Jan 17, 1991
Alma 5:29- Envy,-bad feelings toward others do to their advantages or good fortune. The root of envy is simply pride. We must learn to love others and forget ourselves in service to others. I think that the Lord is definitely trying to tell me that I need to be more humble. I will definitely strive to do so. I had better hurry up.
Verse 30: Gossip is definitely not in line with the principles of the gospel. The thing is, it simply does not matter that the things we say are true or not. We are not to discuss the bad qualities of others. We should simply not do that. I think the Lord wrote this section just to let me know that I have a long way to go.
Verse 31: the time is at hand. I need to repent of my pride, jealousy, envy, and my gossiping. Not only do we need to repent, but we need to overcome those problems, I am definitely included in the we.
Verse 32: Anyone who is a worker of iniquity must repent. Note it does not say workers of evil. If we are not zealous in our efforts to work good, then we are guilty of working iniquity. We must become mor zealous to do the work of the Lord. The Lord has commanded us to do it. It's high time that I did it. Without doing it, I can not be saved.
Well, this morning we had interviews with President Bott. I talked to him for quite a while about the area, my companion, and ways to commit people to be baptized. He told me to make sure that I realized that I should not get down on Myself when people don't commit. He said it may be that they are just not ready at this point. He said that it was my job to teach and to testify and let the Spirit convert. He also told me that he realized that I was providing all of the motivation in the area. He said that he knew that I could "crack this Hmong thing open" if I continued to pay the price. I will continue to pay the price.
I also got a letter from Mom. She seems to be doing well. I'm still not sure what the deal is with Jane and Jack. What a mess! I have quit worrying about it though. They are just going to have to grow up and work things out. I am so grateful for this opportunity to learn about and prepare for marriage. One thing that WE have to always do is to take time to listen to each other and do things OUR way, not the way our parents tell us. From the day we get married, we need to never rely on our parents for decisions. The decisions need to be made between US, whether our parents like it or not.
Jan 18,1991
Alma 5:33- Christ extends an invitation to ALL men. Not only certain people who have not committed certain sins, but to ALL men. Every single person regardless of past transgressions, is invited to come unto Christ. The requirements for each are the same, full and complete repentance. The promise for each is also the same, to return to the bosom of Christ.
Verse 34: if we will repent and go unto Christ, we will be accepted into His fold. each and every one of us has the opportunity to partake of Eternal life. If we will repent, we can partake of the fruits of Christ's atonement for us. We can freely partake of the goodness of Christ.
Verse 35: After we repent, we must bring forth works of righteousness continually. It is not enough to simply stop doing evil. We must continually seek to serve our fellow brothers and sisters. I feel impressed with the importance of US serving others. The only way that WE can make it in this life or the next is going to be through constant service to others.
Verse 36: Christ does not say only that if we do evil, we will be unhappy. He says that if we are not anxiously engaged in a good cause we will weep and wail for the knowledge of the blessings we will never be able to obtain. This is the time to act. We have been given this chance. We must dedicate ourselves to the service of others.
I went to the doctor this morning to see what the heck was wrong with my right ear because this morning I could not hear out of it at all. The only thing wrong with it was that it was plugged with wax. They said it had probably been building up for years. Well, that was kinda gross, but they washed it out and it's fine now.
We have been all over the face of the earth to translate for people. I really do like translating for people. It makes them realize that I really care about them. We also visited a lot of people today. We did not have the opportunity to teach, but we had a pretty good day.
Jan 19, 1991
Moses 3:24- when two people a married, that marriage must be the focus of all of their relationships. They must be separate from their parents and thus make decisions on their own. I think that this is the biggest problem Jack and Jane had. For this reason, I think my wife and I need to be as financially independent as possible. This verse contains many commandments to married couples: be devoted to one another, be focused on one another, be emotionally intimate, and be physically intimate with one another.
Alma 5:37- The only way to avoid being a worker of iniquity and going astray is to constantly heed the call of the Sheppard. As soon as we stop listening to the Holy Ghost, we deny ourselves the right and opportunity to have the HG act as our Sheppard. After one goes astray, the HG continues to try to lead him, but he must listen. in order to listen, he must get his life in order through repentance
Verse 38: Those who do not hearken unto the voice of Christ will not be counted his at the last days. We have Christ’s words through living prophets scriptures, and promptings of the Holy Ghost. It is up to us whether or not to heed those promptings.
Right now I am in the city of Handford, We decided to just stay overnight with the Elders here instead of going and then all the way back here for church in the morning. Today has really gone well. We have been to see all of the Hmong church members here. The group leader, Chou Yang went to a few of the houses with us. It was pretty fun. He and his family are preparing to go to the temple. We found our that he has three children over 8 who have not yet been baptized! We taught those kids a first discussion and with the father’s permission committed the three of them to baptism. It will really be neat to be able to teach and baptize those children so that they ca fo with their family to the temple and be sealed to one another for time and all eternity. I am really looking forward to the time when I can go back to the temple. I really miss learning the lessons that I can constantly leaner there. I am also looking forward to the time when I ca take mu wife through the temple and be sealed to her and our children for time and all eternity. At that point in time, all of out decisions will be up to us and no one else. I am really looking forward to that day. That is truly the day when we will finally be able to act as an integrated team in all that we do.
—- Jan 20, 1991
Alms 5;38- In addition to what I wrote yesterday, I feel it is important to write one more thing. Christ calls after us, calling us by His own name. The only people who will hear and understand His voice are those who have taken upon themselves His name. This is don't through the ordinances of baptism by immersion performed by one holding authority, through the weekly ordinance of the sacrament, and through keeping the commandments. All three of these things must be done.
Verse 39: If we do not do all three of the things listed above, we will not be part of the fold of Christ. If we are not part of Christ’s fold, we are part of the fold of Satan. It is important to remember that there is no in between. We are either Christ’s or we are Satan’s. Those are the only two options.
Verse 40: Whatsoever things are food come from God, He is the source of all good. Satan, the father of lies, is the root of all evil.
Verse 41: Men who bring forth good works continually are those who hearken unto the counsel of God. Those who hearken unto Satan bring forth evil. It is important to keep in mind that Satan will tell 1000 truths to cover one lie. The only way we can truly overcome Satan completely is through repentance. We must overcome every single evil thing we have ever done through repentance on Jesus Christ.
Church in Handford went very well again. I really enjoy the way that the people there work with the Hmong people.
Church in Visalia absolutely sucked! We had about 20 kids there, all under the age of 6, and one adult. I was really, really mad. I didn’t know what to do, We left church after sacrament meeting to find some of the men who send all of their kids to church but never manage to show up themselves. i realized on the way how many times I promise my Father i Heaven that I will do something, and then I don’t do it. I really learned a lot in the ten minutes that I was driving that car. i just love these people so much. how can I make them realize?
Tonight, there was a baptism for one of Elder Mannewity’s friends from home. It was really good to feel of the Spirit of a baptism. I spoke on baptism and it really went quite well.
Jan 21, 1991
Alma 5:41- We can’t follow the sound of both voices at once. If we try we will actually be heeding the voice of only Satan. Only one sin unreported of will keep us out of the Celelstial Kingdom that is all that it takes to make Satan successful in his efforts.
Alma 5:42- Anyone who follows Satan a little bit, will tend to follow more, Once Satan gets a niche in someone’s hear, he is not going to let go very easily. If we allow ourselves to fall into this trap, if it weren’t for repentance, we would fall completely. However, if we will truly repent and work at it, we can cast Satan out of our hearts completely. I can certainly testify that it is not easy to do, but it can be done.
Verse 43: Do I know that feeling or what? I really wish that I could teach as effectively as Alma did. I wish that I could cause the people’s hearts to change as Alma did.
Verse 44: The Call of a Missionary- TO STAND AND TESTIFY!
Verse 45: Every missionary, every member of the church must have a personal witness.
Verse 46: How to know the truth through the Holy Spirit!
Jan 22, 1991
Alma 5:46- When Alma says that the sprit of revelation is in him, he is saying that the Holy Spirit had born witness to his soul of the truth. The spirit of revelation is the Holy Ghost bearing witness of the truth of new things to ones;s soul. We should all strive to continuously have the spirit of revelation, We should all learn to feel and recognize the spirit, truly gaining a personal testimony of the truth.
Verse 47: The spirit of revelation is the spirit by which new things are taught to us by the Holy Ghost. (verse 46) The spirit of prophesy is actually the spirt that gives us a testimony of the truthfulness of the church. Every single person had been promised that if they will put forth the faith and effort they can have the spirit of prophecy grant them a knowledge that those things in the Book of Mormon are true. (Moroni 10:4-6)
Verse 48: Was Alma a great missionary or what? He is again testifying of the truthfulness of his words. He can do this because he has gamed a personal testimony, and because he is teaching by the spirit. Oh, if I could only leaner to teach as Alma did!
Verse 49: This verse tells us who we are to teach every single person, and what we are to teach repent and be born again of the spirit. The only way to truly be born of the spirit is through the ordinances of baptism and laying on of hands. That is why we as missionaries concentrate so much on baptizing. What a great work to be part of! i love being a missionary.
Okay, today really sucked!
We went back to May’s house tonight to give her husband a discussion, but they were all busy doing Spirit worship!
Jan 23, 1991
Alma 5:50- We must all repent of the things which we have done wrong. I have certainly done my share of things wrong in this lifetime. If we do not have the Sprit, we will not be protected from the glory of the Lord at the last day and we will be burned as stubble. If we do not repent completely, we will be unworthy to have the Spirit, and will consequently be burned.
Verse 51: Unless we repent, we can not inherit the Kingdom of God. The word inherit here seems to indicate more than merely living with God. It indicates an actual transformation that cause us to become like God. Out church is the only church on the face of the earth which recognizes this ultimate goal- to become like God.
Verse 52- Our works will either justify or condemn us. We must strive daily to bring forth good works. What a shame it would be to finish our sojourn on earth and have few food works to show for it. I am far too lazy when it comes to doing good works.
Verse 53- well, we all know what it takes to get to Heaben, but are we willing to pay the price? If not we will never be truly happy- neither in this life nor in the world to come. The things of the world cannot bring us true happiness.
Well, today was definitely better than yesterday- couldn’t have been much worse though I received 0 letters today, but that’s what happens when we have a mail holiday. It not only means that I don’t get mail on that day, but that no mail get sent that day wither… I really hope that I get a letter tomorrow.
We went and taught David and Hon Thao a fourth discussion. I was totally and completely unsuccessful in teaching their father anything pertaining to the gospel. I guess I am a little bit afraid to push him too hard beaus I don’t want him to change his mind about baptism and church attendance of his two sons. Oh, well, one day at a time. I am learning that we must be patient in doing the Lor’s work.
We also had the opportunity to teach a family who just arrived her from Thailand. It went really well, There is the father and mother, their three sons, and the oldest son’s wife that live there. They were all extremely interested. That was a refreshing change.
A man told me a story today. When he was 13, they came to get him to join the army. When he wouldn’t, they tried him up and put him in an airplane. They tied a gun, ammunition and ground grenades to his body. They our a parachute on him, untied his hands and pushed him out over communist territory. He had to fight his way our. No wonder they have a hard time adjust to this country. they must have a hard time adjust to life in general.
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