Elder CJones: Malos con Estrellas y un Bautismo

Baptism of Carlos

Well, this week was crazy! To say the least, we had another baptism. A little 9 year old in the ward, Carlos. His mom is a member, but his dad isn't. So, we were able to go and teach him a little and baptize him and now his little brother can't wait until the end of the year to be baptized.

Nothing much happens out of the normal during the week. Well, I guess I should say that I'm used to the normal things that happen out here, but maybe not so normal for you. Here, it is completely normal to see people carrying an M-16 or an AK-47, it's just something I have gotten used to. Here, the government is not powerful at all, so here, there are almost no laws.

Afternoon Tracting

There are so many things you can do as you study the scriptures. I have been really focused in the Book of Mormon this week. I have been interested in all the people and how they are all related and all the things happen in relation to time and other people. I have learned some really interesting things as I have been studying and making a tree . . . kind of like a family tree with everyone in the Book of Mormon--and I mean everyone! It has helped me a lot as I read and study this amazing book!

As I have been studying the scriptures, I have noticed that here in Mexico, at least where I am, there's a similarity related to the time of the Nephites right during the wars and when the Gadianton Robbers were wrecking havoc on the people who believe and started to take over the government and eventually did. The things that happen here are very dangerous and they happen at random times and random places. There are gun fights everyday and people die. We call them Malos. Malos are the people, the men that are members of the drug cartels. They carry and sell illegal weapons and drugs. Of course, the government sends the marines to take care of them, but both sides are highly skilled, so deaths are high and the area gets really dangerous.

Elder Martinez and Me

This week we invited the Bishop to a lesson with us and we talked about faith in the lesson. It was a normal lesson and he helped us testify about the truthfulness of the message. I learned one really cool thing at the end of the lesson. The bishop gave her a homework assignment to read 1 Nephi 17, about when Nephi needs to build the ship. He told her to read and think about it like this, instead of reading it like the Lord is asking Nephi to build a ship in His way, change the thought as if the Lord was asking you to build yourself in the way He asks you to. I went home and studying this chapter and I want to share this with you.

8 And it came to pass that the Lord spake unto me, saying: Thou shalt construct [myself], after the manner which I shall show thee, that I may carry [myself] [in this world].

9 And I said: Lord, whither shall I go that I may find [the qualities] molten, that I may [improve myself] to construct [myself] after the manner which thou hast shown unto me?

10 And it came to pass that the Lord told me whither I should go to find [the qualities], that I might make [myself].

17 And when my brethren saw that I was about to build [myself], they began to murmur against me, saying: Our brother is a fool, for he thinketh that he can build [himself]; yea, and he also thinketh that he can [improve his worthiness].

18 And thus my brethren did complain against me, and were desirous that they might not labor, for they did not believe that I could build [myself]; neither would they believe that I was instructed of the Lord.

19 And now it came to pass that I, Nephi, was exceedingly sorrowful because of the hardness of their hearts; and now when they saw that I began to be sorrowful they were glad in their hearts, insomuch that they did rejoice over me, saying: We knew that ye could not construct [thyself], for we knew that ye were lacking in judgment; wherefore, thou canst not accomplish so great a work.

49 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said unto them that they should murmur no more against their father; neither should they withhold their labor from me, for God had commanded me that I should build [myself].

50 And I said unto them: If God had commanded me to do all things I could do them. If he should command me that I should say unto this water, be thou earth, it should be earth; and if I should say it, it would be done.

51 And now, if the Lord has such great power, and has wrought so many miracles among the children of men, how is it that he cannot instruct me, that I should build [and improve myself]?

I know that we can construct ourselves in a way that will be pleasing to the Lord, but we must first ask ourselves, "Are constructing ourselves in the ways of the world or in the way that the Lord will show us?" Are we like Laman and Lemuel who complain that we can't do it? Remember that with God, all things are possible.

"I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them" (1 Nephi 3:7).

We can improve ourselves as we know that the Lord has the plans for us to follow.

--
Elder Corom Jones

"And now as I said concerning faith—faith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things; therefore if ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true." -Alma 32:21

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