Missionary Journal
England (May Wk 2 2009)
Monday, 04 May 2009
Today again was “P” day, and we cleaned the flat around the mess that will be the kitchen and did laundry. As we were going to the laundry to dry our clothes we passed this bush that had grown over the fence just down from our flat. The flowers are brilliant yellow and it seems to grow rampant.
Today again was “P” day, and we cleaned the flat around the mess that will be the kitchen and did laundry. As we were going to the laundry to dry our clothes we passed this bush that had grown over the fence just down from our flat. The flowers are brilliant yellow and it seems to grow rampant.
Tuesday, 05 May 2009
This morning started out with District Meeting. Our new District Leader (Elder Harding) taught us a great lesson on how we get personal revelation.
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What we’re seeing here is that revelation can come from two different individuals: First, Heavenly Father and Second, Satan. Both have pipelines right into the heart or CORE of our being. Fortunately, we have our agency (in this case a clapper value that swings back and forth) so that we can stop revelations from one or the other depending on which way we swing. Both individuals bring what we call L&T. In Heavenly Father’s Case, L&T = Light and Truth. In Satan’s Case, L&T = Lies and Traditions. (NOTE: Traditions aren’t bad if they are good, righteous traditions.) We hope that there will come a day when people will be so righteous that Satan will have NO power over the hearts of men and women, and all will live in truth and happiness (see Ether 8:26, below).
Ether 8:26 - Wherefore, I, Moroni, am commanded to write these things that evil may be done away, and that the time may come that Satan may have no power upon the hearts of the children of men, but that they may be persuaded to do good continually, that they may come unto the fountain of all righteousness and be saved.
2 Nephi 33:1 (see above) said the Holy Ghost carrieth truth and light unto the heart, but we must take it into our hearts because God will never force anyone to know the truth. There are several scriptures that talk about being compelled:
Alma 42:27 - Therefore, O my son, whosoever will come may come and partake of the waters of life freely; and whosoever will not come the same is not compelled to come; but in the last day it shall be restored unto him according to his deeds.
D&C 58:26 - For behold, it is not meet that I should command in all things; for he that is compelled in all things, the same is a slothful and not a wise servant; wherefore he receiveth no reward.
D&C 121:46 - The Holy Ghost shall be thy constant companion, and thy scepter an unchanging scepter of righteousness and truth; and thy dominion shall be an everlasting dominion, and without compulsory means it shall flow unto thee forever and ever.
We decided as a District that if we focus on what comes from Heavenly Father and then build on it, we will move the valve over and nothing will get in from Satan. We want the desires of our hearts to be for the right things. We want to be here on a mission to help those we learn to love find their way to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. Not because it was something we felt duty-bound to do or (in the young Elder’s case) because young women look favorably on returned missionaries. When we do the right things for the wrong reasons, it benefits others but we get no spiritual profit out of it. Moroni 7:6 - For behold, God hath said a man being evil cannot do that which is good; for if he offereth a gift, or prayeth unto God, except he shall do it with real intent it profiteth him nothing.
Wednesday, 06 May 2009
We spent today visiting members around Weymouth and I worked on my Sunday School lesson. It was a low-key day.
Thursday, 07 May 2009
Today was Zone Conference and we received a wonderful announcement: In early June, President Uchtdorf, Elder Anderson, President Oaks of the Seventy, and President Cheryl C. Lant of the Primary are doing a multi-stake stake conference out of the Hyde Park Chapel in London. President Uchtdorf and Elder Anderson were going to do a mission tour prior to stake conference. Instead of that they are having a special meeting for all missionaries in the UK on Saturday, 06 June, at 4:00 pm. We are just in awe over this opportunity. Since we are seniors, we’ll get to sit up front (there is some benefit to being really old). Then we will watch stake conference via satellite at the Poole Stake Center. President Swinton is talking about having buses (coaches) pick up us at Stake Centers and bussing every last one of us to London (3 hours from here and more for others).
Of the talks from Zone Conference, I greatly appreciated President Erwin’s (1st Counselor in the Mission Presidency). He told of a man, frustrated with his children, who went into bedroom, knelt down, and vented to the Lord: “Heavenly Father I’m trying to teach correct principles and my children won’t listen.” Then he heard a voice saying, “Now you know how I feel. Get off your knees and get on with it.”
Matthew 5:40 - And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also. (All the great benefits in life with with service.)
So, we have two choices: (1) Sit and feel sorry for ourselves or (2) Get on with it and be of service. Moral of the Story: Serve with the right attitude and be happy about it.
We also had a little bit of amusement at Zone Conference. We have a new Sister Missionary in the London South Mission who is from Livermore CA. She’s been in the mission for a whole week. When we broke for lunch Walt went over a spoke with her for a few minutes. She took one look at his badge and asked, “Does your wife do a blog?” Walt said, “Yes.” It seems her mother googled the London South Mission and got my blog when she was looking to find out just what her daughter would be facing. This is fun.
Friday, 08 May 2009
Today we spent in Portland. We saw just about everybody on the island. With the exception of one or two people we just can’t ever find at home, we’ve gotten to the point that we visit about 95% of the members (active and less-active) every month. I’m hoping they don’t get tired of seeing us.
Sunday, 10 May 2009
Today was Mother’s Day (but not here). My Mother’s Day rose (from the UK Mother’s Day [Mothering Sunday] in March) very quickly outgrew its cute little basket, so we repotted it in a much bigger plain pot that just fits in the kitchen window. It has had quite a few buds on it for a while, but was blooming on Mother’s Day, with 8 more buds it all stages waiting to bloom. Goodness, I love flowers.
After church we made some more visits and called it a day and the end of a week.
This morning started out with District Meeting. Our new District Leader (Elder Harding) taught us a great lesson on how we get personal revelation.
.jpg)
What we’re seeing here is that revelation can come from two different individuals: First, Heavenly Father and Second, Satan. Both have pipelines right into the heart or CORE of our being. Fortunately, we have our agency (in this case a clapper value that swings back and forth) so that we can stop revelations from one or the other depending on which way we swing. Both individuals bring what we call L&T. In Heavenly Father’s Case, L&T = Light and Truth. In Satan’s Case, L&T = Lies and Traditions. (NOTE: Traditions aren’t bad if they are good, righteous traditions.) We hope that there will come a day when people will be so righteous that Satan will have NO power over the hearts of men and women, and all will live in truth and happiness (see Ether 8:26, below).Ether 8:26 - Wherefore, I, Moroni, am commanded to write these things that evil may be done away, and that the time may come that Satan may have no power upon the hearts of the children of men, but that they may be persuaded to do good continually, that they may come unto the fountain of all righteousness and be saved.
2 Nephi 33:1 (see above) said the Holy Ghost carrieth truth and light unto the heart, but we must take it into our hearts because God will never force anyone to know the truth. There are several scriptures that talk about being compelled:
Alma 42:27 - Therefore, O my son, whosoever will come may come and partake of the waters of life freely; and whosoever will not come the same is not compelled to come; but in the last day it shall be restored unto him according to his deeds.
D&C 58:26 - For behold, it is not meet that I should command in all things; for he that is compelled in all things, the same is a slothful and not a wise servant; wherefore he receiveth no reward.
D&C 121:46 - The Holy Ghost shall be thy constant companion, and thy scepter an unchanging scepter of righteousness and truth; and thy dominion shall be an everlasting dominion, and without compulsory means it shall flow unto thee forever and ever.
We decided as a District that if we focus on what comes from Heavenly Father and then build on it, we will move the valve over and nothing will get in from Satan. We want the desires of our hearts to be for the right things. We want to be here on a mission to help those we learn to love find their way to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. Not because it was something we felt duty-bound to do or (in the young Elder’s case) because young women look favorably on returned missionaries. When we do the right things for the wrong reasons, it benefits others but we get no spiritual profit out of it. Moroni 7:6 - For behold, God hath said a man being evil cannot do that which is good; for if he offereth a gift, or prayeth unto God, except he shall do it with real intent it profiteth him nothing.
Wednesday, 06 May 2009
We spent today visiting members around Weymouth and I worked on my Sunday School lesson. It was a low-key day.
Thursday, 07 May 2009
Today was Zone Conference and we received a wonderful announcement: In early June, President Uchtdorf, Elder Anderson, President Oaks of the Seventy, and President Cheryl C. Lant of the Primary are doing a multi-stake stake conference out of the Hyde Park Chapel in London. President Uchtdorf and Elder Anderson were going to do a mission tour prior to stake conference. Instead of that they are having a special meeting for all missionaries in the UK on Saturday, 06 June, at 4:00 pm. We are just in awe over this opportunity. Since we are seniors, we’ll get to sit up front (there is some benefit to being really old). Then we will watch stake conference via satellite at the Poole Stake Center. President Swinton is talking about having buses (coaches) pick up us at Stake Centers and bussing every last one of us to London (3 hours from here and more for others).
Of the talks from Zone Conference, I greatly appreciated President Erwin’s (1st Counselor in the Mission Presidency). He told of a man, frustrated with his children, who went into bedroom, knelt down, and vented to the Lord: “Heavenly Father I’m trying to teach correct principles and my children won’t listen.” Then he heard a voice saying, “Now you know how I feel. Get off your knees and get on with it.”
Matthew 5:40 - And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also. (All the great benefits in life with with service.)
So, we have two choices: (1) Sit and feel sorry for ourselves or (2) Get on with it and be of service. Moral of the Story: Serve with the right attitude and be happy about it.
We also had a little bit of amusement at Zone Conference. We have a new Sister Missionary in the London South Mission who is from Livermore CA. She’s been in the mission for a whole week. When we broke for lunch Walt went over a spoke with her for a few minutes. She took one look at his badge and asked, “Does your wife do a blog?” Walt said, “Yes.” It seems her mother googled the London South Mission and got my blog when she was looking to find out just what her daughter would be facing. This is fun.
Friday, 08 May 2009
Today we spent in Portland. We saw just about everybody on the island. With the exception of one or two people we just can’t ever find at home, we’ve gotten to the point that we visit about 95% of the members (active and less-active) every month. I’m hoping they don’t get tired of seeing us.
Sunday, 10 May 2009
Today was Mother’s Day (but not here). My Mother’s Day rose (from the UK Mother’s Day [Mothering Sunday] in March) very quickly outgrew its cute little basket, so we repotted it in a much bigger plain pot that just fits in the kitchen window. It has had quite a few buds on it for a while, but was blooming on Mother’s Day, with 8 more buds it all stages waiting to bloom. Goodness, I love flowers.
After church we made some more visits and called it a day and the end of a week.
I received an e-mail from Chris that I finally saw this evening with a great picture of my 3 youngest for Mother’s Day. They’re out in front of the garden at home. What a lovely thought for their old Mum.
Tonight I’m going to get started on my Sunday School (I was right, I’m teaching Gospel Doctrine) and my Primary sharing time for next Sunday. Miss you all. Love you all. Jackie
Tonight I’m going to get started on my Sunday School (I was right, I’m teaching Gospel Doctrine) and my Primary sharing time for next Sunday. Miss you all. Love you all. Jackie
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