President David
O. McKay taught in a general conference address: “What you sincerely in
your heart think of Christ will determine what you are, will largely
determine what your acts will be” (CR, Apr. 1951, 93).
Our level or degree of faith in Jesus Christ effects how we react to our circumstances.
Laman and Lemuel's description of the wilderness experience:
"And
thou art like unto our father, led away by the foolish imaginations of
his heart; yea, he hath led us out of the land of Jerusalem, and we have
wandered in the wilderness for these many years; and our women have
toiled, being big with child; and they have borne children in the
wilderness and suffered all things, save it were death; and it would
have been better that they had died before they came out of Jerusalem
than to have suffered these afflictions.
Behold, these many years we have suffered in the wilderness, which
time we might have enjoyed our possessions and the land of our
inheritance; yea, and we might have been happy.
(1 Ne. 17: 20-21)
Nephi's description of these same events:
"And
it came to pass that we did again take our journey in the wilderness;
and we did travel nearly eastward from that time forth. And we did
travel and wade through much affliction in the wilderness; and our women
did bear children in the wilderness.
And so great were the blessings of the Lord upon us, that while we
did live upon raw meat in the wilderness, our women did give plenty of
suck for their children, and were strong, yea, even like unto the men;
and they began to bear their journeyings without murmurings.
And thus we see that the commandments of God must be fulfilled. And
if it so be that the children of men keep the commandments of God he
doth nourish them, and strengthen them, and provide means whereby they
can accomplish the thing which he has commanded them; wherefore, he did
provide means for us while we did sojourn in the wilderness.
And we did sojourn for the space of many years, yea, even eight years in the wilderness."
(1 Ne. 17: 1-4)
After
experiencing the exact same external conditions, (Nephi was not in a
first class cabin) they describe the events very differently.
Perhaps, the main reason why they viewed things so differently is that "Laman and Lemuel,...knew not the dealings of that God who had created them." (1 Ne. 2: 12)
Our level or degree of faith in Jesus Christ effects how we react to our circumstances.
The same pot of boiling water can harden an egg, while at the same time soften a carrot.
People react differently to afflictions.
For instance, we read, “Behold, because of the exceedingly great length
of the war (14 years) between the Nephites and the Lamanites many had
become hardened . . . and many were softened because of their
afflictions” (Alma 62:41) (see also Alma 47:36). The war was the same
length for all people; yet out of the same experience, many were
hardened and many were softened.
Alma states: “I do know that whosoever shall put their trust in God shall be supported in their trials, and their troubles, and their afflictions, and shall be lifted up at the last day” (Alma 36:3).
Of course being supported, is different than having a trial eliminated or removed......
Thank you for always expressing a cheerful positive attitude in all your emails. You remind me of this verse: "let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power" (D & C 123: 17).
On
March 28, 2014, we had zone conference with fifty (50) missionaries.
The man sitting next to me is president João Bueno, who serves as the
first counselor in the mission presidency.
You may recall my email from February 14, 2014, about Fernando
Dominges Cambarame. He is easy to love. He is 23 years old, and wants
badly to serve a mission. Fernando joined the Church in 2009, after his
older brother introduced him to the Church, but the brother (who was
only 28) died in 2008, prior to Fernando's baptism. Fernando never
really met his father, as he died when he was a baby. His mother also
died in 2011, while she was investigating the Church. This sad story is
not that uncommon here.
A requirement to
serve a mission is for the member to pay for their own passport.
Although the cost is only $84, this amount requires a substantial
sacrifice which restricts many from serving. Fernando, obtained his
first passport in 2012, but it was stolen, so he was required to pay for
a second passport, which he did in June 2013, but by then, his medical
exams were outdated, so today (Friday, February 14th) we scanned and
emailed a new set of medical exams. Hopefully, this will complete his
mission application and he can begin the three (3) month wait to receive
his missionary call.....Doesn't this make you want to contribute to the
General Missionary Fund ?
On March 5th we
scanned the final medical document he needed and on Friday, April 4th,
It was our privilege to hand Fernando his mission call...
Later that night, thanks to Mom's sense of adventure, we went to
Isabel Da Silva's home to witness the opening of his call. It is 7:30 PM
but very dark, as there is only a single 40 watt light bulb on the
outside of this home. Isabell's husband reads the call letter. He is to
report to the MTC in Brazil on June 25th, assigned to Angola, Luanda
mission.
This is Fernando and his friends that came to support him.
Sure love you!
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