Monday, May 8, 2017

Elder CJones: Messages From Home and Other Blessings

"Anyone who imagines that bliss is normal is going to waste a lot of time running around shouting that he's been robbed. The fact is that most putts don't drop. Most beef is tough. Most children grow up to be just ordinary people. Most successful [lives] require a high degree of [toleration]."
-President Gordon B Hinckley quoting Jenkins Lloyd Jones



Some weeks are hard and others aren't.

Some days get hard and others are days when people want to listen.

The mission is most definitely the hardest thing I have ever done. It's not easy but it's do-able and worth it.

These past weeks have been the difficult type--not easy with my companion, with the people, and with the branch that I'm serving in. The mission is difficult. But, this week I, for sure, got a testimony of families.

Our goal in the mission is to teach about families. Families are so critically important because they are so important to God. We haven't found a lot of families to teach. But, I know one of the reasons why we have families-- that that's so we can support one another.



Since the beginning of the mission, I have not failed to get a letter from my brother Zeram, as well as both of my parents. I've noticed that my family is the one, constant support for me. My family is so important to me and I have gained a stronger love for my family as I have been out here.

Through the hard times family members can support one another. Last week, I got a letter from Zeram, and as usual, his letter was filled with something powerful. He wrote: "Can't wait to hear from you!! I know you are doing amazing things!! You are setting an example to everyone. A lot of people ask how you are doing and look up to you. Love you and wish you a great and spiritual week ahead!!"

From a General Conference Talk, President Gordon B. Hinckley said,

We see some around us who are indifferent concerning the future of this work, who are apathetic, who speak of limitations, who express fears, who spend their time digging out and writing about what they regard to be weaknesses which really are of no consequence. With doubt concerning its past, they have no vision concerning its future.
Well was it said of old, 'Where there is no vision, the people perish' (Prov. 29:18). There is no place in this work for those who believe only in the gospel of doom and gloom. The gospel is good news. It is a message of triumph. It is a cause to be embraced with enthusiasm.
The Lord never said that there would not be troubles. Our people have known afflictions of every sort as those who have opposed this work have come upon them. But faith has shown through all their sorrows. This work has consistently moved forward and has never taken a backward step since its inception. I think of the boy Joseph persecuted and ridiculed by those his senior. But the pain of the wounds of that persecution was tempered by the declaration of Moroni, who told him that God had a work for him to do; and that his name “should be had for good and evil among all nations, kindreds, and tongues, or that it should be both good and evil spoken of among all people” (JS—H 1:33).

I know that we were sent in our families for a reason. One of those reasons is that a family is just a simple support system! I love my family and hope that we all can grow a love for our families!!

--
Love you all!
Elder Corom Jones

"Life is like an old-time rail Journey --delays, sidetracks, smoke, dust, cinders, and jolts, interspersed only occasionally by beautiful vistas and thrilling bursts of speed. The trick is to thank the Lord for letting you have the ride." -Gordon B Hinckley quoting Jenkins Lloyd Jones


No comments: