Hola y'all!
Texas is really the BEST EVER!!! This week has been incredible! I can't believe transfers are next week (Sept 5th) and my 7 month mark is coming up in a couple weeks! This week has been busy busy with lots of service! We have had many teaching opportunities through these service experiences. This week we were able to go help a lady clean out her shed with some of the Elders Quorum from our ward. This was our first time meeting this lady. Her name is Gladice and she is a non member. After helping her with her shed she invited us in to get a drink and we were able to sit down and talk with her and get to know her better. She gladly accepted the invitation to come to church and meet with us again this week! On Sunday we saw her walk into church with a smile on her face and came and sat right behind us with one of the families from the ward. She had a great experience! I can't wait to go back to her house again and share more with her!
Pricila Garcia is officially moved into her new apartment and is so happy to have that done so she can start meeting with us regularly! She went to Mexico this weekend so we didn't see her at church, but when we called to follow up on how her reading in the Book of Mormon was going she was able to tell us all that she had learned, so she is excited to get back today. We have planned to teach her more tomorrow!
We had a rough day on Friday and that whole day we hadn't gotten to really talk or share a message with anyone because no one was interested or what I call it "prepared to accept the gospel in their lives". We had been walking almost all day going by potentials and some less actives (which we did have success in visiting with them). After dinner we decided to walk down the street to contact a potential investigator and on our way there I just remember praying in my heart asking Heavenly Father to let us find someone that we could teach the message of the restoration to who would listen to us. A few houses away from this potential that we were going to stop by, there was this man in his 30's (Jonathan) who was outside doing yard work. We called out to him to see if we could help him. He said "no thanks" but then stood up and walked towards us and introduced himself (which was not what I was expecting). He asked who we were and we explained that we were missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and that we bring a message. Then he leaned close and said "oh ok, I want to hear it!" (Miracle) (prayer answered!) We taught him the restoration and he accepted a copy of the Book of Mormon with the invitation to read the introduction and accepted a return appointment! As we walked away I gave thanks to Heavenly Father for hearing my prayer!
Saturday we had a Relief Society brunch and we invited some less actives to attend. It turned out to be great and a lot of sisters showed up and we ate and got to visit with them and get to know them better! On Sunday Sister Carter and I taught the Relief Society lesson based on this talk on forgiveness. I thought I would share it with y'all because I love it so much!!
The Healing Ointment of Forgiveness
By: Elder Kevin R. Duncan
All that is of God encompasses love, light, and truth. Yet as human beings we live in a fallen world, sometimes full of darkness and confusion. It comes as no surprise that mistakes will be made, injustices will occur, and sins will be committed. As a result, there is not a soul alive who will not, at one time or another, be the victim to someone else’s careless actions, hurtful conduct, or even sinful behavior. That is one thing we all have in common. Gratefully, God, in His love and mercy for His children, has prepared a way to help us navigate these sometimes turbulent experiences of life. He has provided an escape for all who fall victim to the misdeeds of others. He has taught us that we can forgive! Even though we may be a victim once, we need not be a victim twice by carrying the burden of hate, bitterness, pain, resentment, or even revenge. We can forgive, and we can be free! Many years ago, while I was mending a fence, a small sliver of wood entered into my finger. I made a meager attempt to remove the sliver and thought I had done so, but apparently I had not. As time went on, skin grew over the sliver, creating a lump on my finger. It was annoying and sometimes painful. Years later I decided to finally take action. All I did was simply apply ointment to the lump and cover it with a bandage. I repeated this process frequently. You cannot imagine my surprise when one day, as I removed the bandage, the sliver had emerged from my finger. The ointment had softened the skin and created an escape for the very thing that had caused pain for so many years. Once the sliver was removed, the finger quickly healed, and to this day, there remains no evidence of any injury. In a similar way, an unforgiving heart harbors so much needless pain. When we apply the healing ointment of the Savior’s Atonement, He will soften our heart and help us to change. He can heal the wounded soul (see Jacob 2:8). I am convinced that most of us want to forgive, but we find it very hard to do. When we have experienced an injustice, we may be quick to say, “That person did wrong. They deserve punishment. Where is the justice?” We mistakenly think that if we forgive, somehow justice will not be served and punishments will be avoided. This simply is not the case. God will mete out a punishment that is fair, for mercy cannot rob justice (see Alma 42:25). God lovingly assures you and me: “Leave judgment alone with me, for it is mine and I will repay. [But let] peace be with you” (D&C 82:23). The Book of Mormon prophet Jacob also promised that God “will console you in your afflictions, and he will plead your cause, and send down justice upon those who seek your destruction” (Jacob 3:1). As victims, if we are faithful, we can take great comfort in knowing that God will compensate us for every injustice we experience. Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin stated: “The Lord compensates the faithful for every loss. … Every tear today will eventually be returned a hundredfold with tears of rejoicing and gratitude.” As we strive to forgive others, let us also try to remember that we are all growing spiritually, but we are all at different levels. While it is easy to observe the changes and growth in the physical body, it is difficult to see the growth in our spirits. One key to forgiving others is to try to see them as God sees them. At times, God may part the curtain and bless us with the gift to see into the heart, soul, and spirit of another person who has offended us. This insight may even lead to an overwhelming love for that person. The scriptures teach us that God’s love for His children is perfect. He knows their potential for good, regardless of their past. By all accounts, there could not have been a more aggressive or harsh enemy of the followers of Jesus Christ than Saul of Tarsus. Yet once God showed Saul light and truth, there was never a more devoted, enthusiastic, or fearless disciple of the Savior. Saul became the Apostle Paul. His life offers a wonderful example of how God sees people not only as they currently are but also as they may become. We all have, in our own lives, Saul-like individuals with Paul-like potential. Can you imagine how our families, our communities, and the world at large might change if we all tried to see each other as God sees us? Too often we look at the offender the way we would look at an iceberg--we see only the tip and not beneath the surface. We do not know all that is going on in a person’s life. We do not know their past; we do not know their struggles; we do not know the pains they carry. Brothers and sisters, please do not misunderstand. To forgive is not to condone. We do not rationalize bad behavior or allow others to mistreat us because of their struggles, pains, or weaknesses. But we can gain greater understanding and peace when we see with a broader perspective. Certainly those who are less spiritually mature may indeed make serious mistakes--yet none of us should be defined only by the worst thing we have ever done. God is the perfect judge. He sees beneath the surface. He knows all and sees all (see 2 Nephi 2:24). He has said, “I, the Lord, will forgive whom I will forgive, but of you it is required to forgive all men” (D&C 64:10). Christ Himself, when He was unjustly accused, then savagely assaulted, beaten, and left suffering upon the cross, in that very moment said, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). In our shortsightedness, we may sometimes find it easy to develop resentments toward others who do not act or think the way we do. We may form intolerant attitudes based on such things as rooting for opposing sports teams, holding different political views, or having different religious beliefs. President Russell M. Nelson gave wise counsel when he said, “Opportunities to listen to those of diverse religious or political persuasion can promote tolerance and learning.” The Book of Mormon speaks of a time when “the people of the church began to be lifted up in the pride of their eyes, and … began to be scornful, one towards another, and … began to persecute those that did not believe according to their own will and pleasure” (Alma 4:8). Let us all remember that God looketh not upon the color of the jersey or the political party. Instead, as Ammon declared, “[God] looketh down upon all the children of men; and he knows all the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Alma 18:32). Brothers and sisters, in the competitions of life, if we win, let us win with grace. If we lose, let us lose with grace. For if we live with grace toward one another, grace shall be our reward at the last day. Just as we are all victims to the misdeeds of others at one time or another, we are also sometimes the offender. We all fall short and have need of grace, mercy, and forgiveness. We must remember that forgiveness of our own sins and offenses is conditioned upon our forgiving others. The Savior said:“For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: “But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses” (Matthew 6:14–15). Of all the things the Savior could have said in the Lord’s Prayer, which is remarkably short, it is interesting that He chose to include “And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors” (Matthew 6:12; 3 Nephi 13:11). Forgiveness is the very reason God sent His Son, so let us rejoice in His offering to heal us all. The Savior’s Atonement is not just for those who need to repent; it is also for those who need to forgive. If you are having trouble forgiving another person or even yourself, ask God to help you. Forgiveness is a glorious, healing principle. We do not need to be a victim twice. We can forgive. I witness of God’s enduring love and patience for all of His children and of His desire that we love one another as He loves us (see John 15:9, 12). As we do so, we will break through the darkness of this world into the glory and majesty of His kingdom in heaven. We will be free. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
I know this church is true with all my heart and I will never deny that! I love my mission and the many miracles that I witness every day! God is our loving Heavenly Father! Every single one of us is imperfect and we all make mistakes but let us remember our Savior Jesus Christ who paid that price so that we can become clean again and someday return to live with our Heavenly Father.
I love y'all and I hope you have a great week!!
Con Amor,
Hermana Mann
