Thank you for your prayers and for seeing all the good in me! I feel great support every day :) Two weeks ago, Jeanette sent me this beautiful letter, and she says it much better than I can, so I have to share with you: "As Moroni is trying to convince the Lamanites to give up their weapons of war for peace he declares that the success and happiness of him and his people was caused by their "faith, by [their] religion, and by [their] rites of worship, and by [their] church, and by the sacred support which [they] owe to [their] wives and children." There was a happiness that they had that tied them to their "lands and [their] country; yea, and also by the maintenance of the sacred word of God, to which we owe all our happiness; and by all that is most dear unto us" Alma 44:5. I just want all of you to know how grateful I am for the "sacred support" that I am receiving from each one of you. Sometimes that sacred support comes through your prayers, your letters, or even just a thought sent my way, but I want you all to know that these methods and efforts of support are so appreciated. Thank you. So much." -J.M (She is on her mission in Tokyo Japan now!)
I am finding hidden treasures in the war chapters too this week. Today, in Alma 60, I felt Moroni's words speak to us as members of Christ's kingdom in the last days:
21 Or do ye suppose that the Lord will still deliver us, while we sit upon our thrones and do not make use of the means which the Lord has provided for us? (He has provided SO MANY ways to share the gospel!)
22 Yea, will ye sit in idleness while ye are surrounded with thousands of those, yea, and tens of thousands, who do also sit in idleness, while there are thousands round about in the borders of the land who are falling by the sword, yea, wounded and bleeding?
(The spiritual attacks of Satan claim casualties every day. Are we aware of those around us who need us to fight for them with the sword of the Spirit, and the power of the Word of God? To remind them who they are, and why they are here? To be a source of Christ's love for them?)
23 Do ye suppose that God will look upon you as guiltless while ye sit still and behold these things? Behold I say unto you, Nay. Now I would that ye should remember that God has said that the inward vessel shall be cleansed first, and then shall the outer vessel be cleansed also.
Our mission has been discussing and pondering the concept of consecration. The full sacrifice of our will to God is the price necessary to become filled with pure love, and to receive the capacity to effectively hasten the Lord's work. I feel happy to know consecration does not mean perfection. It means setting ourselves aside and relying on the Atonement of Jesus Christ every day.
These words are SO POWERFUL and full of meaning for me and for each of us. The joy and peace we are seeking will never be found in worldly successes. Our true joy and peace will be in doing the work of the Lord. How grateful I am for this knowledge. I don't know it of myself, but I know it by the witness of the Holy Spirit.
So that is what I am excited about this week :) Also: The hispanic mother and her 9-year old daughter came to the Women's broadcast with us, and we rejoiced! It was great to see them exercising their faith. Betty received an answer to her questions about Joseph Smith through the testimony of a member that came with us. We found a new investigator who is honestly seeking for truth, although he doesn't know where to find it, and he probably isn't humble enough to receive it right now. I know we are doing the Lord's work. It is so much fun! I want you all to receive this joy. Time is short! We must fight hard and win. Mind over body; Spirit over carnality.
I pray for you <3 Love, Sister B.
