Hey everyone! So, our investigator Bill is doing really good! He has been super busy, so we haven't been able to see him as much as we would like, but he is still super interested and reading from the Book of Mormon. It shows that he still has the desire to see if it's true. Mike is such a solid investigator! He is keeping his commitments! He actually just accepted baptism, so we set his date for July 9! I can see the spirit just working in him each time we teach and every time he says a prayer it is so sincere and powerful! You can tell his relationship with God is growing and he has such a strong desire to follow the truth! There is no better joy in this world than to be able to share the gospel and watch it change peoples lives for the better! We also have this new investigator named Gabe that we taught yesterday. When we first started talking to him he didn't seem interested at all and just had a very hardened heart and it just felt kind of contentious. All of sudden we started talking about the blessings not only for ourselves, but for our families and you could see the spirit softening his heart and he started getting super interested. We later figured out that he has a 14 month old son and so I know the spirit knew we needed to talk about families. It can be tough to follow the spirit, but when you listen carefully and listen to those promptings it has a profound impact on the people you teach. We got to give Gabe a Book of Mormon and he said he would definitely read it and pray about it!
So lately I have been thinking a lot about trials and I have been studying super hard in the book of Mosiah and writing a summary of every 5 verses or so. Yesterday I read Mosiah 23-24 and there were these two verses that stuck out to me. They are Mosiah 24:14-15. 14 And I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do that ye may stand as witnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions.
15 And now it came to pass that the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea, the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord.
Before these verses in chapter 23 the people of Alma were righteous, but the Lord still chastises his people to test their patience and faith -Mosiah 23:21. In chapter 24 when they are in bondage he still puts them through trials and if they continue to exercise that faith He will make their burdens light. I have noticed this on my mission so much! I have tried to be as obedient as I can and I still have trial left and right, but I'm thankful for the trials, because the Lord is testing my patience and faith! When we stay faithful he will ease our burdens! I hope you remember this next time when you have a trial in your life and be thankful for them, because it is God testing your faith and patience.
Well I have to go everyone! Love you all and hope your week has been amazing! Talk to you all next Monday!
Elder Cahoon
So lately I have been thinking a lot about trials and I have been studying super hard in the book of Mosiah and writing a summary of every 5 verses or so. Yesterday I read Mosiah 23-24 and there were these two verses that stuck out to me. They are Mosiah 24:14-15. 14 And I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do that ye may stand as witnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions.
15 And now it came to pass that the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea, the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord.
Before these verses in chapter 23 the people of Alma were righteous, but the Lord still chastises his people to test their patience and faith -Mosiah 23:21. In chapter 24 when they are in bondage he still puts them through trials and if they continue to exercise that faith He will make their burdens light. I have noticed this on my mission so much! I have tried to be as obedient as I can and I still have trial left and right, but I'm thankful for the trials, because the Lord is testing my patience and faith! When we stay faithful he will ease our burdens! I hope you remember this next time when you have a trial in your life and be thankful for them, because it is God testing your faith and patience.
Well I have to go everyone! Love you all and hope your week has been amazing! Talk to you all next Monday!
Elder Cahoon