Week 33 - Graduation Day

Last Saturday night, I got a call from President Howes. There are a few new missionaries coming in this week and I have been called to train one of them. This means that I'll be leaving UNSW (hence the title) and starting somewhere else with this new Elder. It was a pretty big surprise, but I'm looking forward to the amazing things that lie ahead.

 

This week, President Howes has asked us to share our experiences with the Book of Mormon.

Growing up, The Book of Mormon was something that I learned a lot about. My parents would read from it, my friends would talk about it, and my neighbors would always have copies of it around their houses. I knew a few of the stories and thought it was great, but it was something that I thought I'd never actually read all the way through.

I would say that the first time that I really understood what the Book of Mormon meant to me was when my family decided to read it together a few years ago. The prophet at the time (Gordon B. Hinckley) challenged members of the church to read the Book of Mormon in a year. So, my wonderful parents took up the challenge and started to read the Book with our family everyday, even if just a page or two. This time around, my parents would stop frequently to explain what was going on and what lessons we could learn from it. We continued to read the Book of Mormon, regardless of where we were or what we were doing.

I remember when we finished reading it. We were on vacation and we were sitting in our car in the middle of the day. We were reading the last few chapters of Moroni and though I was hot, tired, and a little bored, I knew that the Book of Mormon was true. I don't remember anything specific that was said, but I can still remember what I felt as we finished the book. I later prayed and asked God to confirm the feeling I had that it was truly His words. That confirmation came, and I knew that the Book of Mormon was from God.

Since then, I've read the Book of Mormon through several times on my own, and each time I finish, I ask God to teach me and help me to continually know of its truth. Through this, I can say that I not only knew, but that I know that the Book of Mormon is true. It is the word of God. Studying its pages will bring spiritual light and knowledge into the lives of all who sincerely read it with a desire to know of its truth.

One of the many miracles that I saw this week was a lesson we had with Joy. After our last lesson, we invited her to read 2 Nephi 31 in preparation for our lesson on the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This week, we begun the lesson and asked if she had read the chapter. Not only did she read it, but she understood it well enough that she basically taught us the lesson herself! The lesson continued on to be a great experience in following up. She should be super solid for her baptismal date at the end of the month. I know that the she was able to learn all these things not from us, but from the Holy Ghost.

Speaking of the Book of Mormon, I hope everyone had a good experience with 2 Nephi 31-Jacob 4. I've read these chapters for the last few weeks and I've learned something new from them everyday. From why we need to be baptized to characteristics of Jesus Christ. These are some amazing chapters and I hope you thought so as well.

 

This week, we'll be reading Jacob 5-7. Chapter 5 contains a rather long allegory about an olive tree. It's not too easy to understand, but try reading it with a missionary perspective (especially towards the end when it talks about gathering), and see if that doesn't make things a little clearer.

 

Have a great week!

 

Love,

Elder Clark