This week was a good week and it was pretty interesting.
Risa: This week I had the amazing opportunity to teach a lesson to a Girl named Risa. She is one of the foreign exchange students that is staying with a family of members here in Rexburg. She is from Japan and since my trainer left I was the one who got to teach and learn with her. We had a member of a bishopric in the stake who served in Japan on his mission and still speaks Japanese join with us in the lesson. We talked about her experiences going to church and learning more about God in her life. She came from a non-practicing Buddhist home and has had a very different experience here in the United States. She has read a little in the Book of Mormon and said something that stood out to me. She said that the story of Joseph Smith was weird and strange. I suddenly thought about what we are teaching, that a 14 Year-old young man had a question about which church is true, read James 1:5 in the Bible, and decided to ask God. he then had the first vision, Where Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ appeared to him as two separate beings and called him to be a prophet to restore the true and fullness of Christ's church on the earth. He then had visitations from an angel and received ancient records, which through the power of God, translated and published the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ. For me, if I had not received a testimony from God through the Holy Spirit that this happened and that the Book of Mormon is true, it would be weird and strange. It's something that I on my mission and inviting others to read and pray to find out if it's true and it is something I have done in my life and received that response that it is.
District Meeting: I had my first District Meeting as a District Leader. It was good and we talked about commitments. Commitments are the things that we invite people to make to read in the Book of Mormon, pray, or something else like that. This all relates to teaching Repentance. In the Bible and in the Book of Mormon, many prophets teach repentance, but if we yell at people to repent, what does that accomplish. We ask people to make commitments to CHANGE. To change their lives to bring it in closer harmony with the will of God. This is repentance and even for those who have already repented, repentance is a life-long journey that we all have the opportunity to have as we are living on this earth.
Repentance
The Greek word of which this is the translation denotes a change of mind, a fresh view about God, about oneself, and about the world. Since we are born into conditions of mortality, repentance comes to mean a turning of the heart and will to God, and a renunciation of sin to which we are naturally inclined. Without this there can be no progress in the things of the soul’s salvation, for all accountable persons are stained by sin and must be cleansed in order to enter the kingdom of heaven. Repentance is not optional for salvation; it is a commandment of God (D&C 18:9–22; 20:29; 133:16). The preaching of repentance by John the Baptist formed the preparation for the ministry of our Lord.
Exchanges: This week i went on Exchanges with one of our Zone Leaders, who is serving up in St. Anthony. Last Thursday night we met up and switched companions. This change stays intact until the next night and it is to have the opportunity to learn about how to improve as missionaries and how to improve the areas that we are serving in. St. Anthony is just about 15 outside of Rexburg and it was very very cold. During the day it was between -15 and -10 degrees for most of the time. With my Sock liners, Wool Socks, Boots, Thermals, Pants, Long Sleeve Shirt, Coat, Gloves, Hand Warmers, A Scarf, a Cap, it was still really cold. One of the cool things we got to do that day is teach 2 children ages 8 and 9, and helping somebody start their car. In negative degree weather, if you don't start your car every day or two, the battery can freeze up and you can't start up your car without a jump. They had it set up and with a prayer and some cleaning, we were able to start up their car and help their kids go and drive to the temple down in Rexburg. With teaching younger people it was very interesting. It wasn't like when you are teaching someone older, you have to keep it simple and teach the basic doctrine of the gospel. If you try to teach the ways of man and not by the spirit, it won't work. It was cool and a humbling experience to have during the day and it was good to learn from my Zone Leader.
Study: The book of Mormon study and the study on Humility were amazing for me this week. One of the best chapters that I found was one that taught in depth about the plan of Salvation. It was 2 Nephi chapter 9. It is 54 verses and teaches about the Atonement, Resurrection, Judgement, and what we can do on this earth to live with our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ again in the life to come. I invite you to read it yourself and the other thing I would like to share is what I learned about Humility. A Scripture that I read just this morning talked about Graditude and how we can give thanks to our Father in Heaven. It is found in Alma 26. I have been given everything I have as blessings from God. My Family, this mission, the posessions and skills that I have gained over the years. I am very grateful for the tender mercies of the Lord and for how I have grown while I have been out on my mission.
12 Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things; yea, behold, many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise his name forever.
No pictures: Sorry, Next Week.
Love y'all and I wish you a Happy New Year!!! Hope you that you have taken down all of your Christmas Decorations.
Elder Carson Maurice Baker
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