"Pure Motives Are The Essence of Divine Guidence"

Ello Mates!

 

Another week in the books! The Missionary Band has been travelling all over England these past two weeks. You could say that "the best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear." So that is what we have been doing! I am really glad that I switched paths in high school from being all sports to all music. It was honestly quite weird changing from one to the other. I had new friends, new after school activities, new everything! But hey now look what it has led too. I now am able to help others feet the spirit through music. I have a firm testimony that music invites the spirit into our lives. I am greatful as well for the people I have met doing both sport and music. I have gained lifelong friends that I truly do love.

 

 How did it go meeting new people this past week? Did you actually do it? If not, here it is again. Expand your network. Do things that are different and you will find things out about yourself that you may not have known before. That is what happened when I started doing musicals. I did not think I would like it at all but it grew on me. It was an amazing experience and I do not regret it one bit.

 

This week we were teaching this man named Obiola. He is really lazy. We went to see him at 7 at night and he was sleeping. He sleeps literally all day long. Even though he was coming out of a deep sleep we had a really spiritual lesson with him and he committed to come to church with us on Sunday. Sunday morning comes and we get a text from him saying "Hey missionaries. Don't come by this morning to pick me up. I need to sleep. Oh and no need to come back I will just study the Book of Mormon myself. You guys are interferring with my sleep schedule. But thanks for everything." So yeah we don't teach him anymore. Some peoples children. But this past tuesday Elder Mitchell and I were setting up for our wards Ping Pong night. It's intense. And while we were waiting for it to start, a woman and daughter walk into the church. They come up to us and say in broken english, "Hello we are Christains and we want to help the church with cooking an cleaning for free." We were amazed! Huong and Lily are from Vietnam and have moved here recently. Her 8 year old daughter is fluent in English and translates for her mother. We are seeing Huong and her family this coming week! Posh miracle.

 

I have been reflecting on my past decisions. Like for instance what I was talking about earlier. School activities, my future University, my mission, and so forth. I was wondering why I decided to choose one way rather than the other in certains circumstances. My mission president shared this quote with us; "Pure motives are the essence of divine guidence." I realized that with my decisions I always included the Lord in helping me make the right choice. I'd like to think that my motives were pure so that I qualified for the divine guidence. I know that the Lord was directing me in the path in which he has prepared for me and that he does that for all of his children. We are eligible for our Heavenly Fathers guidence as we strive to keep the commandments, pray fervently, and listen with our spiritaul ears. In the scriptures it tells us the the Holy Ghost is neither loud or harsh but rather the still small voice. In 3 Nephi 11:3 it reads;

 "...and it was not a harsh voice, neither was it a loud voice; nevertheless, and notwithstanding it being a ^bsmall voice it did ^cpierce them that did hear to the center, insomuch that there was no part of their frame that it did not cause to quake; yea, it did pierce them to the very soul, and did cause their hearts to burn."

The Holy Ghost will guide you in all things in which you should do according to the purity in your motives. Take a moment to think about your motives in your everyday activities. Are they in harmony with our Saviour's teachings? We are able to make changes to realign our lives with the straight and narrow path. What a perfect time of year to do so. With Chrismas fast approching, let us all strengthen our testimony in Jesus Christ. As you do so with your families, you will feel a sweet spirit within the home. A home centered on Jesus Christ, is a home where He can reside.

 

I love you all and hope you enjoy this Christmas season! Have a wonderful week.

 

Love,

Elder David