Diligence and Sugar Cane

This week has been pretty eventful! I got the one year cards from everyone, which was super awesome! I also am really learning a lot. I was studying the Book of Mormon very intently this week, and it was awesome! I was reading 1 Nephi 13:37, and it felt like it was talking to me! I really felt like God wanted me to know in that moment that these things were true, and that as I seek to bring forth Zion, and endure to the end, I will be lifted up. It felt amazing! I was so happy! I also learned about how we receive answers to prayers. Nephi answers it so clearly, I was shocked I had not read it before:

1 Nephi 15:11
Do ye not remember the things which the Lord hath said?—If ye will not harden your hearts, and ask me in faith, believing that ye shall receive, with diligence in keeping my commandments, surely these things shall be made known unto you.

It really struck me that "diligence in keeping [the] commandments" is part of that. If we want an answer from God, we have to show our faith by testing him, keeping the commandments, and only then will we receive it. It's something that makes sense, but stated so clearly in the Book of Mormon! I love finding pearls of truth that really teach us how to live our lives depending on God. It's amazing!

On another note, I have sugar cane! It is really interesting to eat. You basically chew it until all the juice comes out, and then throw away the fibrous mass that's left. It's really good!!!

Love you so much!

"I Don't Have Time Right Now"

This week has been pretty interesting over here. More than anything, I saw things that really represented a clear lack of understanding.

I want to plead with every one of you to not ever say, "I don't have time right now." When talking about the things of God, that has to be the number one priority. And I don't say it because I am a missionary and I want you to listen to me. In this day and age there is a prevailing attitude and understanding that religion is optional. It's something we do on Sundays, or when we have extra time. What we don't understand is Mosiah 2:41 --

"And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness. O remember, remember that these things are true; for the Lord God hath spoken it."

This is really the key. God will bless us in all things! Whatever things are taking up your time, you will be able to perform better with God. Who can compete with an omnipotent being? You will never be able to accomplish everything you want to do, without God. But really it's much more than that. If you think that it's too much time, or too much effort, what are you really trading? That time and effort, what difference does it make? It's the difference between living a static, single life, forever, or living with God, and our families, and progressing eternally. I know I've always felt that sting when I know I could have done better, but that now it's too late. Imagine looking up at those who do gain that eternal reward, and knowing it was in your power, that only your decisions stopped you from getting there. That is the "lake of fire and brimstone."

So I urge every one of you who are striving to follow the commandments, to not give up. Not ever. We will always make mistakes, but when we give up we accept our fate. That is when we stop progressing. God will never give up on you. He will always be there lifting you up and blessing you with strength. And to those of you who are feeling like religion is nice and optional, it's never too early to start striving, to accept the blessings God wants to give you. But it will be too late. At some moment this time to change and become will end, and we will be judged. Don't let it beat you! I know everyone can do it. Were it not so, God wouldn't have sent us here to earth. He is your biggest champion! The whole history of the world is small, weak people becoming the most important, through God. Enoch was young and slow of speech, and ended up creating a city so righteous it was translated. You can do it!

And then there are those who don't believe. I implore you to reconsider. At least give it a shot. If you really want to know God, he will reveal himself to you, but in his own way. There is so much evidence for God, but much of it is personal. How one feels when he is praying, reading the scriptures, going to church, all of these things are the evidence for a God. I know correlation doesn't imply causation, but over weeks, months, or years, it does. In the end, it comes down to a choice to believe and experiment. There is a video I have always liked about how one atheist came to believe, and I know it works for everyone, but it has to come from the heart.

https://www.mormonchannel.org/watch/series/mormon-messages/the-hope-of-gods-light

I love you all, and please, please, never give up!!

Amazing Investigators

This week has been crazy! We had a ton of investigators come to sacrament meeting, and we have some investigators that are literally amazing! We left them 3 Nephi 11 in the Book of Mormon, and when we came back, they told us everything, including that the Lord called 12 disciples, and gave Nephi power and authority! It was so cool to see people who really want to learn more! They even came to church on Sunday, and loved it! They are awesome! 

We also have an investigator that literally wants to change his life, and is 100% dedicated to following Christ. It's so inspiring to see! I don't have more time, because I was putting the final touches on the database, but I love you all!

Finding Fun and HLJ

This week has been awesome! We found some awesome new investigators, and we are really starting to think outside the box to find new ones! We are thinking about having a sister do sidewalk art, singing in the park, doing surveys about the Book of Mormon in the park, it's going to be awesome! Also, my companion and I started caroling hymns to contact, and we'll see how well it works! It's so much fun to think of new ways to find people to teach!

Today we went to a fair in Chosica for its anniversary, and there was a lady selling rings for 5 sols, and she engraved whatever you wanted on them! So I bought a really cool one with the Lord's Prayer on it, and I engraved HLJ (Haz lo Justo, CTR in Spanish), and "Alma 5:7." It's a scripture that has exquisite language that describes what I'm trying to accomplish here in the mission:

Behold, he changed their hearts; yea, he awakened them out of a deep sleep, and they awoke unto God. Behold, they were in the midst of darkness; nevertheless, their souls were illuminated by the light of the everlasting word; yea, they were encircled about by the bands of death, and the chains of hell, and an everlasting destruction did await them.

I'm sorry again for the brevity of this week's message, but we are in the process of moving to a new system to manage our follow up for the investigators... I love you all! Have a wonderful week!

Conference!

I don't have a lot of time this week, as it's the first week of the transfer with a lot of administration...

I loved the conference this week!  It was so powerful, and I loved all of the talks.  I also especially loved the defense of the Book of Mormon, the exposition on the Family a Proclamation, and the talk by Jeffrey R. Holland about the nature of "be ye perfect" and our covenants.  It was so powerful to see how each one could directly answer the concerns of our investigators!!  I'm so excited to be able to share it with them!!

I love you all!
Dallin