Mission Leader Council went wonderfully well
this week, hopefully. I think it did. The night before the big meeting we were
up all night with one of my friends named Elder Stack. He’s a brilliant man who
can pretty much do anything in his head or on a computer. Same thing. He’s
working in the office to create reports and excel sheets for the metrics of the
mission. Anyways, he slept over with us the night before MLC and worked on all
that kind of stuff. We finally went to bed around 2:30AM and slept beautifully
for almost four hours.
The new day began and the meeting came.
Elder Largent and I trained on invitations, commitments and following up. I
want to apply those principles in my future life. If I knew the truths I’ve
learned from being on a mission while in high school, man, I could have done a
lot more with my life. It would have helped school, relationships, happiness, peace,
respect, everything. Specifically chapters 11 and 8 (and 6, 10, 5, 4, 2… too
many good ones) of Preach my Gospel will be beneficial and crucial. Anyways, as
I was instructing and talking about commitments I had a thought: What would it
be like if Christ were to teach a lesson and invite someone to keep a
commitment such as living the law of chastity? Would he say something like, “So
I explained the law of chastity, it’s way good if you keep it. I’ve already
told you the good and bad of it. You should keep it. Will you do that?” I have
a feeling he would be a little more urgent and loving. I think he would urge
and plead with all of his heart that we would keep the commandment so that we
can be blessed. He would do everything he could to help US CHOOSE to commit to
it. Why? It’s because He loves us, of course, perfectly and without fail. How
are we, as representatives of Jesus Christ, to be any different than that
example that Christ has set? He will always invite boldly and with love for
people to repent, change and live in accordance with his gospel. It’s not for
His own gain, but for His brothers and sisters, just as it is with us. We
invite people to keep commitments not for our own gain, but for theirs. We need
to teach clearly, powerfully and lovingly to help these friends understand
that.
Anyways, moral of the story, keep the
commandments of the Lord and you will gain insight, knowledge, increased faith,
happiness, direction and clarity, to name just a few. I testify that there is
no other way of true and lasting happiness than through this, the restored
gospel of Jesus Christ, though there are things that are very close. There are
many shades of this “good” but there is only one “strait and narrow path” in
which we should enter. I have been commissioned of Jesus Christ to share
this truth with everyone who will hear. I love you :)
One of our investigators is on a
roller coaster of progression. One day we’re not sure if she’s “getting it.”
Then on another day, like Saturday, we came over and she said, “That’s it. I’ve
thrown all my cigarettes away, no more coffee, only herbal tea.” Then she
kicked her friend out and said, “I need to have lessons so I can get baptized
soon!” That’s always a good sign. She and her husband came to church and
enjoyed it. They’ve been coming pretty consistently lately. It’s been making us
(and Heavenly Father) so very happy. I am developing more of Christ-like
love for her and the people we are working with. My letters are definitely
tainted by the current emotion that I feel. I do have great faith that this
area can continue to see miracles “after all we can do.” I only say that last
part because I want to emphasize the importance of our choices and
responsibilities in carrying out the work of the Lord. I have learned, among
many other things, that without an ACT in accordance with God’s commandments we
will not see results or have our faith increased. I know that miracles come
from the application of true, God given principles within the time table of
Deity. I know that our choices are crucial to everything. I am not an object to
be acted upon, no matter the emotions, tendencies or temptations that surround
me. I can choose to ACT differently and righteously, and then comes the power.
There is power in knowledge and there is wisdom in obedience. It takes both. I
hope that in some small way I am able to help our investigator understand the
concept of actions, responsibility and grace. Just in a simpler way than I just
explained.
I think it’s really hitting me that this whole thing will soon be
a fond dream. I feel torn in so many ways. I feel love and peace in conflicting
pieces. I feel gratitude for the opportunity I have had to dedicate my life to
the Lord. I know the journey doesn't end here. I will always be a missionary.
My tag is painted in my heart, as Paul said, “not with ink, but with the Spirit
of the living God.”
Cheers,
Elder Trent Jay Merrill
P.S. I love you
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