Week 51: Why church?

Hello everyone!!

This week was a blast, as always!! :)

We mostly visited less actives this week, which meant more teaching and finding along the way, which is a lot of fun. Plus, one of them came to church as a result of our visit! He is one of the few YSA's in the ward, so that was definitely a plus.

Coolest thing for him is that no one has been able to contact him in a while. We were going to visit him Thursday night, but we missed the train by just a few minutes. We had to move things around in our schedule, and we visited Saturday morning. It turns out that he would have been gone Thursday night, so although it felt inconvenient at the time, it was definitely the way God wanted it to work out. In fact, we had been praying to meet him, and perhaps a missed train was an answer to our prayer.

When we visited his house, no one answered... But we took the bold route and just walked in. Doing so woke him up, but surprisingly, he doesn't hate us for it. He actually accepted us very well and we set a return appointment. Bro. M really just needs some hope, love, and friends. I feel like the Gospel can help him with that. :)

Aside from that, we were able to meet with Bro. Y and Bro T again. Bro T had to leave half way through the lesson, but Bro Y said that 80% of him wants to change. 20% of him wants to hold on to grudges and be unforgiving, but that is the kind of person that the Gospel is made for - people who want to overcome their weaknesses. He's been praying to learn how to forgive, but hasn't felt any sort of answer yet. We'll be working with him on that.

Something I have been focusing on lately is the why of what we do, as missionaries and members. It was a focus of District Meeting this week, and it struck me again when Brother M asked me why he should come to church. Why church? Why Gospel? As you could probably guess, I get this question asked of me multiple times a day. Sometimes with words, sometimes with looks.

For me, it is summed up in two verses. Moroni 8:25-26. I've probably shared these verses before, they are my favorite, but I'll share them again.

25 And the first fruits of repentance is baptism; and baptism cometh

by faith unto the fulfilling the commandments; and the fulfilling the

commandments bringeth remission of sins;

26 And the remission of sins bringeth meekness, and lowliness of

heart; and because of meekness and lowliness of heart cometh the

visitation of the Holy Ghost, which Comforter filleth with hope and

perfect love, which love endureth by diligence unto prayer, until the

end shall come, when all the saints shall dwell with God.

This is the reason I live the Gospel. Repentance and ordinances bring me in line with the Spirit, which feels awesome, and helps me improve (by giving Perfect love, or Charity). Then I get to live with God again. Basically, happiness now and later. Isn't that what everyone wants?

So I hope you find joy in living the Gospel of Christ daily, because that is the purpose of the Gospel. Take advantage of it everyday!

Stay awesome, and hold to hope this week (by living the Gospel, of course!)

Hurrah for Israel!
Elder O'Reilly