Week 65: Una semana muy especial
This week was pretty special. We had some pretty cool things happen to us. We truly saw miracles this week and I will do my best to explain what I have learned and how amazing this work is. Last week we assisted church and we saw all the youth give talks about seminary and what they had learned. It was super special to be able to hear the testimonies of each of one the youth and what they had learned about Doctrine and Convenants. We saw a young girl that was sitting up on the stand that we had never seen before. After the service, we asked the seminary teacher who she was and she told us that she wasn't a member and that she had gone to church many times and was currently assisting seminary. We said WHAT!! We couldnt believe it. We asked her if the missionaries had gone to her house and the teacher told us no. She told us that she was going to be in seminary this week and we could go to meet her and join the class. We were super excited! Seminary has a special spot in my heart. I remember from the beginning that's where my testimony started to grow at a faster pace and became stronger. We went to seminary and wow what a special class. I can sincerely say that we felt a spirit different and very beautiful. I loved seminary. I would recommend it to anyone that can attend.
After the class we talked to the young girl and we taught her this week. She is super special. We can tell that she is definitely ready to be baptized. This Tuesday we will go to teach her and we need your prayers! Her name is Miriam and we would love it if you all could join us in a special prayer so that she can accept to be baptzied!
This week I have been thinking a lot of learning. It maybe sounds strange but, I feel like this week I have been learning how I can learn better. A huge role model in my life is David Bednar an modern day apostle. He is a very smart man, I love listening to his simplicity in teaching and helping us to be independent learners. I have been thinking about one of my favorite quotes from his talk "Gather together in one all things in Christ" that says:
The purpose and purification, the happiness and joy, and the continuing conversion and protection that come from “yielding [our] hearts unto God” and “[receiving] his image in [our] countenances” cannot be obtained merely by performing and checking off all the spiritual things we are supposed to do. Rather, the power of the Savior’s gospel to transform and bless us flows from discerning and applying the interrelatedness of its doctrine, principles, and practices. Only as we gather together in one all things in Christ, with firm focus upon Him, can gospel truths synergistically enable us to become what God desires us to become6 and endure valiantly to the end.
If someone was to ask me "what is one of the most important things you have learned on your mission" I could say many things. But, one the most important things that I have learned in my mission and have tried to put practice is that we cannot become spiritual sufficient people by just "going through the motions" or checking off a list of all the spiritual things we are supposed to do. Elder Bednar says in his book "Increase in learning" he teaches three types of learning that I have pondered this week and I think it is essential in our learning so that our testimony is strong. Our testimony is "organic" and "living" like Jeffrey R Holland says. If we do not nuture it, it will die.
This week I have learned so many things. I am also so thankful for Conference and because we were able to listen to the voice of God through his holy Prophets and servants. When we sustained the Prophet President Nelson this week in the Conference, I felt a strong and deep confirmation that he is the Prophet of God. I love this church. I love this work. I testify that the true happiness that you are searching for is found in the Gospel of Jesus Christ and being obedient to his commandments. I love you all.
Giddy up (Kramer)
Elder Smith
