My new missionary is Elder Harper from Vancouver Washington, he is a handy man, and he did construction back home, remodeled houses and all different types of things. We got into the area on Wednesday and we are settled in now. We live in Troy Missouri a town of 10,000 people, we cover other small towns around the area. There are good members up here, and some great potential here. I am the District Leader over a district of all girls besides my companion, so I am what they call a relief society president. It’s gonna be fun.
Jesus Christ was a wonderful example to all of us by loving others, taking care of the poor and needy, living the Gospel, but Christ also did what is called the Will of the Father, In John 6:38 "For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me." Jesus Christ was Obedient. We like Christ should strive to be obedient to what Our Heavenly Father asks of us. A Children's hymn comes to mind when I think of the question of “What does he ask?
He Sent His Son
How could the Father tell the world of love and tenderness?
He sent his Son, a newborn babe, with peace and holiness.
How could the Father show the world the pathway we should go?
He sent his Son to walk with men on earth, that we may know.
How could the Father tell the world of sacrifice, of death?
He sent his Son to die for us and rise with living breath.
What does the Father ask of us? What do the scriptures say?
Have faith, have hope, live like his Son, help others on their way.
What does he ask? Live like his Son.
We are asked to live as Christ would live and do as He would do. He was obedient to the Commandments, He loved and He lived the Gospel. I read in Doctrine and Covenants section 20:7 "And gave unto him commandments which inspired him;" This scripture is talking about an Angel of God coming to Joseph Smith, what I really like about this section of scripture is that it says that the commandments which he received and was given inspired him. Do we allow the Commandments of God to inspire us? Another example of someone who was inspired by Commandments he received was Nephi in the beginning of the book of Mormon. I Nephi 3:7 "And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said unto my father: I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them." The Commandments of God can inspire us and guide us in our lives, we know through obedience to the commandments is when the windows of heaven are opened to us such as in Malachi.
Malachi 3:10 "Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it." Malachi teaches us that when we are obedient to the commandments and in this case paying tithing, we can receive many, many blessings from being Obedient. We have two ways to look at commandments. We can either let them inspire us or we can let them become a burden and a struggle. This comes when we do not fully understand and do not seek to understand the reason why we have a particular commandment. For example Laman and Lemuel, two of Nephi's older brothers in the Book of Mormon. Laman and Lemuel didn't fully understand and didn't seek to understand why the Lord would ask them "to do hard things". We can become more like Christ by following the commandments and following the example of our savior. As we move forward seeking to understand the will of the Lord we will be blessed with the blessing that the commandments will inspire us.
In Matthew 22: 37-39 Jesus Christ testifies of the two great commandments,
37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
38 This is the first and great commandment.
39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.
I am so grateful for our Savior, Jesus Christ, and Him setting an example for us, I know that He lives, I know that He loves everyone, He suffered lovingly for our sins and downfalls in life. I know that through the Gospel of Jesus Christ we can feel joy and happiness and as we continue to live obediently we will return to our Heavenly Father one day.
Have a great day and a wonderful week, be safe and have fun.
Love,
Elder Washburn
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| Elder Harper, my new companion. |
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