ELDER DOWNING, A SWEDISH CHURCH, :P, THE LORD'S TIMING, WE ARE MEANT TO PROGRESS

 ELDER DOWNING

Elder Downing just transferred up to Sundsvall. We've been around each other for over a year of my mission, so it was weird to see him go. But that's one of the perks and the downsides to being a missionary. We meet many people, but we are constantly moving. It just makes the journey more exciting. 

A SWEDISH CHURCH

A Swedish church

:P

:P

THE LORD'S TIMING
On Tuesday, we were able to meet with Earnest. As I mentioned before, everything that we had planned for seemed to fall through, but I think it was for a reason. As we went in to that lesson, I felt good about what we had changed it to. And as we sat down and began, the lesson moved forward. We had our scriptures open as we read from the words of prophets who have taught us what we know. We showed him the words of Christ as he taught the doctrines that we now relay through our lessons. And as we taught that lesson, the truth was confirmed over and over to me of what we taught. Earnest, who is himself a preacher, thanked us for the time. But he also said one thing that really stuck out to me. He said that it was a powerful lesson, and he felt that. The lesson we had planned for him the week before was knowledge that needed to be taught, but it was not what he needed. And I appreciated that chance to be shown the Lord's timing. 

WE ARE MEANT TO PROGRESS

On Wednesday, we met with Bill and talked about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. What is it that we need to do to return to Heavenly Father? Faith, repentance, baptism, and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost are all steps that I have taken. And they are necessary. But the fifth step is perhaps the most difficult. This is the step I find myself on, and many others are here as well. And that is to endure. But even better, to endure it well. This is best accomplished through the ways that God has shown us. That is reading the scriptures, making the Sabbath a holy day, and praying to our Father in Heaven. He recognizes the need to continue to push forward and continue, but I also realized that it's not just those who are new to the gospel that need to move forward, it's everyone. We are meant to progress, and that's what the gospel can give us.