WEEK 82: A Muslim, an Atheist and a Mormon!

FEBRUARY 9, 2015

Our serious side!

Our goofy side! haha

Markham!

Hey!!

Been a busy week!  Had 3 companion exchanges with some of the Elders in the Zone this past week or so and a ton of meetings!  I love mission life! Companion exchanges are great because I'm able to learn from and see the perspective of many different missionaries in the work.  Meetings are great because President Hansen is a boss!!  He is a man of the Spirit and has so much knowledge and experience.  There is so much to learn from this man, I just want to sit down and pick his brain for a few hours!!  I'll sure miss him! He's moving back to St. George which is only 45min from where I’ll be attending college in Cedar City! So it'll be easy to stay in touch.

The entire mission was called together  in Salt Lake (with only 3 hours notice) for a meeting to announce our new Mission President.  His name is President Spendlove and he is from San Antonio Texas. He is currently serving as a Stake President, and is the retired CEO of  theTexaco Gas Company.  He'll be here in February 28^th!

Danny and Liz are doing great. Hopefully Liz will be baptized this month. Will keep you updated.

This past week we had dinner with a Muslim, an Atheist, and a Mormon! The Atheist might have been Buddhist… I couldn't completely understand him with his heavy Chinese accent! lol They're all roommates and the Mormon invited us over!  We had a great Gospel conversation.  Super great guys!  My testimony of the truthfulness of the Gospel was strengthened throughout the entirety of our conversation.  I believe most religions have so much good in them.  But it is so apparent that none of them have the FULLNESS of the Gospel.  During companion exchanges this week, we ran into a really nice Filipino lady, who said she was catholic. Something she said really stood out to me… She said, "I don't like to discuss religion, cause I don't know enough about my own.  But, there's a new Pope so I have new hope!" haha  But seriously though, I have yet to find a religion, besides the LDS faith, that claims or has the fullness of God's word, laws & organization. 

Since I've been out in the field, I've discussed this topic with Baptists, Southern Baptists (yes there is a difference!), Anti-Mormon, Atheists, Protestants (Wesleyan), Muslims, Catholics, Agnostics, Raëlist, Wicken, Buddhist, Hinduist, Lutherans, 7th Day Adventists, FLDS (polygamist), and many more. I always enjoy conversations with other religious parties. 100% of the time it comes down to the fact that they do not believe in Modern Revelation. They can't or don't want to live the "Higher Law".  They do all they can to avoid accountability.  Some people we come across say they don't believe the fullness was ever lost!  My question is… then where is it?! It WAS restored and anyone who wishes to know if that is true is welcome to find out for themselves.  Put it to the test. That's what I love so much about our Gospel message.  You don't have to believe our words.  Try it for yourself.  Read the Book of Mormon.  Ask God if it's not His word.  See if living more fully God's laws changes your life. The Gospel is amazing.  It all fits so nicely together.  The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints has the fullness of the Gospel and therefor has all necessary Priesthood Authority and Ordinances available to qualify for Eternal Life. It's that simple.

A less-active member  that we are working with named Kort, just started the Stop Smoking (Chewing) Program that we teach as missionaries!  He has been chewing tobacco for the past 8 years.  He's 6 days free now! Please pray for him. We had an amazing experience with him. As we were about to leave, he asked us for a Priesthood blessing in order to help him get through this addiction. At the end of the blessing, he was in tears. It just goes to show that there are people all around us who have their own inner struggles.  We need to do all we can to reach out to these individuals and be "saviors of men" (D&C 103:9).  I am forever grateful for the experiences the Lord has allowed me to take part in. He has changed me.

A Tongan man took us out to dinner a few days ago and something he said really stood out to me.. He said something along the lines that God saved his strongest children for these last days. That there is a very good reason we were born where and when we were.  It made me think… God has to be able to trust us, in order to give us the orders that He plans on giving us, to fulfill His Eternal Plan. We have to be worthy at all times. We can't miss a beat. God has saved us for this time. There's a work for us to do. We must be ready.

Another amazing experience we had last week… Last P-day we went to WalMart like usual to pick up the week’s groceries.  As we were checking out, the cashier just starting bawling!  We didn't really know what to do. Just then, a lady swipes her card to pay for our stuff and also gets $40 cash back for us and then just leaves.  The cashier (a Polynesian lady) then says to us, "I have tears in my eyes because she (the lady who paid for us) comes here all the time and pays for the missionaries."  It was quite an incredible experience. I didn't know exactly how to feel.  People pay for missionaries all the time here in Utah, but this time was different. The cashier was so taken back by the kindness of this lady.  It was truly a humbling experience.

The doctrine of "Compassion" has overruled my studies over the past few weeks. I am struck with amazement as I've studied the life of Christ and seen how many times the scriptures mention that he has "compassion" on someone.  Every time he heals or helps anyone.

-he was moved with compassion on them: Matt. 9:36 (Matt. 14:14;Mark 6:34)
-lord of that servant was moved with compassion: Matt. 18:27
-Shouldest not thou also have had compassion: Matt. 18:33
-Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: Matt. 20:34
-Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand: Mark 1:41
-Lord … hath had compassion on thee: Mark 5:19
-if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us: Mark 9:22
-when the Lord saw her, he had compassion: Luke 7:13
-Samaritan … when he saw him, he had compassion: Luke 10:33
-his father saw him, and had compassion: Luke 15:20
-I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion: Rom. 9:15
-one member suffer, all the members suffer with it: 1 Cor. 12:26
-Who can have compassion on the ignorant: Heb. 5:2
-be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another: 1 Pet. 3:8
-shutteth up his bowels of compassion: 1 Jn. 3:17
-some have compassion, making a difference: Jude 1:22
-filled with compassion towards the children: Mosiah 15:9
-had compassion on them and were pacified: Mosiah 20:26
-Lamanites had compassion on Amulon: Mosiah 23:34
-he will take upon him the pains: Alma 7:11
-they were moved with compassion: Alma 27:4
-my bowels are filled with compassion towards you: 3 Ne. 17:6 . (D&C 101:9)
-Lord had compassion upon Jared: Ether 1:35
-remember … the poor and the needy, the sick: D&C 52:40
-I will have compassion upon you: D&C 64:2
-mercy hath compassion on mercy: D&C 88:40
-thy bowels be moved with compassion toward them: D&C 121:3

If we can learn to have compassion on (or charity for) others, we will begin to see them as the Savior does.  If we can put ourselves in other people’s shoes, we will begin to develop a more Christlike character. We will learn and love to turn outwards, rather than inwards.

I love the Gospel. There is so much to learn and so much we can improve on that we can take from the life of our Redeemer, the scriptures, the prophets, and personal revelation.

Stay close to the Lord, and make sure He can trust you, and I promise He will bless you.

Love,

Elder Carroll

"Let all your things be done with charity." (1 Corinthians 16:14)

"Fighting for a kingdom, and the world is our foe;
Happy are we! Happy are we!
Glad to join the army, we will sing as we go;
We shall gain the vict'ry by and by.
Dangers may gather--why should we fear?
Jesus, our Leader, ever is near.
He will protect us, comfort, and cheer.
We're joyfully, joyfully marching to our home." 

(We Are All Enlisted. LDS Hymn 250)