This week was an overall great week. We weren't able to
teach as many lessons due to Zone Leaders Council (which was amazing, again),
as well as a meeting with the Stake Presidency (also went very well). We also
had splits again this week; we're finishing our "Zone Tour" this
week, where I will go to Batsonaa. Despite our lessons, contacts, and baptismal
dates being quite low, we were able to baptize both of our candidates! Benedicta
and McGill were both baptized last Saturday. It was one heck of a fiasco
getting the baptism to come on, but it helped the Ward see where they were
lacking. It also presented us an opportunity to approach the Bishop and discuss
the breakdowns in communications. We were able to do so lovingly and
respectfully (I hope; haha) and Bishop Adjabeng is a great guy, so we were able
to work things out. He's now more inspired to fix things up and get the Ward
ready for lots of baptisms, which look like they should be coming. We were
suppose to baptize one of our people, Felix, on the 18th. However, that happens
to be the All-Africa Service Project Day. So, we had two choices: move it back
or move it up. Felix has been begging us to let him join the 4th Aug. baptism
(last week's), and he's quite ready, so we moved it up. That means he should be
baptized this week! We're really excited for that, and we look forward to it.
We talked to Bishop about it, apologized for the short notice, but he said it
was no problem at all and was happy to prepare things for it. Bethlehem Ward
should begin to pick up nicely.
As for the Zone, we had a hard time last week with people coming to Church, so many of those planned for this month were 'disqualified' due to lack of Church attendance, but we had a lot of 'gifts' come in, so it looks like some of the areas will fall short, while others will exceed. We're still praying to reach our goal. Again, ours is the 2nd highest in the mission, which is quite ridiculous; haha. But! we can still make it, if everything goes well and we do our part. We shall pray and see what happens. If nothing else, it'll help our Zone members work on setting more inspired goals and teach them about goal-setting principles in general.
That's about it for this past week. Pres.'s letter is quite nice. It coincides with a talk Pres. Eyring gave last General Conference, called "Mountains To Climb." You should read that one after reading Pres.'s letter.
"Dear Elders and Sisters:
Thanks to each of you for working so hard and doing so much good. We are making progress as a mission and are moving the right direction.
Even though we are experiencing success as a mission, sometimes we will be given assignments where it appears we are having little or no success. Even though we are working hard and smart and are striving to be obedient, there will be occasions when we will not see the success we hope for. The following story illustrates that there are often reasons for the problems we face even though we may not be able to understand them in the beginning. To my knowledge, the author of the following story has never been identified, and the story is obviously not scriptural, but I believe it contains truth that can be helpful during difficult times:
There was a man who was asleep one night in his cabin when suddenly his room filled with light and the Savior appeared. The Lord told the man He had work for him to do, and showed him a large rock in front of his cabin The Lord explained that the man was to push against the rock with all his might. This the man did, day after day. For many years he toiled from sun up to sun down, his shoulders set squarely against the cold, massive surface of the unmoving rock pushing with all hismight. Each night the man returned to his cabin sore and worn out, feeling that his whole day had been spent in vain.
Seeing that the man was showing signs of discouragement, Satan decided to enter the picture placing thoughts into the man's mind such as; "You have been pushing against that rock for a long time and it hasn't budged. Why kill yourself over this? You are never going to move it? Etc." Thus, giving the man the impression that the task was impossible and that he was a failure. These thoughts discouraged and disheartened the man even more. "Why kill myself over this?" he thought. "I'll just put in my time, giving just the minimum of effort and that will be good enough."
And that he planned to do until one day he decided to make it a matter of prayer and take his troubled thoughts to the Lord. "Lord" he said, "I have labored long and hard in your service, putting all my strength to do that which you have asked. Yet, after all this time, I have not even budged that rock a half a millimeter. What is wrong? Why am I failing?" To this the Lord responded compassionately, "My friend, when long ago I asked you to serve me and you accepted, I told you that your task was to push against the rock with all your strength, which you have done. Never once did I mention to you that I expected you to move it. Your task was to push. And now you come to me, your strength spent, thinking that youhave failed. But, is that really so? Look at yourself. Your arms are strong and muscled; your hands are callused from constant pressure; your legs have become massive and hard. Through opposition you have grown much and your abilities now surpass that which you used to have. Yet you haven't moved the rock. But your calling was to be obedient and to push and to exercise your faith and trust in my wisdom. This you have done. I, my friend, will now move the rock." (Author Unknown)
I once had a calling in the Church where it seemed to me the harder I worked and the more carefully I tried to live a life worthy of the Spirit's guidance, the more difficult things became. Sometimes it felt like the rock I had been called to push was rolling backwards and crushing me. It was a very difficult time in my life. Nevertheless, now that I look back on those challenging years I understand the Lord's wisdom in allowing me to have such a difficult experience. Many of the lessons I learned during those difficult days are helping me in my present calling in ways I didn't understand at the time.
We are serving in a mission where we are blessed to see many people baptized, but each of us has or will yet face difficult times. During these times it will appear the harder we try, the more difficult the work will seem to become. Please do not become discouraged and give up. There are better days ahead. I promise. Ammon, the great Book of Mormon missionary, recorded the following words of encouragement given to him by the Lord Himself during a time when Ammon and those with whom he was serving became discouraged:
"Now when our hearts were depressed, and we were about to turn back, behold, the Lord comforted us, and said: Go amongst thy brethren, the Lamanites, and bear with patience thine afflictions, and I will give thee success." (Alma 26:27)
It was also during this same time that Ammon learned what the Lord would have him do to be a successful missionary:
"Yea, he that repenteth and exerciseth faith, and bringeth forth good works, and prayeth continually without ceasing--unto such it is given to know the mysteries of God; yea, unto such it shall be given to reveal things which never have been revealed; yea, and it shall be given unto such to bring thousands of souls to repentance, even as it has been given unto us to bring these our brethren to repentance." (Alma 26:27)
Sometimes the "rock" you will be asked to push will be your companion. Other times the "rock" may be yourself or difficult investigators. You may have to deal with difficult health issues or problems in the ward or branch where you serve. You may even find that your family is having difficulties at home that make it difficult to focus on your work here. You may have other times when even though you are working hard you can't find seem to find the "elect" spoken of in scripture.
Some of us could push a little harder than we are pushing... Some are being [disobedient]. I am happy to say that we don't have a lot of such things going on in our mission, but even a little disobedience hurts the mission as well as the missionaries and the people we are called to teach.
While the examples of the various "rocks" we are called to push are numerous, we have and will yet be asked to push different sizes and shapes at different times during our missions and during our lives. When you do, I hope you will remember the story and the scriptures above and they will help give you the strength to "bear with patience thine afflictions" with the knowledge that in the end, God "will give thee success" (Alma 26:27) if we are faithful.
With all of this said, it is also important to remind ourselves that success as a missionary should never be defined solely in terms of the number of baptisms we have as individuals or as a mission. In Preach My Gospel we read:
"Your success as a missionary is measured primarily by your commitment to find, teach, baptize, and confirm people and to help them become faithful members of the Church who enjoy the presence of the Holy Ghost. Avoid comparing yourself to other missionaries and measuring the outward results of your efforts against theirs. Remember that people have agency to choose whether to accept your message. Your responsibility is to teach clearly and powerfully so they can make a correct choice." (p. 10).
We will continue to have success as a mission, but the more "successful" we become as individuals and as a mission, the greater the opposition will become as well. Don't let this discourage you. I have learned a great lesson over the years that even though success often bring greater opposition, the Lord gives gives us greater strength and ability to deal with the problems that arise. This is one of the reasons men and women of God learn to find joy in the problems they face. One of my favorite examples of this is in the 17th chapter of Alma where we find the account of Ammon helping guard King Lamoni's sheep. Ammon's fellow servants began to weep when the wicked Lamanites came and scattered the sheep, because they feared that losing the King's sheep meant they would be killed. Ammon's response to this life-threatenting situation was very different:
"Now they [the King's servants] wept because of the fear of being slain. Now when Ammon saw this his heart was swollen within him with joy; for, said he, I will show forth my power unto these my fellow-servants, or the power which is in me, in restoring these flocks unto the king, that I may win the hearts of these my fellow-servants, that I may lead them to believe in my words." (Alma 17:29)
Ammon's companions were full of fear, but his heart was full of joy. He saw this as an opportunity to use his priesthood and his preparation to bless the people---- including the King. I believe that Ammon had pushed a lot of rocks as the Lord prepared him for such a day as this. Similar accounts are found in Alma 32:6 and Alma 8:31.
It is my prayer each of us will prepare ourselves well and will perform effectively when called upon to push the various rocks we are called upon to push. I know that as we are obedient and put ourselves in the position where the Lord can bless us, not only will rocks move, but mountains will be removed and hearts will change as well.
I also pray we will not allow any success we have to create pride as these rocks and mountains move. We must never take personal credit for the miracles the Lord performs through us. We must always be sensitive to the dangers of success. Pride as individuals, companionships, districts, zones, and even our mission as a whole will lead to failure. President Ezra Taft Benson warned that, "the hour of a man's success is his greatest danger" (The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson , p. 465).
I love and pray for you,
President Judd" ( Moving Mountains A Rock At A Time, Aug. 6 2012).
I also love you all! Take care, read your Book of Mormon every day this week, and keep pushing at that rock! It's not what others have to say about you; it's what God has to say about you. Look inside for your measure of success, "for the LORD seeth not not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart" (1 Sam. 16:7). Remember that the only ones who can truly tell you whether you're doing your best is yourself and God. "Counsel with the Lord" (Alma 37:37) and look to Him for your encouragement and acceptance. Learning to account is one of the most important talents we can ever learn in life. We must learn how to properly measure ourselves before the Lord; otherwise, as the story indicates, we will be depressed and disheartened.
"But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions...[Take] joyfully [in] the spoiling of your goods, knowing yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance. Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. For ye have need of patience that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise" (Heb. 10:32,34-36, emphasis added).
E. Holland has a great talk on that same subject, given at a BYU Devotional back in '99. It's of the same name as that italicized in the quote. I highly suggest you look that one up, too, and read it. It's a wonderful talk.
I testify these things are true. I know Christ will help us, and He will certify us of our diligence, if we seek His approval, and will strengthen us that we might attain it (see Ether 12:27). "Draw near unto [the Lord] and [He] will draw near unto you" (D&C 88:63). I testify that Heavenly Father loves us, every one. He sent Christ because He loves us (see John 3:16). I also testify that Christ loves us. "He doeth not anything save it be for the benefit of the world; for he loveth the world, even that he layeth down his own life that he may draw all men unto him" (2 Ne. 26:24). To all who are suffering in any manner, "look unto God with firmness of mind, and pray unto him with exceeding faith, and he will console you in your afflictions, and he will plead your cause, and send down justice upon those who seek your destruction... Lift up your heads and receive the pleasing word of God, and feast upon his love; for ye may, if your minds are firm, forever" (Jacob 3:1-2). I testify all these things are true. I also testify that you will draw near to Him by no other book than the Book of Mormon. Study it, "feast upon" Christ's words contained therein "which healeth the wounded soul," (Jacob 2:8), and be made whole. Of this I testify.
--Elder Collings
As for the Zone, we had a hard time last week with people coming to Church, so many of those planned for this month were 'disqualified' due to lack of Church attendance, but we had a lot of 'gifts' come in, so it looks like some of the areas will fall short, while others will exceed. We're still praying to reach our goal. Again, ours is the 2nd highest in the mission, which is quite ridiculous; haha. But! we can still make it, if everything goes well and we do our part. We shall pray and see what happens. If nothing else, it'll help our Zone members work on setting more inspired goals and teach them about goal-setting principles in general.
That's about it for this past week. Pres.'s letter is quite nice. It coincides with a talk Pres. Eyring gave last General Conference, called "Mountains To Climb." You should read that one after reading Pres.'s letter.
"Dear Elders and Sisters:
Thanks to each of you for working so hard and doing so much good. We are making progress as a mission and are moving the right direction.
Even though we are experiencing success as a mission, sometimes we will be given assignments where it appears we are having little or no success. Even though we are working hard and smart and are striving to be obedient, there will be occasions when we will not see the success we hope for. The following story illustrates that there are often reasons for the problems we face even though we may not be able to understand them in the beginning. To my knowledge, the author of the following story has never been identified, and the story is obviously not scriptural, but I believe it contains truth that can be helpful during difficult times:
There was a man who was asleep one night in his cabin when suddenly his room filled with light and the Savior appeared. The Lord told the man He had work for him to do, and showed him a large rock in front of his cabin The Lord explained that the man was to push against the rock with all his might. This the man did, day after day. For many years he toiled from sun up to sun down, his shoulders set squarely against the cold, massive surface of the unmoving rock pushing with all hismight. Each night the man returned to his cabin sore and worn out, feeling that his whole day had been spent in vain.
Seeing that the man was showing signs of discouragement, Satan decided to enter the picture placing thoughts into the man's mind such as; "You have been pushing against that rock for a long time and it hasn't budged. Why kill yourself over this? You are never going to move it? Etc." Thus, giving the man the impression that the task was impossible and that he was a failure. These thoughts discouraged and disheartened the man even more. "Why kill myself over this?" he thought. "I'll just put in my time, giving just the minimum of effort and that will be good enough."
And that he planned to do until one day he decided to make it a matter of prayer and take his troubled thoughts to the Lord. "Lord" he said, "I have labored long and hard in your service, putting all my strength to do that which you have asked. Yet, after all this time, I have not even budged that rock a half a millimeter. What is wrong? Why am I failing?" To this the Lord responded compassionately, "My friend, when long ago I asked you to serve me and you accepted, I told you that your task was to push against the rock with all your strength, which you have done. Never once did I mention to you that I expected you to move it. Your task was to push. And now you come to me, your strength spent, thinking that youhave failed. But, is that really so? Look at yourself. Your arms are strong and muscled; your hands are callused from constant pressure; your legs have become massive and hard. Through opposition you have grown much and your abilities now surpass that which you used to have. Yet you haven't moved the rock. But your calling was to be obedient and to push and to exercise your faith and trust in my wisdom. This you have done. I, my friend, will now move the rock." (Author Unknown)
I once had a calling in the Church where it seemed to me the harder I worked and the more carefully I tried to live a life worthy of the Spirit's guidance, the more difficult things became. Sometimes it felt like the rock I had been called to push was rolling backwards and crushing me. It was a very difficult time in my life. Nevertheless, now that I look back on those challenging years I understand the Lord's wisdom in allowing me to have such a difficult experience. Many of the lessons I learned during those difficult days are helping me in my present calling in ways I didn't understand at the time.
We are serving in a mission where we are blessed to see many people baptized, but each of us has or will yet face difficult times. During these times it will appear the harder we try, the more difficult the work will seem to become. Please do not become discouraged and give up. There are better days ahead. I promise. Ammon, the great Book of Mormon missionary, recorded the following words of encouragement given to him by the Lord Himself during a time when Ammon and those with whom he was serving became discouraged:
"Now when our hearts were depressed, and we were about to turn back, behold, the Lord comforted us, and said: Go amongst thy brethren, the Lamanites, and bear with patience thine afflictions, and I will give thee success." (Alma 26:27)
It was also during this same time that Ammon learned what the Lord would have him do to be a successful missionary:
"Yea, he that repenteth and exerciseth faith, and bringeth forth good works, and prayeth continually without ceasing--unto such it is given to know the mysteries of God; yea, unto such it shall be given to reveal things which never have been revealed; yea, and it shall be given unto such to bring thousands of souls to repentance, even as it has been given unto us to bring these our brethren to repentance." (Alma 26:27)
Sometimes the "rock" you will be asked to push will be your companion. Other times the "rock" may be yourself or difficult investigators. You may have to deal with difficult health issues or problems in the ward or branch where you serve. You may even find that your family is having difficulties at home that make it difficult to focus on your work here. You may have other times when even though you are working hard you can't find seem to find the "elect" spoken of in scripture.
Some of us could push a little harder than we are pushing... Some are being [disobedient]. I am happy to say that we don't have a lot of such things going on in our mission, but even a little disobedience hurts the mission as well as the missionaries and the people we are called to teach.
While the examples of the various "rocks" we are called to push are numerous, we have and will yet be asked to push different sizes and shapes at different times during our missions and during our lives. When you do, I hope you will remember the story and the scriptures above and they will help give you the strength to "bear with patience thine afflictions" with the knowledge that in the end, God "will give thee success" (Alma 26:27) if we are faithful.
With all of this said, it is also important to remind ourselves that success as a missionary should never be defined solely in terms of the number of baptisms we have as individuals or as a mission. In Preach My Gospel we read:
"Your success as a missionary is measured primarily by your commitment to find, teach, baptize, and confirm people and to help them become faithful members of the Church who enjoy the presence of the Holy Ghost. Avoid comparing yourself to other missionaries and measuring the outward results of your efforts against theirs. Remember that people have agency to choose whether to accept your message. Your responsibility is to teach clearly and powerfully so they can make a correct choice." (p. 10).
We will continue to have success as a mission, but the more "successful" we become as individuals and as a mission, the greater the opposition will become as well. Don't let this discourage you. I have learned a great lesson over the years that even though success often bring greater opposition, the Lord gives gives us greater strength and ability to deal with the problems that arise. This is one of the reasons men and women of God learn to find joy in the problems they face. One of my favorite examples of this is in the 17th chapter of Alma where we find the account of Ammon helping guard King Lamoni's sheep. Ammon's fellow servants began to weep when the wicked Lamanites came and scattered the sheep, because they feared that losing the King's sheep meant they would be killed. Ammon's response to this life-threatenting situation was very different:
"Now they [the King's servants] wept because of the fear of being slain. Now when Ammon saw this his heart was swollen within him with joy; for, said he, I will show forth my power unto these my fellow-servants, or the power which is in me, in restoring these flocks unto the king, that I may win the hearts of these my fellow-servants, that I may lead them to believe in my words." (Alma 17:29)
Ammon's companions were full of fear, but his heart was full of joy. He saw this as an opportunity to use his priesthood and his preparation to bless the people---- including the King. I believe that Ammon had pushed a lot of rocks as the Lord prepared him for such a day as this. Similar accounts are found in Alma 32:6 and Alma 8:31.
It is my prayer each of us will prepare ourselves well and will perform effectively when called upon to push the various rocks we are called upon to push. I know that as we are obedient and put ourselves in the position where the Lord can bless us, not only will rocks move, but mountains will be removed and hearts will change as well.
I also pray we will not allow any success we have to create pride as these rocks and mountains move. We must never take personal credit for the miracles the Lord performs through us. We must always be sensitive to the dangers of success. Pride as individuals, companionships, districts, zones, and even our mission as a whole will lead to failure. President Ezra Taft Benson warned that, "the hour of a man's success is his greatest danger" (The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson , p. 465).
I love and pray for you,
President Judd" ( Moving Mountains A Rock At A Time, Aug. 6 2012).
I also love you all! Take care, read your Book of Mormon every day this week, and keep pushing at that rock! It's not what others have to say about you; it's what God has to say about you. Look inside for your measure of success, "for the LORD seeth not not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart" (1 Sam. 16:7). Remember that the only ones who can truly tell you whether you're doing your best is yourself and God. "Counsel with the Lord" (Alma 37:37) and look to Him for your encouragement and acceptance. Learning to account is one of the most important talents we can ever learn in life. We must learn how to properly measure ourselves before the Lord; otherwise, as the story indicates, we will be depressed and disheartened.
"But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions...[Take] joyfully [in] the spoiling of your goods, knowing yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance. Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. For ye have need of patience that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise" (Heb. 10:32,34-36, emphasis added).
E. Holland has a great talk on that same subject, given at a BYU Devotional back in '99. It's of the same name as that italicized in the quote. I highly suggest you look that one up, too, and read it. It's a wonderful talk.
I testify these things are true. I know Christ will help us, and He will certify us of our diligence, if we seek His approval, and will strengthen us that we might attain it (see Ether 12:27). "Draw near unto [the Lord] and [He] will draw near unto you" (D&C 88:63). I testify that Heavenly Father loves us, every one. He sent Christ because He loves us (see John 3:16). I also testify that Christ loves us. "He doeth not anything save it be for the benefit of the world; for he loveth the world, even that he layeth down his own life that he may draw all men unto him" (2 Ne. 26:24). To all who are suffering in any manner, "look unto God with firmness of mind, and pray unto him with exceeding faith, and he will console you in your afflictions, and he will plead your cause, and send down justice upon those who seek your destruction... Lift up your heads and receive the pleasing word of God, and feast upon his love; for ye may, if your minds are firm, forever" (Jacob 3:1-2). I testify all these things are true. I also testify that you will draw near to Him by no other book than the Book of Mormon. Study it, "feast upon" Christ's words contained therein "which healeth the wounded soul," (Jacob 2:8), and be made whole. Of this I testify.
--Elder Collings
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