Transfer 9 Week 5

Dear Everyone,
       
        This week has passed by so quickly. I was able to learn a lot about patience and about losing myself in the service of others. I was able to serve at Meals on Wheels, The Healing Place Thrift Store and with a few of the Elders in the stake. We were able to review the first and second discussions with one investigator and I tried to help out, but I ended up tripping over my words and making a mess of things. The missionaries handled it well though and we ended on a wonderful note. I was also able to attend District Meeting this week where we talked about the Spirit's role in conversion. I was able to do a roleplay with the District Leader and it went really well. :) I was a bit nervous since the last time I tried teaching it didn't go over very well, but thankfully this time it did. I did a little study on how the Spirit enlightens our minds and helps us to discern between darkness and light. That which does not edify is darkness, that which is light edifies and builds up us and those around us. As we are full of the Spirit and have an eye single to the glory of God we can be full of light to the point that there is no darkness. It is when we are burdened and blinded by the glory of the world that we stumble and fall as those who were ashamed after eating from the Tree of Life in Lehi's vision.

    I also had an opportunity to study the roles of Christ in the Three Pillars of Eternity, namely the Creation, the Fall and the Atonement.   In the creation He is the great creator, in the Atonement He is the Savior and the Enabler, not only saving us from death, but enabling us to have faith, repent, be baptized and endure to the end through His grace and mercy. However, in the fall it is a little different. In the Fall His role must be traced back before the world was, where the great debate over the Plan was held. He contended for agency which allowed mankind to choose to partake of the fruit and take upon themselves mortality. It was this agency that made the Fall possible. I had never thought of that before. The role of agency in our lives and in the Plan of Salvation is essential to our progression. Without it we could not learn or progress, there would be no way to righteous, for we could not choose either righteousness nor sin. We would be acted upon and not agents unto ourselves. In this we learn that there must be an opposite force, and we must be enabled to choose to follow it, for without it neither righteousness nor sin, misery or happiness brought about. As it says in 2nd Nephi Chapter 2.

    I am grateful for Jesus Christ and the many roles He has and does yet perform in the grand Plan of Salvation. I am grateful for His Atonement and for the cleansing and enabling powers that flow from that. I am grateful that He is, not was or will be, but is. That He lives and is the great mediator. I am grateful for the opportunity I have to serve Him and to be a representative of Him in His Church.  I know that He lives, I know that this is His Church and that He has called a Prophet in these the Latter Days. I know that the Book of Mormon is with the Bible the Words of God unto His Children. I know that I am a son a God and a bearer of His Holy Priesthood. Of these things I know and humbly bear witness of, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

With Love,

Elder Roberts

Transfer 9 Week 4

Dear Everyone,

    This week has been an interesting one. I continued my work at the Temple, both as a patron and as a worker. As always, being in the House of the Lord was a sweet and humbling experience. I am grateful for the time I am able to spend there and cherish each moment. I was able to deliver on three days this week with the Meals on Wheels organization, which is one more day than usual. It was much easier to deliver on one of the routes since the road construction near where I deliver was nearing completion. I was also able to continue volunteering at the Healing Place Thrift Store where I was able to talk about my views on morality and modesty once more. I was also able to share my opinions on the family and the importance thereof. Well, I went with the Spanish Elders and we were able to teach a few lessons and even found out that one of our members was coming back to town to visit. The week ended with a baptism in the branch. The daughter of one of our recent converts made the decision to move forward in faith and partake of the sweet blessing of baptism. One of the Elders in the Spanish branch performed the baptism and the little girl was all smiles afterward. It was a very touching experience to witness that. We had a great sacrament meeting on the Atonement of Jesus Christ and the purifying and enabling powers of that infinite and eternal sacrifice. In my study this week I read many chapters out of Genesis and studied the topics of holiness and charity. The different meanings or facets of holiness particularly intrigued me. In Jarom 5:1 it states that the Nephites kept the Sabbath day holy unto the Lord, which could be wholly unto the Lord, meaning that in that day all they did was unto the Lord. In this same instance it could also mean completely. Holy could also mean set apart or consecrated as possibly dictated in D&C 124:44. In 2nd Nephi 31:5 it could be complete or pure as in, if Christ being pure or complete needs baptism, so do we as sinners. Finally, a cross reference of Alma 12:30 speaking on holy works leads to Luke 8:14-15 which shows a comparison of those who flourish in the gospel and bring forth fruit and those who are choked by the cares of the world. Fun stuff :D. Charity was an equally edifying topic to study and I invite all to seek understanding of the principles and doctrines associated with charity. I know it will be a blessing to you and to those who you associate with.

    I love being a missionary. I love being a representative of Jesus Christ and of His church. I know that The Book of Mormon is true. I was reading this past week in second Nephi chapter four and the spirit pierced my heart with a powerful yet delicate witness of the divinity of the Book of Mormon. I know that the Holy Ghost is real and that He truly is the Comforter and testator of truth. I know that Jesus is the Christ and that He is God's Son. I know that God is our loving Heavenly Father, the perfect parent who knows and loves each and every one of us. He rejoices with us and mourns with us. May we all remember that we are children of a loving Heavenly Father with our own divine attributes. This is my prayer in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen

With Love,

Elder Roberts

Transfer 9 Week 3

Hi Everyone!

    This week has been quite an interesting one. I got set apart as a temple worker and that was quite an amazing experience. I love being in the Temple and now this gives me the ability to spend even more time there in the service of my God. I am so very grateful for that opportunity and for the opportunity to serve in the community and with my fellow missionaries. This week I continued to serve at Meals on Wheels and the Healing Place Thrift Store and was even able to help with a move. On Sunday we had a Spanish fireside and President Issa shared his conversion story and some stories from his mission and it went really well. We had one investigator come and the spirit that was there was really sweet, so it was a great experience for her and for all of us. It really helps to be around investigators and recent converts when you want to  really appreciate what you have in terms of the Gospel. To hear stories of how people have searched for God and truth in so many different churches, religions, books and ways invites one to consider the personal search that they themselves have made in their own lives. To remember the faith and testimony building experiences and the line upon line revelations that led to a sure knowledge and the action, inspiration, and influence of the Holy Ghost that led to conversion. I am so blessed to have found this Gospel at such a young age, or to have the Gospel find me. It has been a privilege to walk in obedience to the statutes and laws of the Gospel. The knowledge that comes through study and the understanding that comes through application of correct principles is such an undeniable blessing. This week I have been pondering over the difference between knowledge and understanding and how the gap between the two are bridged by experience and action. In the Doctrine and Covenants it talks about how God gives commandments in order to bring about understanding. As His children are obedient to those commandments, acting on the knowledge they have received, they can receive a witness from the Holy Ghost and obtain an understanding of the principle or doctrine. :D In Proverbs it describes understanding as knowledge of a holy man, which could mean knowledge of one who obeys the correct principles he or she knows to be true. For as we learn in 2nd Nephi, those that think they are wise or knowledgeable who hearken not unto the counsel of the Lord shall perish, for their wisdom is foolishness. One group of people, the Sons of Mosiah were men of sound understanding. They had fasted and prayed and searched the scriptures diligently to know the things of God, but through their righteous living and their missionary work they gained that and so much more.  Some examples of the blessings and attributes of understanding are: to have wisdom, to seek knowledge, walketh uprightly, will find good, slow to wrath, hearts open to the Holy Ghost and by wisdom a house is built, but by understanding is it established. May we establish our homes in the understanding of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and  in our divine natures in these the latter days. I know that Jesus is the Son of God, I know that God is our loving Heavenly Father and that we are all children of God and as such we have the opportunity to develop the divine attributes within us. I know that He loves us each personally and individually. I know that He has a Prophet on the earth today and that Joesph Smith was a Prophet. I know that the Book of Mormon is a portion of the word of God and that it contains the fullness of the everlasting Gospel of Jesus Christ. Of these things I bear my witness, in the sacred name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

With love,

Elder Roberts

Transfer 9 Week 3

Hi Everyone!

    This week has been quite an interesting one. I got set apart as a temple worker and that was quite an amazing experience. I love being in the Temple and now this gives me the ability to spend even more time there in the service of my God. I am so very grateful for that opportunity and for the opportunity to serve in the community and with my fellow missionaries. This week I continued to serve at Meals on Wheels and the Healing Place Thrift Store and was even able to help with a move. On Sunday we had a Spanish fireside and President Issa shared his conversion story and some stories from his mission and it went really well. We had one investigator come and the spirit that was there was really sweet, so it was a great experience for her and for all of us. It really helps to be around investigators and recent converts when you want to  really appreciate what you have in terms of the Gospel. To hear stories of how people have searched for God and truth in so many different churches, religions, books and ways invites one to consider the personal search that they themselves have made in their own lives. To remember the faith and testimony building experiences and the line upon line revelations that led to a sure knowledge and the action, inspiration, and influence of the Holy Ghost that led to conversion. I am so blessed to have found this Gospel at such a young age, or to have the Gospel find me. It has been a privilege to walk in obedience to the statutes and laws of the Gospel. The knowledge that comes through study and the understanding that comes through application of correct principles is such an undeniable blessing. This week I have been pondering over the difference between knowledge and understanding and how the gap between the two are bridged by experience and action. In the Doctrine and Covenants it talks about how God gives commandments in order to bring about understanding. As His children are obedient to those commandments, acting on the knowledge they have received, they can receive a witness from the Holy Ghost and obtain an understanding of the principle or doctrine. :D In Proverbs it describes understanding as knowledge of a holy man, which could mean knowledge of one who obeys the correct principles he or she knows to be true. For as we learn in 2nd Nephi, those that think they are wise or knowledgeable who hearken not unto the counsel of the Lord shall perish, for their wisdom is foolishness. One group of people, the Sons of Mosiah were men of sound understanding. They had fasted and prayed and searched the scriptures diligently to know the things of God, but through their righteous living and their missionary work they gained that and so much more.  Some examples of the blessings and attributes of understanding are: to have wisdom, to seek knowledge, walketh uprightly, will find good, slow to wrath, hearts open to the Holy Ghost and by wisdom a house is built, but by understanding is it established. May we establish our homes in the understanding of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and  in our divine natures in these the latter days. I know that Jesus is the Son of God, I know that God is our loving Heavenly Father and that we are all children of God and as such we have the opportunity to develop the divine attributes within us. I know that He loves us each personally and individually. I know that He has a Prophet on the earth today and that Joesph Smith was a Prophet. I know that the Book of Mormon is a portion of the word of God and that it contains the fullness of the everlasting Gospel of Jesus Christ. Of these things I bear my witness, in the sacred name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

With love,

Elder Roberts

Transfer 9 Week 2

Dear Everyone,

    This week was spent in the service of the missionaries, The Healing Place Thrift Store and the Meals on Wheels of Wake County organization. I was able to spend quite a bit of time volunteering at these places and then was able to spend some time in the Temple before heading down to Georgia for the weekend. We had a death in the family and so I was able to go and to participate in the funeral service and visit a bit with my siblings. It was weird to see how much my siblings had grown up. I was humbled by the effect the Gospel had had in my and how it has changed my thinking almost entirely. The way I see things, the way I act and the way I feel has been so affected by my knowledge and testimony, my faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and in His Gospel. I have been able to see it first hand in my ministry and in my own life as it has shaped me and others those who accept it. I have felt the natural man being changed, desires and appetites purified through faithfulness and sanctified through the companionship of the Holy Ghost. It strengthens my testimony to see these changes and to feel the love of my Father in Heaven so strongly. I know that God is Our literal Father in Heaven. I know that Jesus Christ is His Son, the Savior and Redeemer of mankind. He is the Light and the Life of this world and the Way home. I am so grateful to be a carrier of His name to those who know Him not and those who have not yet accepted Him as their personal savior by having faith in Him and keeping the commandments that have been given by Him. I have a testimony of a literal resurrection. That one day we will be allowed to take back up our physical bodies, glorified, void of imperfections and immortal, and that we will stand in Christ's presence to be judged of Him.  I know that life does not end at the grave for it has been testified that even as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. Job declared that even though the skin worms would destroy his body, yet in his flesh would he see God. I declare my witness that Jesus is the Christ, that through His atoning sacrifice He overcame physical death, that all might be resurrected and brought back into His presence to be judged as it says in Revelation: "every man according to their works." I have a testimony of repentance, of the peace it brings to align our will with the will of the Father and to forsake all to follow the example His Son has given us. These things I know, that the way has been restored, that the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the fullness thereof, has been restored through a modern day prophet and that we have it available to us to become who God would have us be, and to "become heirs of Eternal Life." Of these things I bear my witness, in the sacred name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

With Love,

Elder Roberts

Transfer 9 Week 1

Dear Everyone,

    This past week has definitely been an enlightening one. I was able to continue my service at the Healing Place Thrift Store and one of the days that I volunteered there I was able to stand for virtue, truth and righteousness. I am so grateful for the moral code established by a loving Heavenly Father for His children's happiness and the opportunity to share that. I returned to the Temple on Wednesday morning and the Spirit there was so sweet. There is a peace there that is clearer and more pure than anywhere else, even my recently cleaned room. Speaking of my room, my companion and I were instructed to clean the apartment to make it decent for the new missionaries arriving in. We cleaned the apartment really well and the spirit of peace that entered in had such an effect on me that I wanted to make my room like that. So, I did. I came back home, threw away about three bags of trash and then organized the rest of my chaos into some order. Well, at least it is neat. (sort of) Neat enough that I am not overcome with despair when I enter my room. Cleanliness truly is next to godliness. The next step is to make my future apartment like this.

    I joined the missionaries in teaching a couple of times this week and the blessing of being able to teach by the spirit fell upon me. I found myself asking the right questions, giving correct answers and the Spirit was so strong there. I remembered to invite to act, to promise blessings and to bear my testimony which I had gained by following that principle or doctrine. Somehow I usually leave one or more of those out and it will nag at me for a day or two, sometimes I will still be thinking about it six or seven months later to make sure I do not repeat the same mistake. I have gained a greater appreciation of not only the companionship of the Holy Ghost and the revelation, gifts of the Spirit and comfort that come from Him, but for the personal and deep tender mercies of the Lord in daily discipleship. I receive and I believe each of us receive little "love notes" from God on a daily basis saying "I'm here, I do love you" or "You are my child, do not forget that." These small and simple, yet profound witnesses are testaments of God's love for us. I know that as you pray to see God's hand in your life and to feel and see His love, you will begin to see more clearly the words and feel more deeply that love which you have longed to feel and that identity, that real you that you have longed to find.

    I know that I am a child of God and so are you. Never ever forget that. Do not let the ways of the world rob you of that identity or that self-worth. You are not defined by beauty, fame, fortune or any other worldly value, but by the eternal nature God gave you and the peace of living within that nature defies all worldly "happiness." True joy is found in God's love as shown in the atonement, sacrifice and resurrection of His only Begotten Son in the Flesh. I know that Jesus is the Christ. I know by the power of the Holy Ghost, and because of the pure love that flows from that testimony and the foundation of faith that is in Him, I am. I am able to become who He would have me be. Through Him we have a Prophet on the earth today, through Him we have His Gospel, through Him we have hope for a better world. It is that faith that give us "the [assurance or basis] of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Which enables us to act in accordance with correct principle and receive the power to become who He would have us become.  He knows us, He loves us, He has suffered all and bore the weight we could never bear, yet stands triumphant. These things I know and bear witness of, in the sacred name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

With Love,

Elder Roberts