Hey everyone! Sorry for such the late email, but yesterday was pretty
rough for me and Elder Pember when it came to emailing. The Zone
Leaders wanted us to carpool with them so that we could save on miles,
which was a great idea...except that they had a VERY long list of
errands to run and emailing their family didn't look to be high on
that list. And, since we've lost access to WiFi in our apartment, our
chances to send and receive emails have been limited to whenever we
have been within access to free WiFi as we're out and about, which
isn't as often as I personally would like. But no matter! The email is
here and ready, so let's get on with the rest of this week!
This week was actually a pretty good week all around, sans the evident
lack of WiFi. Throughout this entire week we've had some great chances
to meet and teach a lot of old and new investigators that we've been
trying to meet with for a while, but it mostly has fallen through for
us. While most ended up just telling us they didn't want to meet with
missionaries any more (in more or less words), there were a couple
that still seemed fairly interested in learning more. And, of course,
once we brought up the soon-to-be-opened temple they got VERY
interested! Which is interesting, because this is the first time I've
really seen people this excited about the temple...and I have two
weeks left.
Perhaps the most memorable of these lessons was with an older couple
we had met with in the past called the Speers. Brother Speer is a
less-active member that hasn't been to church or done anything
church-related in...well, forever is probably a safe estimate. Sister
Speer is a non-member, and though she doesn't mind us missionaries
coming over every once in a while, she has made it clear what she
thinks of organized religion. However, when we brought up the subject
of the temple with them, they were both very interested. Sister Speer,
even had already been looking forward to going through it with some of
her friends!
After discussing how they could be able to get tickets for the
open-house coming up in a few weeks, we decided to explain what we
actually do in the temple, and sort of work in a bit of the Plan of
Salvation, as that is primarily what is going on in the temple.
Anyways, they didn't seem all that interested in what we believe we
can do for our deceased ancestors in the temple (be baptized for them,
be sealed for and to them, help them receive any additional ordinances
and blessings they were unable to receive while on the earth). What
they were very interested it, though, was the Family History work, and
how they could do more. Perhaps, by that angle, there's hope yet for
the Speers to come unto the fold!
The temple has also played a great role in being able to get out and
share the gospel while tracting. It's been very interesting to be able
to witness. Most people, when we go around explaining that we want to
talk about Christ seem to go very ice-cold on us. I mean, honestly!
Why is it that people are just fine talking about Pokemon Go and the
NFL, but the minute religion and Christ are brought up into any
conversation, either half the company gets hostile or they decide to
just walk away or escape? However, if we start talking about the
temple, it's a great ice breaker and conversation starter. Pretty much
everyone in Fort Collins is interested in that beautiful building that
the Mormons are working on!
Case in point, Everett Valenzuela, our newest investigator found
through tracting. Last Tuesday we were out tracting in a small
neighborhood (that apparently is off limits to solicitors and
trespassers, as the very next person we talked to after Everett
pointed out to us so kindly), and after a few unanswered doors we met
this man named Everett who seemed very interested in the temple and
wanted to learn more. We ended up stopping by again that next Saturday
and sharing a message about the temple and how families can be
together forever. We also had a member, Brother Blakely Sr. with us to
help us share our message. In the end it was a great lesson and we
should be meeting with him again sometime next week.
So, yeah, this week has been pretty great, all things considered. And
of course, what made it so special in the end was the temple. I don't
know how I was able to overlook the importance of the temple before my
mission, but it has become very clear to me now. The temple truly is a
holy place, a piece of Heaven on earth. There, the darkness that has
covered the landscape of the world cannot enter. Just stepping onto
the grounds and walking around is like walking into the Garden of Eden
itself. It is peaceful, serene, and unbelievably beautiful. It is a
place of peace, of safety, of comfort and strength, where prayers are
answered and miracles worked.
But it isn't just a peaceful getaway from the rest of the world. As
much as I love the temple for the peace it has brought my heart the
few times I go there, I know that there is a much grander reason to
go. Like an enormous ivory beehive, temples are a grand station of
work and labor. Perhaps it isn't so taxing on the body, but certainly
the work in the temple is taxing on the mind and the spirit, yet it is
some of the most wonderful work and service I have ever done. In the
temple, we have a chance to offer the blessings we have received in
life for our ancestors, and others that have come before us. Those
that missed out on the sweetest of fruits from the tree of life can
have a chance to savor its taste even after their mortal frames have
withered to dust.
As Paul put it in 1 Corinthians, "Else what shall they do which are
baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then
baptized for the dead?" (1 Corinthians 15:29). We believe that man
will rise from his grave again, given a new, immortal life. Why then
would our perfect, loving Father in Heaven hold back on blessings to
His children that were unable to receive it in life? How would that be
fair? It stands to reason, and makes perfect sense to me, that God
would provide a way to offer these same saving ordinances we receive
on earth to those who never had the chance to enjoy them in life.
This work cannot be done without the living, though. Each of these
ordinances, however spiritual they may be, must be done here on the
physical plane. Therefore, it is our duty, as sons and daughters of
God and the current and rising generations in our family lines, to do
this work. So go to work, by brothers and sisters. Go to the temple,
or ready yourself to go to the temple, and help to offer the blessings
you savor with those that have passed on. As you do, the Lord will
bless you incredibly. Trials that once were mighty against us will be
no more than simple obstacles to overcome, and those blessings we
savor now will become evermore sweet and desirable to the taste.
This I bear my personal witness of, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
—Elder Z.S.Weber
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