What a great conference!!! I was really spiritually fed
and I will probably be a better person if I follow the things I learned the
past two days!!! I really loved all of the talks and well during the priesthood
session I was in aw because every click matters and it made me feel good that
not having a smart phone doesn't make me dumber haha. Its super hard to write
things in English when in my notes its all Spanish and I have to translate it
but wow it was good!! I know my savior lives after elder christofferson's
talk!!!
This week I have been thinking a lot and I heard it a
bit in conference especially by Pres. Monson Saturday night. I have been
thinking about diligence President Ezra Taft Benson said, “I have often said one of the greatest secrets of missionary work is
work! If a missionary works, he will get the Spirit; if he gets the Spirit, he
will teach by the Spirit; and if he teaches by the Spirit, he will touch the
hearts of the people and he will be happy. There will be no homesickness, no
worrying about families, for all time and talents and interests are centered on
the work of the ministry. Work, work, work—there is no satisfactory substitute,
especially in missionary work.” I can tell you how happy I am as a
missionary, yes I have had some things happen like the sister in Elder Holland’s
talk but I am still happy because I am thinking of others not myself. For me
diligence is courage “May we ever be
courageous and prepared to stand for what we believe, and if we must stand
alone in the process, may we do so courageously, strengthened by the knowledge
that in reality we are never alone when we stand with our Father in Heaven,”
President Thomas S. Monson says it may be a small thing but the truth is its a
big thing in the eyes of God. Bishop Gary Stevenson told this story of a young
man named John. He says, "A friend
of mine, John, shared with me one of those moments in his life.
Some
years ago, John was accepted at a prestigious Japanese university. He would be
part of the international student program with many other top students from
around the world. Some enrolled with a hope to deepen their understanding of
the culture and language, others viewed it as a stepping-stone to an eventual
profession and employment in Japan, but all had left home to study in a foreign
country.
Soon
after John’s arrival, word of a party to be held on the rooftop of a private
residence spread among the foreign student population. That evening, John and
two friends made their way to the advertised address.
Following
an elevator ride to the top floor of the building, John and his friends
navigated the single narrow stairway leading to the rooftop and began mingling
with the others. As the night wore on, the atmosphere changed. The noise, music
volume, and alcohol amplified, as did John’s uneasiness. Then suddenly someone
began organizing the students into a large circle with the intent of sharing
marijuana cigarettes. John grimaced and quickly informed his two friends that
it was time to leave. Almost in ridicule, one of them replied, “John, this is
easy—we’ll just stand in the circle, and when it is our turn, we’ll just pass
it along rather than smoke it. That way we won’t have to embarrass ourselves in
front of everyone by leaving.” This sounded easy to John, but it did not sound
right. He knew he had to announce his intention and act. In a moment he
mustered his courage and told them that they could do as they wished, but he
was leaving. One friend decided to stay and joined the circle; the other
reluctantly followed John down the stairs to board the elevator. Much to their
surprise, when the elevator doors opened, Japanese police officers poured out
and hurried to ascend the stairs to the rooftop. John and his friend boarded the
elevator and departed.
When
the police appeared at the top of the stairs, the students quickly threw the
illegal drugs off the roof so they wouldn’t be caught. After securing the
stairway, however, the officers lined up everyone on the roof and asked each
student to extend both hands. The officers then walked down the line, carefully
smelling each student’s thumbs and index fingers. All who had held the
marijuana, whether they had smoked it or not, were presumed guilty, and there
were huge consequences. Almost without exception, the students who had remained
on the rooftop were expelled from their respective universities, and those
convicted of a crime were likely deported from Japan. Dreams of an education,
years of preparation, and the possibility of future employment in Japan were
dashed in a moment.
Now
let me tell you what happened to these three friends. The friend who stayed on
the roof was expelled from the university in Japan to which he had worked so
hard to be accepted and was required to return home. The friend who left the
party that night with John finished school in Japan and went on to earn degrees
from two top-tier universities in the United States. His career took him back
to Asia, where he has enjoyed immense professional success. He remains grateful
to this day for John’s courageous example. As for John, the consequences in his
life have been immeasurable. His time in Japan that year led him to a happy
marriage and the subsequent birth of two sons. He has been a very successful
businessman and recently became a professor at a Japanese university. Imagine
how different his life would have been had he not had the courage to leave the
party on that important evening in Japan"
John had the courage to stand with god and he was
blessed for it. “For God hath not given
us the spirit of fear; but of power.” (1 TIM: 1:7) diligence to the will of
god is working with all our heart might mind and strength and keep our eye
single to his glory. President N. Eldon Tanner stated: “One young boy on the school ground can wield a mighty influence for
good. One young man on the football team, or the campus, or among his fellow
workers can, by living the gospel, honoring his priesthood, and taking a stand
for the right, do untold good. Often you will experience much criticism and
ridicule even by those who believe as you do, even though they may respect you
for doing right. But remember that the Savior himself was tormented, ridiculed,
spat upon, and finally crucified because he would not waver in his conviction.
Have you ever stopped to think what would have happened had he weakened and
said, ‘Oh, what’s the use?’ and abandoned his mission?" I had really
never thought that way Christ really could have "thrown in the towel"
and say its too hard I wont do it. BUT he didn't he took it upon himself to do
it all and well he kept on suffering because HE KNEW his mission. HE KNEW the
importance of it and each on of us. Do we want to be quitters, or do we want to
be valiant servants in spite of all the opposition and evil in the world? Let
us have the courage to stand up and be counted as true, devoted followers of
Christ. I love this line, "Let us
have the courage to STAND UP and BE COUNTED AS TRUE DEVOTED FOLLOWERS OF
CHRIST" WE HAVE A LOT AHEAD! But
if ye will turn to the Lord with full purpose of heart, and put your trust in
him, and serve him with all diligence of mind, if ye do this, he will,
according to his own will and pleasure, deliver you out of bondage. (MOSIAH
7:33) we can diligently follow and he will give us blessing, “Brethren, shall we not go on in so great a
cause? Go forward and not backward. Courage, brethren; and on, on to the
victory!” (D&C 128:22) ON to victory!! Onward and Onward!!
It is with the talks we just herd that we can be a more
obedient people i say Onward and Upward we must go to DEFEAT the devil "To make [decisions] wisely, courage is
needed—the courage to say no, the courage to say yes. …
“I
plead with you to make a determination … right now, not to deviate from the
path which will lead to our goal: eternal life with our Father in Heaven."
PRES. Monson.
STAND FOR SOMETHING GOOD STAND WITH
GOD! Now that we have heard it let us DO IT!
I love you all!!! hope you have a
great week!!
Elder Jaymes Monson
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| blown away |
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| watching conference |
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| sunset |
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