went over the promised blessings, the reasons why (God says so, basically), and how she can stop. She asked some questions, we went over stuff, and finally in the end we committed her to live it. She said she'd try. We then opened the WoW pamphlet and read that one of the steps to stopping is disposing of the stuff, and not buying more. Well, she had a lot of coffee in the house. But we committed her anyways, and she again said she'd try.
We came back later that week - Thursday or so, I think - and taught her some other stuff. Oh! I remember; she asked if she could pray and ask God to help her like Milo (breakfast hot chocolate drink thing; very nice, but she hates it) instead of coffee. We said yes, she could most definitely do that, and then left Alma 22 to have her learn of King Lamoni's father, and how he prayed to give up every sin he had to know God. We then followed up on her living the WoW. She told us that she had thrown out all the coffee that morning, and is now buying waakye instead of coffee (a really nice Ghanaian food thing; I'll make it when I get home; haha), and is going to eat that instead of coffee from now on. It was amazing! An entire lifetime of drinking coffee, and she just stops in a day, because she wants to follow God. She still probably has no idea why she's not suppose to - heck, I don't really know, other than there's bad stuff in it - but she did it based on her testimony. It made me so happy! I know that someone with a testimony like that will have a wonderful future. As Christ said, "because of your faith... my joy is full" (3 Nephi 17:20).
There is no greater joy in this life than to see someone living the Gospel of Jesus Christ and coming closer to our Heavenly Father. Such things leads to complete joy; such things lead to "peace in this life and eternal salvation in the life to come" (Introduction, Book of Mormon). I'm so happy to see these people, these beloved children of our Heavenly Father, taking these steps of faith and finding that joy.
I know that these things are true. I exhort all of you to find out for yourself. No matter who you are, no matter how impossible you might think it to be, I know that you will find peace if you but try these things. Live them for a month, and see if you do not have a greater, happier life. For, as Helaman said,
"Thus we may see that the Lord is merciful unto all who will, in the sincerity of their hearts, call upon his holy name.
Yea, thus we see that the gate of heaven is open unto all, even to those who will believe on the name of Jesus Christ, who is the Son of God.
Yea, we see that whosoever will may lay hold upon the word of God, which is quick and powerful, which shall divide asunder all the cunning and the snares and the wiles of the devil, and lead the man of Christ in a strait and narrow course across that everlasting gulf of misery which is prepared to engulf the wicked—
And land their souls, yea, their immortal souls, at the right hand of God in the kingdom of heaven, to sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and with Jacob, and with all our holy fathers, to go no more out" (Hel. 3:27-30).
I know these things are true. I know that as you read the Book of Mormon - and the Bible, for it is scripture as well - and as you pray, asking God in the name of Christ if it is true, He will "manifest the truth of it unto you by the power of the Holy Ghost" (Moroni 10:4). Why not try it? What have you to lose? You have everything to gain.
I love you all. Take care! Before I sign off, know that I have letters to send out as soon as I can. Also, I received notice that Kista is now in the mission field! That's awesome! Congrats, Sis. Wirig! Enjoy Michigan! I know there are many wonderful people there who need to hear the Gospel from you. I pray that you find them! And surely you will.
--Elder Collings
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