THE LIGHT OF CHRIST

ELLO BEAUTIFUL FAMILY!!

ANOTHER AMAZING WEEK IN MANLY.

Words of the week "SEKI SAPEI!" Tongan and Samoan. Good, cool, awesome. Saweeet. I love my Soa.

Best line of the week.

We had just finished teaching the plan of salvation to a beautiful family and we asked them to pray together to learn if it was a true plan. Their 8 year old daughter said the closing prayer, with clasped hands and eyes squeezed shut, and then says, "I asked God if it was true, and he said yes, because he wants my family to be together forever, and so do I."

Crying. Yep. They are amazing. 

Also, this week I finished the Old Testament! It has taken me a long time to read but I have now finished and studied all of the standard works on my mission. I feel so much closer to God because of it.

I have been thinking all morning about what my "story" is, and what legacy I would like to leave. To be honest, I think that this is only part one! I think that I need more time to think about it, but I hope that I can express some of the thoughts that I have had about my faith in Christ how it has grown, even in just the last 7 days.  

This past week, we had so many miracles, accompanied by so many things that could have tempted us to be discouraged. L was supposed to be baptized last Saturday. We had an amazing family night with him last Monday, and taught the word of wisdom, which he was already living. I have also never seen him so happy.

The next day when we saw him, he was not the same person. He was so upset. The adversary never gives up and is incredibly patient, choosing to strike at our most vulnerable moments.Fortunately, we spoke with L, addressed some of his concerns and he is ready to set another baptismal date.

I also had the single most terrifying experience on my mission. I will not write of it and I am fine, but again, the adversary is so strong. I am so grateful that I could immediately turn to the Lord and ask for His protection. After the incident and praying fervently with my companion, I felt a burning inside of me. I felt the Spirit so strongly, and I felt a peace that I had never felt so powerfully before.

As I was reading in Jacob 7, I thought more about this experience, and everything else that happened this week:

 3 And he labored diligently that he might lead away the hearts of the people, insomuch that he did lead away many hearts; and he knowing that I, Jacob, had faith in Christ who should come, he sought much opportunity that he might come unto me.

 5 And he had hope to shake me from the faith, notwithstanding the many revelations and the many things which I had seen concerning these things; for I truly had seen angels, and they had ministered unto me. And also, I had heard the voice of the Lord speaking unto me in very word, from time to time; wherefore, I could not be shaken.

 25 Wherefore, the people of Nephi did fortify against them with their arms, and with all their might, trusting in the God and rock of their salvation; wherefore, they became as yet, conquerors of their enemies.

I cannot think of a greater compliment than the things that we have encountered this week. How greatly the Lord must trust us to send me, and my companion, who has only been in the field 2 weeks, all of these experiences!

Sometimes, I am tempted to think, "Why? Why do these things happen to us, when we are trying so hard? Why are we not seeing the fruits of our labours?" I think that recently I have felt a bit frustrated and sad because we haven't had baptisms after all the set dates, and all the amazing people that we have met. Sometimes I wonder what I am doing wrong.

However, I revisit my 6 word vision:

"DON'T LET THAT OLD SERPENT GET YOU DOWN!" (Thanks Grandma!)

I can't think of a more peaceful promise, and the assurance that I should feel continually because I do know that all I have been called to do is love and serve.  I know that we are doing our best. I feel the spirit so powerfully in everything that we do.

After the upsetting experience, I opened my scriptures to D&C 88 and read:

 2 Behold, this is pleasing unto your Lord, and the angels rejoice over you; the alms of your prayers have come up into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth, and are recorded in the book of the names of the sanctified, even them of the celestial world.

 3 Wherefore, I now send upon you another Comforter, even upon you my friends, that it may abide in your hearts, even the Holy Spirit of promise; which other Comforter is the same that I promised unto my disciples, as is recorded in the testimony of John.

 7 Which truth shineth. This is the light of Christ. As also he is in the sun, and the light of the sun, and the power thereof by which it was made.

 11 And the light which shineth, which giveth you light, is through him who enlighteneth your eyes, which is the same light that quickeneth your understandings;

 12 Which light proceedeth forth from the presence of God to fill the immensity of space—

 13 The light which is in all things, which giveth life to all things, which is the law by which all things are governed, even the power of God who sitteth upon his throne, who is in the bosom of eternity, who is in the midst of all things.

Also in DC 50,

 27 Wherefore, he is possessor of all things; for all things aresubject unto him, both in heaven and on the earth, the life and the light, the Spirit and the power, sent forth by the will of the Father through Jesus Christ, his Son.

 28 But no man is possessor of all things except he be purified and cleansed from all sin.

 29 And if ye are purified and cleansed from all sin, ye shall ask whatsoever you will in the name of Jesus and it shall be done.

I know that as I have been studying virtue, I have seen the power that has come in our teaching.  I have felt a change in me.  How grateful I am to be a creature of light, and to be the child of a Being who IS light. For a few moments this week, I was exposed to something terrifying and dark. I felt as the prophets did in the Book of Mormon when they said they were encompassed by the deepest parts of hell.  In reality, I really did.  But as quickly as those feelings came, even more quickly did they flee, because we have this light, this power from God. I just can't express how grateful I am for that.  

This week, as I was playing the opening hymn in sacrament, I saw one of our investigators slip in the door. Where did he sit? At the very back corner, right by the door, and by all the families with their “busy” children.  Well, our chapel was packed, and there really wasn't anywhere else for us to sit, so I went and sat with him.   Then, 2 people walked into sacrament meeting who hadn't been to church in over 30 years. Remember that man I met on the street a few weeks ago? He came up to me and said, "Sister Lloyd, I promised you I would come. I'm going to come every week." As I sat between him, and our investigator, and watched the others walk into church, I realized that this church is so true- in a way that I have never before realized. This perfect gospel is a haven for imperfect people, myself included, who are all just trying to do their best. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints IS true with its fullness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Through the atonement of Christ, the gospel heals people. It gives them hope, and this gospel, with its priesthood leaders, holds the keys to help us receive and partake of the blessings of exaltation. I offered a silent prayer thanking Heavenly Father that he had chosen me to be a tiny part of it.

One of the most incredible miracles this week was being led by the Spirit in everything that we did. I can't even name all of the times that we stopped on the street and said a prayer and asked for guidance.  

To conclude, I hope that you can read "Redemption" this week by E. Christofferson, it is incredible. Redemption