My dear brothers and sisters,
It's been a wild ride this week. We went to the capital for a mission leadership meeting, then did a bunch of visits among less actives in our ward with the elders, and then had multiple conferences this weekend in which the leadership received some instruction... really hard, direct instruction. It's been a bit of a struggle with the leadership lately, but now we are finally going to see some changes going on.
Just in the transcourse of this week, and as we have worked with the elders and the leaders, I have often asked myself, What would I want to do to strengthen the Church if I were a bishop? Or if I were a stake president? I feel like sometimes I don't have enough power to bring to pass the changes I would like to see in the places I am serving. But then a scripture comes to mind, in Alma 29.
2 Yea, I would declare unto every soul, as with the voice of thunder, repentance and the plan of redemption, that they should repent and come unto our God, that there might not be more sorrow upon all the face of the earth.
3 But behold, I am a man, and do sin in my wish; for I ought to be content with the things which the Lord hath allotted unto me.
4 I ought not to harrow up in my desires the firm decree of a just God, for I know that he granteth unto men according to their desire, whether it be unto death or unto life; yea, I know that he allotteth unto men, yea, decreeth unto them decrees which are unalterable, according to their wills, whether they be unto salvation or unto destruction.
5 Yea, and I know that good and evil have come before all men; he that knoweth not good from evil is blameless; but he that knowethgood and evil, to him it is given according to his desires, whether he desireth good or evil, life or death, joy or remorse of conscience.
6 Now, seeing that I know these things, why should I desire more than to perform the work to which I have been called?
7 Why should I desire that I were an angel, that I could speak unto all the ends of the earth?
8 For behold, the Lord doth grant unto all nations, of their own nation and tongue, to teach his word, yea, in wisdom, all that he seeth fit that they should have; therefore we see that the Lord doth counsel in wisdom, according to that which is just and true.
9 I know that which the Lord hath commanded me, and I glory in it. I do not glory of myself, but I glory in that which the Lord hath commanded me; yea, and this is my glory, that perhaps I may be an instrument in the hands of God to bring some soul to repentance; and this is my joy.
(I would shorten the passage but I do not have time to shorten it. All of it is good.) My power and authority is not the greatest of all, but it is truly a great calling. The missionary work is something that must be taken day by day, using the time to the fullest.
It is the same with us. The cause of the Gospel is better when it is united, but even if it is not, the testimony of the divinity of Christ of even just one person can cause a great change, because the Lord will use it for His own purposes. And the change of many hearts can begin with the righteous example of one person. I have seen this in my life, and there are many examples of it in the Book of Mormon. My brothers and sisters, I know that this Church is true. I know that the Savior directs it through a prophet. I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God and I desire that every living soul might read from it. And after all we can do, the Savior will change us by His grace. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Have a wonderful week!
Elder Dredge
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