Testimony-of-the-Book-of-Mormon

Testimony-of-the-Book-of-Mormon

What? Choosing Convenience Over Faithfulness?!!!

Scripture for the day: (Alma 34:31-32)  Yea, I would that ye would come forth and harden not your hearts any longer; for behold, now is the time and the day of your salvation; and therefore, if ye will repent and harden not your hearts, immediately shall the great plan of redemption be brought about unto you.  

For behold, this life is the time for men to prepared to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors."

As I reflect on the beautiful daffodils that have filled our days with sunshine and smiles for the past few weeks, it saddens me to see their short but joyous lives coming to an end.  They will soon be back under the ground to wait for a new day to come forth in the future.  Such is life.

Our lives are but a moment in eternity.  Life is all about growing and becoming.  When we are returned to the ground, we have heavenly reassurance we shall come forth to a glorious promise of perfect peace and joy, if we desire it above all earthly things.

A dear sister is in pain all the time, barely able to get around on her crutches.  She has to get a ride to church meetings and home again.  She attends faithfully every Sunday.  Many of the weak, infirm, aged, and crippled come in wheelchairs or on crutches.  They put me to shame.  It is a huge ordeal to go anywhere for them, but they come.  Would I be as faithful or would I stay home feeling sorry for myself?  I'm too embarrassed to answer that question.

Here's the latest in terms of reasons why a person won't attend Church (some ARE legitimate):

1.   Me dog needs a walk, ya see.
2.   A bit early (10 a.m. or 2 p.m.).
3.   It makes me feel guilty.
4.   Really don't know, really.
5.   A bit too much drinkin' Satdey night with me blokes, sleepin' in, ya know.
6.   Not good 'nuff.  Bad 'abits 'n that.
7.   I don't get enthin' outtit.
8.   As long as __________is Bishop, I woont return.
9.   Lost me faith.
10. 'Fraid I'll get asked to pray or read.
11.  Can't sit that long.
12.  Too much will be expected of me.
13.  Don't know what to say to people.
14.  I don't want any extra stuff in my life right now.
15.  No time for it.
16.  Too much extra stuff is expected (like visiting others, serving in callings, doing charitable service, etc.)
17.  Can't pay me tithing.
18.  Ten percent is too much to ask.
19.  Members don't make me feel welcome.
20.  Nobody ever calls or visits during the week.
21.  No one talks to me.
22.  Too ill.
23.  The kids are too hard to manage.
24.  I can't hear.
25.  Too noisy with the children.
26.  People smile and are all fake like.  They can't really be that happy, right?
27.  It is the only day I can see my children.
28.  We always have dinner with me mum on Sundays.
29.  It's my only day off and I have lots of work to do.
30.  I do charity work and am good to my neighbors.  That is enough to please God.
31.  I don't need to go to a building to praise God.
32.  Yeh, I do know The Book of Mormon is true but . . .
... and on and on.

Humm, it seems I've used some of those excuses myself at one time or another.

Until a person can grow and understand in his or her faith, it is hard to understand that going to Church is about renewing covenants with God and promising to remember the Savior and His Atonement and to keep His commandments.  It is only through Him we live again after this life.  It is about obedience to his commandment to meet together often and strengthen one another in faith and love.  Church attendance is about worship and keeping the Sabbath Day holy.  It is about spiritual rejuvenation in order to be strong enough to face life's trials and avoid Satan's enticements.  It is so much more than sitting on a bench in a church building, or ticking off a box of things accomplished for the week.

I wish I'd gained this enlightenment much earlier in my life than I had.  Yet, I perhaps didn't work too hard at spiritual growth at certain times in my life.  We're all at different stages of spiritual growth and there are many ups and downs.  What matters most is we realize we have a Heavenly Father standing over us gently and lovingly whispering, "Grow," and we are listening and doing it.

May Flowers and More Lovely Places

 

Newcastle Towne Centre Flowers

 

 

Flowers in Wolstanton

 

The tongue helps with the shoe polishing process.  Notice he is doing my shoes too.  Obedient missionary.

Wedgwood Park pasture scene 

 

Tracking down a prospective investigator in the Wedgwood Park forest.

 

Notice the parking line on left (dotted lines) and how much room we have in our lane of the road. so the other car can pass.  We flashed our lights to give it the right of way.

 

Some daffodils are still hanging in there but most are starting to dry up.

This is for purple flower lovers.

 

We chased a smiling woman down this road today and she is interested.  Only 

problem is, she speaks Portuguese!

   

Elder Blain is parking the little blue car just before we went to the purple flower house, got rejected,

and then found the smiling woman.

 

At least the flowers were home as we knocked doors on a rainy day.

 

Some old churches in Altrincham.

The Towne Council Building in Newcastle.  Elder Blain is paying taxes in here today--again!

Road to the mission home in Altrincham.  Very nice area.

 Queen Victoria is overlooking this garden in Newcastle Towne Centre.

It has been raining blossoms lately.

Sister Blain said, "We need to knock on the door of the house with the purple flowers."  We did and didn't get a word out before the door was shut in our face.  We said to each other, "Hum, that was some inspiration," but because of this little delay, we were getting in our car when the lady we chased down the street walked by smiling.  She's a golden contact if we can find someone who speaks her language!

Ye old Towne Centre (Newcastle).  Most places have small shops like these.  Lots of small bakeries, greeting card shops, butcher shops, and specialty shops of all kinds.  We placed a Book of Mormon with a couple in a hamburger stand here.  We go back each Monday when they are there and tell them a bit more.  They are very interested because they are getting married and want to know how they can be married for time and all eternity.

This is part of the park that is across the street from the Church.

Sorry, girls, but this is the best I could do of the new baby Gypsy horse.  I'll have to catch it in daylight and a 

lot closer.  Mommy horse doesn't want me coming near.  She tries to block her baby from me.

Elder Blain at Wedgwood Park with the almost inexhaustible Merlin (owned by investigators who took us here).