Weekly Letter May 16th 2016
Hey guys; I hope everyone has had a great week.
This week our branch celebrated "Family Week" which meant that we spent a lot of time planning and having some fun activities. Saturday's activity was probably the best friendly competition mixed with a three-legged race, trivia, tug-of-war, and balloon popping made for a really fun night.
I'm always surprised at the varied reactions we get when we talk to people. The other day we were knocking doors and pretty much everyone was giving us the same lame excuses (I'm busy, I already go to a church, I'm about to leave, etc.) Finally we knocked on one lady's door and when she saw us she gasped and said "come on in" before we even introduced ourselves or actually said anything. She basically just let us in because although she'd never really spoken to missionaries before, she recognized us as servants of Christ and wanted a spiritual message. She told us that her father had recently had a stroke and that she has been tirelessly caring for him. We taught her that faith and hope centered in Jesus Christ provide an anchor to our souls so that the winds and waves of life cannot move us. All in all, it was a neat lesson.
I almost forgot to mention that on Monday we finally got to see the statue of the miraculous Black Jesus in Esquipulas. The deal is that every year there is a pilgrimage to visit a statue of Christ that according to local superstition mixed with religious tradition and tourism hype can work miracles. Traditionally the trek is to be finished crawling on your knees and thousands come, bloodied and bruised, to ask a favor from the statue which is housed in a large baroque-style Catholic basilica. Although, our visit was not quite as dramatic, it was neat to see something of another religion. Because it was a Monday afternoon there were not many visitors but there were a few devouts knelt and drying at the foot of the statue. Part of the superstition is that you can't have your backed turned to the statue. Not being superstitious but just a little stitious (and for respect) we walked backwards out of the basilica as to not run our backs to black Jesus. Afterwards we took pictures and ate Taco Bell so all in all it was a successful P-Day.
This week my spiritual message will center on a man named Morianton whose story is found in chapter 10 of Ether in the Book of Mormon. Morianton lived in a turbulent time of Jaredite history. Such was the succession from one king to another that that's exactly what the chapter heading in Ether 10 says to sum up this period in four words, "One king succeeds another". We read that "Morianton...gathered together an army of outcasts, and went forth and gave battle unto the people; and he gained power over many cities; and the war became exceedingly sore, and did last for the space of many years; and he did gain power over all the land, and did establish himself king over all the land. And after that he had established himself king he did ease the burden of the people, by which he did gain favor in the eyes of the people, and they did anoint him to be their king." Well, at least so far this Morianton guy seems to be pretty cool. Kind of like a Moroni-King Benjamin hybrid who is a great military leader but also a public servant. Let's see how the story continues: "And he did do justice unto the people, but not unto himself because of his many whoredoms; wherefore he was cut off from the presence of the Lord." And it's over, seconds later, "But wait!" cried the world, "What happened? Sure this guy had his weaknesses; but to deserve to be 'cut off from the presence of the Lord?'"
Neal A Maxwell explains:
"Why do some think that adultery and similar sins are permissible as long as anything else they do is commendable? The Lord's focus is not on 'the one thing thous doest which is good' but instead on what one or more things we still lack in order to have eternal life. To compose a symphony, to win a battle, or to save a company, each can be commendable and a worthy entry into the book of life but these do not compensate for breaking the seventh commandment (thou shalt not commit adultery). In the arithmetic of heaven several commendables do not cancel out one inexcusable."
Let us, then deny ourselves of all ungodliness so that we might appear spotless at judgment day.
-Elder Dawson
Video of the market in Esquipulas
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