Aug 8, 1990
Today’s reading Mosiah 2:14-
Verse 14: The king had labored so that his people would not be heavily burdened. Jesus Christ also had labored and sacrificed so that we will not be burdened down by the punishment for our sins. i love Christ for this.
Verse 15: IT is important to be able to stand before God with a clear conscience. Benjamin said that he did not labor for his own glory. Christ also did not labor for His own glory. He glorified the Father through His labors. He also did the things He did to know that He had done the things which His Father had commanded Him.
Verse 16: Again, Benjamin did not desire to boast, he only desired to serve god. christ also desired to serve God. Christ’s atonement glorified the Father.
Verse 17: One of the best ways to serve God is to serve our Fellow men. This includes keeping the other commandments and being a good example. you see, when you keep the commandments, you are serving others by showing the way to go. There are only 2 beings we can serve, God and Satan. Whenever we are not serving others, we are not serving God, so we are serving Satan. We must constantly strive to serve others. One reason to serve a mission is to serve others. We can serve others by teaching our children correct principles and to serve.
Verse 18: This scripture is much like when Christ was washing His disciples’ feet and told them that they should serve one another. we should labor to serve one another. This means work hard and look for opportunities, not just to help obvious cases.
Aug 9, 1990
Yesterday was really a good day. We taught 2 discussions and met with quite a few of the members. When we were teaching Tus Li, a mechanical engineer, the 4th discussion, he finally felt it! He had been trying to figure out whether or not the church was true. I had explained to him the last time that he really needed to KNOW it was true and he needed to have the spirit witness this to him. When he felt it, he said that he had been touched by something we said, but he could not explain it. I told him that it was the spirit he was feeling and when he prayed that night, the same feeling would return. It is really neat to really know that the things that I said were truely guided by the Spirit. I was truely prompted to say the things that I did. It is so important to have the spirit! The missionary that doesn’t study and doesn’t keep the rules, won’t have the Spirit. Missionary work won’t happen without the Spirit of God touching the hearts of the people and guiding the missionary to say what he needs to. The spirit is essential to this work!
Last night we had dinner at the mission president’s house. IT was pretty good, but I’ve had better. I have really had fun in the last week. IT is so neat to see the gospel change people’s lives.
Aug 9, 1990
Today’s reading: Mosiah 2:19-
Verse 19: Benjamin had served as a temporal and spiritual leader. The people owed him thanks. If Benjamin’s leadership and sacrifices merited thanks, then Christ’s sacrifice and leadership has merited eternal thanks and praise. It is only through Christ that we can gain eternal life. For this reason, we owe Him all that we have. This is why the law of sacrifice (Give ALL that is required of God) is fair. He gave us all and He can ask us to give it all up for the sake of His kingdom. This includes giving our life to Him or our time and effort (such as a 2 year mission) or giving Him a broken heart and contrite spirit. Not everyone will be asked to give everything, but we are all asked to give a broken heart and contrite spirit. D&C 59:8 (MOM- It occured to me while reading this, that Dad gave up the most precious thing to him in order to serve where God wants him now. He gave up us. That in particular I know has been really hard for Him, to not be here with us. We were everything to Him, but he is learning to put the Lord first.) This is the law that replaced the sacrifices of Moses’s time.
Verse 20: IF we truly live the law of sacrifice, we shall dwell in peace with one another because all things that others need will come before the need of us. It’s so important to put the needs of others before our own. If we do this, everyone will truely be happier. Everyone’s needs will also be provided for them. This prevents conflict, but more importantly, God’s Spirit will dwell with those people who have broken hearts and contrite Spirits. It is not possible to have the Spirit while being contentious. 3 Nephi 11:29
Verse 21: Since God has given us all that we have, including daily breath, it is impossible for us to give back more to Him than He has given us. We should always strive to be more worthy of the blessings we have and can have, such as eternal life. The reason I am here is to try to repay the Lord in some small way.
Today was sure a busy day. We got some food from the bishop’s storehouse and took it to some of the members of our branch who had no food. It was so neat to see the look on their faces when we took it to them. They are so humble and are truly grateful for it. We took them rice and Vegetables. We also took them bread, peanut butter, and strawberry jam, and taught them how to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
This evening, we taught 3 discussions, including a 6th discussion to the lady that we will baptize on Saturday. This work is the greatest!
On the way home tonight, we unrolled the windows because it was “nice and cool out.” Then we saw a sign that said it was 101 out! At 9:35 pm! I can’t believe how hot it is. I’m also extremely surprised to realize how well I have adjusted to the heat. It doesn’t even bother me. I think that I could even stand to live in a place like this, it’s really not so bad. The only problem is that children have a really hard time living in the heat.
I haven’t gotten any mail for a few days. I’m not too sure why, maybe my mail hasn’t been forwarded or something. Oh well, I’m sure I’ll get it soon.
Aug 10, 1990
Today’s scripture Reading: Mosiah 2:22-
Verse 22: Even though we have no right to any blessings because of our sins, God has promised to bless us if we will only keep his commandments. It is only through the atonement of Christ that this is possible.
Verse 23: God created every single person on this earth, bot spiritually and temporally. For this, we owe Him our lives. Also, this is why the law of sacrifice is fair. He gave us all that we have. He, thus, has a right to require all that we have in return. All of God’s commandments are fair, for He is a just God.
Verse 24: Because God gave us everything, we owe Him our obedience. Since He gave us life, we must do with that life according to the things He asks us to do. When we do keep commandments, God immediately blesses us, so we are indebted to Him even more, but we still owe Him all that we have. We can never repay God for our blessings, but we can strive to live in a way that makes us worthy of His love and blessings. I hope that someday I can be more worthy of all of the blessings He has given me. I’ve always had things pretty easy in this life. I hope I can do all of the things that He wants me to do.
Verse 25; We have absolutely no claim to any action or possession that makes us worthy of pride. Every single possession we have, Every single talent, every single ability, and every single attribute that we have comes directly from God. Therefore, we have no claim on pride. This is Why President Ezra Taft Benson has told us that we should never say that we are proud of anything. We should say that we are thankful for things. In fact, I feel impressed that it was while reading verses 23 & 24 that He was inspired to give that talk.
Today has been kind of a slow day. We just had lots of meetings and stuff. This morning I went up to the mission president’s office. He wanted to interview my comp about the Hmong program.
This afternoon, we went with the Z.L’s and interviewed Hua for baptism. Her baptism will be tomorrow. That will be kind of neat because I helped teach her the last 6 discussions. Then we went to a party at the 1st counselor of the Branch President’s House. We ate dinner there. It was really interesting. All of the men sit around and B.S while the women cook. Then when it’s time to eat, the women put the food out on the table. There were enough plates of everything that each person could reach whatever he wanted. Then the interesting part- the men all sit down around the table. There are no serving utensils, so everyone just uses their own spoon for everything. There are no bowls for the soup, so you just all eat the soup out of the same bowl. Anyway, the kids and the women all disappeared. The men eat like crazy, and when they are through, they get up and go stand around and BS again. All of the women come and sit down and eat what the men didn’t. It’s weird because the men are real sloppy and they spill the soup on the rice, chicken, pork, and other food and pretty much make a mess. The women make even more of a mess! Meanwhile, all of the children have been in the other room eating. It’s too bad they miss out on the conversation with their wives when they eat. In fact, I’ve noticed that in large groups, the Hmong stay very segregated. They also have very close, loving families.
We spent most of our time this evening trying to get a new couple, the waters, oriented to the Hmong program. They are badly needed and we’re grateful for the help.
I also fixed the car today. It was hesitating really badly. I opened the hood and looked at the cover on the air filter. It said to change the air filter every 30,000 miles. The car has almost 50,000 miles on it and the air filter has never been changed. it just goes to show that you have to take care of things. If you don’t then they won’t work. Anyway, we’ve got the car working well again.
Aug 11, 1990
Weekends are not different than weekdays in the mission field.
Today’s reading- Mosiah 2:26-
Verse 26: No one is any better than anyone else. We were all created by God; thus, we are all nothing without God. Also, we have all sinned, without Christ, we would all be unworthy of our blessings. When we die, out Spirits give up the mortal body and it returns to the earth while the Spirit continues to live.
Verse 27: The reason that Benjamin was teaching the people was the same reason that missionaries teach. If we don’t, the sins of the people will be answered upon my head instead of the people’s I would have taught. We will all be called to stand before the judgment bar of God and our works will be accounted for. Benjamin had served his people, but wanted to be sure that they had heard the things that God had commanded him to teach to them.
Verse 28: Again Benjamin reiterates that he does not want to be accountable for the actions of the people. Once he has taught them correctly, then he is no longer accountable for their actions. Spirits are all immortal. Benjamin wants his spirit to got to the spirit paradise to await the resurrection. If two parents do not teach their children correct principles, then they will be accountable for it. It is ultimately the father that must answer for the sins of the children. But if the children are taught, then they will answer for their own sins. if the mother heeds her husbands counsel in raising the children, she will not be accountable for the sins of the children. If she does not heed the counsel of her husband, then she will also be held responsible for the teaching of the children concerning the ways of God. Benjamin knew he would die soon and wanted to know that he had acted on the promptings given him by the Spirit so he would be blameless before God, and so he would have a clear conscience.
Today has been both a very good and very bad day. We baptized Hua and another little boy today. It was really neat to see her and “chip” (american name) baptized. That makes it all worth while.
I noticed this morning that I had not had any very spiritual experiences yesterday, so I got up this morning and got down on my knees and asked the Lord to really be with me today. I honestly felt His sweet spirit with me throughout the whole day. The problem with the day today was that we didn’t do anything. The problem is that Elder Jasperson just doesn’t want to get out and REALLY work. This was the second day in a row that we didn’t do much but sit around with members. It will be nice when I can do the planning.
I need to work harder on the language. The problem is that my comp just doesn’t spend anytime studying. That makes it tough to do the discussions and ask him questions when he’s in bed. I shouldn’t complain I guess, he sure has taught me a lot. Oh well, I’ll crash for tonight and get after it tomorrow.
Aug 12, 1990
Today’s reading- Mosiah 2;29-
Verse 29: Benjamin brought all of the people together to tell them that he would be dying soon and could no longer lead them. Christ also told His apostles at the last supper that He would be leaving. They also each appointed leaders to take their places. This was to prevent any dissensions among their people after they left. In this dispensation, when Joseph Smith, Jr. was killed, it took the apostles a while to really understand that, collectively, they held the necessary keys to appoint a First Presidency. Some of the members failed the test of faith which resulted from this slight delay. Some of them later organized the RLDS church. these people simply had not searched the revelations they had already been given. this is why we must look 1st in the scriptures for answers to out prayers.
Verse 30: Benjamin was an old man, but the Lord supported him in his weakness just as he will support us in our weaknesses if we will rely on Him and strive to do His will. The Lord had chosen Mosiah as the next prophet. The Lord has chosen every one of His prophets in a like manner. god chose His prophets long before the world was. (Abraham 3:23)
Verse 31: As long as we follow the counsel of the prophets, we will prosper. IF we do not heed their counsel, the counsel of the scriptures, or the commandments (The preceeding 3 things are all the same and do not ever contradict one another) then we have no promise. With the Lord on our side, we can do all things expedient in Him (Moroni 7:33). Our enemies including Satan, have no power over us when we follow the counsel of the prophet. because when we follow the prophet, we will have the spirit with us always.
Verse 32: We must always beware of contention. Contention brings the spirit of the devil. It is impossible for Satan and God to affect us at the same time. when we contend with one another, we will soon be following Satan’s counsel in other areas too. This is why it is so important to not contend with our children or let them contend with one another. This is the secret to having the Spirit in our homes.
Aug 13, 1990
Yesterday was pretty discouraging. It was the third day in a row without a discussion. I don’t know what the deal is. I think that Jasperson thinks the he can just kick back and realize now that we had a baptism Friday. He says it’s because he doesn’t want me to feel too much pressure, what pressure is there in doing a little work?
One highlight of sacrament meeting was hearing everyone sing “I am a Child of God.” For some reason, when I hear people sing that song, when 3 years ago most of them didn’t know that there was a God, let alone that they were his children, it really touches me. The Spirit was so strong! The spirit was there to bear witness to all of those people that the words they were singing were true. I am gaining a stronger testimony all of the time of the power of music and song. They really provide a strong foundation for the Spirit to come and dwell among those who truly believe the words they are singing.
I am constantly amazed at the number of missionaries that simply do not keep the rules. I have yet to meet one that gets up on time. If they would only realize that even though they are good now, they would be so much better if they would only keep the rules. Too many missionaries are happy to be the kind of missionaries that they think they can be. I won’t be happy or satisfied until I know that I fulfilled the potential here that My Heavenly Father knows that I have. If I am going to be away from my family for 2 years, I’m going to go all out to do what the Lord wants me to do. I refuse to be slothful!
Today’s Scripture Reading: Mosiah 2:33-
verse 33: If someone dies before they repent then they are certainly damned. This is why it is so important to never postpone repentance. We never know when the end will come, so we must repent constantly. We will also receive just compensation for the sins we commit. This is why it is necessary to have “Many Mansions’ or many degrees of glory.
Verse 34: Here, Benjamin is explaining to the people why they are accountable for their sins. They have been taught by the mouth of the prophets and they have been taught from the scriptures that the people hand. If they know the will of God, then they can knowingly act against it, thus, committing a sin. The reason that children can not sin, is that they do not yet have a sufficient knowledge of God’s will. We will all be judged out of the books that are written (i.e. Ensign and scriptures) We are responsible for knowing God’s commandments and acting in accordance with them. We will not be able to say, “But I didn’t know...” Because it is all given in the scripture and in the mouth of the prophets.
Verse 35: Here, Benjamin states that they also knew the things that the Lord had spoken to their fathers were the things the Lord had commanded them to say. Since god had commanded it, those words are true. Benjamin is basically just establishing that the words of the prophets are scripture. This is why it is so important for us to pay strict heed to the counsel received from Ezra Taft Benson. His words should be treated as scripture.
Aug 14, 1990
Yesterday was a pretty good P-Day. I got a tape from Kristin and a letter. She is so cool. It was so good to hear from her and to know how she is doing. She seems so far away. i know that everything will be just fine, but sometimes I just get scared. Hearing from her helped a whole bunch.
I made Kristin a tape and sent it to her. I also wrote lots of letters. The biggest problem with yesterday was that by the time Jasperson started to get ready to go proselyte, it was time to quit and go to bed, so we didn’t go out. I hope today we can really work hard. It is hard for me because I’m the Jr. companion, and he just doesn’t seem to want to work the same way I do. I’m not too sure how to encourage him. I’ve decided for now that praying for him to have that desire is about the best I can do.
Today’s Reading Mosiah 2:36-
Verse 36- Through transgression, we withdraw ourselves from the Spirit. The Spirit never withdraws from us. When one receives the gift of the Holy Ghost, he has a right to have the Holy ghost with him at all times. However, if he acts in a manner contrary to the will of God, he is forcing the spirit out. Only through obedience and repentance can the spirit be brought back. If we want the help and guidance of the Spirit, we must repent constantly.
Verse 37- If someone purposely sins against God, he is in open rebellion against god. He becomes an enemy to God because if the Spirit can not dwell in him, then Satan can. Satan is an enemy to God in the battle for men’s souls. If man is unholy, he will not have the spirit, if he doesn’t have the spirit, he will be very likely to fall into temptation. If he falls into temptation, he will be more unholy. This is why repentance is so very important. Repentance enables us to stop this vicious cycle and have the spirit again. Once again, the atonement makes all things possible. the atonement is so much more crucial than I ever before realized. Nothing in this world would be possible without it.
Verse 38- Hell is a state of mind. The guilt that people will have who have sinned and not repented prevents them from being comfortable in the presence of God. This causes them to feel deep anguish and remorse. Knowing of one’s guilt and lack of repentance is hell. If we will repent, Christ will take out guilt from us, and we will be clean and pure before God. I am so grateful for Christ’s atonement and the opportunity which I have to repent. I write these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Today was a pretty good day. We didn’t teach any discussions, but we tracked down a lot of referrals today. We met some really neat families and hopefully we can teach them and baptize them. We also spent some time translating for Hua Vang Li, the lady we just baptized. She is in the process of a divorce and needed a translator for her lawyer. It is really sad. She was married for 5 years, but since she had no children, her husband decided something was wrong with her and he left her.
Thu Li, the mechanical engineer was busy tonight, but we have an appointment with him for Friday.
Jasperson and I have had really bad headaches all day, but I said a prayer and told Heavenly Father that I was here to do his work and that He had to keep me healthy so I could work. When I finished my prayer, my headache was gone. It is so neat to be in the Lord’s service!
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