Songs of hope - 09/04/12

Here is the latest from Tyler:

I rewatched the Mormon Message entitled "Men's Hearts Shall Fail Them," and I really liked it. I'm particularly impressed by the statement that God does not expect perfection in this life, only improvement and progression. Elder "A" and I had a rough six weeks together. Looking back, we could have tried so much harder. So we are setting goals for the upcoming transfer to make our companionship more efficient and more obedient so that we can competently do our work and continue to grow individually.

This week, we were particularly treated to start teaching a very inquisitive woman in a very inactive part-member family. She has lots of great questions and absolutely no religious knowledge to cloud her perceptions of what we teach. Last night, we were both struck by how much sense the gospel makes, even to someone who hasn't been taught anything about Jesus Christ previously. She has lots of faith in our abilities as missionaries, which is very humbling, actually.

We also had a potential investigator take us out to dinner at a nice Italian place for our very first lesson with him. While it was only 4 miles away from where we live, it just so happened to be out of our zone, so we had to ask the APs for permission. But, the fact that this guy is so earnestly trying to understand what we believe, and that he had very strong convictions to fulfill what he had promised his former coworker that he would listen to the missionaries, made it a relatively easy thing to ask permission for. And we thoroughly enjoyed our meal, and the conversation that we were able to have. This man is going to be an excellent member of the church someday. He has an immense strength of character and recognizes a lot of the good that comes from our church, even if the doctrines are foreign to him.

 

I also really enjoyed listening to the Jeffrey R. Holland talk "Safety for the Soul", right after an opportunity I had to bear my testimony to the world. I looked in the eyes of an antagonistic heckler on the street this past week, and for a split second I saw in him the pain and confusion of a spirit child of God that has been led astray and hurt. I wasn't perfectly dignified when I first responded to his comments, but at that moment, I changed. I was able to look him in the eye and tell him that I know the church is true, and there was absolutely no fear, no doubt, and no reservation in any part of my soul as I said it. He may never change his views, but I have witnessed to him through my testimony that no matter how misguided or brainwashed he thinks I am, I know the Book of Mormon is true, and I know this Church is God's church. God lives, he loves us, and I cannot deny Him or his power, for he knows that I know it.

 

I also memorized 2 Nephi 33:10-12 and shared the verse with someone at their doorstep this week. I pray the Father in the name of Christ that most of us, if not all, may be saved in the Kingdom of God in that great and last day.