12/08
Hey Family,
So I was
happy to hear about everyone’s experiences this week! Mom and Dad I didn't get
to read your e-mail because it was way, way, way, too big – ha-ha! So I printed
it and will read it later at home this week!
So we have 2 baptisms that will
be going through this week. S, from the Bronx in New York, and H from Ghana.
The ward is really excited about the baptisms coming up. It's been a little
while since they've had one...and you can tell too...there are spider webs and
spiders in the baptismal font, ha-ha. I'll send you pictures next week!
This
last week was pretty good. Not too much happened but I'll share some things
that I really appreciate. There was a Ward BBQ this week and we invited
everyone we talked to, to come to the activity. At around 8:10PM on Wednesday,
I was starving and tired and had the thought to just go home by bus and eat
dinner. But then I felt like, no, walk home and find people on the way. Well, we
talked 2 really cool people. One of them was a 22 year old girl who stopped and
talked to us for about 30 minutes straight. She was really interested in what
we were doing, and the thing that intrigued her the most, she said, was that we
stood so firm behind our testimonies and that we would take 2 years out of our
lives to do this. We tried everything we could to get her to meet with us
again, but she said she would maybe come to the activity. She didn't end up
coming, but I'm glad I listened to the spirit and the prompting to keep going.
I think what we said to them was something they needed to hear at that time in
their lives. It's good planting some seeds. Those first impressions can last a life
time.
The ward activity was on Saturday and really nice. We
gave about 8 church tours all together and from 3 of the tours and visitors we
now have teaching appointments. There were probably about 20 visitors including
children. The ward was really excited about it. Oh, and during the whole
activity it looked like it was going to rain! But we prayed, and even though
the clouds were black, it didn't rain on us!! It was so cool J.
We definitely said a prayer of thanks!
We were at Oma and Opa's for lunch and showed
them the Restoration DVD and Opa thanked me for bringing the spirit into their
home before leaving. Uncle Jan also came spontaneously to church on Sunday! The
whole theme was on “Walking Steadfastly in Christ”. That's the Stake theme this
year, and it was Ward Conference, so all the talks were tied to it. It was very
spiritually uplifting.
I also read Mosiah 4: 4-13 this week and King
Benjamin promises us how we can live a joyful life. And his thoughts were
focused on the Atonement of Jesus Christ and His love.
4 And king Benjamin again opened his mouth and began to speak unto them,
saying: My friends and my brethren, my kindred and my people, I would again
call your attention, that ye may hear and understand the remainder of my words
which I shall speak unto you.
5 For behold, if the knowledge of the goodness of God at this time has
awakened you to a sense of your nothingness,
and your worthless and fallen state—
6 I say unto you, if ye have come to a knowledge of
the goodness of God, and his matchless power, and his wisdom, and his patience,
and his long-suffering towards the children of men; and also, the atonement which
has been prepared from the foundation of
the world, that thereby salvation might come to him that should put his trust in
the Lord, and should be diligent in keeping his commandments, and continue in
the faith even unto the end of his life, I mean the life of the mortal body—
7 I say, that this is the man who receiveth salvation, through the
atonement which was prepared from the foundation of the world for all mankind,
which ever were since the fall of Adam,
or who are, or whoever shall be, even unto the end of the world.
8 And this is the means whereby salvation cometh. And there is none other
salvation save this which hath been spoken of; neither are there any conditions
whereby man can be saved except the conditions which I have told you.
9 Believe in God; believe
that he is, and that he created all
things, both in heaven and in earth; believe that he has all wisdom, and
all power, both in heaven and in earth; believe that man doth not comprehend all
the things which the Lord can comprehend.
10 And again, believe 10 And again, believe that
ye must repent of
your sins and forsake them, and humble yourselves before God; and ask in sincerity of
heart that he would forgive you;
and now, if you believe all
these things see that ye do them.
11 And again I say unto you as I have said before, that as ye have come to
the knowledge of the glory of God, or if ye have known of his goodness and have tasted of
his love, and have received a remission of
your sins, which causeth such exceedingly great joy in your souls, even so I
would that ye should remember, and always retain in remembrance, the greatness
of God, and your own nothingness,
and his goodness and
long-suffering towards you, unworthy creatures, and humble yourselves even in
the depths of humility, calling on
the name of the Lord daily, and standing steadfastly in
the faith of that which is to come, which was spoken by the mouth of the angel.
12 And behold, I say unto you that if ye do this ye shall always rejoice,
and be filled with the love of
God, and always retain a
remission of your sins; and ye shall grow in the knowledge of
the glory of him that created you, or in the knowledge of that which is just
and true.
13 And ye will not have a mind to
injure one another, but to live peaceably, and
to render to every man according to that which is his due.
14 And ye will not suffer your children that
they go hungry, or naked; neither will ye suffer that
they transgress the laws of God, and fight and quarrel one
with another, and serve the devil, who is the master of sin, or who is the evil spirit which
hath been spoken of by our fathers, he being an enemy to all righteousness.
If we always
have him and his love and goodness and patience and etc, in remembrance and
repent daily, we will ALWAYS rejoice; “And
behold, I say unto you that if ye do this ye shall always rejoice, and be
filled with the alove of God, and always bretain a remission of your sins; and ye
shall grow in the cknowledge of the glory of him that created
you, or in the knowledge of that which is just and true.”(verse 12) He's
done everything for us. Love is the best 'driving force' there is.
Have a great week! Love you
all!
Elder Luening
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