Sunday, April 24, 2016

HOW FOOLISH IT IS TO TRUST IN OUR OWN SKILL

ok mom sorry i dont have my camera right now but i will send fotos soon.

I wanted to tell about a work visit i did this week. (i went to someone elses area to see how there work is going)  One of the Elders i worked with was Elder Belone.  Elder Belone is a native american.  he lives on the reservation that owns the 4 corners. (Utah,New mexico, arizona and colorado) i think...  Anyways he speaks navajo and english and is doing his best to learn spanish. I dont know if there is anything mentally off with him but he is very slow; in whichever of the 3 languages he speaks.  But he is the happiest missionary i have ever seen.  We had the opportunity to teach a few lessons together and he was great.  Even though he couldnt always communicate exactly what he wanted to say he was confident in what he did.  The members we visited have a deep love for him as well.  It was very special to see the effect he had on them.  In one lesson is particular he did the best he could to tell the story of Joseph Smith as a boy and then cited the first vision to perfection.  The spirit lit up the faces of those we were teaching and there testimonies were strengthened.  Because of my visit with Elder Belone i understand a whole lot more how foolish it is to trust in our own skill and experience.  The Lords is capable of anything and magnifies our callings beyond belief when we our obedient and put forth our effort.  I love this work and know it is of God.  
Elder Smith

Sunday, April 17, 2016

I WASN'T THERE FOR THE WEEDS

sorry for writing early mom but ya ill get your letter next week.  Anyways things are going very well.  This week we were in Tarapoto.  I went out with one of the zone leaders in Tarapoto; his names elder Thackeray.  I had met him once before here in iquitos but i never really knew him.  When i got to work with him i discovered what a consecrated missionary really is.  The spirit is with him at all times.  Just being around him made me perfect myself.  His untiring desire to be exactly obedient shows his love for the Lord.  He has a very deep comprehension of the atonement of Jesus Christ.  And i believe that is his drive to do so much good in his area and for his zone.  I dont know what else to say but clearly this had a big impression on me because it is what im writting home about.  Its made me ponder about my receint studies and i think i have lacked a focus on the saviors atonement and have worried a little too much about all the different appendages of the atonement.  Anyways i will be studying the atonemnent much more.
I wanted to write about a talk i studied called Waiting upon the Lord by Henry B. Eyring while he was in the presiding bishopric.  He tells a story when his father, also named henry, asigned himself to weed an onion patch on the ward welfare farm.  His father at the time was almost 80 and had cancer in his bones.  After a short while of work the pain became so great in his legs and in his hips that he could not kneel down or bend over.  So he laid down on his stomach and dragged himself by his elbows along a row of onions pulling out all of the weeds. (president eyring was not there at the time but said he was told this story by all who were present)  they said he laughed, smiled and talked happily with those who weeded beside him.  When Henry got home he told his son (president eyring) that they had weeded the patch all day and then while they were all close by resting after the long day of work a man came up and said "O no you guys didnt weed that onion patch.  We sprayed it two days ago and it was all going to die anyway"  When Henry told his son that he said he erupted, roaring in laughter like it was the funniest thing that had ever happened.  President eyring, knowing how dificult the work must have been for his father did not laugh and asked "dad how could you take this as a joke? how can you take this so pleasantly?"  Henry then taight his son a lesson that i believe none of us should ever forget. he said "hal, i wasnt there for the weeds"  Sometimes we too find ourselves in the onion patches of life and sometimes what we do doesnt seem like there is a big result or benefit for anyone, this truth that president eyrings father taught should always be in mind.  We didnt come for the weeds.  we are here for the Lord.  Maybe we will wait upon him for a short or long while but the reward for waiting upon the Lord is far greater than any benefit or recognition we receive in this life.  This talk made me think of a thought aunt kimmey shared with me a year ago.  She taught me when we are in the service of our fellow man, we are ONLY in the service of our God.  I love the Lord.  Serve for Him!
Elder Smith

Friday, April 15, 2016

SMIILE

This week i did a few things suggested in the last general conference.  First i came to the Lord in seach of help asking "what do i lack?" and you know what i received...  Smile smith!! weird huh... i then found a scripture in 3 nef 19:25 and have ponderized it.  Yes Christ did smile.  Im not perfect but i have been smiling a lot more.  It has made me happier and people are much more accepting.  The spirit is so simple, honest and direct.  im grateful for this small experience with the spirit and excited to find out what more i lack.  I love the Living Christ
Elder Smith

Monday, April 11, 2016

ANYONE WHO ASKS

So this week weve been working really hard with a couple named Teddy and Maria.  They super goofy but the wife is very sincere.  They read very diligently the pamphlet of the restoration and understood the priesthood super well.  Weve prayed with them a few times asking the Lord together to know if the message of the restoration is true but they havnt felt a solid answer.  They now have the Book of Mormon and we will see how they reading went tonite.  Its very encouraging to find people who desire to receive an answer from God and not from a book or pastor.  And even more encouraging knowing the we have the truth and that God will answer.  I know the Book of Mormon is true and that moronis promise is as valid as ever.  ANYONE who asks sincerily, with faith, and desiring to act accordingly will receive an answer.
Elder smith

Monday, April 4, 2016

LOST KEYS

Mom sorry i have no time to write.  I loved conference and hope you
did too.  Im sure the whole family was thinking about you when elder
Stevenson spoke about priesthood keys and how he lost his car keys on
the ski slope.  i still remember kneeling down to pray to find the car
keys at least once a week while we were in elementry school.  haha i
love you so much
Elder smith