Tuesday February 8, 2011
Time: LATE
My mom and I had an appointment with the missionaries tonight. I was hoping my dad would join us, but he didn't get home until we were just about finished. It was a very long meeting, lasting about 2.5 hours, but I learned something very interesting from Elder Carter tonight. He shared his own story of how he ended up going on a mission. First he explained that when he was 14 years old he stopped believing in what the Church taught. By the time he was 18, he completely abandoned going to Church. He started becoming interested in meditation, so he took a few courses and went to some seminars. He noticed that when he would attend these seminars, he would be happy for the day. But it started becoming more clear to him that when he went to Church, he was happy for the entire week. Elder Carter began to attend Church again and was doing well enough to get a temple recommend. He said his first time back into the temple was the true turning point in his life. He fell on his knees and asked Heavenly Father to give him assurance like he'd never felt before. If He did, Elder Carter would dedicate his life to the Lord, doing whatever it takes, including going on a mission. So, as some of us have tried at least once or twice, Elder Carter grabbed his Book of Mormon, randomly picked a page, and set his eyes on the first verse in sight. It read:
"And now, my son, I trust that I shall have great joy in you, because of your steadiness and your faithfulness unto God; for as you have commenced in your youth to look to the Lord your God, even so I hope that you will continue in keeping his commandments; for blessed is he that endureth to the end.
I say unto you, my son, that I have had great joy in thee already, because of thy faithfulness and thy diligence, and thy patience and thy long-suffering..." - Alma 38:2-3
This miraculous verse ended up turning a confused boy into a missionary. A darn good missionary who has been a blessing in the lives of many, including myself. I am so grateful for his dedication.
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