God IS GOOD

Wow, is God good! This week, Elder Teuscher and I probably had one of the craziest things happen. We were in a lesson on Tuesday with a lady who started yelling at us about Jesus being black and Seventh-day worship. To be honest, we were just ignoring her and teaching the restoration, bearing testimony. We don't know how we ended up in her house getting bashed. I looked at my companion, trying to get out of there, but he kept talking. I thought, "Oh dear, here we go with more of this contention that this lady is bringing." We were just trying to stay calm and teach what we believed. Finally, we managed to leave and walked about 10 feet down the road, where we saw a guy trying to lift a bed frame and a mattress into a house all by himself. So we ran over and helped him. He told us that he would love to have us over.

A few days later, we came back and taught him the restoration, inviting Greg to church, and he actually came. He was the first one to get up and bear his testimony. In his testimony, he mentioned that we helped him understand religion, and he was grateful for the "elders." I was really impressed. It was his first time in a sacrament meeting, and when the branch president gave the time for testimonies, he was the first one to walk up. It was a very humbling experience to see him do that, how much the spirit had touched his life and how he was moved in sacrament meeting. It made me think about all the times when people with strong testimonies don't get up and share them, even when they feel prompted by the spirit. A testimony is the strongest way to bring the spirit anywhere, and so many people could benefit from hearing just one testimony. God is calling and reaching out to you to be His divine instrument, and it's a shame to deny it, denying the opportunity to help your neighbor and God due to fear.

"You can be worried and sad and disappointed, and all the rest of it, but you are not privileged to be afraid. There is no fear in the work that we do. Fear is the opposite of faith, and if you have faith, you do not have fear. Those two things do not — cannot — exist simultaneously. So when you have a worry and a fear, you erase it with faith." - President Packer

Fear has been on my mind a lot lately, both personally and as a mission. We discussed it this week at a zone conference and talked about how faith and fear cannot coexist. I mention this because of the testimony thing. Since the MTC, I have been bearing my testimony in sacrament meeting every month. At first, it was scary, especially in Utah where there were a lot of people. Then I got to Puerto Rico, and it was challenging because it was all in Spanish. Now, I feel like I'm at the point where it's really easy to walk up and share my testimony, maybe because it's a small English-speaking branch. But in all seriousness, it's because of repetition and the willingness to feel the fear and do it anyway. My dad always told me that growing up, among many other things, but that advice stands out the most because it's true. There will always be doubt and fear, but that's when you have to push through and do it anyway (obviously, using common sense and following safety prompts). When it comes to fear, one thing I've learned on my mission is that change is uncomfortable, but it's the only way to find happiness. Embracing discomfort is the only way to experience true joy. Learn to be uncomfortable, feel the fear, and do it anyway.

Alma 4:18-19 speaks to me. Alma did not grant him the office of being a high priest over the church; he retained that office for himself. However, he delivered the judgment seat to Nephihah. He did this so that he could go forth among his people, or among the people of Nephi, to preach the word of God, stirring them up to remember their duty. He aimed to pull down, through the word of God, all the pride, craftiness, and contentions among his people. He saw no other way to reclaim them except by bearing pure testimony against them.

These verses resonate with me because the only way to truly help is through pure testimony. As I was reading this and reflecting on testimonies this week, I realized...

I know that God is real and that He loves all of His children. He thinks about every single one of us. I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God, having the power to transform one's character more than any other book on earth. Jesus Christ is the living Son of the living God, and He truly died for each and every one of our sins. Through Jesus Christ, we can find healing, and His loving arms are always extended to forgive. All guilt and problems fade away when we choose to embrace His atoning grace in our lives. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the true and living Church of Jesus Christ. It's all true, and I cannot deny it. The mission I have served so far has been the best thing I have ever done in my entire life. Being God's instrument feels incredibly fulfilling, and I never want to come home. I love this Gospel and the profound happiness it brings. Working tirelessly, walking under the hot sun and humid days, sweating like crazy, facing tons of rejection, and then coming home and realizing, "Wow, that was tough." But it was also the happiest day I have ever had. It brings me closest to God and Jesus Christ, and I cherish it. It's an experience that I wish all young people would have by serving a mission because it is truly life-changing. Kahled changed my life a week ago, and now Greg has had a profound impact on me and my mission. I believe I was called for this specific day and place. While I felt a bit sad leaving Puerto Rico, my mission has taken a drastic turn in the last month since being in the British Virgin Islands. I'm grateful for being sent here to learn and grow. I have experienced the most powerful lessons on my mission here, and I'm excited for what's to come.

"Regarding one's testimony, remember that which one willingly shares, he keeps, while that which he selfishly keeps, he loses. Teach and testify. There is no better combination." - President Thomas S. Monson

After church, we asked Greg when we could visit him next, and he said, "Tonight?" Of course, we agreed and made some time to visit him. He taught us about his belief that we should be able to become like God. If we learn, we will be like our Father, able to create worlds. On the other hand, those who didn't learn or strive to be their best will live in heaven and be happy but not like God. Greg also talked about how he believes we came from somewhere as spirits and explained the fall of Adam and Eve in great detail. I looked at him and said, "Greg, you are the smartest man I have ever met on my mission." He smiled and replied, "It's not me; it's what the spirits taught me." We then discussed the plan of salvation, and he was incredibly excited and had a big smile on his face. Finally, we invited him to be baptized, but before I could finish, he interrupted and said, "I have already been baptized. Would that affect anything?" Then he added, "I also believe I should be baptized by fire, not just water." I couldn't help but tell him, "You are two steps ahead of me, Greg." He confirmed his decision, and he will be baptized in 12 days.