Dec 5, 1990
Today’s Reading; Ezra 10:11, Mormon 8:29-
Ezra 10:11- This verse really explains the steps of repentance well. we must first know that we have done wrong (v. 10). After that, we must make confession before the Lord and promise to do His will. up to this point it is fairly easy. The next step is always the hardest. We must change our hearts and stop doing that evil all together. Until we stop completely, we will be completely unable to repent. The last step is what completes our repentance process.
mormon 8:29- These prophesies were again fulfilled. Not only did these thigs happen in foreign lands, but the hearts of men everywhere were uder these same conditions. These conditions have continued both in the hearts of men and in physical reality even down unto today.
Verse 30: This verse does not relate as well to the spirits of men as the above verse did.
Verse 31; Well, if Moroni did not see this dispensation in a vision, it was a heck of a guess. this verse also explains well both the spiritual and physical aspects of this time. The world has been polluted physically and spiritually.
Verse 32: This was the very reason that Martin Luther left the Catholic Church. This is also the same thing the Hmong church in Fresno teaches. The Lord knows all. All of the words of His prophets will be fulfilled words of His prophets will be fulfilled in their entirety.
Well, we rode about 70 miles on our bikes today. My legs are definitely tired. We stopped and talked to a family today for quite a while. Then man that we talked to was a Catholic. He said that his family has been going to the Catholic church for years in Laos. We taught them a first discussion that went really well. I can’t believe that my companion is so patient. I would go absolutely nuts going from discussion to discussion and not understanding a single word. He doesn’t seem to mind. I try to translate to him, but when a discussion really gets going, it takes away from the Spirit to pause every five minutes to translate exactly what is going on.
We went and taught Her Thao tonight. He is the clan leader her in Visalia. He was baptized about eight year ago, but didn’t know anything about what he was doing. If we could get him to become active again, it would certainly help the work here. It went pretty well, but we didn’t get a very strong commitment to attend church.
Dec 6, 1990
Today’s Reading: Nehemiah 9:2, Mormon 8:33-
Nehemiah 9:2- in order to truly repent, one must be humble. When we confess our sins, we must be humble enough before the Lord to make no excuses. We can not blame or even partially blame anyone for our wrong doings. If we blame anyone else or share responsibility with anyone else, we are not truly repenting. We must be willing to confess all of our own iniquities before the Lord.
Mormon 8:33- The reason that Moroni was so frustrated with the people of this present dispensation is now quite obvious to me. The gospel of our Lord and Savior jesus Christ is so simple, pure an wonderful that it is very difficult to understand why men would ever change it. If the people of the world would just study and try to understand the revelations of God, they would again understand the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Verse 34: Here, Moroni recognizes the source of all of his knowledge about the coming dispensation. True prophets always recognize the source of their insight as the Lord, Jesus Christ.
Verse 35: Moroni saw us in this dispensation. For this reason his revelations and directions to us are nearly as important to us today as the revelations of the living prophet, Moroni wrote his instruction directly to those of us living in this dispensation.
Well, this morning we got a call from President Bott. he wanted us to meet him at the church to talk to him. We got ready and went over to the church to wait for President Bott.
When we met with President Bott, he talked to us about a lot of things. he told us that he wanted us to open up Hmong areas in Tulare and in Hanford. On the twentieth, we will be getting a car. I told him that that was sure a good thing because my left knee was really starting to bother me an awful lot. He told me to be real careful until we get a car. As a result of what he said, I am laying in bed with an ice pack on my knee tonight. My knee is really, really sore. I think that all of this bike riding had really been hard on it.
As far as teaching goes, we were able to have a large number of short meetings with people. basically what we did was to teach them about what we do here and to schedule appointments with all of them to come back and reach the first discussion. I just hope they will keep their appointments.
I got rocked at the mailbox again today. I hate that!
Dec 7, 1990
Today’s reading: Psalms 38:18, Mormon 8:36-
Psalms 38:18- Before we are truly able to repent of our sins, we must truly feel sorrow for our sin. It is important that we feel that sorrow for the right reason. We must feel sorrow that we did wrong. The sorrow that we did wrong. The sorrow must not come from the fact that we must repent. The sorrow must come from the fact that we did wrong.
Mormon 8:36- Most of the people in this day and age have become lifted up in the pride of their hearts. It is very important for us, as Latter-day Saints, to always be on guard that we do not become prideful towards other members of our family, other members of the church, our friends, acquaintances, or even those who are not members of the church whom we have never met. It is very easy to become prideful over both material and spiritual blessings that we receive.
Verse 37- There are many churches in this age who fit this description very well. As church members, we must always be on guard to avoid this trap.
Verse 38- We, as a companionship and members of the church, must never seek the praise of the world. When praise of others is sought, it lessons the intensity of our striving for our ultimate goal- Eternal Life.
I am so tired that I can hardly stand it. We didn’t have any appointments tonight, so we decided to spend the evening studying Hmong. Everyone is busy getting ready for the new years party. I have fallen asleep twice on Elder Watson right in the middle of a sentence. I haven’t fallen asleep in the middle of a sentence since I was at BYU. I guess that is a good sign that I am working hard.
We taught two discussions today that went pretty well. We are really working on getting things set up. I feel really good about the way that things are going. Things are really coming together. We have about 4 or 5 families that we are teaching now.
My knee is feeling a lot better, but I am definitely tired of riding my bike. I am looking forward to having a car in a few weeks. Riding a bike seems like it just wastes so much time. We have to set aside an extra 15 minutes every time we go anywhere.
Dec 8, 1990
Today’s Reading: Psalms 110:4, Moroni 8:39-
Psalm 110:4- The Lord had sworn from the beginning that he would come to the earth to redeem us from our sins. If He had repented of this, none of us (mankind) would ever have the ability to repent of our sins. Christ’s power was the same power that we have in the church today. It is also the same power by which the earth was created. this power is known today as the Melchizedek Priesthood.
Moroni 8:39- Why is it that we spend so much time on projects and so many resources on things that have nothing to do with our eternal salvation?
Our time and resources need to be concentrated on things that will help ourselves and others to gain Eternal Life. We can not obtain Exaltation if we do not help others to obtain the same that we desire.
Verse 40: Of course we need to provide for all of the needy in body. It is impossible to feed the Spirit if the flesh is not provided for properly. After the body is cared for, we must care for the spirit also. if we neglect either part, the body or the spirit, we will most definitely be held accountable at the last day.
Verse 41: We must act quickly. The Lord will not suffer His children to suffer much longer. Hopefully, I will be able to learn better to feed His sheep. It will take a lifetime to learn. I just hope I can learn during my lifetime.
Today was really a good day, but it was also extremely tiring. It was very hard to find anyone at home, so we ended up at the Hmong party at Her Thao’s house. It really went pretty well. I got a chance to talk to about 30 men for about 45 minutes about church. I’m not real sure. If any of them will come next week, but it was worth a try.
I do know one thing for sure. Talking in Hmong to 30 min at a time is extremely tiring. I was dead. I had to try to understand everything they said, and still answer all of their questions. The worst part was that about 1/2 of them spoke white Hmong and 1/2 spoke Green Hmong. Talk about a rough 45 minutes! I know that the Lord really helped me through.
I got a letter from Yia Vang today. She just said how much she misses me, and that she cries a lot because I am not there. I really miss all of the people in Fresno.
I went to a stake conference session tonight. It was really good! it was all about family home evening. I really received a witness of the importance of family home evening. I really received a witness of the importance of family home evening. We have to have family home at least every Monday night.
My parents sent 6 steaks and some clothes for my Birthday.
December 9, 1990
Today’s reading: Mormon 9:1-
Verse 1: This chapter is directed at the same people that we as missionaries direct our efforts toward. This chapter is not directed only toward. This chapter is not directed only toward non- Christians, but to all those who do not have the fulness of the everlasting gospel of Jesus Christ.
Verse 2: Moroni is expressing some of his frustration at this point. He knew that even after all of the signs shown unto use, many of us would still either not accept the gospel or fall way. I think that Moroni is just asking, “What will it take to make you believe and do the things that Christ commended?” I certainly need to take a closer look at the things that I am doing to make sure I am in line with the Lord’s plan.
Verse 3: I think that this verse is definitely directed at those who know the truth, but do not repent. Pride prevents this repentance in many cases. After all that Christ has done for me and suffered for me, why am I often so intelligent in applying the atonement in my own life? Stupidity is the only reason that I can come up with.
Verse 4: This verse really adds to my understand of the next life. The reason that the wicked will be cast out id for their own comfort. The reason that the unrighteous can not dwell with God is simply for their own comfort. Only true repentance can relieve us of the guilt.
Today didn’t even seem like my birthday. yesterday is the day that really seemed like my birthday.
We went to stake conference this morning. To be totally honest, it was a long way from the very best meeting that I have ever attended. This afternoon, we met with Brother Cox, the Hmong coordinator. We talked about the things that we are doing and planned for sacrament meeting. I will be speaking in church on Sunday. I’m not too sure what I will be talking about. It is going to be hard to have a sacrament meeting with a bunch of people that have never been to church.
I am really hoping and praying that a bunch of people will come to church on next Sunday. It is so crucial that we have a food meeting and that the spirit is strong. If it is, this could snowball quite a bit. if it isn’t a good meeting, the work will be difficult here for a while.
Tomorrow won’t be P-day. We are going to use the Zone- leader’s car to go to Hanford and Tulane to see if we can get anything going with the Hmong people in wither of those cities.
Yia Vang, Kia Vang, and Mai Yai Vang all three called me on the phone today to tell me they missed me. I really miss them too.
Dec 10, 1990
Today’s Reading: Proverbs 28:13, Mormon 9:5-
Proverbs 28;13 It is very possible in this life to pretend as though we have done nothig wrong. however, if this is the course which one chooses to follow concerning sin, he will most certainly not prosper in the next life. Now, if one chooses to confess and forsake his sins the Lord will be merciful unto us in all things.
Mormon 9:5- When we are brought before the judgement bar of God, there will be nothing that can cover our sins. There will not be any clothing to cover the sins that have not been truly repented of. We will know of the glory and good ness of the
Verse 6: All of us have sins. The only thing that will save any of us is repentance through faith on the Lord Jesus Christ. This verse is very beautiful to me because of the description of how my spirit can be found at the last day. The blood of Christ can make me pure, spotless, fair, and white, All that I need to do is to repent- truly repent.
Verse 7: It is very important to me that every day of my life I am able to renew my testimony of these things. When my testimony of these things begins to slide is when I fall! I must always, keep any testimony in the growing stage.
Dec 10, 1990
Well, we postponed our P-day until tomorrow because we had the Zone- Leaders car for the day. We drove to Tulane to see if we could find any Hmong people who were interested in going to church. it was so cool. We just found a phone book and wrote down some names of people to see. We said quite a few prayers that we would be able to find the people whom the Lord had prepared to hear the gospel. Every single person that we met said that they would drive up to visalia on Sunday to go to church. We went to one complex where we met these three guys. when they realized that I could speak Hmong, they told everyone to come and look because there was an American that could speak Hmong. A bout 35 people came to talk to me. it was absolutely the funniest. After a while, we started to talk about the church and stuff. After a while the adults started to come our and ask me where church was and what time. They also asked me all about exactly how to get there. It was really neat. they were about falling over to find out about church. I really hope they will come on Sunday. The next order of business is to write my talk for church on Sunday. I think maybe I’ll just teach some stuff about God, Jesus christ and also the Book of Mormon. We’ll have to see how it goes.
Dec 11, 1990
Today’s Reading: Isaiah 1:16, Mormon 9:8-
Isaiah 1:16- The way that we are washed is through faith, repentance, baptism at the hands of those in authority, and the gift of the Holy Ghost. The way to put away out sins is to confess them to the Lord and then stop doing them. If we try to put away our sins without anyof the first fout principles of the gospel, or without confessing to the Lord, they will not be put away forever, They will be brought out again at judgement day. however, if we truly repent, our sins are taken from us by Jesus Christ. We are then washed clean and we will not remember our sins at judgment day and neither will the Lord.
Mormon 9;8- The gifts listed in the above verse are very obvious in the scriptures. The true church of Jesus Christ will have all of these gifts manifested through it’s members.
Verse 9- We now that God is unchanging. Perfection does not change. When ever we think that the Lord or God have changed in any way, we had better check our understanding of what has happened. It will not be that something had changed, only that we did not understand the words of the prophets and the plan of the Lord.
Verse 10- The only way that we can perceive God as a changing God is through our own lack of understanding. If we will always strive to understand the gospel through the power of the Holy Ghost, we will be able to find and understand the truth.
Well, this place is starting to feel an awful lot like Fresno. Today was P-day until noon, appointment until 3:00 and P-day until 6:00 pm. Needless to say, it was a very strange P-day. I got a chance to write a lot of letters, but I have about 3 more to write.
We spent tonight helping Pao Yang write a paper for one of his college classes. It was really fun to be able to use that part of my brain again. One thing that was awful was that I would know the word I want to write in Hmong, but I couldn’t think of the word in English! when we got done, he loaded our bikes up in his sisters van, told us he wanted to start coming to church every week. I am really looking forward to church on Sunday.
No mail again today- ouch.
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