Stressful week, but all in all pretty good.
Can't believe that it is
already Febrero, que crazy! The last week of the month is always the
worst, gotta make sure that the baptisms don't fall and all that. This
month in our area we ended up with 6 baptisms and 26 in the zone. I
spent the whole week looking for new people, didn't find squat, kinda
rare here. Finally we have a normal p-day, I slept all day. It was so
nice!
Our baptisms last week. We baptized the two little girls of
Meyling, they are so cute!
Meyling didn't get baptized because the guy
hadn't left the house yet, but we had a miracle. Saturday night right
before the baptism, out of no where, he left the house and went back to El
Salvador. It was a miracle. Now Meyling will be getting baptized this
Saturday. She is a super humble lady.
We also have been teaching a family. The
parents don't really want much in the way of church, but their three kids love the church.
Saturday morning the parents fought and the mom took the girl and left
to Tipitapa (2 hours away) and so that was a big problem. The two other
kids were just at their house all day waiting for their dad to come home
so they could go get baptized. He never came home. So we baptized two
of the three on Sunday morning, and we should baptize the girl this
Saturday if all goes well. If any of these problems would have happened
in any other mission, you would just wait til all the problems were
solved. It's a lot different in this mission.
On the 21st, we
contacted a guy named Danny (not Danny Ashworth). He is 23. Ever since we
contacted him, I felt something special about him. He came to church
that week. Loved it, felt something that he has never felt before.
Yesterday he also came to church. He told us that he went to work on Saturday and his boss told him that he needed to work on Sunday morning. He told his boss, "No," and that he would stay at work all night to finish
the work so that he could go to church on Sunday morning. So he stayed
at work til 2 am to finish all his work. He still came to church. So
awesome! Should be getting baptized soon.
Not much more to say on my part. I read a super awesome talk.
Continually
studying the scriptures helps us keep our eyes, minds, and hearts
focused on the Savior, and as we apply and live the teachings found in
the scriptures, we become more like Him.
During their journey
in the wilderness, Lehi and his family awoke one morning to find "a
round ball of curious workmanship" on the ground. It had two spindles,
one pointing "the way whither they should go" (1 Nephi 16:10). The
Liahona, also provided "a new writing" that gave them "understanding
concerning the ways of the Lord." This writing was "changed from time to
time, according to the faith and diligence which they game unto it." (1
Nephi 16:28-29) The brass plates and the Liahona constituted their
scriptures, and Lehi's people were expected to study and give heed to
them continually. If they did so, they progressed in their journey. If
they did not, they tarried in the wilderness and were afflicted with
hunger and thirst.
What was the Lord trying to teach them, and us through the workings of the Liahona???
One of the primary purposes of the scriptures is to help us know, understand, and become like the Savior.
Lehi's dream.
In
Lehi's dream, four groups of people were represented. The first three
groups entered the path that led to the tree of life. The gate to the
path is baptism, members of the church. The fourth group led directly to
the great and spacious building.
Group 1:
"And I
saw numberless concourses of people, many of whom were pressing forward,
that they might obtain the path which led them unto the tree by which I
stood. And it came to pass that they did come forth, and commence in
the path which led to the tree. And it came to pass that there arose a
mist of darkness, yea, even an exceedingly great mist of darkness
insomuch that they who had commenced in the path did lose their way,
that they wandered off and were lost." (1 Nephi 8:21-23). Members of this
group apparently did not read or study their scriptures, watch general
conference, or attend Sunday meetings. Consequently, they lost their
way.
Group 2:
"And it came to pass that I beheld
others pressing forward, and they came forth and caught hold of the end
of the rod of iron, and they did press forward through the mist of
darkness, clinging to the rod of iron, even until they did come forth
and partake of the fruit of the tree... And after they had tasted of the
fruit they were ashamed, because of those that were scoffing at them,
and they fell away into forbidden paths and were lost (1 Nephi 8:24,28).
Note that this group caught hold of and clung to the rod of iron. They
held on until they reached the tree of life and partook of its fruit.
But they became ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ, stopped focusing
on the Savior, and were distracted by the attractions, temptations, and
riches of the world. Then they became lost.
The key to
understanding these verses is the phrase "clinging to the rod of iron." I
compare the word clinging to a "white knuckle" experience. If you have
been white water rafting, you recall that you clung so hard to the raft
that your knuckles turned white. Then, when you come to calm waters,
what did you do? You let go!
In the gospel context, this can
occur when you are asked to prepare a talk or when you face a crisis,
such as a death in the family or the breakup of a relationship. You seek
spiritual guidance and support because of your spiritual weakness.
Then, when the crisis is over, you let go! You put the scriptures back
on the shelf, go back to old habits of infrequent church attendance, and
abandon daily prayer, at least until the next crisis, or white water
experience arrives. In other words, you turn to the Savior for help only
when a desperate need arises instead of continually.
Members
of this group are baptized, have the priesthood, received temple
ordinances, served full time missions, and married in the temple. But
they let go! They stopped reading the scriptures continually, fell into
forbidden paths, and were lost.
Group 3:
"Behold,
Lehi saw other multitudes pressing forward, and they came and caught
hold of the end of the rod of iron, and they did press their way
forward, continually holding fast to the rod of iron, until they came
forth and fell down and partook of the fruit of the tree (1 Nephi 8:30).
Note the phrase "continually holding fast to the rod of iron." This
group read the scriptures continually. They kept their focus on the
Savior continually.
Start everyday with the scriptures. Prayer
and scripture study go hand in hand. Constant prayer will lead you to
the scriptures, and continual scripture study will lead you to prayer.
Both keep you focused on the Savior and give you access to revelation
and to the peace that can come only by "continually holding fast to the
rod of iron." Prayer and scripture study will lead you to the temple. They
will make you want to keep the Sabbath day holy. They will help you
avoid and overcome the temptations of the adversary.
"They
came forth and fell down and partook of the fruit of the tree." The tree
represents the love of God, as manifested through His Son, Jesus Christ.
Those in Group 2 who arrived at the tree did not fall down, as did
those in group 3. Is it possible to be in the presence of the Son of God
and not know it? You have only to read the New Testament to find the
answer. The Savior ministered for three years, teaching and performing
miracles, but few recognized Him for who He was.
If you
immerse yourself in the scriptures each day of your life, you will have
strength to resist serious transgression. More importantly, you will come
to know the Savior. You will be able to keep your eyes, mind, and heart
focused on Him. As you come to know Jesus Christ, apply His teachings,
and follow His example, you will become like Him. As you become like
Him, your will be a candidate to live in His presence.
Love you all, have a great week!
Elder Copeland
