Week 71- CHURCH, PRAY, READ!

NOVEMBER 24, 2014

Sheep herdin'!

 Road to Ibapah (South of Wendover)

Family & Friends,

Living life as a missionary has been the most wonderful, rewarding and personal growing experience that I have ever had in my entire life.  It has also been one of the most frustrating.

Just yesterday, we dropped our most progressing investigator, Brad. He has been keeping all of the commitments we extend and has been doing great. But he says he doesn't or hasn't felt a difference in when he keeps our invitations and when he doesn't.  He is a very logical thinker and says he feels good whenever we meet, but he doesn't think it's the Spirit.  So we decided to try an experiment.  We are not going to meet with him for the next 2 or 3 weeks, so he can see if he can tell a difference in his day-to-day life.  It's hard to tell someone you love that you can't come back for awhile, but the Spirit confirmed to us that it is necessary. Will keep you updated on Brad.

It is heart-breaking to have someone tell you straight to your face that they feel as if the Church has nothing to offer them.  It's even worse when these individual's used to be faithful, temple-going members, who once held respectable callings. Some of these people say that they are "too busy" to do what the Lord has asked. In my opinion, it’s a pathetic excuse.  The sad part is these people honestly really do feel as if they are too busy.  Satan is so smart!  He has so much experience.  He doesn't have to do hardly anything before we as weak mortals fall into his snares. The Lord will not ask us to do something unless we were given a way to accomplish it.  If we are too busy to do what the Lord asks, then we are too busy.

The title of this email is "Church, Pray, Read."  If there is one thing that I would plead with you to do, it would be these 3 simple things. If you are not doing your absolute best to attend all of your church meetings, I invite you to do so. If are currently not praying daily, I invite you to do so. If you are not doing your absolute best to read from His word every day, I invite you to repent and do so.

*CHURCH*

"And that thou mayest more fully keep thyself unspotted from the world, thou shalt go to the house of prayer and offer up thy sacraments upon my holy day; For verily this is a day appointed unto you to rest from your labors, and to pay thy devotions unto the Most High;" (D&C 59:9-10)

*PRAY*

"But behold, I say unto you that ye must pray always, and not faint; that ye must not perform any thing unto the Lord save in the first place ye shall pray unto the Father in the name of Christ, that he will consecrate thy performance unto thee, that thy performance may be for the welfare of thy soul." (2 Nephi 32:9)

*READ*

And now, my sons, I would that ye should remember to search [the scriptures] diligently, that ye may profit thereby; and I would that ye should keep the commandments of God, that ye may prosper in the land according to the promises which the Lord made unto our fathers." (Mosiah 1:6-7)

There's a reason why the Lord asks us to do these things. I can say that it's so we don't fall into Satan's traps.  It's so our testimonies and personal conversions will be strong enough to get us through life's trials.  If you are not actively keeping the Lord's commandments in doing these things, I plead and beg you to start.  I invite because I have seen firsthand what happens when these things cease. It isn't pretty or joyful.  It's misery.  Please do them!!

We have been having a great scripture study each week with a less-active member of the church. He shared this following passage with us this week:

"I am a part of the fellowship of the Unashamed. I have the Holy Spirit Power. The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I am a disciple of Jesus Christ. I won't look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still. My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, and my future is secure. I am finished and done with low living, sight walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tame visions, mundane talking, chintzy giving, and dwarfed goals.

I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits, or

popularity. I don't have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised,

regarded, or rewarded. I now live by presence, learn by faith, love by

patience, lift by prayer, and labor by power.

My pace is set, my gait is fast, my goal is Heaven, my road is narrow, my

way is rough, my companions few, my Guide is reliable, my mission is clear.

I cannot be bought, compromised, deterred, lured away, turned back, diluted,

or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the

presence of adversity, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the

pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of

mediocrity.

I won't give up, back up, let up, or shut up until I've preached up, prayed

up, paid up, stored up, and stayed up for the cause of Christ. I am a

disciple of Jesus Christ. I must go until He returns, give until I drop,

preach until all know, and work until He comes.

And when He comes to get His own, He will have no problem recognizing me. My

colors will be clear for "I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the

power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes.." (Romans 1:16)"

By Dr. Bob Moorehead

Are we this devoted to Christ? Should we be? How can we be? Here's a little hint... It all starts with Church, Pray, Read.

We must use the Atonement now, repent, and turn towards our Savior in every thought, word, and deed. There are truly no excuses. I can confidently testify that when we obey these simple commandments, we will have true joy in our life. I again invite you to do these things if you are not already, and promise you will be blessed for doing so.

I love this Gospel and I love our Savior. Without Him, none of this would be possible. We would all have to fulfill the demands of justice on our own, and trust me that wouldn't be fun. As we follow Him, and obey Him, we can access that grace. There is no other way. And in that I rejoice, for the opportunity I have to return and live with our Loving Heavenly Father, with my family forever.

Please stay close to the Lord and I promise He will bless you.

~Elder Carroll