Dear Everyone,
First off, I'm being transferred. I am heading out to Kinston to do work in the Spanish area. It was quite unexpected, but these things usually are. I'll be there for the rest of the transfer (4 weeks) and look forward to meeting and serving new people.
Secondly, this week has been a pretty amazing week. Our investigators in both wards are progressing towards baptism and we even found another "elect" investigator this past week. ^^ On a lighter note, we had a pretty sweet time at this other family's house on Monday. We walked in that night and ended up in the middle of a nerf war... XD After the treaty was established, which was broken several times during dinner, we had an absolutely wonderful meal, as always, and a great lesson to wrap it up. Sadly, this same family is moving away on the 20th of this month... We taught a lot of different lessons this week and I was happy to help people learn how to pray.
Prayer is such a blessing to have in this life. Knowing that at anytime, anywhere, vocally or not, one can address their Father in Heaven and express gratitude, petition for blessings or just talk. What a comfort to have in such a confusing world. We teach the value of prayer many times in a week and it always surprises me how many people do not pray on a regular basis. In Elder Bednar's talk, "Pray Always," he brings up the point that "As soon as we learn the true relationship in which we stand toward God (namely, God is our Father, and we are his children), then at once prayer becomes natural and instinctive on our part" (Bible Dictionary, "Prayer," 752). Once people realize who God is and who we are to Him, there will not be a struggle to pray. I have found that when God's true nature and of our relationship to Him is distorted it greatly decreases the prayer instinct, while gaining greater knowledge of God and His attributes increases the desire to talk with Him. God is a perfect parent, not a distant manager. God is love, pure and undefiled by the ways of the world. God is patient, long suffering and always trying to see our good and help us to progress. God is just... As we come to a greater testimony of these simple truths prayer and indeed worship acquire an entirely new level. Brother Dunn made an excellent point this week when he asserted that worship in the truest sense means emulation. As we come to understand the true nature of God, talk with Him and worship Him, we should be seeking to be more like Him, more caring, more patient, loving and kind, more honest in our dealings with our fellow men, more chaste in thought, word and deed, more serving and seeking to do good to all. I know that as I have come to a greater knowledge of God and have truly worshiped Him, I have seen changes wrought in my life that I would have told you were impossible, but with God all things are possible. I leave you this testimony, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
With love,
Elder Roberts
First off, I'm being transferred. I am heading out to Kinston to do work in the Spanish area. It was quite unexpected, but these things usually are. I'll be there for the rest of the transfer (4 weeks) and look forward to meeting and serving new people.
Secondly, this week has been a pretty amazing week. Our investigators in both wards are progressing towards baptism and we even found another "elect" investigator this past week. ^^ On a lighter note, we had a pretty sweet time at this other family's house on Monday. We walked in that night and ended up in the middle of a nerf war... XD After the treaty was established, which was broken several times during dinner, we had an absolutely wonderful meal, as always, and a great lesson to wrap it up. Sadly, this same family is moving away on the 20th of this month... We taught a lot of different lessons this week and I was happy to help people learn how to pray.
Prayer is such a blessing to have in this life. Knowing that at anytime, anywhere, vocally or not, one can address their Father in Heaven and express gratitude, petition for blessings or just talk. What a comfort to have in such a confusing world. We teach the value of prayer many times in a week and it always surprises me how many people do not pray on a regular basis. In Elder Bednar's talk, "Pray Always," he brings up the point that "As soon as we learn the true relationship in which we stand toward God (namely, God is our Father, and we are his children), then at once prayer becomes natural and instinctive on our part" (Bible Dictionary, "Prayer," 752). Once people realize who God is and who we are to Him, there will not be a struggle to pray. I have found that when God's true nature and of our relationship to Him is distorted it greatly decreases the prayer instinct, while gaining greater knowledge of God and His attributes increases the desire to talk with Him. God is a perfect parent, not a distant manager. God is love, pure and undefiled by the ways of the world. God is patient, long suffering and always trying to see our good and help us to progress. God is just... As we come to a greater testimony of these simple truths prayer and indeed worship acquire an entirely new level. Brother Dunn made an excellent point this week when he asserted that worship in the truest sense means emulation. As we come to understand the true nature of God, talk with Him and worship Him, we should be seeking to be more like Him, more caring, more patient, loving and kind, more honest in our dealings with our fellow men, more chaste in thought, word and deed, more serving and seeking to do good to all. I know that as I have come to a greater knowledge of God and have truly worshiped Him, I have seen changes wrought in my life that I would have told you were impossible, but with God all things are possible. I leave you this testimony, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
With love,
Elder Roberts
