June 17, 2014
Hey there! Hope you've been having an excellent week. We've
had a blessed week and we have been seeing many miracles throughout the
mission. We are working to baptize 100 people in the month of June, and we are
well on our way. On Saturday morning, we had reached only 12 baptisms
throughout the mission. Throughout the day, however, announcements came by text
about more and more who were baptized on Saturday! The same happened Sunday,
and now we've reached 22.
Thank you for emailing me and updating me on everything
that's going on at home. I'm so indebted for an awesome family, and to the Lord
for the many blessings he gives us! Isn't it wonderful? We will actually be
going to the temple on Tuesday the 24th as well! The Seattle Temple
This week, I have been studying really hard to strengthen my
testimony of the Restoration of the Gospel. I am learning more about believing
and then acting accordingly. Faith gives us mental power to comprehend. It
fades if we don't take action. I sort of imagine it this way:
Imagine a big grassy field with a HUGE sheet or blanket laid
out evenly across it. You are standing at the edge of the field. The plan is
for you to cross the field by going under the sheet. Your guide will be the
voice of your friend across the field. You lift its edge and go under, heading
towards the other side. It's fairly dark, and the blanket rubs across your face
and brushes through your hair.
You have your hands in front of you, lifting the sheet to
see the ground at your feet, and you slowly move forward. As you walk into the
blanket it tries to tangle at your feet, so you have to lift it as you go. You
can push and lift it, inch by inch. You also discover you can throw it up high
and send a billowing wave in front of you (obviously the most fun way to do it)
and it slowly flutters down until it rests on your head again, and your path is
covered. You continually move forward and try to maintain a straight path
toward your friend until you reach the other side.
For me, spiritual experiences are a bit like this. We are
born into mortality, and the blanket of the veil is over us. The Friend's voice
is the guide. We have to keep our hands out in front of us, lifting the blanket
by work; study, and prayers of sincere heart and real intent. On occasion we
can cast off the veil and get a greater glimpse for a moment, but then it
slowly settles back down over us. It's important that in these moments we move
forward diligently to cover the ground that is revealed. Our progress increases
as we become more practiced at casting off the world that tries to smoother us,
always giving heed to the voice in front of us.
For me, the work to grow my testimony is to cast off the
worldly and see a little more clearly. I am feasting upon the words of Christ,
and developing charity for all men. Those works and efforts ensure my forward
progress and my safe arrival. The truth is that they are much more important
than I realized before! I know that any Latter-Day Saint who will zealously
love the scriptures, and who will give all effort to meaningful prayer will be
safe and happy in life! Such a marvelous plan of simple tools and guidance.
Love it!
In addition, I know that it is Heavenly Father's work that
we are participants in. Much of the fear for sharing the Gospel with others is
expelled when we realize that the power at work is not our own. If we refresh
our perspective and realize that it's Heavenly Father;s power, then the work
seems much more simple, and we tend to volunteer ourselves for His purposes,
placing ourselves at His disposal. I don't imagine that Nephi the Son of
Helaman could have done any of that great preaching without God's power. One
interesting thing is that he was literally praying for guidance, and as he
finished his prayer he found himself right in the middle of a teaching
opportunity. You, too, can pray throughout the day and find just the right time
to make mention of the Church.
I know that the harvest is great, and that the field is all
white and ready! According to the Lord's word, there are so many souls ready
for truth. The Gospel will ring true to them. It will reach a part of them that
everybody has; their eternal spirit. The Spirit of our Heavenly Father will
descend on them as you humbly whisper truth to their hearts. Treasure up the
simple truths that we know as Latter-Day Saints, and then mention it to
someone. You never know but that they might get a taste of it and want a little
more! As well, when occasions come for boldness, use charity and raise up in
testimony to your brothers. That will bring the Spirit very strongly.
Love you! I know this is the true, singular restored Gospel
that brings peace and safety in trouble. I love the Lord, and I invite all men
to go to Him, as he draws all men near. I bear my testimony of the divine
mission of the Savior, and the reality of His eternal plan. The beauty of the
Atoning Sacrifice and the Resurrection are astounding to me, and they are
eternal truths which I cherish. I give my testimony, in the name of Jesus
Christ, amen.
Love,
Elder Talbot
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