This week when we were contacting a street, my companion was talking to a large group of kids when I saw an old man walk out of his house to leave. I immediately left what I was doing without hesitation to go and talk to him. In our conversation, he told me that he is very ill, and would like us to come in to help him. When we approached his door his daughter started yelling that we were about to enter into her home. We sat down, and she explained to us that this old man is a member of our church baptized and everything. She explained that there is not a single person who visits him, or when he needs help is here to help him. We were mind blown when she explained all this. Jose (the old man) pulled out his old Book Of Mormon and told us how much he loves this book and how inspiring it is. His daughter explained to us that before the missionaries baptized her father, he was Catholic, not an ordinary Catholic but a strong Catholic. She testified the change our church has had on his life and the difference that she's seen in his life. Even at 80 years old, Jose continues to read the Book of Mormon every day without glasses, and attended the church with us yesterday by himself.
This story can relate to every one of us. The amount of faith that this man has is incredible. To be able to have such a strong testimony despite all the things that have happened to him. A lesson for this is that we need to develop a testimony in Christ's Gospel, not his Church. Not a single ward house or stake is perfect. There are countless members that get offended or stop coming to church because of dumb silly things that caused them to fall away and lose their testimony. But if we develop a testimony on the things our church teaches, it won't matter it members offend us, or if silly dumb things happen because we know it's true and we will not be able to lose our rock-solid foundation. Just like Jose, we too must develop our testimony in the things the church teaches like the Book Of Mormon.
My Scripture today is contained in D&C 58 27-28 which says
27 Verily I say, men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness;
28 For the power is in them, wherein they are agents unto themselves. And inasmuch as men do good they shall in nowise lose their reward.
I love this scripture. Like Jose, we all have our own agency to choose for ourselves if we want to bring to pass much righteousness. Every single person has the gift to choose, whether it's right or wrong. But, when we do good, we will not lose our reward which is eternal life. May we all continue to develop our foundation upon Christ's gospel that we never may wash away.
With Great love,
Elder Rich
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| We made a Venezuelan favorite, Arepas. |
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| This is Ruber from Venezuela |
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| The sad goodbyes to Elder Morris and Elder Bezzant |
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| And Elder Fillmore |
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