We had Stake Conference this week! We picked Eric, our investigator from some time ago, and took a tro-tro to the stake center, in Tema (Community 2). It was a very nice conference. We even got to hear Pres. Judd talk! It's insane; he started by sharing an experience he had while serving in the General Sunday School Presidency for the Church. He then went on to share some experiences he had with a member from Mowli (not sure of the correct spelling, but it's an African country) a while ago, and how that man is now running for President of his home country in 2012, and will try to use that as a means to bring the Church into the country. He shared many other crazy experiences; it's incredible to think of all that he's been through, and all the things he's done in the service of the Lord.
Well, Janet, Peniel (girl from Togo, remember?), Eric, and Peter came. And yea, that's the young 11-yr-old Peter from a long time ago; he's still coming! Hasn't missed Church in over 16 weeks now! It's awesome. Even more, he came with his friends! No parents or anything; they walk themselves to Church in the morning, and walk back afterwards. We're teaching them as best we can, but they're minors, so it's complicated and hard. I'm glad that they'll get a chance later in life though, if they dont get it now.
Sis. Peniel is a girl from Togo, if I haven't explained that yet. She speaks English, but she's not that confident. For Togo, they speak French. Funny thing, I contacted her a loooong time ago, and she mentioned she had a friend in the Church. Later that day, I met Bro. Alex, from Lartebiokorshie Ward (we shared with them when I was in Korle-Bu; I knew Bro. Alex well) and he mentioned he was here to visit a friend. Turns out, Peniel is that friend. He worked with her for some time, and she finally called us randomly one Sunday and asked to join the Church, and wanted us to teach her. We ran over there and started teaching. She has a lot of questions - mostly about the Plan of Salvation, and why God allows such suffering in the world - but the Book of Mormon has answered those very well. She's doing great; she has a testimony of the Book of Mormon, through prayer and the Holy Ghost, and she wants to be baptized.
Sis. Janet is a mummi I contacted with Elder Berry, back in July! She speaks English somewhat, but has gotten a lot better. We were finally able to get a member fellowshipper for her, and she started coming to Church! She now has a testimony of the Book of Mormon, and wants to be baptized. We're hoping to baptize both her and Peniel on the 19th! Sis. Janet is having some hard times, though, (no need for details here) but the Atonement and the promised blessings from keeping the commandments has really helped her.
Bro. Eric is an interesting story. We met him a while ago, and we've been teaching him. He loved the teachings, the Church, and the Book of Mormon. He believes everything is true, and wants to be baptized. However, he feels he should wait a while before that time. So, basically, we're at a stand-still while we pray that God will inspire him to take that first step. Until then, we're trying to teach him what we can to help. He's a great guy; I really hope I get to baptize him, but if not, I pray he gets baptized very soon.
That's the main thing this week. Everything else was just failed appointments; kinda disappointing. We had many new people lined up, but they failed their appointments. We're praying things will go better this week.
I'd like to share a small scripture here, about perfection. Christ taught, "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect" (Matt. 5:48). We are clearly commanded to be perfect. However, it's also clear that "all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). So, how can we be perfect, as Christ commands, if we have all fallen short, as Paul taught? After all, Nephi tells us that "the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them" (1 Nephi 3:7). As such, there must be a way for us to be perfect.
The prophet Moroni tells us the way that the Lord has prepared for our perfection. He invites us to "come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ" (Moroni 10:32). It is through Christ that we become perfect. We, however, have the responsibility to repent and do our best to keep the commandments, to make covenants, and then follow Christ, in order for Him to make us perfect.
We can all do this. As Nephi said, the Lord gives no commandment that we can't all keep. I know that everyone out there, all of you, all of us, can be made perfect through Christ. If we really desire it, if we are willing to try our best, Christ will make up the rest, and bring us out of the darkness, into the light, and "unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ" (Ephesians 4:13). "For we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do" (2 Nephi 25:23).
May I end with the parting words of Alma:
"And now, my beloved brethren, I desire that ye should remember these things, and that ye should work out your salvation with fear before God, and that ye should no more deny the coming of Christ;
That ye contend no more against the Holy Ghost, but that ye receive it, and take upon you the name of Christ; that ye humble yourselves even to the dust, and worship God, in whatsoever place ye may be in, in spirit and in truth; and that ye live in thanksgiving daily, for the many mercies and blessings which he doth bestow upon you.
That ye contend no more against the Holy Ghost, but that ye receive it, and take upon you the name of Christ; that ye humble yourselves even to the dust, and worship God, in whatsoever place ye may be in, in spirit and in truth; and that ye live in thanksgiving daily, for the many mercies and blessings which he doth bestow upon you.
Yea, and I also exhort you, my brethren, that ye be watchful unto prayer continually, that ye may not be led away by the temptations of the devil, that he may not overpower you, that ye may not become his subjects at the last day; for behold, he rewardeth you no good thing.
And now my beloved brethren, I would exhort you to have patience, and that ye bear with all manner of afflictions; that ye do not revile against those who do cast you out because of your exceeding poverty, lest ye become sinners like unto them;
But that ye have patience, and bear with those afflictions, with a firm hope that ye shall one day rest from all your afflictions" (Alma 34:37-41).
I love you all! Take care, and God bless! Read the Book of Mormon every day this week! Five minutes!
--Elder Collings
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