Tuesday,
August 21, 2012
Transfer 1, Week 5... almost 6---- How does time fly?
I don't have as much time to write today, but I appreciate all of your letters and support. You're wonderful!
Today I had my first Vegemite sandwich that my Aussie companion made me try. It was the first time since 2nd grade that I've had it, and that was when I vomited. Today it was pretty good. I might even try another sometime. Regards to Sister C. [insert one of the 30 jokes we get when she introduces herself here] haha it never fails.
We've had some amazing people we've talked to this week… People
with inspiring stories.
The first person was a member who came along on one
of our investigator lessons. (What happens is one of the Salt Lake City
Missions [there’s 5 of them] missionaries can bring their investigator for a
lesson on Temple Square with a set of our sister missionaries showing them
around and teaching as well, and they usually bring members or ‘fellowshippers’
or support from the ward, so this was the person I was talking to for a while
before the lesson).
She’s originally from Oklahoma where she grew up in
a small town that was 99% Baptist. When she was 4 years old her parents and her
would drive by this small house and one day she felt really strongly the Spirit
testify to her that that was “Jesus’s Church”. She told her parents that it was
Jesus’ Church, but they told her that it wasn’t a church but just a small
house, there wasn’t even a sign, so it couldn’t be a church. But every time
that they would drive by she would feel strongly that it was again and
again. Finally one day there popped up a sign that read “the Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints” in front of the old house. She told
her parents there was a sign, and her parents finally said they could go on
Sunday. They were furious when they attended because the sign read LDS
but it was a ‘Mormon’ church and they told her they would not support her going
to the church ever again. But she felt very strongly as the Priests in
the small branch that Sunday passed the Sacrament that this was Jesus’
Church. She would walk by herself up the hill to the church every Sunday
until her parents allowed her to be baptized at age 16. Just a very inspiring story.
We also met a recently returned Elder from New
Jersey who had been home 5 weeks ago. Somehow we just knew we needed to talk to
him. An hour later, through inspired questions, and tears on his face, he
told us of the struggles he had with anxiety on his mission and how finally his
Mission President told him he had to go home early. He said it was one of
the most spiritual experiences he has ever had, stepping on the plane to come
home. It was when, no matter how much he wanted to stay on the mission,
he wanted to submit to whatever the Lord had in store for him and whatever His
plan was, even though his desires to stay were righteous desires. He told us of
the great pain and difficulty of this decision but that he knew that this was
what the Lord wanted him to do. He knows that for some reason he is supposed to
be home right now, whether he is able to go back on the mission or not, but
that that is where he is supposed to be. Maybe because there are people
only he can touch back at home. He said that he wouldn’t take away the
hardships and struggle he had, because it taught him to submit to the Lord’s
plan and will, and be patient in affliction.
We needed to talk to him, because the Christ-like
attribute our companionship focused on this week, was Patience.
In my study this week on this, I learned that
sometimes in the scriptures in the way that they are written or abridged, it
may seem like the prophets get their answers, or relief or instruction instantly
or immediately. One verse says they struggled, and the next verse says that
they were healed, or an angel came, or they were given peace, etc. But we
don’t know how much time elapsed in between those passages. In fact, if
we more carefully read, we realize that the Prophets had to endure, they had to
wait patiently in affliction before they were given rest. A quote I heard
in the MTC is this “our lives are like a violin string, the only way for the
Lord to play beautiful music on those strings are if they are stretched.”…
something like that (by Neal A. Maxwell). Our trials are meant to expand
and stretch us, and if all our answers or solutions came instantly, we wouldn’t
develop that Christ-like attribute of patience, and submissiveness to the
Lord’s timing.
In Alma
26:27-28 & 30 of The Book of Mormon it says: , “ 27 Now when our hearts were depressed, and we
were about toaturn back,
behold, the Lord bcomforted us,
and said: Go amongst thy brethren, the Lamanites, and bear with cpatience thinedafflictions,
and I will give unto you success.
28 And
now behold, we have come, and been forth amongst them; and we have been patient
in our sufferings, and we have suffered every privation; yea, we have traveled
from house to house, relying upon the mercies of the world—not upon the mercies
of the world alone but upon the mercies of God.”
It may sound like they struggled but then instantly
came relief. That’s not the case however. In verse 30-31 it reads:
30 And
we have suffered all manner of afflictions, and all this, that perhaps we might
be the means of saving some soul; and we supposed that our ajoy would
be full if perhaps we could be the means of saving some.
31 Now
behold, we can look forth and see the afruits of
our labors; and are they few? I say unto you, Nay, they are bmany;
yea, and we can witness of their sincerity, because of their love towards their
brethren and also towards us.
They
had to endure, and push forward, and be ‘stretched’ and tried of their patience
all so that the Lord could develop them. Yet, he did promise them at
their breaking point that He would give them success. All things would
work out. The Lord wouldn’t push them beyond their limit. And the
Lord is always true to His promises. They brought many, many souls to the
truth. Everything worked out.
Another
case is with Nephi as the Lord told him he needed to build a boat. So
often we think that it was easy for him. “Oh the Lord would show him how”
or we think that it was simple because Nephi just followed instructions and did
what he was told. How hard could that be? But that’s not what it says.
1 Nephi 18: 1-3 “ And
it came to pass that they did aworship the
Lord, and did go forth with me; and we did work timbers of curious bworkmanship.
And the Lord did show me from time to time after what manner I should work the
timbers of the cship.
2 Now I,
Nephi, did not work the timbers after the manner which was learned by men,
neither did I build the ship after the manner of men; but I did build it after
the manner which the Lord had shown unto me; wherefore, it was not after the
manner of men.3 And I, Nephi, did go into the mount oft, and I did apray oft unto the Lord; wherefore the Lord bshowed unto me cgreat things.”
Instead
it says that from time to time, the Lord showed him how. He was still
left to struggle, figure out some parts himself, and he still had to “go onto a
mount” often to pray (or make the sacrifice to go to the temple to receive
answers or work for answers to prayer or instruction). It wasn’t just a
simple map or how-to Nephi needed to follow. This way, Nephi grew a lot
more. He also learned patience.
I
know that this is the case with our lives. The way we endure or wait or
how the Lord works is the best way for us. Or the best way for us to over
all grow and learn and trust and rely on Him. Things don’t come instantly. We
have to work for them. Besides, the best things or the things most
worthwhile, we always have to work for. It still took the pioneers 40
years to build the SLC Temple. Surely couldn’t the Lord have shown them
the easy way out or provided rock that was closer by, etc. But He didn’t.
Surely the Lord could have told them the first foundation they build of
sandstone would break because it wasn’t firm enough, and they wouldn’t have
wasted 7 years. But He didn’t. The way the Lord worked with them and us,
requires patience.
I
know that the Lord’s way is the best way. I know that he will stretch and
grow us, and sometimes that this process hurts and is difficult, but if there
was a better way, I know the Lord would’ve thought of it before.
My
challenge this week is to recognize what the Lord intended for you to learn in
all the situations you are faced in.
This
gospel is true! It blesses all of our lives. Jesus is the Christ. I love this
work.
Love,
Sister Fisher
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