I hope your week was filled with happiness. How are things with the investigators you are working with? We pray for you and them and send our love.
In Sunday School, the lesson was about the Plan of Salvation. I had a lot of thoughts go through my mind. One of them was concerning agency. I believe that Lucifer's plan was to make the world a place where everything is relative. For example: there is no right or wrong, good or bad, true or false. Doesn't sound like the philosophy of today? "My truth is my truth and your truth is your truth. Don't judge me by your standard." We each make ourselves our own god through the worship of individualism. In the scriptures, Lucifer talks about how we can be like gods---and how is that? By knowing good from evil, virtue from vice, pleasure from pain. By opposition we come to know and our eyes are opened. Satan's plan is for there to be no immutable truth, no absolutes, no law. Therefore there would be no need for punishment because there is no foundation or standard to judge by. Satan knows that agency is an intrinsic part of existence and ultimately we are sovereign beings. He has and does employ tactics of fear, intimidation, coercion, torture, etc....but within the deepest chambers of our soul, we do remain free to choose. Therefore, his plan is to abolish law and consequences. That is exactly what is going on in our society today. Everything is relative. There is no foundation of truth and society is forever shifting--or evolving as some would say. It goes back to dialectics.
Anyways....another thought I had was regarding Jesus and his declarations of Thy will be done and glory be to the Father. We each need to ask ourselves these same questions. Are we willing to submit to the Fathers will or is it MY WILL BE DONE. Think of "The Secret" and books like that. It's all about YOU controlling your destiny and YOU being the captain of your ship. Just like Nietzsche advocated; it's the will to power that determines those who rise and those who don't...the "Over-man/Superman" is the creator god because he shapes reality into his own image. And who is given the glory? Certainly not deity. It's self and the person who has the "will to power." On a smaller scale, who do we give glory to for the good things in our life, like our house, car, facial features, muscles, knowledge, college degree, etc.? Ourselves. Think of all the self-worship that exists--- striving for money, power and the desire to become immortal through fame. Even "selfies" on Facebook proclaim how much we love ourselves. "Look at me." "See how beautiful I am." "Check out my wonderfulness." It's all about pride. That's how the son of the morning fell....pride. I'm so guilty of this sin. I have a lot of work to do.
Well, as you can see, I've been thinking about this a lot and know I have some serious things improve upon. I really do think we should keep these thoughts in our mind:
"Thy will be done"
"Glory be to Thee"
and it could help us avoid the pitfalls of pride and trusting in the arm of flesh.
I'm sorry if this is too long or didactic. I'm just thinking out loud and sharing my thoughts with you. Please tell me what you think and your views on life.
God bless you and keep you safe.
With love,
Mom
Dear Mom,
Our people are doing well. We picked up a few more people as new investigators. We were able to pick up a few new investigators this week. Matt and Tasha are hard core Catholic. Very educated in their religion. I have hopes for them though. It was one of the best contacts I have had in this area when we first met them.
We also picked up a lady named Jane. We gave her a card and she called Church Headquarters for a Finding Faith in Christ DVD. she was in a car crash in 2003, and she has some struggles. She loves Jesus a lot, and we have hopes for her.
Thank you for praying for Tom, Lydia, and Ruth too.
I've been teaching a girl named Mitchie in Germany over Facebook and Skype. She is really great, she has had some awesome experiences with prayer. The Spirit bore powerful witness to her. She is facing a lot of opposition though. Most of her family and friends don't believe in God.
I really love the things that you wrote. You should consider writing a book. :)
Actually today the missionaries that I live with and I were discussing that. An Elder asked me, "So what makes murder wrong? The law?". I had to think about it for a bit, but I was able to say yes. It is wrong not because of man's law, but because of the unchanging laws that God has set. Otherwise, everything would decay into a relative morass. It would be horrible.
I have talked to so many people who think that things are relative, and they aren't happy. Happiness comes from living and obeying the higher law. Nothing else is worth it.
We sang hymn 240 in Sacrament. A phrase in it really hit me. "Freedom and reason make us men; take these away, what are we then?". I know we are more than mere animals. I have a testimony of the Father. He is our Father. We are to be like him. My purpose as a missionary is to help people awake to this reality. This purpose has made such an impression on my soul that it will forever be my purpose in my life. I will help all I can, especially my family.
I love you Mom. Thank you for sharing your thoughts with me.
Love,
Elder Williams
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