November 25, 2013 "Zone Conference/Attitude of Gratitude/Hunting Season"

November 25, 2013

 

Hey all,

This past week I had the chance to go to Zone Conference and learn from our Mission President. The emphasis was on the Book of Mormon and the significance it has played in our conversions. Each missionary that stood and bore testimony of their experience in coming to know the Book of Mormon was powerful in an individual sense and a sense that no matter where each person was before, the moment they made the Book of Mormon the foundation of their study everything else in the Gospel fits. With the Book of Mormon comes every solution to each concern that any person may have with the church - God is our loving Heavenly Father, has provided a prophet in our day, and by reading the Book of Mormon we know that Joseph Smith was a prophet and that God has never - will never - give up on his children.

About the work in Gresham: we've been meeting with our investigator twice a week this month and he is set on being baptized. The biggest issue for him in the past was not that he wasn't reading but that he was not praying to know the Book of Mormon is true. I have a testimony that coming to know spiritual truths is done only through companionship of searching, pondering, and praying about what we read. As Sam studies, we sit in lessons and he teaches himself as we discuss scriptures and points of doctrine. And, he's very interested in temple work.

Our other investigator continues to prepare - he's really nervous though. We had a dinner appointment with him this past week and it we continue to help him understand why the Book of Mormon is so important.

Our lady investigator has unfortunately dropped off the face of the planet.

We had a high council member speak in Sacrament meeting about cultivation an attitude of gratitude. He spoke specifically on being in a meeting and someone thanking Heavenly Father for the Typhoon that hit the Philippines; that was not something I expected to hear. He said, "When we thank our Heavenly Father for the trials and afflictions that come our way we immediately grow in strength to endure them." Certainly something to ponder and pray about. I'm grateful for the trials and tribulations that I have been through because through them I lean on the cleansing and enabling power of the Atonement of Christ. I love Paul speaking about his afflictions in 2 Corinthians 12: 7-10
7 And lest I should be ^aexalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a ^bthorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.  8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
 9 And he said unto me, My ^agrace is sufficient for thee: for my ^bstrength is made perfect in ^cweakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may ^drest upon me.
 10 Therefore I take pleasure in ^ainfirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in ^bpersecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am ^cweak, then am I ^dstrong.

Thank you for all your love and support. I know that prayers are answered and especially this week I have found prayers answered through your emails and letters. I have the best family.
Love,
Elder Taft Robinson