emailed dated 2/22/10
So this week was really interesting. I've been pretty tired on and off throughout the days, and so I've been falling asleep at random times. I haven't fallen asleep in any discussions with any investigators, but I did fall asleep while my companion was sharing a spiritual thought at a dinner appointment with a member. I just fell asleep sitting at the table, and woke up in time for the closing prayer. It was pretty embarrassing. Anyway, they wanted me to see a Neurologist to find out why I've been falling asleep randomly. I told them that it was just because I work hard, but they didn't buy it. Anyway, so I got to see the neurologist this week, and it was pretty fun. They did an EEG, which means they hooked my head up to 20 or so electrodes and measured my brain waves for about 30 minutes. It was pretty fun. No results yet-they're probably just going to come to the conclusion that I'm lazy. Anyway, that was probably the most exciting thing that happened to me this week.
This week I've gotten more doors slammed in my face than ever before. Usually people are pretty polite about it, but there were several people who didn't even open their doors, but yelled at us through the door. New Haven has been harassed by Jehovah's Witnesses for years, so the initial hurdle is always to convince people that we're not Jehovah's Witnesses. Once they know that we're not JW's, they're usually really nice to us and receptive. In New England, no one opens their doors until they yell at you through the door first to find out who you are. Once you knock on their door they always yell," WHO!?" (or "QUIEN" if you're a spanish missionary). After we announce ourselves as missionaries they always yell again, "WHO!?" just to make sure that they heard us right. I once taught someone the first missionary discussion through their front door.
The bus is always a really exciting experience too. I've taught discussions sitting on the bus many times, and we always get to talk to people since the city buses are so crammed that we always stand or sit right next to a stranger. Just the fact that I'm a white person makes me stick out, so they ask me where I'm from. Then the follow up questions result in good discussions.
We're still working with a Mexican couple who wants to be baptized but needs to be married first, and another new couple that we started teaching this week. My whole time here I've been teaching single men or women, who have broken families because their whole family is back in their home country. Now I'm teaching 3 families. It's pretty exciting!
We helped a woman who has been working on restoring a house for the past year move a ton of furniture and junk around the house. The house was built back in 1913, and it has TONS of cool junk that the previous owner collected through the ages. It even had some cool 'Beatles' merchandise (records and photos), and lots of antique furniture. One thing I've come to love about New England is how unique all the homes here are. They're all really old, and they're all really unique in style and architecture. It would be really fun to restore a house like this woman we helped is doing.
I'm running out of time again, so I'll have to sign off once again. I love you!
-Elder Shepherd
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
ACT and not be ACTED UPON
email dated 2/16/10
Yesterday was Presidents Day, so the library was closed and I couldn't email. Anyway...
The huge snow storm finally hit New Haven this last week. It was pretty awesome. Everything was completely whitewashed, and we were forced to walk in the blizzard all day. It was pretty intense, and I now have more 'classic missionary adversity' stories about tracting in the blizzard, all day, with 50 MPH winds, walking uphill both ways, in the middle of winter, with high humidity. It's a good thing I love the snow so much.
I was reading in 2 Nephi this week, and a familiar passage of scripture in chapter 32 seemed to coincide with many of my thoughts and feelings this week. 2 Nephi 32:7 talks about how Nephi is really discouraged that his people reject the words of the prophets and the Lord, and how they will not obey or understand their words even when it is taught to them with power and clarity. It affirms the conclusion that I've come to that even if the best teacher in the whole world (One might submit that he was Jesus Christ) taught a gospel principle with power, authority, perfect clarity, and with the confirming witness of the spirit, that people would still CHOOSE to not obey or understand-they would elect to be governed by their own lusts rather than God's will (Similarly, this also happened with Jesus Christ). As a teacher of the Gospel myself, it's both sobering and very humbling to know that even though much is required of me through my personal efforts and studies and teaching unto skills, that the end result of whether or not they choose to accept what is being taught is completely independent of my ability to control. I can't exercise someone else's agency for them. Nephi continues in chapter 33 when he says that the spirit carries the message unto their hearts, not into their hearts. They must accept it for themselves. Learning isn't a passive process, whether it be in history class or missionary discussions. We have to learn by faith, which means that we must ACT, we cannot be ACTED UPON. A teacher cannot act upon their student and force them to learn, nor will rote memorization or recalling of information signify that someone is learning. Indeed, we must learn by faith, and we must be active participants in our own education and salvation.
This principle hit me hard this week when my companion and I were expecting 6 investigators to be at church, and 0 showed up. These people had given us solid commitments during the week to make it there, and we had taught them the principle of attending church over and over again with power and clarity, and we had organized rides for several of them who didn't have ways to get there, and they still didn't make it to church. I echo the Lord of the Vineyard in Jacob 5 when he said, "What more could I have done for my [investigators]?" After all I could do, I couldn't force them to learn or to act.
The library is closing early, and I have very little time to write, so I'll have to wrap up.
I love you all, and I'm healthy and doing fine. I appreciate your prayers, and I feel them bolster me up.
-Elder Shepherd
Yesterday was Presidents Day, so the library was closed and I couldn't email. Anyway...
The huge snow storm finally hit New Haven this last week. It was pretty awesome. Everything was completely whitewashed, and we were forced to walk in the blizzard all day. It was pretty intense, and I now have more 'classic missionary adversity' stories about tracting in the blizzard, all day, with 50 MPH winds, walking uphill both ways, in the middle of winter, with high humidity. It's a good thing I love the snow so much.
I was reading in 2 Nephi this week, and a familiar passage of scripture in chapter 32 seemed to coincide with many of my thoughts and feelings this week. 2 Nephi 32:7 talks about how Nephi is really discouraged that his people reject the words of the prophets and the Lord, and how they will not obey or understand their words even when it is taught to them with power and clarity. It affirms the conclusion that I've come to that even if the best teacher in the whole world (One might submit that he was Jesus Christ) taught a gospel principle with power, authority, perfect clarity, and with the confirming witness of the spirit, that people would still CHOOSE to not obey or understand-they would elect to be governed by their own lusts rather than God's will (Similarly, this also happened with Jesus Christ). As a teacher of the Gospel myself, it's both sobering and very humbling to know that even though much is required of me through my personal efforts and studies and teaching unto skills, that the end result of whether or not they choose to accept what is being taught is completely independent of my ability to control. I can't exercise someone else's agency for them. Nephi continues in chapter 33 when he says that the spirit carries the message unto their hearts, not into their hearts. They must accept it for themselves. Learning isn't a passive process, whether it be in history class or missionary discussions. We have to learn by faith, which means that we must ACT, we cannot be ACTED UPON. A teacher cannot act upon their student and force them to learn, nor will rote memorization or recalling of information signify that someone is learning. Indeed, we must learn by faith, and we must be active participants in our own education and salvation.
This principle hit me hard this week when my companion and I were expecting 6 investigators to be at church, and 0 showed up. These people had given us solid commitments during the week to make it there, and we had taught them the principle of attending church over and over again with power and clarity, and we had organized rides for several of them who didn't have ways to get there, and they still didn't make it to church. I echo the Lord of the Vineyard in Jacob 5 when he said, "What more could I have done for my [investigators]?" After all I could do, I couldn't force them to learn or to act.
The library is closing early, and I have very little time to write, so I'll have to wrap up.
I love you all, and I'm healthy and doing fine. I appreciate your prayers, and I feel them bolster me up.
-Elder Shepherd
Monday, February 8, 2010
Miracles and mercies
email dated 2/8/10
I was really worried as transfer calls came last night that I would get transferred to a new area, but I'm gonna stick around in New Haven with Elder Beals-I really love New Haven, and I still have so much work to do here. This week was a pretty amazing week-I see daily miracles out here-several stick out in my mind from this last week. We've been teaching an older woman who hated the church-her daughter was baptized a year ago, but was inactive for a while, and she just ripped on the church hardcore. She refused to even talk to the missionaries when they used to go over to her home a year ago, but 2 weeks ago, she told us that she wanted us to teach her everything from the beginning. Last Thursday, I was reading through her old teaching record of when missionaries tried to teach her a year ago, and the missionaries talked about her being a mean, grouchy woman who only argued with them and had no desire to learn or change. That evening, I taught her and she testified to me that she knew that the Mormon church is the only true church on the earth today, that the Book of Mormon is true, and that she finally found the strength she needs to quit smoking. She thanked me later, and said that the thing the finally clicked with her was the 'virtue in my face'. She said, "I look into your eyes and I see your conviction. I can see Jesus Christ in your countenance, and the virtue in your face convinces me that this is true." I have been praying for a long time that God would use me as an instrument in His hands, insomuch that others would be able to see Him through my example, and He answered my prayers in that woman's testimony. She will be baptized in coming weeks.
I am also teaching a couple right now with 2 daughters, ages 4 and 5. The parents both want to be baptized, and understand the doctrine very clearly-everything except the law of chastity. They're not married legally, and I told them that they had to be married to each other before they can be baptized. The husband still didn't want to, but the wife said, "I'm getting baptized, with our without my husband. So if I have to move out to convince him that I'm serious, I will." Her faith surprised me, and I couldn't help but chuckle at her husbands nervous and desperate response after that. "W-We-We'll get married! Just give me some time, woman!" They're getting married soon and will be baptized in coming weeks as well.
There are some amazing things happening, and I justly attribute them to the mercy and goodness of God. I have been so touched by the tender mercies of the Lord, in my life and in the lives of those whom I serve every day. He is preparing His children all over the world hear and accept the gospel, and He is working miracles in their lives as they come unto Him with broken hearts and contrite spirits. I eagerly anticipate the coming months, the miracles, and the personal growth I will have through my trials and struggles in His service.
I finished the Book of Mormon this week from start to finish in Spanish. Due the promise of an apostle that if I would read the Book of Mormon in it's entirety in Spanish that I would be fluent by the time I finished, my companion said,"It's official, you're fluent!" I still have a lot to learn, but I have definitely seen how I've been richly blessed in this righteous endeavor, and how, just through studying the Book of Mormon, I have grown in so many different ways. The Book of Mormon is a true book, and it has an amazing power to change us, help us, guide us, and strengthen us, in whatever endeavor we pursue. Read it-please! Just read it! There isn't a single person on the earth who won't benefit enormously, spiritually and temporally, from reading and abiding by it's precepts.
I love you all very much, and I pray continually for your welfare. I pray continually that God will bless and keep you.
With much love from your favorite Elder Shepherd,
-Elder Shepherd
I was really worried as transfer calls came last night that I would get transferred to a new area, but I'm gonna stick around in New Haven with Elder Beals-I really love New Haven, and I still have so much work to do here. This week was a pretty amazing week-I see daily miracles out here-several stick out in my mind from this last week. We've been teaching an older woman who hated the church-her daughter was baptized a year ago, but was inactive for a while, and she just ripped on the church hardcore. She refused to even talk to the missionaries when they used to go over to her home a year ago, but 2 weeks ago, she told us that she wanted us to teach her everything from the beginning. Last Thursday, I was reading through her old teaching record of when missionaries tried to teach her a year ago, and the missionaries talked about her being a mean, grouchy woman who only argued with them and had no desire to learn or change. That evening, I taught her and she testified to me that she knew that the Mormon church is the only true church on the earth today, that the Book of Mormon is true, and that she finally found the strength she needs to quit smoking. She thanked me later, and said that the thing the finally clicked with her was the 'virtue in my face'. She said, "I look into your eyes and I see your conviction. I can see Jesus Christ in your countenance, and the virtue in your face convinces me that this is true." I have been praying for a long time that God would use me as an instrument in His hands, insomuch that others would be able to see Him through my example, and He answered my prayers in that woman's testimony. She will be baptized in coming weeks.
I am also teaching a couple right now with 2 daughters, ages 4 and 5. The parents both want to be baptized, and understand the doctrine very clearly-everything except the law of chastity. They're not married legally, and I told them that they had to be married to each other before they can be baptized. The husband still didn't want to, but the wife said, "I'm getting baptized, with our without my husband. So if I have to move out to convince him that I'm serious, I will." Her faith surprised me, and I couldn't help but chuckle at her husbands nervous and desperate response after that. "W-We-We'll get married! Just give me some time, woman!" They're getting married soon and will be baptized in coming weeks as well.
There are some amazing things happening, and I justly attribute them to the mercy and goodness of God. I have been so touched by the tender mercies of the Lord, in my life and in the lives of those whom I serve every day. He is preparing His children all over the world hear and accept the gospel, and He is working miracles in their lives as they come unto Him with broken hearts and contrite spirits. I eagerly anticipate the coming months, the miracles, and the personal growth I will have through my trials and struggles in His service.
I finished the Book of Mormon this week from start to finish in Spanish. Due the promise of an apostle that if I would read the Book of Mormon in it's entirety in Spanish that I would be fluent by the time I finished, my companion said,"It's official, you're fluent!" I still have a lot to learn, but I have definitely seen how I've been richly blessed in this righteous endeavor, and how, just through studying the Book of Mormon, I have grown in so many different ways. The Book of Mormon is a true book, and it has an amazing power to change us, help us, guide us, and strengthen us, in whatever endeavor we pursue. Read it-please! Just read it! There isn't a single person on the earth who won't benefit enormously, spiritually and temporally, from reading and abiding by it's precepts.
I love you all very much, and I pray continually for your welfare. I pray continually that God will bless and keep you.
With much love from your favorite Elder Shepherd,
-Elder Shepherd
Monday, February 1, 2010
I got a new email address
email dated 2/1/10
The church upgraded the missionary email, so this is my new email address. Make sure you mark the change! My address is now: blocked, (if you want it, please contact a family member)
Just so you know, this Friday is my 6-month mark. Weird, eh? Crazy. Wild. Unbelievable.
So I guess that Christian has 3 ulcers in his stomach. Christian is the last person in the family that I expected to have ulcers. I would have expected it from how high strung and stressed some of the rest of us are, but not in a million years from him. I guess it is due to all those jalapenos and hot sauce. I told you that stuff would kill you someday...
So I am teaching a super awesome family. The parents are both from Mexico, and they have 2 daughters who are 5 and 4 years old. They love reading and learning, and they are pretty much ready to get baptized. The only problem they have is that the parents aren't legally married, and in order to get married here, they would have go through the court (they aren't legal citizens here) which means that they would get married, baptized, and then immediately deported, and the family would be split apart. I've already seen it happen once with a family who got married, baptized, and then they sent the father and the 3 children back to Ecuador, and the mother was forced to stay here for loads of other money and legal issues. Immigration law is so annoying. Many of them had visas, and came here legally, but the law changed since then, and now they're legalization was made 'void', and they are no longer considered legal. I'm learning a lot about immigration law here. It's really heartbreaking to see the dire circumstances many of the Latinos here are in. We recently baptized a woman who was forced to leave her 5 children, parents, and brothers and sisters in Ecuador to come here so she can work at the McDonald's and support all 10 of them because there is NO food and NO hope for her family back in Ecuador. She can't go back because she doesn't have enough money, and she can't bring them here, and they are completely dependant upon her McDonald's salary for their livelihood. I could tell dozens of stories just like hers.
A woman in a similar circumstance asked me the question this week, "Why do some of us have harder trials than others? Why is my life harder than theirs?" That's a very difficult question to answer, and I couldn't really relate to her circumstance from my own life experience, but I do know that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the answer to all of life's questions and problems. I related to her why it was that we have trials, why we suffer sometimes, and what God expects of us through it all. All of us are unique in our life experiences and trials. God knows us, better than we know ourselves, and He has prepared a way for us in this life to learn, grow, and come back to Him. Each of us has a unique and different burden to overcome in this life. My problems aren't the same as someone elses, but that doesn't mean that God deals unjustly with His children. He knows the struggles that we must go through to grow in our faith and testimony, and He knows what we are capable of overcoming, even when we don't believe enough in ourselves to do it. He is just, but He is also infinitely merciful and compassionate.
Don't let your problems overshadow this eternal truth: God is our Heavenly Father, who loves us more the we can comprehend. Jesus Christ is our Savior, and he prepared the way for us to repent of our sins, and receive mercy at the Judgment. The best answer I can give is what Nephi said to the Angel in 1 Nephi 11:16-17. The angel asks Nephi, "Knowest thou the condescension of God?" and Nephi answers, "I know that God loves His children, nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things." At first, this answer kind of seems like a cop out, but in all reality, Nephi gave, in my opinion, the best answer possible; that is, "I know that He loves His children." How much suffering could we spare ourselves if we would just hold fast to this truth: God loves us, no matter what. How many people would be spared from depression if they just knew that God loved them? How many people would remain in fellowship with the church if they knew that regardless of what they've done, God still loves them? Doesn't this truth set us free? How differently do we look at life and our problems and trials when we hold fast to the knowledge that there is a supreme being who loves us with all His heart! What kind of attitude do we embrace? After a tragedy in our lives, we often say to ourselves, "Where was God?" The reply: "Well, I don't know the reason that happened, but I KNOW God loves His children." When we can take this attitude, we can overcome any problem that life throws at us. You don't need to know everything, or the reason for exactly why things happen the way they happen or in the time they happen; however, you do need to know that God loves you, and will never forsake you.
I have to go, but I love you all, and I pray continually for your welfare.
-Elder Shepherd
The church upgraded the missionary email, so this is my new email address. Make sure you mark the change! My address is now: blocked, (if you want it, please contact a family member)
Just so you know, this Friday is my 6-month mark. Weird, eh? Crazy. Wild. Unbelievable.
So I guess that Christian has 3 ulcers in his stomach. Christian is the last person in the family that I expected to have ulcers. I would have expected it from how high strung and stressed some of the rest of us are, but not in a million years from him. I guess it is due to all those jalapenos and hot sauce. I told you that stuff would kill you someday...
So I am teaching a super awesome family. The parents are both from Mexico, and they have 2 daughters who are 5 and 4 years old. They love reading and learning, and they are pretty much ready to get baptized. The only problem they have is that the parents aren't legally married, and in order to get married here, they would have go through the court (they aren't legal citizens here) which means that they would get married, baptized, and then immediately deported, and the family would be split apart. I've already seen it happen once with a family who got married, baptized, and then they sent the father and the 3 children back to Ecuador, and the mother was forced to stay here for loads of other money and legal issues. Immigration law is so annoying. Many of them had visas, and came here legally, but the law changed since then, and now they're legalization was made 'void', and they are no longer considered legal. I'm learning a lot about immigration law here. It's really heartbreaking to see the dire circumstances many of the Latinos here are in. We recently baptized a woman who was forced to leave her 5 children, parents, and brothers and sisters in Ecuador to come here so she can work at the McDonald's and support all 10 of them because there is NO food and NO hope for her family back in Ecuador. She can't go back because she doesn't have enough money, and she can't bring them here, and they are completely dependant upon her McDonald's salary for their livelihood. I could tell dozens of stories just like hers.
A woman in a similar circumstance asked me the question this week, "Why do some of us have harder trials than others? Why is my life harder than theirs?" That's a very difficult question to answer, and I couldn't really relate to her circumstance from my own life experience, but I do know that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the answer to all of life's questions and problems. I related to her why it was that we have trials, why we suffer sometimes, and what God expects of us through it all. All of us are unique in our life experiences and trials. God knows us, better than we know ourselves, and He has prepared a way for us in this life to learn, grow, and come back to Him. Each of us has a unique and different burden to overcome in this life. My problems aren't the same as someone elses, but that doesn't mean that God deals unjustly with His children. He knows the struggles that we must go through to grow in our faith and testimony, and He knows what we are capable of overcoming, even when we don't believe enough in ourselves to do it. He is just, but He is also infinitely merciful and compassionate.
Don't let your problems overshadow this eternal truth: God is our Heavenly Father, who loves us more the we can comprehend. Jesus Christ is our Savior, and he prepared the way for us to repent of our sins, and receive mercy at the Judgment. The best answer I can give is what Nephi said to the Angel in 1 Nephi 11:16-17. The angel asks Nephi, "Knowest thou the condescension of God?" and Nephi answers, "I know that God loves His children, nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things." At first, this answer kind of seems like a cop out, but in all reality, Nephi gave, in my opinion, the best answer possible; that is, "I know that He loves His children." How much suffering could we spare ourselves if we would just hold fast to this truth: God loves us, no matter what. How many people would be spared from depression if they just knew that God loved them? How many people would remain in fellowship with the church if they knew that regardless of what they've done, God still loves them? Doesn't this truth set us free? How differently do we look at life and our problems and trials when we hold fast to the knowledge that there is a supreme being who loves us with all His heart! What kind of attitude do we embrace? After a tragedy in our lives, we often say to ourselves, "Where was God?" The reply: "Well, I don't know the reason that happened, but I KNOW God loves His children." When we can take this attitude, we can overcome any problem that life throws at us. You don't need to know everything, or the reason for exactly why things happen the way they happen or in the time they happen; however, you do need to know that God loves you, and will never forsake you.
I have to go, but I love you all, and I pray continually for your welfare.
-Elder Shepherd
Friday, January 29, 2010
The Mountains shall depart...
email dated 1/25/10
So one of our current investigators is in the hospital right now-she's been there for a couple of weeks with a strange skin infection. She's been on heavy antibiotics and the doctors are puzzled as to why they weren't working. We visited her again this last Friday night, and gave her a priesthood blessing, and read to her from the Book of Mormon. As we revisited her the next day, she told us that the second we left, she felt 'hot'- she said she couldn't explain the feeling, but that she just felt so warm, like her 'heart was on fire' (her words, not mine) and that she was feeling better. She knew that what we had told her was true, and she had tons of questions about the purpose of life, why we're here, and what happens after we die. She's always been really quiet, but she opened up to us as she felt our love for her and the spirits confirming witness that what we taught her was true. The gift and privilege to hold the priesthood is such a blessing. It's a sacred trust that God has in us to do His work, and he blesses us with His power to do it.
As I was reading in the Book of Mormon this week, I read a familiar passage of scripture that touches my heart more and more as I experience and learn about the Atonement of Jesus Christ. It's in 3 Nephi chapter 22. The whole chapter is beautiful, but I particularly love several verses. Verse 7-8 the Lord says, "For a small moment have I forsaken thee, but with great mercies will I gather thee. In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment, but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the Lord thy Redeemer." Only for a brief moment do we suffer. Only for a brief moment does He let our faith be tried so that we can learn in whom we must trust and strengthen our dependence in Him. The most powerful promise is in verse 10: "For the mountains shall depart and the hills be removed, (and the valleys shall be lost beneath the sea), but my kindness shall not depart from thee..." I am reminded similar promises made throughout the scriptures ("Though the very jaws of hell gape open after thee, I am with thee..." "Peace, thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment...") He is with us. His kindness will NEVER depart from us. Though for a brief moment, our faith be tried with fire, He will ALWAYS regather us in His infinite mercy, and He is ALWAYS waiting for our return to Him with outstretched arms. He is the gate and passage to our relief, our peace and solace from a troubled and chaotic world, and He stands at the door, waiting for us to open it. If all you had to do was open the door, wouldn't you? He's not leaving! He's not going anywhere, He promised He wouldn't! The mountains shall be removed, and valleys shall be covered by the sea, but He will NEVER leave the door-He waits for you to open it. His kindness will never depart from you.
What a beautiful promise. More than being poetic, it's a true promise. I testify of it's truthfulness. I testify of God's incomprehensible love for His children, insomuch that He gave His only begotten son. How it must have hurt him to watch Christ suffer! How he must have wept at the sight of His rejection and crucifixion; and yet, how He must love us beyond our ability to comprehend. He weeps for our pains and sins, and rejoices in our triumphs. He truly will never forsake us-He will regather us in His compassion, mercy, and love.
The scriptures inspire us-they inspire me everyday to work a little harder, walk a little taller, and testify with even more boldness and faith of the Atonement of Jesus Christ and the Restoration of His church to the earth.I hope you are all doing well and I pray for you every day. Don't forget to open the door and let God help you. I promise He won't leave you comfortless.
I love you!
-Elder Shepherd
So one of our current investigators is in the hospital right now-she's been there for a couple of weeks with a strange skin infection. She's been on heavy antibiotics and the doctors are puzzled as to why they weren't working. We visited her again this last Friday night, and gave her a priesthood blessing, and read to her from the Book of Mormon. As we revisited her the next day, she told us that the second we left, she felt 'hot'- she said she couldn't explain the feeling, but that she just felt so warm, like her 'heart was on fire' (her words, not mine) and that she was feeling better. She knew that what we had told her was true, and she had tons of questions about the purpose of life, why we're here, and what happens after we die. She's always been really quiet, but she opened up to us as she felt our love for her and the spirits confirming witness that what we taught her was true. The gift and privilege to hold the priesthood is such a blessing. It's a sacred trust that God has in us to do His work, and he blesses us with His power to do it.
As I was reading in the Book of Mormon this week, I read a familiar passage of scripture that touches my heart more and more as I experience and learn about the Atonement of Jesus Christ. It's in 3 Nephi chapter 22. The whole chapter is beautiful, but I particularly love several verses. Verse 7-8 the Lord says, "For a small moment have I forsaken thee, but with great mercies will I gather thee. In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment, but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the Lord thy Redeemer." Only for a brief moment do we suffer. Only for a brief moment does He let our faith be tried so that we can learn in whom we must trust and strengthen our dependence in Him. The most powerful promise is in verse 10: "For the mountains shall depart and the hills be removed, (and the valleys shall be lost beneath the sea), but my kindness shall not depart from thee..." I am reminded similar promises made throughout the scriptures ("Though the very jaws of hell gape open after thee, I am with thee..." "Peace, thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment...") He is with us. His kindness will NEVER depart from us. Though for a brief moment, our faith be tried with fire, He will ALWAYS regather us in His infinite mercy, and He is ALWAYS waiting for our return to Him with outstretched arms. He is the gate and passage to our relief, our peace and solace from a troubled and chaotic world, and He stands at the door, waiting for us to open it. If all you had to do was open the door, wouldn't you? He's not leaving! He's not going anywhere, He promised He wouldn't! The mountains shall be removed, and valleys shall be covered by the sea, but He will NEVER leave the door-He waits for you to open it. His kindness will never depart from you.
What a beautiful promise. More than being poetic, it's a true promise. I testify of it's truthfulness. I testify of God's incomprehensible love for His children, insomuch that He gave His only begotten son. How it must have hurt him to watch Christ suffer! How he must have wept at the sight of His rejection and crucifixion; and yet, how He must love us beyond our ability to comprehend. He weeps for our pains and sins, and rejoices in our triumphs. He truly will never forsake us-He will regather us in His compassion, mercy, and love.
The scriptures inspire us-they inspire me everyday to work a little harder, walk a little taller, and testify with even more boldness and faith of the Atonement of Jesus Christ and the Restoration of His church to the earth.I hope you are all doing well and I pray for you every day. Don't forget to open the door and let God help you. I promise He won't leave you comfortless.
I love you!
-Elder Shepherd
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
MLK Day
email dated 1/19/10
Yesterday was Martin Luther King Jr. day, and as a result, all the libraries were closed and we didn't have a computer to email. Our president gave us permission to do our email today, so I don't have much time, but I'm glad to hear that everyone is doing well and is healthy.
I just love my companion, Elder Beals. We are both pretty young missionaries (This is his 2nd transfer and this is my 3rd), but we are both strong willed and determined to do our best. We grow together, learn from one another, and lift each other up on one of us is down. I have a long time before I can even think of marriage, but I imagine that that's one of the beautiful things about having a 'companion': you have someone to turn to, to share everything with, and to rely on.
I continue to see daily miracles out here. Some days it can be something small, and some days I see very grand miracles. Whatever the case, I'm convinced that our lives are full of miracles and tender mercies that often go unnoticed by us. We don't realize how involved God really is in our personal lives and in many intimate ways. How many times have we prayed after an activity that everyone would go home safely and they did? That's an answer to a prayer, a miracle, even if it is a small thing. I've seen how God has answered my prayers in very big ways too, like my decision to serve a mission, go to college, select a career or friends, etc. That's the wonderful thing about our Heavenly Father, no matter how insignificant our problems our individual struggles may seem, He cares and desires with ALL His heart to bless and help us and see us succeed. How many things has He blessed you with that you didn't even specifically pray or work for? I know I've been richly blessed with so many things that I can't attribute to my own abilities. I have things that I can't merit, things that I don't even deserve, but things that a loving Father in Heaven has bestowed upon His son. Take some time to reflect on the 'tender mercies' of the Lord, and take a good look at what you have. You've been blessed with many things that you can't merit to your own goodness. Does your Father in Heaven not deserve your love or devotion? Will you find the time to pray and thank Him, and go to His church, and serve His other children? We are so blessed, and so loved. Love Him back.I don't have much more time, but I love you all. I wouldn't be spending my time out here in Connecticut if this church wasn't true, and I didn't know it with all my heart.
-Elder Shepherd
Yesterday was Martin Luther King Jr. day, and as a result, all the libraries were closed and we didn't have a computer to email. Our president gave us permission to do our email today, so I don't have much time, but I'm glad to hear that everyone is doing well and is healthy.
I just love my companion, Elder Beals. We are both pretty young missionaries (This is his 2nd transfer and this is my 3rd), but we are both strong willed and determined to do our best. We grow together, learn from one another, and lift each other up on one of us is down. I have a long time before I can even think of marriage, but I imagine that that's one of the beautiful things about having a 'companion': you have someone to turn to, to share everything with, and to rely on.
I continue to see daily miracles out here. Some days it can be something small, and some days I see very grand miracles. Whatever the case, I'm convinced that our lives are full of miracles and tender mercies that often go unnoticed by us. We don't realize how involved God really is in our personal lives and in many intimate ways. How many times have we prayed after an activity that everyone would go home safely and they did? That's an answer to a prayer, a miracle, even if it is a small thing. I've seen how God has answered my prayers in very big ways too, like my decision to serve a mission, go to college, select a career or friends, etc. That's the wonderful thing about our Heavenly Father, no matter how insignificant our problems our individual struggles may seem, He cares and desires with ALL His heart to bless and help us and see us succeed. How many things has He blessed you with that you didn't even specifically pray or work for? I know I've been richly blessed with so many things that I can't attribute to my own abilities. I have things that I can't merit, things that I don't even deserve, but things that a loving Father in Heaven has bestowed upon His son. Take some time to reflect on the 'tender mercies' of the Lord, and take a good look at what you have. You've been blessed with many things that you can't merit to your own goodness. Does your Father in Heaven not deserve your love or devotion? Will you find the time to pray and thank Him, and go to His church, and serve His other children? We are so blessed, and so loved. Love Him back.I don't have much more time, but I love you all. I wouldn't be spending my time out here in Connecticut if this church wasn't true, and I didn't know it with all my heart.
-Elder Shepherd
Monday, January 11, 2010
Tithing+Church=Blessings?
email dated 1/11/10
This week was full of great stuff. I saw a lot of miracles and prayers answered this week.
So I was visiting a woman who has been more or less inactive for the past year. She lost her job and has been selling products for Mary Kay, but she lost her apartment is now living in a 6x7 room in a basement with a mattress on the floor with her 15 year old daughter. She's a single mom, and she literally has nothing. She had a gallon of milk and a carton of eggs, and is living a cramped, cold room with her 15 year old daughter. They have NOTHING. I found myself at a complete loss for words. I didn't know what to say to her-I didn't know what kind of help I could offer her. Then I felt a powerful prompting that I couldn't deny. It was telling me to promise her that if she would come to church every Sunday and pay her tithing that the Lord would improve her circumstances, insomuch that she would have a place to live and food to feed her and her daughter. The temptation to keep my mouth shut was great, but I couldn't quench the spirit. I boldly promised her that if she would come to church and pay her tithing that she would have a place to live and food to feed herself and her daughter. The confirming witness of the spirit was intense as the spirit flooded the room and brought tears to her eyes. I know at least one persons conversion was challenged and strengthened by that experience-it was mine. After that appointment, I thought to myself how bold what I said was, and, in a way, challenged my own faith in the promise I had given her. My faith in the law of tithing and of regular sabbath day observance were both challenged. I was grateful for the times in my life when I had seen the blessings of paying my tithing and attending church, and I was able to recall these past miracles to my mind. Then the spirit confirmed again to me that I did indeed have faith in these things, and that by following the prompting I received and by being bold, my faith was strengthened, and my testimony made firm.
It is in the trial of our faith that we are made strong. It is only when faith is tried do we become firm and steadfast in what we believe. It is only in the trial of our faith can we truly exhibit faith. When your faith is tried, beware the temptation to back down when the pressure mounts. If it was right when you prayed about it and had a testimony of it and lived it, it is still right now. It hasn't changed. Beware the temptation to back down from a good thing, just because it gets hard or you have doubts. It isn't until you take a step into the dark and take a couple hits that your faith becomes strong and is confirmed by the spirit. Give God the time He needs to mold you into the person you need to be. Let it be according to His timetable, and His plans. Don't waste your life asking 'WHY? why me? why this? why now?' - rather, ask Him 'WHAT do you want me to do? HOW do you want me to do it?'. I am convinced that as we approach life's difficulties with a 'what' and 'how' attitude rather than a 'why' mentality, we will see our dreams fulfilled, our goals achieved, and our grand potential more fully realized.
Just do what it is right, and stop fighting the Lord and His path. He knows whats best for you better than you do.I love you all so much. I am learning and growing so much through my trials and experiences. I thank God for my many blessings and for the wonderful life He has blessed me with. It's certainly not because I deserve it, or merit such love and blessings, but because I am His son, and He loves me in a way that I can't possibly understand.
Take care! Don't forget what your knees are really for...
-Elder Shepherd
This week was full of great stuff. I saw a lot of miracles and prayers answered this week.
So I was visiting a woman who has been more or less inactive for the past year. She lost her job and has been selling products for Mary Kay, but she lost her apartment is now living in a 6x7 room in a basement with a mattress on the floor with her 15 year old daughter. She's a single mom, and she literally has nothing. She had a gallon of milk and a carton of eggs, and is living a cramped, cold room with her 15 year old daughter. They have NOTHING. I found myself at a complete loss for words. I didn't know what to say to her-I didn't know what kind of help I could offer her. Then I felt a powerful prompting that I couldn't deny. It was telling me to promise her that if she would come to church every Sunday and pay her tithing that the Lord would improve her circumstances, insomuch that she would have a place to live and food to feed her and her daughter. The temptation to keep my mouth shut was great, but I couldn't quench the spirit. I boldly promised her that if she would come to church and pay her tithing that she would have a place to live and food to feed herself and her daughter. The confirming witness of the spirit was intense as the spirit flooded the room and brought tears to her eyes. I know at least one persons conversion was challenged and strengthened by that experience-it was mine. After that appointment, I thought to myself how bold what I said was, and, in a way, challenged my own faith in the promise I had given her. My faith in the law of tithing and of regular sabbath day observance were both challenged. I was grateful for the times in my life when I had seen the blessings of paying my tithing and attending church, and I was able to recall these past miracles to my mind. Then the spirit confirmed again to me that I did indeed have faith in these things, and that by following the prompting I received and by being bold, my faith was strengthened, and my testimony made firm.
It is in the trial of our faith that we are made strong. It is only when faith is tried do we become firm and steadfast in what we believe. It is only in the trial of our faith can we truly exhibit faith. When your faith is tried, beware the temptation to back down when the pressure mounts. If it was right when you prayed about it and had a testimony of it and lived it, it is still right now. It hasn't changed. Beware the temptation to back down from a good thing, just because it gets hard or you have doubts. It isn't until you take a step into the dark and take a couple hits that your faith becomes strong and is confirmed by the spirit. Give God the time He needs to mold you into the person you need to be. Let it be according to His timetable, and His plans. Don't waste your life asking 'WHY? why me? why this? why now?' - rather, ask Him 'WHAT do you want me to do? HOW do you want me to do it?'. I am convinced that as we approach life's difficulties with a 'what' and 'how' attitude rather than a 'why' mentality, we will see our dreams fulfilled, our goals achieved, and our grand potential more fully realized.
Just do what it is right, and stop fighting the Lord and His path. He knows whats best for you better than you do.I love you all so much. I am learning and growing so much through my trials and experiences. I thank God for my many blessings and for the wonderful life He has blessed me with. It's certainly not because I deserve it, or merit such love and blessings, but because I am His son, and He loves me in a way that I can't possibly understand.
Take care! Don't forget what your knees are really for...
-Elder Shepherd
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