So we had a fantastic week of learning how to truly rely and pray with real intent for the spirit to be with us. Also with how being bold will not only bless your life but the lives of others :) I know that God answers prayers and I also realize and understand what real intent means. It means giving everything to God, your thoughts, your desires, the very fibre of your being and then trusting that he will answer in his own way and in his own time. Then we must be willing and ready to submit to the will of the Lord to trust that he knows best and that his miracles and purposes will come to pass.
This past week's miracles were with two of our "eternigators". Simply we were bold and lovingly explained the reason why they needed to and how we can help them repent and get answers from God.
The first investigator named T has been scheduled multiple times by missionaries in the past but has never reached his date. He always thought very reply about the gospel and missed the surface understanding. Multiple times he would have questions and concerns arise and we didn't brush them under the carpet but we either responded "we don't know right now but how about you give us some time and study it yourself and the next time we meet we can talk about it" or it was something like a surface concern that had something underneath it we would simply respond and make him think by saying "does this matter in the grand scheme of things and to your salvation?" Many times he had questions about Chinese rumours of church history and we had to make him realize that all the prophets and apostles are men and when they make mistakes or bad judgements, it is because they make the mistakes of men (Book of Mormon title page). This church is perfect ran by imperfect people and we must help our investigators see that church is a "sanctuary for sinners" not a "spa for saints"
So multiple times he would have concerns come up that we were scabs above the original wound, they were simply a covering over top of fissure within our should and we would patiently and with love try our best to dig deep into the heart and find what their real concern was. Then we helped him realize that he has already received the answer by the spirit working with him to come to church, to read, to study, and ponder and pray.
Sometimes as missionaries we just have a hope that people get the classic answers that come out of the scriptures so then we can say "you see now, we are right because it is in the scriptures", but we must truly be in tune with the spirit and remember that God will give the answers to our people in a way that they will recognize and that if we humble ourselves we can be a tool in his hands
Miracles truly happen if we are willing to sacrifice for them and have faith that God will help us. We were then able to see miracles because we have the power and moral authority to call down the hosts of heaven to help us out and finally, his concerns were resolved and he said "I believe". Brother T is being baptized this Saturday February 21st and and taking his first step on his path to return to his father. YOU AND YOUR FAMILY AND YOUR FRIENDS CAN TOO! Anyone who you desire to come to Christ can and will, if you will be obedient and put yourself as a tool in the Lord's hands
D&C 100:1-8
1 Verily, thus saith the Lord unto you, my friends [insert your names here], your families are well; they are in mine hands, and I will do with them as seemeth me good; for in me there is all power.
2 Therefore, follow me, and listen to the counsel which i give unto you
3 Behold, and lo, I have much people in this place, in the regions round about; and an effectual door shall be opened in the regions round about in this [prepared] land.
4. Therefore, I, the Lord, have suffered you to come unto this place; for thus it was expedient in me or the salvation of souls.
5 Therefore, verily I say unto you, lift up your voices unto this people; speak the thoughts that I shall put into your hearts, and you shall not be confounded before men;
6 For it shall be given you in the very hour, yea, in the very moment, what ye shall say.
7 But a commandment I give unto you, that ye shall declare whatsoever thing ye declare in my name, in solemnity of heart, in the spirit of meekness, in all things.
8 And I give unto you this promise, that inasmuch as ye do this the Holy Ghost shall be shed forth in bearing record unto all things whatsoever ye shall say.
We repeated his with another investigator of our last night (Sunday February 15) and for months he has refused to pray. He simply would say that he couldn't force it but that it must come from him. We then also used our resources of the pamphlets and showed him how he was right that prayer must come from the heart and he humbled himself and prayed. It was a marvellous experience in which we knew that he was taking to his father.
Many times in our lives we may be downtrodden or discouraged but I have faith, and I would dare to say knowledge, God as my witness, that if we work just a little harder and take it day by day at a time in our missions will be a wonderful experience where we will be able to see miracles and the mercy of God in our lives. We will feel his love and be able to help others feel his love as well. If we are simply obedient, willing to humble ourselves to obtain the spirit, let go of our fears and trust that God's will eventually will come to pass, we will have the moral authority and the rights to call down the angels and the miracles of heaven.
All it takes to have miracles in your heart and your faith. Ether 12:6 And now, I, Moroni, would speak somewhat concerning these things; I would show unto the world that faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith.
Sincerely,
Elder Zachary Lee Dotschkat
