So this week was much better than last week. Still no progressing investigators or investigators at church but I feel as though our effort towards our purpose was much better so there's no complaints here! As long as we're trying, right?
It obviously would be nice to have some progression here in Valladolid, but all is done in the Lord's time. We have investigators who love to listen to us, so as long as we keep giving them the chance to feel of the Spirit and come close to their Heavenly Father it will all be worked out at some point.
So this week we were given a talk by Elder Bednar to read before our upcoming Zone Conference this week. It's entitled "In the Strength of the Lord." He gave this talk at a BYU Devotional in 2000. My favorite quote from the talk is this:
"As you and I come to understand and employ the enabling power of the Atonement in our personal lives, we will pray and seek for strength to change our circumstances rather than praying for our circumstances to be changed."
In the scriptures there are many instances where people prayed for strength rather than to have their burden just lifted from their lives. Take Nephi for example when his brothers bound him. What did he pray for? In 1 Ne. 7:17 it says "...O Lord, according to my faith which is in thee, wilt thou deliver me from the hands of my bethren; yea, even give me STRENGTH that I may burst these bands with which I am bound."
He didn't ask to just have the bands loosed, he asked for the strength to do it himself. Just think, how much more willing be our Heavenly Father to help us if we ask for the strength to get through things ourselves rather than just asking him to change them. I was talking with Elder Hawk and I said it like this. Let's say you've been asked to rake the yard. You want some help to be able to get through that task. So you go to your Dad. Would you just say to Dad do you want to rake the yard for me? Obviously he would laugh and say no. But if you asked him, Hey Dad will you help rake the yard? In that circumstance you are asking for your father to give you added strength to get through the task, and he would be much more willing to offer his help rather than do all the work for you. So let us always remember to pray for the strength both mentally and physically to get through our trials, for our Heavenly Father is more willing to help us through them, rather than to just take care of them himself. Through our weaknesses we may become strong. Always remember that! :)
I just love reading from the Liahona and the words of the Prophets and Apostles. There is just so much to learn from them! Except when your copy is in Tagalog, then not so much, haha!
The title of today's email says: "We should pray for strength, in order to overcome our trials."
Palangga ko kamo tanan! Salamat sa inyo para sa tanan nga nagahimo n'yo para sa akon.!
-Elder Walters
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