Weekly Letter #69
My beloved family and friends,
How are you guys? Is everyone ready for Christmas??? It's really not that far away! December might be a busy and stressful month, but don't let it be so much so. If we prepare now to have the Christmas spirit, it will feel blissful and wonderful.
This past week we just had a baptism with Agustin Lopez Chacon. He is probably one of my favorite people I have ever come to know in Guatemala. He is 81 years old, loves to read, loves to go out and walk, enjoys visiting his family and caring for his dogs, and enjoys talking about the days when he was a young lad. This old man was definitely what I would call a "stud," being a victorious and mighty kickboxer who had all of the young ladies under his arm. He was a bit of a rebel back then, but throughout his life he has become more and more prepared to receive the missionaries. He still tends to forget little things, but everything that is about the Church is planted within his heart. His baptism was spiritual, and I'll have to admit a little bit funny. We had to laugh because he forgot that there was a prayer before the submersion, so when he got in, he got on his knees and dunked himself right in. But then, Elder Schauperl, who performed the ordinance, helped him up and said the prayer and then helped him down and up again. The old man still got on his knees, but he was completely immersed, and that was the important thing.
So I just want to share something with you all that is important. Obedience is the first law of heaven, and this is an eternal truth. But in the end, what does Heavenly Father want for us? To learn to be more like Him, so that we can be happily together, forever in His presence. This requires that we not only comply, but that we learn to give up our will to that of the Lord. We may think that giving up our will to God takes time, but it isn't so. I hope that this may inspire you to do it instantly.
We all have the light of Christ within us which motivates us to do good, so we are capable of doing good. And that is a light that can grow. We are capable of doing many things because we have been given gifts which are sacred and personal which make us unique and can allow us to do good in our own way. And we all have hopes, dreams, wishes, desires, talents, fears, etc. And so here I ask, how do we become more like our Heavenly Father, and be as happy as He is? Do we just say what he says? Do we just do what he does? It's a start, but we also must think what he thinks, and want what He wants. Is it possible? Yes. We are not just stagnant people. We don't have to say, "Well that's just the way I am, I can't do that!" We can! We are changeable persons, and we can change every day. We can change in an instant. It depends on our own want to change.
17 If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.
If we want to be happy, we must do the will and want to do the will of He who knows best. That is the key to happiness. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is this, that we have faith in Jesus Christ, repent, be baptized, and receive the gift of His Holy Spirit, that we might act upon our desire to do His will. We may have weaknesses. We might not be perfect. We might need to work at it. That is totally fine. Keep yourself in constant prayer to God, and express to Him the desires of your heart. He is listening, and He wants you to succeed. And He will bless you and help you to change as you seek to do His will.
1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
Let us remember that if we only do what's right, and what's good, and without the real desire and will to do it, we cannot profit from it. In other words, if we preach, or if we give a gift, or if we do anything that may be pleasing to God, and we don't have charity, we cannot develop more charity. We cannot develop what we don't have. But if we decide to give a gift, and do it because of love, we can develop more love, and become more like God, who is the most loving of all. That is essentially how the Gospel works. And it is glorious.
I have experienced this change on my mission, for the Spirit confirms it to me. I know that the Gospel is true, and that Jesus Christ is our Savior. Joseph Smith really was a prophet, and the Church which he helped to restore is truly the Church of God. I know that these things are true, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Have an awesome week!
Elder "Drech"
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