Dear Family,
This week, I have strengthened my
faith as I have striven to share, from my heart, testimony of the blessings
that the gospel has brought into my life. As I reflected on experiences
that have built my faith in the past, my faith was strengthened once again, and
as I shared these experiences with investigators the Holy Ghost was able to
testify through me, which increased not only their faith in the principles I
taught, but mine as well.
The biggest miracle I witnessed this
week was seeing 8 investigators at church! Several of our investigators
had never come to church before - they found it difficult to make a change so
they could come - but I witnessed a real change of heart in several people this
week, and saw them choose to come to church for the first time. I can see
faith building in our investigators, as well as the fruit of that faith,
repentance and church attendance!
This Wednesday, we flew to KL for
Mission Tour. It was awesome! (In case I forgot to mention it last
week, we don't tour the mission, a visiting general authority
does. Elder Randy Funk, from the Asia Area Presidency, and Sister Funk
toured the mission, giving trainings to the missionaries, this time.) No
matter how much I study the Restoration or the Gospel of Jesus Christ, or
listen to mission leaders train about it, I always learn something new!
This time, I learned just how important it is to teach the Doctrine of Christ
by the Spirit. The trainings given by President Mains and by Elder Funk
worked together with the Spirit in my heart to help me realize (again) that I'm
not the real teacher of the gospel, but that the Holy Ghost is. After the
Mission tour, I began to focus less on "talking and teaching," and
more on heartfelt testimony. Too often, I fall into the rut of thinking,
"Ok, what can I put in this lesson?" These past few days, I've
tried to think, "Why is this principle truly important to me? Why is
___ (investigator)___ going to love learning and living this part of the
gospel?" It has helped significantly, to humble me, and to invite
the Spirit to be the teacher in our lessons. In addition, when I focus on
why I love the doctrine and what it really means to me, it's like I'm learning
it all over again. (Thanks for the suggestion in one of your recent
emails, Mom!!)
I'll share with you another really
spiritual experience I had this past week. One week ago, we were visited
by a member from another place in the mission. She and her husband took
me to meet her family members who stay here in JB. As I met her sister,
she explained her religious background: she'd learned about Jesus when she was
little, but had strayed a long way from Christianity in her life, until a
couple of years ago. She told us several things that were evidence of her
having been prepared by the Lord. As she talked, her mother came in and sat
with us. After just a moment, she began telling her daughter to stop
talking so that I'd have time to share something. She looked at me and
said, "I know that the Lord is inside you." At that time, the
only thing I felt inside me was surprise! People don't normally say that
about me. I was reminded of Alma 18:34-36:
34 Ammon
said unto him: I am a man; and man in the beginning was created after the image
of God, and I am called by his Holy Spirit to teach these things unto this
people, that they may be brought to a knowledge of that which is just and true;
35 And a
portion of that Spirit dwelleth in me, which giveth me knowledge, and also
power according to my faith and desires which are in God.
36 Now when
Ammon had said these words, he began at the creation of the world, and also the
creation of Adam, and told him all the things concerning the fall of man, and
rehearsed and laid before him the records and the holy scriptures of the people.
. . .
I'm so glad that she was receptive
to the Spirit, and wanted to listen to a message from God. Not long after
the opening prayer, I asked the sister a question, because I felt prompted by
the Spirit. I can't remember what the question was, and I don't remember
her entire answer, but as soon as the words were out of my mouth, she burst
into tears. In the few words that she sobbed back to us, she mentioned
that she knows God loves her and that He's answered her prayers many
times. I'm so grateful that I listened both to her and to the Spirit
closely enough to follow a prompting. I know that she felt the Holy Ghost
testifying to her of the truth that we taught and of God's real love for
her. She has been prepared for the restored gospel, and I know that she
will see many more blessings, and an even bigger outpouring of joy and love if
she continues to open her heart.
The gospel is so true, and it's the
only way to live! I'm not perfect, and I'm realizing that little fact
more and more each day, but it brings me comfort to know that I'm trying my
best to do as the Savior wants me to do. I know that what Elder Scott
says is true:
“Study the word of God in the
scriptures and the words of the living prophets. We talk to God through prayer. He most often communicates back to us through
His written word. To know what the voice of the Divine sounds and feels like,
read His words, study the scriptures and ponder them. Make them an integral part of everyday life.
If you want your children to recognize,
understand, and act on the promptings of the Spirit, you must study the
scriptures with them.
Don’t yield to Satan’s lie that you don’t
have time to study the scriptures.
Choose to take time to study them. Feasting on the word of God each day
is more important than sleep, school, work, television shows, video games, or
social media. You may need to reorganize
your priorities to provide time for the study of the word of God. If so, do it!”
I love you all so much! Thank
you for your prayers and your good examples to me!!
for now, 再见！
Love,
Brennan
Photos:
Really really hot, muggy weather
calls for tissues and SOY MILK! Thank you members!
Back from KL, at the Johor Airport
at night. (another one of these pictures.)
No comments:
Post a Comment