District Meeting: This past district meeting was amazing. The whole district that we have are all wonderful missionaries, but it was a very spiritually uplifting district meeting. It started out with learning more about obedience, and how obedience to the Lord through the Commandments, Mission Rules, and the counsel of your Mission President, and about how it doesn't always seem to make a difference in the work. It is not about what we see, or the results or the blessings that are given and shown before we act in faith, but it is about following the will of God, whatever that may be. One of the talks that really taught this in the past general conference was the talk by Elder Whitney L. Clayton "Whatever He Saith unto You, Do It". It is mainly about obedience, without thought of the evidence, but because we want to follow God. That is how we have and grow faith. Then we had a training on the Work of Salvation and Oval Chart. One of the things that has helped us work with leaders and help them follow the revelation for how to work together as members and missionaries is all found on the website for LDS.org under the Work of Salvation. It is amazing and the videos that are on there are super powerful. The district is wonderful, and as one of the MLS Senior couples said, the Gospel and the Principles never change, it's we who change and decide whether to follow them or not.
Exchanges: From Wednesday morning to Thursday morning, I went on Exchanges with our Zone Leader, Elder Taylor. This was the third exchange that I have gone on with Elder Taylor, because we've both been here for three transfers. It was fun to just get to work, and we had some amazing experiences. The major was to share was something called "The Soda Fridge Miracle". We were walking one of the neighborhood that comprises one of our three english wards, and we were walking outside of our english area to go visit a member named Coco. He is a spanish speaking member and we were visiting him to learn more about the people in the area, and we heard that he was the blue house on the corner. On the way there we stopped at the Soda Fridge. One of the ward mission leaders in the stake has a fridge in their garage and they keep it stocked for missionaries to stop in whenever they want. After that we headed to the house, and it turns out it wasn't the Hispanic Member, but a Hispanic Non-Member. We have an appointment with their family tonight. Then on our way back to the car, some member came up and talked about someone who she had that she wanted taught in Elder Taylor's area. And the timing worked out perfectly with both of them being outside at just the right time. The Soda Fridge, hahaha.
Brad Wilcox: Brad Wilcox was coming into town for a discussion thing and he asked our mission president if he could speak to us missionaries. So for about 2 hours on Thursday, we had Brad Wilcox teach us about Birthright and about the Abrahamic Covenant. He taught this using the relation of Jacob, then Israel, and his family. One of the major things that he taught is that the Church of Jesus Christ is the Restored Church, and the way that God's church has always been, as found in both the Old Testament and the New Testament. Everyone on this earth is a child of God, everyone on this earth has been saved for the last days, but only we have a birthright, and the responsibility to participate in the Gathering of Israel. To understand more about this study Firstborn in the Bible Dictionary. It was amazing, and he then answered lots of questions that we had.
Trudi: Trudi was a new Investigator that we had this past week. Her sister was just baptized and the other Elders did some service for her and she was invited to meet with the missionaries. We met with her on Thursday night and she was amazing. She has a lot of beliefs that are different from ours, but she is open and sees the effect that the Gospel of Jesus Christ has had on her sister. Her sister has had peace come into her life and her countenance has changed completely. We taught about the Book of Mormon and about Faith. For all people, reading the Book of Mormon is what will lead to a knowledge on if these things are true. We have a return appointment this next week, and there will be more this next week.
Caleb: Caleb is one of the members, about 20 years old, that we are helping do missionary work. This time we taught him a lot more about prayer, and about how to prayer. The scripture that we used to teach more about prayer was Moroni 10:3-5. Something that stood out to me from studying the Prophets message this past General Conference was that we read the Book of Mormon and ponder it, and then the three requirements are all in relation to prayer. You don't have to be sincere about reading the Book of Mormon, but must study it and ponder the message contains, but prayer is the way to really get to the answer. To receive revelation through prayer we must pray with a sincere heart. I talked a little bit about that last week, and we have to be sincere and have prayers that come from our heart. We need to have real intent, meaning that we are really intending to act on the answer that we receive. Then we must have Faith in Christ. To have this we must believe and we must act in accordance to the commandments of God and to fulfill our prayer. Then once we do these things in our prayers, we are promised that the we will have the truth of these things or anything revealed by the Power of the Holy Ghost, and as it says in verse 5 "And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things."
Family History: While we were finishing up our progress records this past Saturday, I started talking with one of the Church Service Missionaries that are serving in the visitors center that I have talked with many times. He is a buff on Family History, and I talked to him about all of my ancestors that have roots in Idaho Falls. Along with learning more about the Scoresby's (he knew many scoresby's), and the Hormans (They had the book in the Library), I learned that I was related to the Harkers. There are lots of Harkers here in Idaho Falls, and there are actually some in my ward. It is amazing to learn about all of the history and the connections that you have with your family. I'll have to see if I ever serve in Iona!
Studies: I was just reminded of the power of the Book of Mormon this past week. We read 3 Nephi 11 this past week, which is the start of the Savior's ministry to the Nephites, or the ancient inhabitants of the Americas. These verses just show how the Book of Mormon testifies of Jesus Christ, and helps me build my Faith that Jesus is the Christ. I know that he lives and loves us, and has restored his church in these latter days. Little bit long, but here is 3 Nephi 11:10-17. 10 Behold, I am Jesus Christ, whom the prophets testified shall come into the world.
11 And behold, I am the light and the life of the world; and I have drunk out of that bitter cup which the Father hath given me, and have glorified the Father in taking upon me the sins of the world, in the which I have suffered the will of the Father in all things from the beginning.
12 And it came to pass that when Jesus had spoken these words the whole multitude fell to the earth; for they remembered that it had been prophesied among them that Christ should show himself unto them after his ascension into heaven.
13 And it came to pass that the Lord spake unto them saying:
14 Arise and come forth unto me, that ye may thrust yourhands into my side, and also that ye may feel the prints ofthe nails in my hands and in my feet, that ye may knowthat I am the God of Israel, and the God of the whole earth,and have been slain for the sins of the world.
15 And it came to pass that the multitude went forth, and thrust their hands into his side, and did feel the prints of the nails in his hands and in his feet; and this they did do, going forth one by one until they had all gone forth, and did see with their eyes and did feel with their hands, and did know of a surety and did bear record, that it was he, of whom it was written by the prophets, that should come.
16 And when they had all gone forth and had witnessed for themselves, they did cry out with one accord, saying:
17 Hosanna! Blessed be the name of the Most High God! And they did fall down at the feet of Jesus, and did worship him.
Pictures: House on Wheels, right down Broadway, on a Sunday. Haha, it was hilarious.
Have a wonderful week everyone.
Love y'all,
Elder Baker
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