went to the nature center last p day (:
I imagine it would have been prettier in the fall... haha it was still cool though
wildlife in the nature center (:
a house on stilts in Rochester
we were rolling in the leaves to squish them down a bit so they would fit in the bags better (;
Good day!
Hellooooo! How is everyone today?? This week
has been SO GOOD.
We had some fall fun raking leaves for one of our members, and
had the Wentworth kids come and help to and that was fun (:
We also went to the nature center on P-day and we saw Bambi and
his girlfriend, it was pretty magical. We ended up venturing further into the
woods and came upon a mansion... It ended up being the Hormel mansion and it's
now been turned into housing for troubled teens we found out haha.
it was kinda fun watching the expressions of the workers there
when we walked in and told them we came from the woods and didn't know where we
were... hahaha they laughed and gave us directions back to our car. They
thought it was pretty funny.
This week has just been a fun, miracle-filled week. We came
back in contact with an investigator who was very interested in the
gospel, but because of pressing opposition decided that he could not
meet anymore. Sister Pierce had told me of him and was very sad that
this had happened, because she saw that he truly did want to learn.
But! we went to his house after a month of not seeing him and
when he saw that it was us at the door he was so excited!!! He was
actually laughing in happiness for a few minutes, just surprised that we
would actually come back, that we hadn't given up on him (disciples
of Christ never give up on our brothers and sisters!). So we talked
to him about opposition, that it will happen. And that what is important is
that if he knows it's true. And all other things will be put into place for
him.
We also got back in contact with a recent convert who's
been AWOL the last month and we finally met with him and he'd been hit with a
lot of anti and was questioning a lot of what he knew was true.
Megan, one of our members went joint teaching with us and she
asked him if he knew that the Book of Mormon was true and if he knew Joseph
Smith was a prophet. He said yes to both.
We explained to him that people will ask him questions and he
will be tested in his faith, and that is okay, it's part of your progression in
the gospel and it's alright if you don't have all the answers for them, but
what is important is that we have a strong testimony in the gospel and
he finds out for himself if this gospel is really true or not.
Then, It doesn't matter what anyone else says. Their testimony
does not have to be our testimony. It seemed that he was comforted in
this and that it was going to be alright and he said he wanted to pray about it
again to know if this was right for him.
I'm learning that the basics of the gospel is really what is important. The
world will point fingers at everything surrounding the gospel, but the gospel
itself is pure and simple and it cannot be proven to be evil. If we have a
testimony of faith in Jesus Christ and all that he teaches, he is a foundation
that we can rely on despite the tempests that threaten to knock us down.
Christ puts it well when he speaks to his disciples of opposition:
St. John 15:19-21
These things I command you, that ye love one another.
If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it
hated you.
If ye were of the world, the world would love his own; but
because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world,
therefore the world hateth you.
One thing I've learned is that the gospel is NOT a battle of
religions, this is not a battle of who is more perfect than who, or who
has more knowledge of the Bible, or what type of person makes it to heaven. This
is not a competition between each other as human beings. We're not
perfect, and that's totally fine! The gospel is not centered around casting
stones at each other, that's just ridiculous to think that's what religion is
about. We'll never win a battle of who's got weaknesses, because we all do. Our
opposition should not be turned towards one another. That is not God's plan.
The gospel of Jesus Christ, is a principle of love.
St. John 15:9-15 LOVE AND FRIENDSHIP OF GOD AND
CHRIST
As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in
my love.
I ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I
have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.
these things have spoken unto you, that my joy might
remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
this is my commandment, that ye love one another, as I have
loved you.
Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life
for his friends.
YE ARE MY FRIENDS, if ye do whatsoever I command you. Henceforth
I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth; but I
have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have
made known unto you.
Find truth through searching for the pure love of Christ. Put
aside the distractions of the world, the imperfections of people and the
weaknesses of our own. It's fine, we're not perfect, we don't have the answers
of the universe, we aren't God.
The doctrine of Jesus Christ is here for you to know and to gain
your own personal testimony of it. And if our claim is that we have the
completeness of his gospel in the Church of Jesus Christ of latter day
saints, then find out for yourself, and do not let the persuasions of others
sway your search for truth.
If this doctrine moves you to become a better person, to change
your life for the better, to strengthen your family, to help others,
and to help you gain a relationship with God, then pray to know if this is
the truth. And if you get your answer, there it is!
Opposition will always be a part of our lives and that's okay!
stay strong, you'll figure it out (:
Love you all! Keep up your awesomeness! Continue to strengthen
your testimony!
Love,
Sister Ficklin
