Week 12 BANG NAA

Dear Friends and Family,

We taught a lady this week who is very interesting in learning about our church. She said," I want to learn why Christians are so happy all the time. What do they know or what do they do?" Well that is a great questions. We had a very great lesson with this lady and she plans on learning with us some more. Why do you think Christians might be so happy? Is it because of our knowledge of the Plan of Salvation? Is it because of all the commandments we have? Is it because we are family centered? There could be many answers why. I think one of them is the fact that we know that Christ our Savior and Redeemer still lives. Knowing that will and can give others hope. He loves each and everyone of us. Knowing about the Atonement of Christ will give us happiness as well. We will be able to repent from our day to day mistakes and become more like Him. One more that I believe we are happy is because of our families. I dont know what I would do if I didnt have my family. They have taught me so much! 

As a district leader I have responsibility to help with training once a week. On Sunday I will pray to know what to teach the district on Tuesday. This week was different. As I studied on Monday I studied something that was really good and I knew it would help the district. On Tuesday I prayed again to know what to teach and asked that the Holy Ghost would help me know what Heavenly Father wanted me do teach. As I started to study I opened up Preach My Gospel and flipped open to something I thought was good as well. The section I opened up to was Listening in Chapter 10. It was just what we all needed. I didnt teach what I studied on Monday. As we talked about listening I could tell it was something that everyone needed. We talked about listening to our investigators and what they are saying. That was a big focus. If you arent listening to what they are saying you could miss a very important point where you can bear testimony. You will be able to teach more to their needs. Dont be afraid of silence in lessons. Maybe you or your investigator need to listen to the Holy Ghost and what He is saying. After that meeting I knew that was what we were supposed to learn. I know that if I wasnt listening for the Holy Ghost in my prayers I would have missed it. 

Another small instance this week where the Holy Ghost guided us. We called our investigator to see if he was still coming to our appointment and as he talked to us it didnt sound like he was going to come. We decided to go inviting and if he came a member would be at the church to call us. We werent going to go to far. As we prayed to know where to go the Holy Ghost told me we needed to go back behind the church to another street. we didnt go that way at first. I told Elder Joy that we needed to turn around and go the other way. I said we have to go find someone. Someone is waiting for us. Not even 3 minutes later a man on a motorcycle taxi drives up to us and asks," Are you the ones we made an appointment with?" To say the least we found our investigator and took him to the church. The whisperings of the Holy Ghost are real. We need to listen with focus that at any moment He will talk to us. We need to be ready to receive what He says. What He says comes from our Heavenly Father so be prepared. He will guide you to those that will receive you. 

I talked to this man in English who is not a Christian. I asked if he believed in Jesus Christ and he said I know about Him. I said," Do you believe in Him?" and he responded the same. I said," Well I know that 2+2=4 but until I believe (Or have done something to believe) that 2+2=4 I will not believe." I dont know if what I said makes sense or not but what I meant was, I can know about Jesus Christ or Joseph Smith but until I have fasted and prayed to actually believe that they are true, I wont know. Do you believe in Jesus Christ? How do you know or how did you come to the realization of that? What are you doing to believe in Him? 

One of our recent converts is having a hard time with family right now. They want him to change back to the religion he was before he was a member. He is having a hard time right now. I know that if we were in his situation we would still want to show love to our families and be nice to them. This man is an adult and can make decisions on his own. Elder Joy and I shared two scriptures with him 

Alma 15:16

16 And it came to pass that Alma and Amulek, Amulek having forsaken all his gold, and silver, and his precious things, which were in the land of Ammonihah, for the word of God, he being rejected by those who were once his friends and also by his father and his kindred;

2 Nephi 8:7

7 Hearken unto me, ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart I have written my law, fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their revilings.

In my scriptures I wrote that even the prophets friends and family rejected them, even though they were doing what was right. I know it can be hard but you can still be a good example. You dont need to be afraid of what they will say or do. What you are doing is the right thing. You can take a stand for you beliefs! You dont have to fight but just share your beliefs. This is your choice, you know what is best for yourself so never be afraid of what others will say. 

On Sunday we had one of our investigators call and say she didnt want to learn with us anymore. She did not pass her baptism interview so we think that is the reason. This really broke Elder Joys heart as well as mine. We have faith she will come to know that she can keep going. Her name is Luxsame. Please pray for her please. We had many investigators come to church for the first time even though we have been meeting with them. We saw many miracles on Sunday! Please pray for Luxsame, Ann, Stamp, Joy, Noy, Faa, Joom and Yosh, these are our investigators. Some recent converts need your prays as well, Bew, King, Pyroad, May, Doy, Sayta, Brasaan and Bow. They all need your prayers. Please pray for them. 

Love 

Elder Hinckley