My House, My Rules
December 3, 2012
Mission Work
Great will be the day when the members of the church will not only pray for the missionaries all around the world but pray to know how to help the missionaries with the work in their own ward. This is a quote from President Hinckley in Preach my Gospel. I love it. This week was a bit crazy, and I was being weighed down by the work. When we had the meeting with our LMA, that burden was really alleviated. We learned about the work and decision to split the ward that will happen here in March or April. Sheesh. Missionary years are like an ETERNITY! No wonder we have to work by weekly plans because we help the members have more faith and ANIMATION to get the work going. Sometimes this imbalance (members working slower vs. missionaries with a youthful velocity) does create craters and distrust, but I understand now. The only thing that’s faulting is more of my own patience. Oh boy. It’s just uncontrollable! There have been prophecies of a temple in Rio, so let’s do whatever possible to get that promise completed! Really, it’s quite simple: tithing + temple visits + missionary work + Family History work + faithful attendance to current covenants (i.e. renewing baptismal covenants EVERY week) = blessings where there is not room enough to receive it. Also, I’ve been learning a LOT about our own missionary work, ya know, for our own “crescimento real.” [Real growth.] Scripture of the Week: John 7:17 Do you want to know the will of the Lord? Obey His commandments, which INCLUDES His counsel. We |
should take into account and be more careful with “God’s suggestions,” which come from prophets. How many times have we been taught to read our scriptures every day? That’s a commandment. It came from a prophet. Or how often have we been told through the Bible and Book of Mormon AND in church to pray often to conquer Satan? That’s a commandment. Commandments aren’t chain link fences that keep us on the path but rather are lanterns that light the straight and narrow path. We, however, decide if we will heed them or assist in the work of Satan to keep us in darkness and blow out the candle through our actions.
Impeccable Investigators
Claudiomar and Kelrem went to Vangela and Jackson’s wedding in the church. They LOVED it! Kelrem is Adventista dos Setimos Dias but really loves learning. She loved when we taught her about “God’s suggestions” and really wants to apply everything we teach. She just hasn’t made the connection between Desire and Action and the importance of personal revelation through prayer. Claudiomar was raised Catholic but has never practiced. He would go occasionally with his wife to her church, but he hates a few aspects. The other night, when we got to teach some lessons with Bishop (WOOT WOOT, I love priesthood power), Claudiomar asked, “What do you teach your members that is different from all other churches?” Bishop responded, “We are taught correct principles, and we govern ourselves. Really, we learn to use our agency the best we can with the gospel of Jesus Christ.” I love how he didn’t say, “Well, being bishop, I teach my congregation...” No, neither did he say that his calling was the governing of the congregation. He explained the scripture in Ephesians 4:11-14 is how God has called lots of people to work and serve each other in the church and exercise priesthood power under the appropriate priesthood authority. Now, I’d like to return to the idea of: We are taught correct principles and we govern ourselves. Agency is a gift given by God to use with wisdom. When agency is used with perfect wisdom, we give ourselves completely to Him and submit to His will, demonstrating that our earthly needs and desires |
are not what are most important. This earth is a place for men to prepare to meet God, a place to perform their labors and demonstrate their obedience and faithfulness to the rules of God. If we are not able to acquire self-governing habits on earth, we will not live with our Heavenly Father again because the cliché phrase, “My house, My rules,” applies to God’s House also. [Remembering you, Grumpy.]
Spiritual Powerade
We had Stake Conference, and President Lima [mission president] spoke. He was HILARIOUS! He told a story that, while in the temple, he was asked by an elderly temple worker if he could help her. After following her for a while, he came to thinking... “What will it be that she will ask me to do? Kill a cockroach? No, there are no cockroaches in the temple. They don’t have recommends to enter.” He ended up peeling a mountain of potatoes in the cafeteria. He became a bit disquieted by the fact that he missed his only opportunity that day to attend a temple session. This lady worker didn’t even know who he was nor from where he came today.
Spiritual Powerade
We had Stake Conference, and President Lima [mission president] spoke. He was HILARIOUS! He told a story that, while in the temple, he was asked by an elderly temple worker if he could help her. After following her for a while, he came to thinking... “What will it be that she will ask me to do? Kill a cockroach? No, there are no cockroaches in the temple. They don’t have recommends to enter.” He ended up peeling a mountain of potatoes in the cafeteria. He became a bit disquieted by the fact that he missed his only opportunity that day to attend a temple session. This lady worker didn’t even know who he was nor from where he came today.
[It’s more than a five-hour drive, one-way, to travel from Rio de Janeiro to the São Paulo temple.
It’s more than a six-hour drive, one-way, to travel from Rio de Janeiro to the Campinas temple.]
It’s more than a six-hour drive, one-way, to travel from Rio de Janeiro to the Campinas temple.]
But then he heard a distinct answer, “This is My House, and I need someone to peel potatoes today.” He then understood that it didn’t matter what he was doing but WHERE he was. He was in the Lord’s house, and He needed potatoes peeled. It didn’t matter who he was; the Lord needs EVERYONE to be willing to serve wherever they are called. I have been called to help this HUGE part of God’s vineyard. At times, I feel frustrated that I’m paying detailed attention to one tiny plant that probably won’t grow very fast, even with the MiracleGro I’m throwing on him. BUT, this week, I learned that the main importance of my calling is to SERVE my Father’s children and, most importantly, LOVE them. Perhaps I am worrying too much about the quantity; but if I always work with Quality, I doubt that I will be condemned for my service.
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MY DAUGHTER [That’s mission lingo for the brand new sister missionary she is training.]
My daughter is just about as tall as I am and has as much a worry about getting fat as I do; which is… we don’t. We knew about the inevitable when we sent in our papers; and, well, when Sister Carvalho put on her shorts last night, she just laughed at the fact that she probs won’t be able to zip them for a long time.
My daughter is just about as tall as I am and has as much a worry about getting fat as I do; which is… we don’t. We knew about the inevitable when we sent in our papers; and, well, when Sister Carvalho put on her shorts last night, she just laughed at the fact that she probs won’t be able to zip them for a long time.
There was a tiny newborn cat on the sidewalk the other day... it was scraggly and hopeless. My daughter said, “I don’t know whether to pity the thing or look on in digust. I hate cats.” |
She meows and barks at cats and dogs. She sticks out her tongue in public and makes faces to accompany her stories. She is basically me. The only difference is she doesn’t like to exercise, she walks slowly, and she likes to wear pencil skirts. I’ll keep my baggy sister missionary skirts, thank you. It’s summer; are you crazy? And, “all the better to walk faster with, my dear.” She’ll learn. Don’t worry.
She’s from Cuiabà Mato Grosso do Sul; I’m not sure exactly where that is. It’d be nice to have a map of Brazil in the house, or at least a map of all the cities in our area. Haah, but it’s cool. I’ll just keep praying.
She’s from Cuiabà Mato Grosso do Sul; I’m not sure exactly where that is. It’d be nice to have a map of Brazil in the house, or at least a map of all the cities in our area. Haah, but it’s cool. I’ll just keep praying.