So, this week went well. We
finally got our lessons up to where they should be. We should be having a
baptism this week; Sis. Benedicta. She's from the Volta Region. I think I've
mentioned her before, but if not, here's the brief info: She lived with her
brothers at her home town, but never liked going to Church (the Church isn't
yet in that place, but we are talking about opening that area in a wee bit).
She came down to Bethlehem here to attend school and live with her parents. Her
older sister lives in Ashaiman and is a member. She invited Benedicta to visit
the Church with her when she came down. Benedicta said that "from the
moment I stepped into the Church I knew it was true." She felt the Spirit,
loved the teachings, and while she didn't understand anything about Joseph
Smith, the Book of Mormon, or anything else, she knew God had told her it was
the True Church, and she needed to join it. We were able to teach her after the
missionaries there referred her to us. She's had to travel the past two weeks,
which made things difficult, but we've been working with her. If all goes well,
she should be baptized this week.
Second news, next week should be another baptism! Br. McGill. I mentioned him
before, I'm sure. He's really loving everything. He told his wife last week
that he feels he should be baptized, and he's working hard to prepare for it.
We're now teaching him the Plan of Salvation, and he's loving it. He really
liked learning about the Fall of Adam, and how the Book of Mormon explains why
it was part of God's plan, and why it's necessary for our salvation. Pres. Judd
commented that we're the only religion he knows of in the world (he's a
religion Professor at BYU, fyi) that teaches that the Fall was a good thing,
and necessary. I'm thankful for the Restored Gospel to teach us something that,
for many of us, is so obvious and simple, as we've had it all our lives. So
many don't understand why life is hard, and as such they go through trials and
tribulations, almost in vain. I would exhort each of you to pray about and find
a friend, neighbor, or especially family member who has or is going through a
hard time and share the doctrine of the Fall with them. Just be sure to follow
it up with the Atonement! The Book of Mormon teaches both beautifully. You can
study for yourselves 2 Nephi 2 and Alma 7, as well as Alma 34. Then share that
with the person God leads you to, and invite them to learn more about it from
the Missionaries. I promise you, you will find joy in doing it, and if you are
diligent and do so "with a sincere heart, with real intent" (Moro.
10:4), you will help bring someone into the Lord's Church. There is more fruit
out there than we often suspect, and most often it is right around us.
Another spiritual experience we had was meeting with our Second Councilor, Br.
Nikoi Dsane ("Nee-quae Jonny"). He's recently married and lives with
his family. Most of his family does not like the Church, mostly due to rumors
and things they have heard about it. We were talking with him (he, of course,
gave us some mango; food is a must in this Ward, apparently. It's nice of them.
They're very kind) and he brought up that his older sister passed away Sep.
last year, at the age of 34. She has 2 young boys and 2 new-born twins. She
died giving birth; the 'doctors' had to to a C-Section, and the person who did
it was not a trained specialist. He messed up, things went wrong, and she
passed away shortly after delivering the twins. The whole family was
devastated, especially the husband. His mother is now living with the husband
to help take care of the children, especially the babies. As he was sharing
this, I felt prompted to ask him if he's shared about eternal families yet. He
said that he had asked for her information so he can do her temple work, but he
had not brought up the doctrine of eternal families. I explained to him that
often the doctrine of having one's family sealed for eternity through the
Priesthood is the most comforting, especially in times of death like this. I
explained what it implied, and shared how no other church in the world teaches
this doctrine (in addition to the Fall; but I didn't tell him about the Fall.
That's for you guys). I asked him if he thought it would help his family, and
perhaps be the door the Lord has opened to bring them all together into the
Gospel. He thought about it and said they might like it, especially his mother.
He was very nervous about sharing it with them (and rightly so; he's only a few
years in the Church and doesn't know a lot of the doctrine or how to support
it, and his family is very sensitive about it) but we invited him to pray about
it and act on what the Lord tells him. He agreed. Later, he suddenly said that
his mother would love to hear that, and we should meet her. We didn't have an
appointment after him, so he called his mother and asked if we could greet her.
She was apprehensive, but consented. So, he drove us over to her place and we
shared very briefly about the Plan of Salvation and how "family
relationships can be perpetuated beyond the grave" (Family Proclamation,
although it may not be an exact quote). She seemed to spark at that thought,
and agreed to meet with us next Saturday at her place. It seems that the Lord
is going to slowly open this family up to the Gospel. It's amazing to see how
God works. What appears at the present to be a terrible loss can actually
result in the greatest gain this family could ever have: exaltation and eternal
life, united forever as a family. "Thus we see that the Lord worketh in
many ways to the salvation of his people" (Alma 24:27). I don't know
exactly what will come of this, but I have hope that it will work out to the
eternal blessing of his entire family. We shall pray and see.
Welp, that's about it for this week. More next week. Until then, ponder over what I have said. And here to help is Pres. Judd! I liked this weeks. Of course, I like every week's, so... Haha. Read, ponder, pray, then ACT!
"Dear Elders and Sisters:
The recent program with Alex Boye has brought some thoughts to my mind about the relationship between the emotions of man and the Spirit of the Lord.
During the time I served as a young missionary my companion and I were assigned by our mission president to serve as ushers at a conference of The Apostolic Church of Jesus Christ. This particular church had been allowed to use one of our chapels for a special conference. Having our missionaries serve as ushers was a part of the agreement our leaders had made with the leaders of the Apostolic Church to allow the use of our building.
I remember being surprised by the size of the loud-speakers that were brought in for the Apostolic Church to use in their conference. I could also understand why our leaders had asked them to use the cultural hall and not the chapel when I helped set up two drum sets and several electric guitars. To me it appeared the conference was going to be more of a rock concert than a religious service. My suspicions were confirmed as the conference began. The "opening hymn" was entitled, "Jesus is Just Alright With Me" by a popular band of the day by the name of The Doobie Brothers. The conference was loud and long. The people in attendance really seemed to be having a great time, but it was very foreign to me. Many of them would stand and "speak in tongues" and others would roll on the floor shout various praises as the various preachers spoke. I kept thinking and hoping my mission president would stand up and call off the conference and make them all leave the building.
Towards the end of the conference, the lead pastor stood and instructed his people that they were going to hear from a special guest speaker--- and he announced the name of our mission president. I couldn't believe my president was going to be a part of this conference. Most everything they were doing was contrary to what I knew about inspired worship. As President Bradshaw stood to speak, several people in the audience stood and began praying out loud. Others began to wave their hands in the air. It was unlike any conference I had ever seen. When my president stood to speak, I hoped he would raise his arm to the square and command them to leave the building.
President Bradshaw simply stood and waited for the crowd to quiet down. I will always remember the kind and loving smile had had on his face while he waited to speak. After several minutes, the people began to settle down and seemed interested in what he was going to say. He began his remarks by opening his scriptures and reading from the words found in 1 Kings 19 about the prophet Elijah seeking for comfort and direction from the Lord:
A great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake: And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice. (1 Kings 19:11-12, see also 3 Nephi 11: 3 and Helaman 5:30)
President Bradshaw then explained to the people that while his voice might sound like a "still small voice" compared to what they had been hearing from the earlier speakers, he promised them that he did represent the Lord and that the message he had to share with them would be a blessing to them if they would carefully listen to his message. He then said: "Brothers and sisters, in the Name of Jesus Christ, by the power of the Holy Ghost, and in the authority of the Holy Melchizedek Priesthood, I command the spirit of man to depart, and I invite the Spirit of God to enter this room." The room went completely silent. The babies even stopped crying. He then continued with a marvelous message about the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ through the Prophet Joseph Smith.
As President Bradshaw came to the conclusion of the 15 minutes he had been given to speak, the lead pastor quickly stood and invited him to take more time. President Bradshaw spoke for several more minutes and ended by bearing a powerful testimony of the Restoration. As the meeting ended, many of the people lined up to greet him and thank him for his message. I believe for many, this was the first real spiritual experience they had had during the conference and maybe even during their lives. During the next six months, we baptized several people who were in attendance at the conference or who were family members or friends of those who were in attendance--- including the pastor who led the conference. This experience is one of the most memorable experiences of my life.
Learn What the Spirit Is and What It Isn't - There are many lessons to be found in this story, but there are a couple I would like to emphasize. The first lesson is found in the teachings of President Boyd K. Packer:
The spiritual part of us and the emotional part of us are so closely linked that it is possible to mistake an emotional impulse for something spiritual. We occasionally find people who receive what they assume to be spiritual promptings from God, when those promptings are either centered in the emotions or are from the adversary (Ensign, Jan. 1983, pp. 55-56).
While I don't believe what the members of the Apostolic Church of Jesus Christ were doing in their conference was evil, I do believe it was "centered in the emotions." Many people confuse what is an emotional experience with what is spiritual. All emotional experiences aren't spiritual, and all spiritual experiences are not emotional. The Spirit can effect people in different ways, but we must always remember that the "the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, [and] temperance . . ." (Galatians 5:22-23).
I have attended many concerts, seen many movies, and have been to many meetings that have been "centered in the emotions" and yet did not have what I would describe as having "fulness of the Holy Ghost" (D&C 109:15). I like the word "fulness" because we can feel the spirit with different degrees of intensity. Some meetings will be full of the spirit, others will have the spirit to a lesser degree, and still others have no spirit at all. The degree to which the spirit is felt is often related to who speaking or performing and what is being communicated. The spirit can only bear witness of what is true. Other times the degree to which we feel the spirit has more to do with the spiritual preparedness of those who are listening.
Learning to know what is the spirit and what is not is important for each of us to understand and to teach to our investigators. As we learn in Preach My Gospel, "We must understand what an investigator must feel in order to receive conversion" (PMG, p. 92). Prophet Joseph Smith once taught: "Nothing is a greater injury to the children of men than to be under the influence of a false spirit when they think they have the Spirit of God" (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 205). Teach your investigators what the Holy Ghost is and what it isn't. You also will want to study 3 Nephi 9:20 where we learn of a people who were "baptized with fire and with the Holy Ghost, and they knew it not" (3 Nephi 9:20). We learn from this verse that the spirit of the Lord can be present and we simply do not know what it is. Help your investigators know what the spirit feels like. You may even want to pause during a lesson when the spirit is strong and say something like, "what you are now feeling is the spirit of the Lord." You can also explain to them that being baptized and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost will allow them to have the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost. These principles will be some of the most important things you will learn for yourself and that you share with those you are teaching.
I visited a branch on Sunday that hasn't had missionaries assigned in several years. The branch members have a great desire for full-time missionaries to come and to help them grow. There are other areas that have never had missionaries that need us desperately. It's up to us to spiritually prepare ourselves. We will have the opportunity to open new areas in the August transfer, but we can't unless we are spiritually ready. I promise you that I will do more to be a better president and I pray each of you will strive to live closer to the Spirit of the Lord. My dear friends, I pray each of us will keep the commandments of God which includes the counsel found in the Missionary Handbook. Keeping the commandments is the best way to understand and to prepare ourselves to feel the direction of the Holy Ghost.
Much Love to each of you,
President Judd" ( "A Still Small Voice", 23 July, 2012).
I love you all! This is the last week I can send letters and no one should be sending any letters. Thanks to everyone who has been sending them!
--Elder Collings
Welp, that's about it for this week. More next week. Until then, ponder over what I have said. And here to help is Pres. Judd! I liked this weeks. Of course, I like every week's, so... Haha. Read, ponder, pray, then ACT!
"Dear Elders and Sisters:
The recent program with Alex Boye has brought some thoughts to my mind about the relationship between the emotions of man and the Spirit of the Lord.
During the time I served as a young missionary my companion and I were assigned by our mission president to serve as ushers at a conference of The Apostolic Church of Jesus Christ. This particular church had been allowed to use one of our chapels for a special conference. Having our missionaries serve as ushers was a part of the agreement our leaders had made with the leaders of the Apostolic Church to allow the use of our building.
I remember being surprised by the size of the loud-speakers that were brought in for the Apostolic Church to use in their conference. I could also understand why our leaders had asked them to use the cultural hall and not the chapel when I helped set up two drum sets and several electric guitars. To me it appeared the conference was going to be more of a rock concert than a religious service. My suspicions were confirmed as the conference began. The "opening hymn" was entitled, "Jesus is Just Alright With Me" by a popular band of the day by the name of The Doobie Brothers. The conference was loud and long. The people in attendance really seemed to be having a great time, but it was very foreign to me. Many of them would stand and "speak in tongues" and others would roll on the floor shout various praises as the various preachers spoke. I kept thinking and hoping my mission president would stand up and call off the conference and make them all leave the building.
Towards the end of the conference, the lead pastor stood and instructed his people that they were going to hear from a special guest speaker--- and he announced the name of our mission president. I couldn't believe my president was going to be a part of this conference. Most everything they were doing was contrary to what I knew about inspired worship. As President Bradshaw stood to speak, several people in the audience stood and began praying out loud. Others began to wave their hands in the air. It was unlike any conference I had ever seen. When my president stood to speak, I hoped he would raise his arm to the square and command them to leave the building.
President Bradshaw simply stood and waited for the crowd to quiet down. I will always remember the kind and loving smile had had on his face while he waited to speak. After several minutes, the people began to settle down and seemed interested in what he was going to say. He began his remarks by opening his scriptures and reading from the words found in 1 Kings 19 about the prophet Elijah seeking for comfort and direction from the Lord:
A great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake: And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice. (1 Kings 19:11-12, see also 3 Nephi 11: 3 and Helaman 5:30)
President Bradshaw then explained to the people that while his voice might sound like a "still small voice" compared to what they had been hearing from the earlier speakers, he promised them that he did represent the Lord and that the message he had to share with them would be a blessing to them if they would carefully listen to his message. He then said: "Brothers and sisters, in the Name of Jesus Christ, by the power of the Holy Ghost, and in the authority of the Holy Melchizedek Priesthood, I command the spirit of man to depart, and I invite the Spirit of God to enter this room." The room went completely silent. The babies even stopped crying. He then continued with a marvelous message about the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ through the Prophet Joseph Smith.
As President Bradshaw came to the conclusion of the 15 minutes he had been given to speak, the lead pastor quickly stood and invited him to take more time. President Bradshaw spoke for several more minutes and ended by bearing a powerful testimony of the Restoration. As the meeting ended, many of the people lined up to greet him and thank him for his message. I believe for many, this was the first real spiritual experience they had had during the conference and maybe even during their lives. During the next six months, we baptized several people who were in attendance at the conference or who were family members or friends of those who were in attendance--- including the pastor who led the conference. This experience is one of the most memorable experiences of my life.
Learn What the Spirit Is and What It Isn't - There are many lessons to be found in this story, but there are a couple I would like to emphasize. The first lesson is found in the teachings of President Boyd K. Packer:
The spiritual part of us and the emotional part of us are so closely linked that it is possible to mistake an emotional impulse for something spiritual. We occasionally find people who receive what they assume to be spiritual promptings from God, when those promptings are either centered in the emotions or are from the adversary (Ensign, Jan. 1983, pp. 55-56).
While I don't believe what the members of the Apostolic Church of Jesus Christ were doing in their conference was evil, I do believe it was "centered in the emotions." Many people confuse what is an emotional experience with what is spiritual. All emotional experiences aren't spiritual, and all spiritual experiences are not emotional. The Spirit can effect people in different ways, but we must always remember that the "the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, [and] temperance . . ." (Galatians 5:22-23).
I have attended many concerts, seen many movies, and have been to many meetings that have been "centered in the emotions" and yet did not have what I would describe as having "fulness of the Holy Ghost" (D&C 109:15). I like the word "fulness" because we can feel the spirit with different degrees of intensity. Some meetings will be full of the spirit, others will have the spirit to a lesser degree, and still others have no spirit at all. The degree to which the spirit is felt is often related to who speaking or performing and what is being communicated. The spirit can only bear witness of what is true. Other times the degree to which we feel the spirit has more to do with the spiritual preparedness of those who are listening.
Learning to know what is the spirit and what is not is important for each of us to understand and to teach to our investigators. As we learn in Preach My Gospel, "We must understand what an investigator must feel in order to receive conversion" (PMG, p. 92). Prophet Joseph Smith once taught: "Nothing is a greater injury to the children of men than to be under the influence of a false spirit when they think they have the Spirit of God" (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 205). Teach your investigators what the Holy Ghost is and what it isn't. You also will want to study 3 Nephi 9:20 where we learn of a people who were "baptized with fire and with the Holy Ghost, and they knew it not" (3 Nephi 9:20). We learn from this verse that the spirit of the Lord can be present and we simply do not know what it is. Help your investigators know what the spirit feels like. You may even want to pause during a lesson when the spirit is strong and say something like, "what you are now feeling is the spirit of the Lord." You can also explain to them that being baptized and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost will allow them to have the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost. These principles will be some of the most important things you will learn for yourself and that you share with those you are teaching.
I visited a branch on Sunday that hasn't had missionaries assigned in several years. The branch members have a great desire for full-time missionaries to come and to help them grow. There are other areas that have never had missionaries that need us desperately. It's up to us to spiritually prepare ourselves. We will have the opportunity to open new areas in the August transfer, but we can't unless we are spiritually ready. I promise you that I will do more to be a better president and I pray each of you will strive to live closer to the Spirit of the Lord. My dear friends, I pray each of us will keep the commandments of God which includes the counsel found in the Missionary Handbook. Keeping the commandments is the best way to understand and to prepare ourselves to feel the direction of the Holy Ghost.
Much Love to each of you,
President Judd" ( "A Still Small Voice", 23 July, 2012).
I love you all! This is the last week I can send letters and no one should be sending any letters. Thanks to everyone who has been sending them!
--Elder Collings
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