Monday, August 4, 2014

Week 54: Obedience is the key!

Daily morning scripture study


Helloooooo!!

I am so grateful for our loving Heavenly Father and His mercy towards us. I don't think we can truly comprehend His love. I am so grateful for the extraordinary experiences he has blessed me with. I am grateful to know that He sent His Son for me and for you. I am eternally grateful for knowledge of His Atonement and of God's Plan of Salvation.

A few weeks ago, a young family in our stake lost their 3 year old baby boy while on vacation due to a drowning accident. The ward and stake has rallied around them and has been an amazing support. We were able to attend the funeral for this young boy this past week. The Spirit was strong in the room as both the Mother and Father of the boy spoke from the pulpit. I cannot even imagine what this experience would be like for them. It has put in even better perspective for me, how blessed we are to know of our Father's great plan for us--The Plan of Happiness.  With this knowledge, sorrow can become hope. Hope that we will once again someday see our loved ones that have passed on. This is all possible because of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. What joy it brings me to know this. What joy it brings me to be able to share this, to teach it! What joy this Gospel brings me to live and abide by.

Something that I have learned on my mission, is the simple principle of Obedience.

“The discipline contained in daily obedience, clean living and wholesome lives builds an armor around you of protection and safety from the temptations that beset you as you proceed through mortality.” -L. Tom Perry

When we obey righteous laws, we are blessed. When we obey righteous laws, we are protected. When we obey righteous laws, we are happy. When we obey righteous laws, we are not constrained by the ways of the world.

I have seen the evidences of these statements. I have had opportunities to learn from my own experiences, and talk with other people about theirs. I know that when we are able to match our will with God's, we are simply happier. Even if we do not understand the reason for a particular commandment, we still need to obey it. God is a lot smarter than we are. He knows what will help us to be happy. He knows what can harm us. He has a lot more experience than we do ;)

(D&C 130:20-21) - "20 There is a law, irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of this world, upon which all blessings are predicated— 21 And when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated."

I can say that I know this scripture is true. If we want to be happy and receive blessings from our loving Heavenly Father, we must be obedient. I also without a doubt know that "wickedness never was happiness." (Alma 41:10)

We are teaching a lot and meeting so many people! That's one of the reasons why I love the mission so much.. We get to meet so many new people! It is so easy just to go up to any random person and start a conversation with them! I love it. One of our investigators, named Chelsea, is soooo close to baptism! She keeps talking like… "When I get baptized..." We are going to invite her to set a baptismal date this week. Most of her concerns have been about her Catholic family. They aren't too happy about her taking the missionary discussions. But i think recently that has become less of a concern. So we will see! :)

I love this Gospel and I love this Work. I am so grateful to be able to be called to the Utah Salt Lake City Mission. Our Heavenly Father has blessed me with so many choice experiences and opportunities. I love it!!!!

Thanks to everyone for your continued support and love, hope all is well at home. Stay close to the Lord, stay busy, and stay safe!! :)

Much Love,
~Elder Carroll

My Favorite scripture this week: Mosiah 2:41 - "And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness. O remember, remember that these things are true; for the Lord God hath spoken it."


My favorite quote this week: "It's all about the principle." - Uncle Kent Carroll

No comments:

Post a Comment