Week #32
Amados Irmaos e Irmas,
I'm sure I would have had some wonderful message about following the commandments, but I just read in the LDS Newsroom that Utah just legalized same-sex marriage. First, I encourage everybody to heed the counsel of the Brethren on this. Their instructions are very clear and their counsel is the same as it has always been. The Lord's laws do not change with those of man. We respect and obey the laws of man, but we are not justified before God by them.
Now that I think about it, I suppose it is possible, though not likely, that there are people who do not share all of our beliefs and will see some part of what I write home. To those of you who fall into this category, first, welcome. Second, I am nobody special and my words frankly don't matter. I'm only delivering a message from God. As a missionary, this is what I am called and set-apart by Apostolic Keys to do. If I sound preachy, good, that is my calling. Please don't be offended for bold speech. I invite you to learn. There are many like myself all over the world and at least two have responsibility for the area in which you live. Seek them out.
To my family, friends, and other members of the Church whom I may not know, we are enjoying the fruits of and participating in a great and marvelous work, a work that the devil will do everything in his power to impede. The Gospel will go forth, but we are commanded to help. In fact, Preach My Gospel has a page full of quotes from every modern-day prophet up to President Hinckley emphasizing the importance of missionary work.
Member missionary work did not start with the phrase "every member a missionary". The responsibility of those who have received the complete Gospel to share this pearl of great price began to be restored when the Prophet Joseph first saw our Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus Christ. The Prophet states that even with just that first moment, before understanding the organization, without receiving authority of any kind, and with nothing more than a testimony of God the Father, that He felt as Paul when he testified before Herod Agrippa. From that time on, he was a witness to the world of the truth he had received. We are no different.
Just a little over a year ago, President Monson called every member of the Church to work. Yes, the missionary age was lowered, yes Elder Perry announced the use of computers in missionary work and yes, there are now over 80,000 full-time missionaries already in the field. All of these things have happened. It would seem so easy to say, "Look how much the Lord is spreading His word," and sit back to enjoy the show. We cannot do this. Yes, there are now 30,000 more full-time missionaries than there have ever been, but in reality there are over 15,000,000. If there are only 80,000 people preaching the Gospel of Salvation in a world of approximately 7 billion, that 14,920,000 people who are not fulfilling their calling.
I am happy that this is not the case, but I believe the general mindset of the members of the Church is still skewed. In the royal army of The Lord, the missionaries are not the infantry. All we are really needed for is teaching, interviewing, and recording. We are assigned to help wards and members fulfill their responsibility. Please, make it easier.
This week was great. We had a lot of investigators at Church and we've met a lot of really wonderful people. People I really do love and want to see enter the Kingdom of God. It's amazing how sad we get when somebody doesn't come to church. Mom, I never knew loving somebody could make you so frustrated at them. Sorry.
I'll finish with my testimony. Please do not just read it as words on a page, but with all the energy you would hear in an address from Elder Holland. Testimonies are born from the energy of the soul and carried by the Spirit.
First, I know that God has given power to act in His name and perform the ordinances of salvation. I know that His Son organized only one Church that reflects the same organization of the eternities. I know that The Lord guides His true and living church through our beloved Prophet Thomas S. Monson. I know that the Prophet Joseph Smith received the keys of the Kingdom of God.
I know the field is white for the harvest. I know that this field means the entire world and not only portions of it. I know I have been called to thrust in with my might and testify that Jesus is Christ. I know He lives and is not silent. The heavens are not sealed.
I urge you all to seek revelation you need for your daily lives. The Gospel is not part of our lives. It permeates every aspect. We are more than Sunday worshippers. We are the Lord's Elect. We are His servants. We are His children with the potential to receive all that He hath.
Remember, in the onslaught of the world, we must stand in holy places. They are our refuges, our fortresses and, quite literally, our salvation.
I cannot simply sign this with my name and so I leave this with you as my witness, very possibly before the world, in the name of Jesus Christ.
Elder Dickson
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