My Dear Mother,
Thank you for the portion of that talk by Elder Bednar. The principles taught there speak true to me. That is something that I don't think a whole lot of people understand in the church… let alone in the world!
Hongye is a girl, we had another good lesson with her and found some more concerns she has. She feels peace when she prays and reads the scriptures but we're still trying to help her identify that those feelings are of the Holy Ghost, and that God really is real.
The circumstances weren't right to put Ellen on date last week but we did have a great lesson. We taught her the first half of the Plan of Salvation and Elder Smith and I both felt prompted to read Alma 7:14-16 with her and it was powerful. She has some questions about baptism that we are going to address as we teach part 2 of the Plan of Salvation, and if the Spirit prompts we are going to put her on date for baptism.
We have found more success by far in the student ward. The younger people who are still trying to decide what they believe are much more teachable. It is also a lot of fun to be teaching people our own age! We are also working in the family ward but they haven't brought people to church or worked with us a whole lot so it's been a lot harder. I don't think it's an issue of the members willingness to do missionary work, I think that many people make it WAY harder than it needs to be. I feel like a lot of people are afraid to bring up topics of the gospel for one reason or another with the people around them. With thousands of more missionaries coming into the missionary force it will require much more member involvement to see the work progress at the desired rate. I will never stop being a missionary.
I loved the Bill and Teds big adventure reference - haha! Excellent things are happening, one miracle at a time! I love you Mom, thank you so much for everything.
Love,
Elder W. Marks
Alma 7:14-16
14 Now I say unto you that ye must repent, and be born again; for the Spirit saith if ye are not born again ye cannot inherit the kingdom of heaven; therefore come and be baptized unto repentance, that ye may be washed from your sins, that ye may have faith on the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sins of the world, who is mighty to save and to cleanse from all unrighteousness.
15 Yea, I say unto you come and fear not, and lay aside every sin, which easily doth beset you, which doth bind you down to destruction, yea, come and go forth, and show unto your God that ye are willing to repent of your sins and enter into a covenant with him to keep his commandments, and witness it unto him this day by going into the waters of baptism.
16 And whosoever doeth this, and keepeth the commandments of God from thenceforth, the same will remember that I say unto him, yea, he will remember that I have said unto him, he shall have eternal life, according to the testimony of the Holy Spirit, which testifieth in me.
Thank you for the portion of that talk by Elder Bednar. The principles taught there speak true to me. That is something that I don't think a whole lot of people understand in the church… let alone in the world!
Hongye is a girl, we had another good lesson with her and found some more concerns she has. She feels peace when she prays and reads the scriptures but we're still trying to help her identify that those feelings are of the Holy Ghost, and that God really is real.
The circumstances weren't right to put Ellen on date last week but we did have a great lesson. We taught her the first half of the Plan of Salvation and Elder Smith and I both felt prompted to read Alma 7:14-16 with her and it was powerful. She has some questions about baptism that we are going to address as we teach part 2 of the Plan of Salvation, and if the Spirit prompts we are going to put her on date for baptism.
We have found more success by far in the student ward. The younger people who are still trying to decide what they believe are much more teachable. It is also a lot of fun to be teaching people our own age! We are also working in the family ward but they haven't brought people to church or worked with us a whole lot so it's been a lot harder. I don't think it's an issue of the members willingness to do missionary work, I think that many people make it WAY harder than it needs to be. I feel like a lot of people are afraid to bring up topics of the gospel for one reason or another with the people around them. With thousands of more missionaries coming into the missionary force it will require much more member involvement to see the work progress at the desired rate. I will never stop being a missionary.
I loved the Bill and Teds big adventure reference - haha! Excellent things are happening, one miracle at a time! I love you Mom, thank you so much for everything.
Love,
Elder W. Marks
Alma 7:14-16
14 Now I say unto you that ye must repent, and be born again; for the Spirit saith if ye are not born again ye cannot inherit the kingdom of heaven; therefore come and be baptized unto repentance, that ye may be washed from your sins, that ye may have faith on the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sins of the world, who is mighty to save and to cleanse from all unrighteousness.
15 Yea, I say unto you come and fear not, and lay aside every sin, which easily doth beset you, which doth bind you down to destruction, yea, come and go forth, and show unto your God that ye are willing to repent of your sins and enter into a covenant with him to keep his commandments, and witness it unto him this day by going into the waters of baptism.
16 And whosoever doeth this, and keepeth the commandments of God from thenceforth, the same will remember that I say unto him, yea, he will remember that I have said unto him, he shall have eternal life, according to the testimony of the Holy Spirit, which testifieth in me.