Well we had transfers this week and sadly Elder Forest was transferred out of here! So now it is only Elder Timothy and I! It has been a really weird adjustment. Sometimes the apartment is a lot quieter. And buying groceries for 2 people is different than 3. And teaching lessons and all that. So it's been an interesting shift. And it was a surprise to all of us. But I am certain that God knows what He is doing. He always does!
I'm learning the importance of finding out what we want/need, then figuring out exactly what adherence to which law fruits such blessings. For example, if I want to feel self worth I will follow the Law of Chastity to the T. That's one of the promised blessings from that Law. Or if I want to feel healthier and have true marrow to my bones and strength in my navel, I'm going to buckle down and follow the Word of Wisdom. If I want to make better decisions and have the Spirit more abundant in my life, I will read my scriptures every day. These are just 3 laws with specific blessings to follow. And how do we really follow a law? I think it has to do with hard work and faith. True faith. Too often in the church we stress that faith without works is dead. Which it is... but faith is not just works. Faith is a true belief. You've got to really BELIEVE that these blessings can be unfolded in your own life. And of course the acts part of faith is trying your best to be obedient and working hard at it. But if we don't really believe the blessings and miracles can be wrought in our life, then they probably won't. Sometimes God takes liberties to try and help us, but if we want a more sure fire way to receive these specific blessings, we've got to believe that adhering to the law that brings the desired blessing WILL BRING THAT BLESSING. It's such an amazing principle and I'm so glad to really be learning it on my mission. I'm trying to learn how to apply in other aspects of my life. Right now the law and blessing I'm looking to do my best in is the law of missionary work. D&C 4. If I thrust in my sickle with my might(work hard) and have an eye single to the glory of God(true faith), I will reap. I'm really trying to better acquire this kind of faith and believing in the justice of God. He said He would bless this way so let's make sure He does. It's D&C 82:10. That's all it is. So I'm going to study laws and blessings from laws better now so I can have a better faith and understanding of what I "deserve" when i follow a specific law. I hope that makes sense. This is just something I've been really learning a lot this week. And this has really came to focus for me this week. Our area has been booming for the past 6 or 7 weeks and it has been amazing! But we share the area with other elders and they were discouraged because they weren't seeing the same "success" as we were. I prayed about how to help them and then in district council this week they asked if anyone had suggestions. I felt very prompted to basically just tell them what I wrote you two seconds ago. The very next morning they sent a miracle text into our zone group chat and said they had out of nowhere found someone and had an amazing lesson with them. And since then they have really been noticing more the hand of God in their life and seeing more miracles. Once we really believe and then pray to God and show Him our offering, He will open the windows of Heaven and pour down the blessing that we are asking for if it is in line with the law we are obeying.
I am very grateful for a God of justice. We read about this in the past week in Come Follow Me. And along with justice, He also is full of mercy. I'm grateful I dont need to be perfect to receive blessings. I am grateful for a God of miracles. The same God that existed in biblical times is with us today. Why did miracles happen more in those times than now? Well I'm not sure that's true but we can look and see that had very clear cut laws. And when theh followed the laws, miracles followed. We need to adhere to the laws God has given us and we will see many miracles unfold in our lives. I love this gospel. I'm so grateful for Jesus Christ and His Atonement. Because of Him, we can change!
Love you all!!
Elder Hixon
