This was a little bit of a slower week. In my mission I've found that -at least in my mission, it's fairly easy to knock on a door, start a conversation, and have them invite you into their house. It's part of the culture here. But it's really hard to go back a few days later and do the same thing and they let you in. :) So we've been thinking and studying in preach my gospel about what we could do. Something that really caught our attention was to share personal experiences with people the first visit you have with them. We had two really good lessons applying this idea.
The first one was with a family, and the father or husband had recently passed away. We didn't worry too much about teaching anything and just listened. Obviously I have no idea what is happening in their lives but we both shared something short trying our best to show them that we weren't salesman trying to sell a product, but that what we had really could give them the peace they needed to keep going. I actually had a personal confimation in my own heart that we werent selling anything or trying to get numbers, but we were there to heal and lift this grieving family.
The other was with an older man named Juan. When we first went in he told us that he was mad at god. He went on to tell us a few questions that he has. Instead of trying to share a scripture that could possibly answer his doubts, we both told him that we also don't know everything. And that we both have experiences searching and finding knowledge and comfort that we need.
Sorry for being a little preachy but one more thing. We always tell our investigators that they need to pray meditate and read the Book of Mormon to know if its true. After reading it a little closer Moroni tells us what we need to meditate. that ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts. There is something so healthy about thinking and meditating about the good and positive things about life that god gives to us
James Q. Wilson (professor from UCLA)
Commencement speakers are supposed to urge you to rise to the highest challenge, pursue the impossible dream, excel at the loftiest ambitions. I will not do that. It is too easy; it is too empty. The easiest thing to do is to support great causes, sign stirring petitions, endorse grand philosophies. The hardest thing to do—and it is getting harder all of the time—is to be a good husband, a good wife, a strong father, a strong mother, an honorable friend and neighbor.
