This week has been super good! :) We started the week off with zone conference! Which was great! (like always) It's a testimony builder to me to be able to serve side by side with President Merril, he has given me so much council and guidance that has affected me and changed me for the better! When you think that "what else could he teach more?" or "I've heard this topic a million times" President comes up with a totally new way of teaching that blows your mind and helps you understand in your own way! This past Tuesday he taught us about teaching simply and the Atonement! (which is an amazing topic all on its own) and I just wanted to share a couple of thoughts on what I learned during his training!
Well first.. teaching simply, everybody knows to be an effective missionary you have to teach in the Saviors way! And I think that is one of the main reasons that the church has come out with the new manual about "teaching the Saviors way", because we are all missionaries! And we are all striving for the same goal! But as complicated as the gospel can be it's the simplest thing to learn! The pure doctrine of Christ is so simple that even children can understand it! The same applies to the Atonement! We are to have all use of the Atonement in everything that we do.
All our choices, and all that we are should be because of his great sacrifice! The atonement is possible to make us new again! I've been watching the churches videos on the 12 steps to change for an investigator that is struggling with some issues. But let me tell you that I have not heard anything more beautiful than a man or woman who has, against all odds, changed their life because of the Atonement and has been changed because of it! Their testimony is that it works.. they have let the Savior take away their pains, struggles, and their sorrows.
For many of us though, we go through our own test of faith and some times we falter.. but are we humble enough to hear the Saviors voice saying.. "will you let me take this from you?.... draw nearer unto me.... I can give you relief" or are do we think that we are "big boys and girls and think we can do it on our own?!" I think that the Nephites under King Benjamin's rule understood this principle perfectly when King Benjamin asks them what they learned they proudly say:
"And they all cried with one voice, saying: Yea, we believe all the words which thou hast spoken unto us; and also, we know of their surety and truth, because of the Spirit of the Lord Omnipotent, which has wrought a mighty change in us, or in our hearts, that we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually."
They knew and had felt the sanctification of the Atonement as they ended their response by saying "we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually." That right there is the power of the Atonement to change us so that we not only despise sin, but we want to help and serve others, learn more of Christ through the written word, and love our neighbor as our self!! What an amazing gift that we have been given!
I challenge all of you to use the Atonement more in your life.. it's there, so use it! It is not only for our mistakes but for are accomplishments and victories! :)
It is good to hear that the reunion went well!! It sounds like it was really fun! But hey can I get one of those shirts as well!! :) they look super nice! :)
I hope you all have a great week!
Love,
ELDER FONUA
Well first.. teaching simply, everybody knows to be an effective missionary you have to teach in the Saviors way! And I think that is one of the main reasons that the church has come out with the new manual about "teaching the Saviors way", because we are all missionaries! And we are all striving for the same goal! But as complicated as the gospel can be it's the simplest thing to learn! The pure doctrine of Christ is so simple that even children can understand it! The same applies to the Atonement! We are to have all use of the Atonement in everything that we do.
All our choices, and all that we are should be because of his great sacrifice! The atonement is possible to make us new again! I've been watching the churches videos on the 12 steps to change for an investigator that is struggling with some issues. But let me tell you that I have not heard anything more beautiful than a man or woman who has, against all odds, changed their life because of the Atonement and has been changed because of it! Their testimony is that it works.. they have let the Savior take away their pains, struggles, and their sorrows.
For many of us though, we go through our own test of faith and some times we falter.. but are we humble enough to hear the Saviors voice saying.. "will you let me take this from you?.... draw nearer unto me.... I can give you relief" or are do we think that we are "big boys and girls and think we can do it on our own?!" I think that the Nephites under King Benjamin's rule understood this principle perfectly when King Benjamin asks them what they learned they proudly say:
"And they all cried with one voice, saying: Yea, we believe all the words which thou hast spoken unto us; and also, we know of their surety and truth, because of the Spirit of the Lord Omnipotent, which has wrought a mighty change in us, or in our hearts, that we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually."
They knew and had felt the sanctification of the Atonement as they ended their response by saying "we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually." That right there is the power of the Atonement to change us so that we not only despise sin, but we want to help and serve others, learn more of Christ through the written word, and love our neighbor as our self!! What an amazing gift that we have been given!
I challenge all of you to use the Atonement more in your life.. it's there, so use it! It is not only for our mistakes but for are accomplishments and victories! :)
It is good to hear that the reunion went well!! It sounds like it was really fun! But hey can I get one of those shirts as well!! :) they look super nice! :)
I hope you all have a great week!
Love,
ELDER FONUA