Chapter 50: Direct

"...and they spake the word of God with boldness."

Acts 4:31

It's incredible to me how fast time can fly. Another week down, with so many more experiences recorded and enjoyed. All the more tired as well but that is part of it all isn't it?

I learned many important lessons this week. We had two exchanges this week and I was able to work full days in the two largest cities in all of Scotland: Edinburgh, the capitol, and Glasgow, the most populous. I don't have a whole lot of time, but I would like to focus on a couple lessons in particular.

Being in the big cities was an incredible experience. Like I've mentioned before, recently we've been allowed and encouraged to go back on the streets to stop people in attempt to find those who are prepared to receive the message of the restored Gospel and us as the messengers. This week, I was able to stand on and walk the streets of both these cities and talk to hundreds of people.

Hundreds and hundreds.

For anyone who knows me well, you'll agree that the first lesson that I learned is that God has changed me. To be able to do something like that is something that before my mission, I would never ever be comfortable doing.

But I am now, and I even enjoy it! I love it! I love being on the streets, going up to people, and saying, "excuse me, I am a messenger for Jesus Christ", and then proceeding to try and help that person feel the Spirit of God. It's an incredible and fulfilling process. So there you go, God can really and truly change us and help us become the people he needs us to be.

The other lesson lies in the fact that, although it can be very fulfilling and exciting, not many people, if any, accept you on the street. Both of my days in the cities, not a single person wanted to hear the message I had to share with them, a message that would've changed their life forever. The lesson then is this:

The importance and divinity of the message we share is not altered by rejection. It is, however, evident in the effect it has in the lives of those who are wholly striving to live it.

I love being a missionary, and I have a sure witness that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is truly Jesus Christ's New Testament church restored to the earth. The message I share with people is one that I can promise people will bring them joy because that is what it has done for me, and that is what it has done for the people I've taught.

It simply is true.

It doesn't mean there aren't questions though, even ones we don't have answers to yet. I believe we are seeing a lot of that in the world and even in the church. But I believe with my whole heart that the answer to any challenge we face in life is simply to have more faith.

Simple, yet never easy.

Remember that Christ has promised with His blood to make up for all that is unfair about life, as long as we are striving to be faithful to him. That's a promise I can get behind, and that is the power of his Atonement.

Life is good.

God is wise.

Don't give up.

Elder Childers

Pics from Glasgow

District Council

Exchanges with the APs, Elder Holbrook and Elder Kilntworth.

Pics from Pday in Oban!