really good week this week, except for the whole part about me being sick and not have my voice. on saturday we had a kersta's baptism. even though our high councilmen over missionary work was freaking out about not having someone to lead the music and a program it went very well. there was a ton of ward support. today our mission president gave the best letter to the mission ive ever read. i decided id include it in my letter this week:
AGENCY: We have control 100% of the time. We are responsible or our choices. In John 8:32, we read,“And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” We are free not because we can choose, butbecause we have chosen well (David Hart).” We lose our free agency when we choose wrong. You control thechoice, but not the consequences. “If we choose the wrong road, we also choose the wrong destination (DallinH. Oaks).” Article 2 of the Articles of Faith is about personal responsibility. There are only three groups thatare not responsible: children under 8, mental ill patients, and those who haven‟t heard the word.
RESPONSIBILITY: Why do people want choice; but often avoid responsibility? Because they don‟t want thenegative consequences. The following are some of the things people say or do to try and avoid responsibility:blame, excuse, justification, rationalization, flee, hide, lie, cover-up, ignore, procrastinate, avoid, self-pity,minimize, rebel, anger, murmur, ignore, indifferent, forget, and indecision. Excuses do not equal results and donot correct mistakes. (Example: Laman and Lemuel in 1 Nephi 3:13-15.) The above list is a form of self-deception or self-betrayal. It is living a lie. “The determined man finds a way, the other man finds an excuse(David B. Haight).” The difference between an excuse and a reason is explaining what happened while keepingresponsibility. (Moses 4:17-20; 5:10-11; Adam & Eve) In 1 Samuel 15:13-15, 20-21, 24, we see that Saulagainst the Amalekites tried to avoid responsibility from disobeying the commandment. It didn‟t work.Take responsibilities, no excuses. Defensive driving is an example of taking control and responsibility.Marriage is not a 50/50 proposition. It is a 100/100 proposition. Do you want to be right or to be married?
TAKING CONTROL OF YOUR LIVE: If it is to be, it is up to me. Responsibility is the courage to confrontpain, fear, shame, guilt. It is accepting yourself as the one in control of your life and destiny. Assumingresponsibility increases our options and control while blaming, excuses, self-justifying, and self-pity limit ourcontrol and freedom. If you are at fault and have to change before further progress is made, then others are incontrol of the outcome or desired results. Agency and responsibility are inseparably connected. You can‟tavoid one without also losing the other. Happiness and being in control of one‟s life are very closely connected.Are there things that we cannot control? Should these things affect our happiness? What should we do withthose things we do not control? Adapt.“One ship drives east and another drives westWith the selfsame winds that blow.„Tis the set of the sailsAnd not the galesWhich tells us the way to go.Like the winds of the sea are the ways of fate,As we voyage along through life:“Tis the set of a soulThat decides its goal,And not the calm or the strife.”Ella Wheeler Wilcox
RESPONSIBILITY AND FORGIVING: Forgiving involves responsibility for how one feels, acts, andresponds to offenses. Which words on the not-responsible list above are synonyms with not forgiving? Blame,anger. In what ways does blaming affect unity? What does saying “I‟m sorry” have to do with 100%responsibility? President Benson said, “Pride is enmity toward God and man.” He defined enmity as“opposition, hostility, or hatred.” Which of the three is blaming? All 3. Is blaming prideful then? In what waydoes not forgiving give the offender some control over your life? Why did the Savior say “to turn the othercheek?” Does this apply in all situations? What if the offender does not acknowledge the offense. Should youstill forgive? Yes. Why? How does the Savior feel about judging others? (See John 8:15-16) Luke 15:1-7,the parable of the lost sheep. We are all lost sheep, 100%. There are 100 lost sheep. His going after the onetells us that he loves all 100. Luke 15:11-32, The parable of the prodigal son. We are all lost. Luke 10:38-42.Can gossiping, judging, and not forgiving be considered synonyms? It takes two people to gossip, a mouth andan ear. What if the ear were eliminated? What would happen to gossip? It would be eliminated. Does thetruth justify gossip? No. Does the bishop talking about a member‟s misdeeds to the Elders Quorum presidentconstitute gossiping? Yes, unless it is to truly help. What about a parent talking about their child‟s misdeeds?RESPONSIBILITY AND REPENTANCE: Can the Lord look upon sin with any degree of allowance? No.(See Alma 45:16) What law of the gospel demands 100% responsibility for sin? Justice. (See Alma 42:25)What is the first step in the repentance process? Recognition. What does responsibility have to do with thisfirst step? “The greatest of all faults is to be conscious of none (Thomas Carlyle).” What does confession haveto do with 100% responsibility? Which word on the non-responsible list above is synonymous with notconfessing? Hiding, shame, embarrassment, fear of man.
ACCOUNTABIOITY AND THE ATONEMENT: The Guide to the Scriptures, “Justification: See also atone,atonement, sanctification. To be pardoned from punishment for sin and declared guiltless. A person is justifiedby the Savior‟s grace through faith in him. This faith is shown by repentance and obedience to the laws andordinances of the gospel. Jesus Christ‟s atonement enables mankind to repent and be justified or pardoned frompunishment they otherwise would receive.” Read 2 Nephi 2:5-8. “The enemy of repentance is self-justification.” (Spencer W. Kimball) Examples of self-justification, the anti-Christ false hood: Alma 1:3-4Nehor, Alma 30:17 Korhior, Alma 18:5 Lamoni, 2 Nephi 28:8-9. Avoiding responsibility. What is theconsequence of self-justification and the not-responsible list? Alma 34:15-18. Mosiah 15:24, Alma 11:44,What does the word “restoration” mean? Alma 41, Alma clarifies the meaning of the word restoration for hisson Corianton. See also Alma 42:25, 30-31, When we give an excuse for our faults and sins, what are wedenying? Did Corianton‟s subsequent life illustrate an understanding of the words restoration andresponsibility? Yes. (See Alma 40:30) Alma taught his son doctrine and changed his life. Read PresidentBoyd K. Packer‟s quote on teaching doctrine on page 19 of PMG and then read Alma 31:5. What will teachingthe doctrines do to investigators when taught in power and authority by the Spirit? When we are notresponsible before God, into whose hands do we place control over our lives?
RESPONSIBILITY AND CHARITY: Am I my brother‟s keeper? Companions and spouses: Does 50% +50%= 100% responsibility? What does blaming a companion, local leaders and members, other missionaries or thearea do to the faith of a missionary? Why do the less-active go inactive? Who suffers? Agency/responsibilityand love. Unity: D&C 107:27, 30, “and every decision made...must be by the unanimous voice...eachmember in each quorum must be agreed.” Which word from D&C60:2 should be added to the not-responsiblelist that keeps missionaries and members from being responsible? What responsible word is the antidote? (SeeMoroni 8:16, Romans 1:16) Charity is a deep sense of responsibility for the temporal welfare and even morefor the spiritual welfare of another. The more we are like Christ the less likely we are to give up on someone.There will be a reluctance to blame. He is perfect, we are not. He was innocent, we are guilty. Yet out of love,He became responsible for us and never gives up on us. Compassion, we learn, is one of the opposites ofblaming, and responsibility for the spiritual welfare of others the most important definition of charity. (SeeMosiah 28:3) D&C 43:15, “ye are not sent forth to be taught, but to teach.” Effective teaching is the veryessence of leadership.” (President Gordon B. Hinckley)
ACCOUNTABILITY: “The principle of accountability is fundamental in God‟s eternal plan. We will all standbefore the Lord at the last judgment and give an accounting for what we have done with the opportunities Hehas given us (see Alma 5:15-19, D&C 137:9). There is much you can learn about accountability on yourmission that will benefit you throughout your life.” Numbers and accountability: Does the Lord number hissheep? Versus merely counting them (total). Why? (see 1 Nephi 22:25) What would be even better thannumbers? Names. “Where performance is measured, performance improves. When performance is measuredand reported, the rate of improvement accelerates.” (President Monson) D&C 4:2, Why do we serve him withall our “heart, might, mind and strength?” “That ye may....” Let your president expect great things from you.
elder blankenship and I decided that as a goal this transfer/month that we would have 15 people with baptism dates. right now we have 8 people scheduled to be baptized. this next week is what will decide if we reach that goal or not.
-- Elder Tyler Herring2133 Washington Blvd.Ogden, Utah 84401
