Feb 14, 1991
(I set my pen down, but I don’t know where).
Alma 12:15- None of us will have any choice. We must all face Christ at the judgement bar. Even those who are cast into outer darkness must first stand before Christ and admit to Him that He is both merciful and just. Christ and admit to Him that. He is both merciful and just. Christ does have power to save ALL men. There is no limit to the number that can be saved. The only ones who will limit the number of men to be saved are those who are not saved. I will not allow myself to be one of those. I will BRING forth fruits meet unto repentance.
Verse 16: Those who repent not will suffer a second death. There will be no restoration after this death. We should be willing to do all things that are necessary to help us avoid this second death.
—- Verse 17: At this moment, the sinful will realize that Satan won. They will be completely left to their own. They will not be protected by the Holy Ghost in the least. The will be in torment eternally.
Verse 18: The wicked will live as though Christ never atoned for their sins. The only exception will be that they will have been resurrected and will be unable to die. They will be completely helpless as to ending their torment.
Verse 19: The people were astonished because the Spirit had borne witness to them of the truthfulness of the gospel. I believe that I have seen people astonished in this same way. Their reactions to this astonishment are varied.
Today Elder Watson left today for Porterville. Elder Sorenson and are now officially companions. The worst part of the deal is eating Lao food. Today I watched Elder Sorensen actually eat the brains, eyeballs, and tongue out of the skull of a chicken. Gross! I just couldn’t believe it. I am really glad that they didn’t offer it to me. I f they would have, I would have puked. I don't love the Lao people enough to do that yet. I did eat some soup that hand year old fish in it though. I didn’t like that at all.
We went to Hanford this afternoon and taught a few people. We taught the nonmember husband of an active member. When we finished, he told us about some of the things that the Americans had said about the Hmong people at church. It really made me sad to think that LDS people could be so ignorant and unfeeling. The Americans had blamed the Hmongs for the fact that an American for the measles. Granted, one of the hmong kids had measles, but why wasn’t the American vaccinated? Besides that, measles cases were repotted all over America last year. I guess that I need to really be sure to never pass judgment on a group of people.
Feb 15, 1991
Alma 12:20- Antoniah was one who would probably profit temporally if the people did not accept and live the gospel. He was trying to make the people think that Alma had spoken falsely. It just occurred to me that many people who fight against the church know of the truthfulness of church. It’s just the fact that they seek to profit by the persecution. How sad!
Verse 21: Reading the scriptures without the Holy Ghost leads to many misunderstandings. This is a classic example. Many “intellectuals” in the church seek to “interpret” the scriptures for us. We should allow only apostles and prophets of the Lord Jesus Christ to interpret scriptures for us. Other can speculate as Antionah did, but only apostles and prophets have the proper priesthood keys to interpret scriptures for us. We should especially take caution against the words of those who profit temporally by their teaching. The Holy Ghost does not touch those who seek material gain priestcraft is a tool of the devil.
Verse 22: Because of the fall of Adam, we all became subject to temptation, sin, and death. At the same time, we also became subject to birth, physical life, and bodies. Because of Adam’s fall, we all need the atonement of Christ. The reason that Adam was not longer allowed to partake of the tree of life was to prevent his eternal life. Adam was first required to die, as the Lord had promised. Then, after his death and through Christ’s atonement, Adam could gain eternal life.
Today was a pretty good day. We spent from 8;00 a.m. on translating and working with people. We taught two Hmong discussions and O Lao. The Lao people here are even harder to get in with than the hmong people.
Feb 16, 1991
Alma 12:23- If Adam ha continued to partake of the fruits of the tree of life, he would have lived forever. however, the Lord had promised death, and Adam surely died. The wonderful part is that Adam did not have to live forever in his sins. Alma 12:23 - The word would have been void. john 1:1- Christ’s atonement would have been void. If Adam never died, then the atonement could not have been applied towards his Eternal Salvation. What a blessing death is. It allows the atonement to take full effect in our lives.
Verse 24: This life is the time which we have been given to prepare to be judged of God. If we choose to rebel against God and those things which He has given us, then we can in no way return to live with God. No matter what judgement is passed upon us, for good or for evil, we must live in that state endlessly. (see D&C 19)
Verse 25: Had there been no plan of redemption, there would have been no resurrection. I would also venture to say that there would also have been no life on this earth. The Father would not have sent us here had He not prepared a way for us to return to Him. I pray that I can follow the path that has been prepared for me to return. A path has been prepared for every one of us, but it is our responsibility to find and follow that path. That is really scary. I hope that I can learn to follow. I need to trust in the Lord more.
Wow! Was today a busy day or what! We went to Handford after teaching a discussion to a Lao man here. It is really fun to work with both Lao and Hmong, but there is a lot of stress involved. The only thing is that we have the weight of starting two programs on our shoulders. I guess that as far as that is concerned, I have two programs and he has one (Lao in Visalia). The biggest difference now is the fact that I don’t have to be constantly on guard against my companion breaking the rules.
I really miss spending all day every day with her. She is SO good about writing to me! I know it takes a lot of time to write to me. I really do appreciate her letter. I appreciate all that she does for me. Waiting for a missionary must be one of the hardest things in the world. I love her more and more each day.
Things in Handford were going about 1,000,000 miles per hour, as usual. I love it. I love being able to see the gospel change people’s lives. I really hope that some of the inactive people that we have been working with will come to church tomorrow.
Feb 17, 1991
I am really tired. 6 hours of translating has worn me out.
Alma 12:26- If we were never to die, then we would live eternally in the state that we are now in. In odder for us to attain Celestial Glory, we must be completely free of any sin. the only way for us to be totally free is for us to be purified through Christ’s atonement. We can never be free of all sin in this lifetime. We must, therefore, die so that we can be resurrected to a perfect state. We must be in a position for that to happen.
Verse 27: We must die. Judgment- Judgment is our final rite. That is when Jesus Christ pronounces upon our heads that He either will or will not allow us to be forgiven of our sins. Judgment will actually be a purifying ordinance for those who attain Celestial Glory. I never before realized that our judgement would actually serve as our last purification rite.
Verse 28: After God prepared the plan of salvation, he did indeed send angels to teach the people on the earth of the plan of salvation. One of the things that we learn in the temple is who these angels were and the details of the things that were taught.
Verse 29: The reason that we are allowed to go to the temple is so that we can also behold the glory of our God. I can’t wait to go back.
Today was just plain tiring. I went with one of the American Elders to Hanford to of with the Hmong people. Elder Sorensen went to the Lao group here in Visalia. Then I came back and went to the Hmong group here in Visalia. I am tired. I was starting to space our by the end of it. I came home and did my scripture study and went to our D.A. The lady of the house was a member of the stake relief Society president. her attitude towards the Hmong and Lao people sucked! She kept making jokes about eating the cat. I wanted so badly to just rip her, but I refrained. hunger can motivate me to do amazing things! She was just such a snob.
The attitudes of Americans really affects the way that I feel when I am with them. Some of them are just so prejudice and snobby that I can’t feel a good feeling when I am with them.
Feb 18, 1991
Alma 12:30- An learned more of God, they began to pray to God. God had promised further light and knowledge to those who keep their covenants. He blessed them with more light and knowledge according to their faith, repentance and holy works. I think that the fifth principle of the gospel should be holy works. Without holy works, none of the first four principles of the gospel will have any role in our salvation.
Verse 31: Because men were not able to keep the first commandment, God gave them more commandments so that they could ‘earn’ further light and knowledge. Before the time at which Adam and Eve partook of the fruit, they were completely unable to sin because they had no knowledge of tight and wrong.
Verse 32: The plan of redemption was given to men, along with commandments, to enable us to prove ourselves as well as to be saved in the Kingdom of God. The plan of salvation is such a wonderful thing. I am so grateful for my Savior. Without the sacrifice of my Savior, I could in no way do anything. I am so unworthy of my Heavenly Father’s love. I hope that I can do more to be worthy of His infinite and endless love.
Today was an interesting day. We went to a members ranch for a zone party. I was really disappointed in the way it turned out. In the course of the day, there were a number of strong arguments and on e actual first fight. i was really disappointed. i would never have imagined that 20 Elders of the Lord Jesus Christ would be so out of line. i guess that teaches a good lesson. Just because we have the gift of the Holy Ghost conferred upon us doesn’t mean that we have the Holy Ghost with us. In the same way, just because we are ordained or set apart as something does not mean that we are automatically that. If we do not keep the rules, we can no more be missionaries than we can be without ever being set apart.
Tonight we went and saw Bee Xiong. he is a man that was taught by Elder Bohn. The reason that he didn’t get baptized was that he couldn’t stop smoking. He said that he would start coming to church again.
I really wish that I could help more missionaries realize what they are doing. Of course on the other hand, that is not my calling right now. I shouldn’t worry about them, but I do.
Febr 19, 1991
Alma 12:33- God calls upon all of us to repent and come unto Him. This call has certainly been extended to all of us. It is amazing to me that I am able to spend all day calling on people to repent and harden not their hearts. I do this work in Jesus Christ’s name when I am worthy. What a wonderful opportunity!
Verse 34: Those who accept the call of God and harden not their hearts shall have mercy through the atonement of Jesus Christ. Pride is such a wicked thing. Pride is the primary root of most of the wickedness in the world. It is also the reason for the hardening of the hears of men.
Verse 35: This is a promise directly from God the Father. Anyone who does not listen to the wonderful plan of redemption and accept that plan will in no way enter into the Kingdom of God. After we die, there is no repentance or time to change our minds. After death, our position is Eternal and endless.
Verse 36: This verse makes it very clear that we are not to provoke our Lord. We should always strive with our hearts to do the Lord’s will. If we truly strive, His mercy will redeem us. If we are lacking in our strivings, we can only claim justice. After my works, I certainly don’t want to face justice. I better strive harder.
Well, today was a wreck. In the middle of the night, I got a phone call from Shous Xiong who said he was taking Being to the hospital. I said that I would be their in the morning. Anyway, we went to the hospital. The problem was that Being, his daughter, was no there, The problem was that Beng’s doctor is in Fresno. Well, that was about a 50 minute waste of time on bikes alone. Then we had to go to their house tonight so that I could apologize. Well, they weren’t upset, their daughter is healthy, and every things is cool.
After going to the hospital, we went home to change our of our suits. (We have to wear suit to District meeting) Anyway, I promptly, locked my keys in the house. That took about 30 minutes to straighten out.
We went on team-ups with American members tonight. It went really well. We went and taught a forth discussion to the family who just arrived. We also taught a first discussion to Mee and Jar Xiong.
Oh yeah- we had to go to the doctor to translate for this lady. It was so funny! She is about 6 1/2 months pregnant and she kept asking me if she could have birth control pills!
I am so tired that I can’t believe it. Today was a pretty good day. I love to be a missionary! We spent most of the afternoon working with Lao people. I have not been motivated at all to learn Lao. I just really don’t feel like that’s what the Lord had in ming for me.
We went and retaught a first discussion to Vang Xiong who we had taught about 3 weeks ago. it went really well. If we could just motivate his brother to come to church, he would ome along great. I have learned a lot on my mission about the effect of inactivity on family members and friends. It is so important for US to be good examples.
Tonight we went on team-ups with Americans again. It was okay I guess. I was telling Brother Johnson about Chou flipping out and calling the police on me. He says, “Well, Chou does have a handgun.” That was real comforting! I think that in about one more week I will go see if I can patch things up with Chou.
I have never been this tired in my entire life. I am really tired. It’s more than a physical tired. It’s just a tired that goes clear through me. I wish I had a week to do nothing but sleep. The work must go on, and I certainly don’t want to be responsible for delaying it. Onward ever onward!
No comments:
Post a Comment