Dear Family,
 |
Bluberry muffins!!!
(Elder McGuire FINALLY got his Christmas package last week) |
What a week! The weather. An attempted shooting. Good gravy this was a crazy week. I think that sometimes it's easy to make excuses for our circumstances. We may say that really it's okay for me not to go to church because I read and pray everyday and God knows that I'm doing my best. There are no exceptions for the gospel. If you want to know how to receive answers to your questions you have to do four things: study your scriptures, pray with faith, voluntarily be obedient, and go to church. So often we sidestep these fundamental stepping stones to receiving revelation. We get offended about a doctrine in the church and resolve that we can't go to church because we don't understand the gospel. We get offended when someone asks us to repent. We can't resolve our own concerns if we aren't doing our part to receive revelation. You will be unable to understand why Joseph Smith was a prophet if you don't read the Book of Mormon. This is the Law of the Harvest. What you reap is what you sow.
In general the week was an excellent stepping stone in receiving revelation. I know that as we search the scriptures and diligently try and understand the words of the prophets that our hearts will be filled with understanding. I remember before my mission thinking there was no point in looking for answers in the scriptures because I wasn't going to like what it was going to say. Gospel understanding is not about finding some kind of missing piece or loophole to a commandment. It is understanding what we must do to align ourselves with the will of God. Sometimes we look at the answer and still don't understand-because we don't want to. We lack faith. If we lack faith there are three things that need to be happening to promote faith and then knowledge. Read the scriptures, pray, and be obedient. If you want faith do those three things.
 |
| Found my new favorite scripture. |
I was listening to President Monson's talk about a man having a purpose. After much prayer and contemplation-I devised my personal vision. This is pretty much what I worked on for most of my personal studies this week. I realized that really this mission is not about me. This time is the Lord's time. It is not my will by the Lord's. I have set some lofty goals, but I think I have a good idea of what it takes to turn my mission around. Not to say that my mission hasn't already been successful, but I know I am capable of more. I have revamped my planner to ensure that I am not stopped with obtaining my goals. I simply place a sticky note over the notes section for my initial plans and the on the actual notes section I write down my back-up plan. I used to hate back-up plans and planning in general but now I don't want to do anything without having a back-up plan. A back-up plan helps relieve a ton of stress. That way I don't have to put all I have into one plan and waste myself away. I think I'm going to have a planner for the rest of my life.
 |
| Also here's what one of my days looks like for those who were wondering |
So many things in the gospel are meant to remind us. We are forgetful people. I don't know why we forget things, but I know the solution is writing things down. This is why we have the scriptures. Heavenly Father keeps a planner. The scriptures are His planner. He has prophets write His plan and then tell us all what Heavenly Father's plan is. This way we are all on the same page. I am a large fan of Preach My Gospel Ch. 8. It's going to be a great week.
The very trees obey us. Jacob 4:6
HURRAH FOR ISRAEL!
Elder McGuire
 |
| Elder Henderson and the mission cook book |
 |
| Here's what you've all been waiting for I'm sure. This is my personal vision for 2015 |
 |
| Exchange in Halifax with Ryan Gao the super mormon |
 |
| So thrilled about the weather! |
No comments:
Post a Comment