It was a great week. I had my interview with President Resek, which went great. We talked a lot about testimony and the importance of knowing our purpose. I also spoke in sacrament meeting about the importance of a testimony. And it turned out pretty well. I wrote everything down in Spanish and studied it all week for Sunday. Well, they didn't have a microphone during sacrament meeting, so I had to speak extra loud! During the talk I remembered what I wrote, generally, but chose to follow the Spirit and kinda just talked. I looked down at my notes twice to read a scripture and a quote. I actually enjoyed it! At home, I didn't enjoy speaking in church that much. I would do it, but just read the paper I wrote! But I enjoyed talking! Kind weird!
I am learning how important it is to know how to obtain a testimony and the ways that we can strengthen our testimony. For us to receive a testimony, it comes through our efforts of fasting and prayer.
In Alma 5:45-46 it says:
45 And this is not all. Do ye not suppose that I know of these things myself? Behold, I testify unto you that I do know that these things whereof I have spoken are true. And how do ye suppose that I know of their surety?
46 Behold, I say unto you they are made known unto me by the Holy Spirit of God. Behold, I have fasted and prayed many days that I might know these things of myself. And now I do know of myself that they are true; for the Lord God hath made them manifest unto me by his Holy Spirit; and this is the spirit of revelation which is in me.
As we have the desire to know something is true, we can pray and fast, and through the Holy Ghost, know without doubt that it is true. It is through the Holy Ghost, which testifies of truth, that we know it is true. We can feel it, and it is something that we cannot deny.
But how do we grow our testimony. This is simple! As we read, pray, and continue to study and ponder the things in the gospel, our testimony will start to grow. But, for it to grow, we need to be worth and obeying the commandments of God. He can only bless us when we are following him and his commandments. We can read everyday from the Book of Mormon, but it won't do much if we aren't being obedient to receive the Lord's and the blessings.
It is also important that we share our testimonies. When we share it, it helps build out own testimonies, but also builds those who hear it.
So it turns out that we didn't baptize Ismael. He had problems with the interview so we rescheduled it for the 10th of March. We are still trying to help him grow his testimony of the Book of Mormon. He said it's true but hasn't prayed to know it's true, which is an important part of conversion.
Have a great week. This week, if you can, pray for Ismael to gain testimony of the Book of Mormon, and Adrian and Veronica to feel the blessing of marriage and follow through.
Elder Jones
P.S. Pictures next week. I promise!
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