This week was quite long! With the change in emphasis to less active members, we visited many of them that we had planned on visiting. With all the others, we made out appointments for next week. We have already seen miracles through that. We felt we should go by on one less active member whom we have never met. She was not home, but we met her husband who was in great need for someone to talk to. We encouraged him and explained to him about the Atonement of Jesus Christ. He is not a member, but asked that we would come back. We also met with another member who has been a member for over 50 years. We discussed Scripture Study and asked her to get her personal scriptures. She brought her only her Bibel back, so we asked about her Triple Combination. She did not know what that was, but found a copy of the Book of Mormon that she had not touched in years. We found out she has never read the whole book, but we set a goal with her and she was excited about it and wrote it down. In our appointment with her, the Spirit was very strong. With another less active member with whom we have been meeting with for a while, at the beginning of our lesson, he asked what he needed to do to have his name removed from the records of the church. We prayed hard. The Spirit really directed us to say what needed to be said. I learned a great lesson from that appointment. Everyone needs gentleness at sometime in their life. I have been memorizing Lehre und Bündnisse 121:41-44 (Doctrine and Covenants). It truly is so important that we are loving at all times to others and do not let impatience or frustration get in the way. If someone needs a harder chastisement, it will be done by the spirit and not from us. We simply need to be led to do and say the right things. I know this work is truly the work of the Lord. He truly led and guided us this week as we went out to find those lost from the fold. What a blessing it is to serve as a full time servant of the Lord, with all things set aside so I can focus on him with all my heart, might, mind and strength.
I truly know that Jesus Christ is the Savior and Redeemer of the World. He lives. He was resurrected. He lives today and guides his Church through a modern day Prophet. Because He lives, we will all live--both in Spirit and in Body. We can be reborn in Spirit through Baptism and the renewing of the covenants made there through the Sacrament. Forgiveness of our sins comes to all who will simply exercise faith in Jesus Christ to repentance and entering into this covenant. Christ overcame the obstacle of death completely. It is a free gift that we will all live again. It amazes me how much that softens the blow of death. We will truly see our loved ones again. We can even have our relationships continued beyond the grave in our families if we will just follow him faithfully. I plead everyone who will read this to think about the blessings they have because of the restored gospel and to ask the Lord what you can do to share that with someone, whether they have entered into the covenant of baptism or not. What a miracle it is that we have the organisation of the Church to help us with that through Home and Visiting Teaching. This work is truly the Lords. He can do his work. He lives.
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Sister Carla June Carroll
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