Week 3 - August 23, 2012

 

Hello everybody!

 

I have completed 3 weeks here at the Provo MTC! Everything is going fantastic. Some of my district left for Guatemala this week, so our group is much smaller, but it's cool to see them get out into the field! Today we had the opportunity to go to the Provo temple, and I really enjoy being able to go to one of the Houses of the Lord.

We had the INCREDIBLE priviledge of hearing from a modern day apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ this week. Elder Neil L. Andersen of the quorum of the 12 apostles came and visited us this last Tuesday. He spoke about 9 different sayings and pieces of wisdom he has heard from President Thomas S. Monson. One of my favorite points that he made was that we need to listen to the whisperings of the spirit, and do what we are told by inspiration. If we respond and do what we are prompted to, we will be given further responsibilities to do the Lord's work, and be more receptive in the future. Even if these promptings don't always seem distinct or make sense in the moment, they can be very important and accomplish things that you would not have supposed.

Related to this topic, there is a recorded broadcast played here on Sundays by Elder Bednar that talks about listening to the spirit. He shared 3 stories about how at the time, following the spirit, he didn't realize how important his actions really were, but how he came to realize over time that they were absolutely critical for a variety of reasons. I encourage you to find and listen to this talk, and see how important it is to listen to the Spirit.

I have a testimony that the spirit is very important to guide and comfort us. I know that if we are living righteously then we are entitled to be led by this gift from Heavenly Father. It's especially important as a missionary, because the Spirit is what convinces people of the truth of the gospel. It matters much less what two 19 year old boys say, and matters so much more what the Holy Spirit testifies to one's heart. I know this is true and I bear testimony of this gift and its power to lead and guide us to do what is right. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.