One thing that I have been studying and thinking about a lot lately
is the Sacrament. I am trying to allow myself to more fully prepare for the
Sacrament and take advantage of the holy ordinance that it is. When you think
about it, you can look up at the stars and see the amazing beauty that is up
there. It is pretty breathtaking, and is one of my most favorite things to do,
especially here in Oregon because we don't get to see the stars too often with
the cloudiness! But then picture the stars, and think about the power that it
was all created by. The Priesthood! We are so blessed
because that same Priesthood has been restored to the Earth and we have the
opportunity each week to participate in an ordinance in which that Priesthood
is present. Each week we get to access the powers of Godliness! It truly is an
amazing thought. I am so grateful for the Sacrament. I'm still trying to fully
understand how I can prepare more fully for it, and allow it to have the effect
on me that it should, but it is something I'm working on. I
have something that I want you to watch. It's on the Gospel Library. Go to "Leadership" then "Sabbath Day
Observance - October 2015" and watch that training broadcast. I had some
free time the other day and watched it. It was so so so so good.
After
church, we had a ward missionary correlation meeting. It was for the purpose of
discussing our big event that will take place here in July. We are throwing a
big open house for the community where we will have food and games, but also do
like a church tour at the same time. We are pretty excited about it. I'm pretty
sure I won't be here at that point, but I'm excited for what it's going to do
for the ward and the community. After our meeting, we sort of had a mini
meeting with Brother Graham, I guess it wasn't really a meeting, but we talked
with him for a while and just sat and talked about the gospel and stuff. It was
awesome!
This
morning during part of my studies I read Matthew 4. This is where Christ is
fasting or 40 days and nights. I'm super grateful for the Joseph Smith
Translation. Because at the beginning of the chapter it talks about Christ
going to the wilderness to be "tempted by the devil." Bruce R
McConkie said that "righteous men don't seek out temptation". Which
is so true! Christ didn't go to the desert to seek out temptation and to try to
be tempted by the devil. He went out there to commune with God. And after 40
days of fasting, I'm sure he was super exhausted, hungry, and most vulnerable.
That is when he was tempted by the adversary. Those are the times when the
adversary tries and tempts us. I have seen that on my mission! That's when he
works really hard because that's when we are more likely to succumb to his
temptation. But as always, we can learn from the Savior. Each time He was
tempted, He shot it down. He gave it no thought. He stood true to who He was
and to what His Father wanted Him to do. That's how we need to be when
temptations come! Just move forward in obedience! The past couple of days have given me some really good insight
into the reality of gaining a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and our
Heavenly Father, and what I personally need to do to allow that to take
place.
This picture is from an exchange with Elder Hall: he's the one who knows the
Kimzeys. He's from Washington, Utah (St George)
.
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