Date
January 9, 2017
Area
Kirtland
Companion
Week one of whitewashing round two
Well, this week has gone pretty well. Better than my first week whitewashing. Taught more lessons, and were able to be shown around our area more than three months ago! So that is nice! Actually, on Saturday Elder Middleton was back in town and he was able to show us around in the morning. Because he did that, we now know where people live and should be able to catch up with them and carry onward from where Elder Middleton and Elder Takis left off.
Honestly, Elder Barnard and I both really love Kirtland. There is so much potential in the area, we are so happy and excited to be in this part of the mission. Something Elder Bratt said rings in my ears, "Whitewashing makes me excited to be a missionary because it feels like we are starting out fresh!" That really is true. Its not always easy, but that feeling mingled with the potential that Kirtland has makes us really excited for what the future holds.
Not only that, but the ward really is amazing! Our bishop really wants to be the best servant in the Lords hands that he can. So not necessarily being the best he can, but letting the Lord change him, and work through him. And he is always cheery! The people in the ward treat us so well, almost too well. They treat us like we are really important, which can be a little uncomfortable, but it just goes to show you how much they care. And they really do seem missionary minded. Some people are afraid to be "missionaries" in the ward, but if we just open ourselves up to the Spirit, we will be able to feel the joy of when the Lord works through us.
My new companion is so great! We get along together really well, he works hard and likes to have fun while doing it! He is always positive, and has a great laugh and great love for these people. He has been able to really show me what it means to be a missionary, and have fun in the moment no matter what is happening. Something I hope I can pick up on. He also likes singing, and sounds really good! So hopefully we will be able to sing more in lessons!
Earlier this week as I was studying in an Ensign about temples I came across a quote by President Hinckely. "[The Temple] Is not a matter of secrecy, it is a matter of sanctity." As I read that, experiences in the Bible came to mind. When Christ preformed many of His miracles he instructed those who were effected, or who had seen, to not go out and tell anyone the miracle they had witnessed at the Saviors hand. It wasn't until I read that quote about temples that I understood. If people were to gain a testimony of Christ, and to partake in the miracle of His salvation, we need to be personally motivated to go to him. Yes, others stories of him help greatly, but perhaps one of the reasons the Master said those things was because he wanted those who already knew OF him, to find him and KNOW him. The same principle applies to the Lords Holy House. We do not discuss the sacred matters inside, just know that what lies therein in Holy, and of God. If we let that desire work in us, and get ourselves to the point where we can experience it for ourselves, it will change us. Change us on the same personal level that Christ changed others while he walked the earth.
Elder Jacob Douglas Prescott IV