We need His Grace

June 2, 2014

This week Elder Olson and I when on a ton of exchanges! I worked with the other Elders in the Taylor Mountain Stake, The Elders in the Shelley South Stake, and Elder Thompson in the Firth Stake. All great Elders. The missionaries in this zone are amazing. All of them. I am so blessed. 

I’ve started reading the Book of Mormon again. I read in 2nd Nephi chapter 4 and related with Nephi. This is after his father dies and his brothers are conspiring against him. He is going through some hard stuff.

16 Behold, my soul delighteth in the things of the Lord; and my heart pondereth continually upon the things which I have seen and heard.

 17 Nevertheless, notwithstanding the great goodness of the Lord, in showing me his great and marvelous works, my heart exclaimeth: O wretched man that I am! Yea, my heart sorroweth because of my flesh; my soul grieveth because of mine iniquities.

 18 I am encompassed about, because of the temptations and the sins which do so easily beset me.

 19 And when I desire to rejoice, my heart groaneth because of my sins; nevertheless, I know in whom I have trusted.

 20 My God hath been my support; he hath led me through mine afflictions in the wilderness; and he hath preserved me upon the waters of the great deep.

 21 He hath filled me with his love, even unto the consuming of my flesh.

 23 Behold, he hath heard my cry by day, and he hath given me knowledge by visions in the night-time.

 24 And by day have I waxed bold in mighty prayer before him; yea, my voice have I sent up on high;

 26 O then, if I have seen so great things, if the Lord in his condescension unto the children of men hath visited men in so much mercy, why should my heart weep and my soul linger in the valley of sorrow, and my flesh waste away, and my strength slacken, because of mine afflictions?

 27 And why should I yield to sin, because of my flesh? Yea, why should I give way to temptations, that the evil one have place in my heart to destroy my peace and afflict my soul? Why am angry because of mine enemy?

 28 Awake, my soul! No longer droop in sin. Rejoice, O my heart, and give place no more for the enemy of my soul.

 29 Do not anger again because of mine enemies. Do not slacken my strength because of mine afflictions.

 30 Rejoice, O my heart, and cry unto the Lord, and say: O Lord, I will praise thee forever; yea, my soul will rejoice in thee, my God, and the rock of my salvation.

 31 O Lord, wilt thou redeem my soul? Wilt thou deliver me out of the hands of mine enemies? Wilt thou make me that I may shake at the appearance of sin?

This is my prayer. That I might continually sing praises to the Most High and shake at the appearance of sin. It’s so important that we turn to our Heavenly Father and our Savior. We must always be turned towards him. In good times and bad. In thanksgiving and pleading. We need his grace and help. 

Today I am stressed, but ready for the day. We are going on another hike today. Yes mom I made sure there was plenty of time to email you :). We are going to 40 horse cave with another zone. The Lincoln zone. My old zone. Elder Downey is one of the zone leaders so I’m excited to meet up with him. There is going to be a ton of missionaries and a ton of fun!

Elder Eldredge