Study Up!

 

January 16, 2012…Dear Family,

 
 

Hmmm....I'm not quite sure what to write about at this very moment....

Well, the week was great! Elder Mecham and I were blessed to find some really great new people to teach. Most of them came in one way or another through the members.

On Wednesday we had a zone conference. It was a really uplifting experience. I learned a lot of wonderful things. One thing that stood out to me is the importance of everyone. It wasn't spoken of during the conference, but it was impressed upon me by the Spirit once again. It goes right along with what I wrote about last week. I feel a greater desire to see everyone as Heavenly Father sees them, and not as the world sees them. Brother Beckstead wrote me a letter and in it he had a quote from President Monson. It says, "I find there is a little bit of sainthood in everybody, and I look for it." I really believe this and want to do better with looking for it.

I went on another tradeoff with one of the district leaders. This time I went with Elder Wheeler in Palatka. It was a really wonderful experience. We were able to find some great people in his area and the Lord bestowed upon us many tender mercies. I was very humbled by something that happened. At the end of exchanges we have an evaluation. I evaluate with the missionary what happened, what was learned, and then help them set goals to improve. Well, while talking about what was learned Elder Wheeler shared that what had happened on the tradeoff was an answer to his prayers. That his faith in finding invested investigators was low, but that through the things that happened his faith was rekindled. It was another humbling experience. To know that I had in some way helped answer someone's prayers.

This morning I was studying in Preach My Gospel. I was studying chapter two which talks about studies. I read this,"Always begin your gospel study by praying for the Holy Ghost to help you learn. He will bring knowledge and conviction that will bless your life and allow you to bless the lives of others. Your faith in Jesus Christ will increase. Your desire to repent and improve will grow. This kind of study prepares you for service, offers solace, resolves problems, and gives you the strength to endure to the end." There are some really wonderful promised blessings in there and I know they're not promised just to missionaries. I know that as each of us diligently study the scriptures each day we will see great and wonderful changes within ourselves and our lives. I pray that each of you will make time to study and ponder the scriptures everyday.

 
 

Love Always, Zach