7/14/2014
"I don’t understand. I don’t understand why God didn't intervene and save her when she had 3 beautiful daughters that needed her. I don’t understand."
We had a lesson this week with a new
investigator. Her name Is Mariah. She is around 55 years old and is living with
a newly returning member. Her daughter was abducted and killed a few years ago.
She is still, without shame or surprise, suffering from her loss. We had an
amazing lesson about God and who he is. His love for us and how much he wants
to bless our lives. This was our conversation. I had the opportunity to share a
little of my story. Its been a long time since I’ve talked about Madie with
investigators. I didn't know if I should but after saying a silent prayer, I
felt it would be appropriate. My story is very sacred to me, but I have no
problem being a tool in the Lords hands. If He tells me or prompts me to say
something, im going to. I love Mariah. She has been threw a lot and has seen
much pain and hatred in her life. But with all of that aside she wants to come
to Christ and be made whole. She said the first time she went to a Mormon
church was the first time she felt at home. She came to church this past week.
Please pray for her.
As a zone leader we have the
responsibility of taking care of 16 other missionaries. We are entrusted in
training them and helping them reach their goals. I can’t imagine how a Bishop
must feel. We have a few companionships that are struggling. One emotionally
and the other with missionary work. They are incredible missionaries and I love
them so much. I want so badly for their happiness. I lie awake at night
pondering on what we can do to help them. We pray for them morning and
night.
"I think of how dark that Friday was
when Christ was lifted up on the cross...
It was a Friday filled with devastating, consuming sorrow that gnawed at the souls of those who loved and honored the Son of God.
I think that of all the days since the beginning of this world's history, that Friday was the darkest. But the doom of that day did not endure.
The despair did not linger because of Sunday, the resurrected Lord burst the bonds of death. He ascended from the grave and appeared gloriously triumphant as the Savior of all mankind.
And in an instant the eyes that had been filled with over-flowing tears dried. The lips that had whispered prayers of distress and grief now filled the air with wondrous praise, for Jesus the Christ, the Son of the living God, stood before them as the first fruits of the Resurrection, the proof that death is merely the beginning of a new and wondrous existence.
Each of us will have our own Fridays - those days when the universe itself seems shattered and the shards of our world lie littered about us in pieces. We all will experience those broken times when it seems we can never be put together again. We will all have our Fridays.
But I testify to you in the name of the One who conquered death - Sunday will come. In the darkness of our sorrow,Sunday will come.
No matter our desperation, no matter our grief, Sunday will come. In this life or the next, Sunday will come."
It was a Friday filled with devastating, consuming sorrow that gnawed at the souls of those who loved and honored the Son of God.
I think that of all the days since the beginning of this world's history, that Friday was the darkest. But the doom of that day did not endure.
The despair did not linger because of Sunday, the resurrected Lord burst the bonds of death. He ascended from the grave and appeared gloriously triumphant as the Savior of all mankind.
And in an instant the eyes that had been filled with over-flowing tears dried. The lips that had whispered prayers of distress and grief now filled the air with wondrous praise, for Jesus the Christ, the Son of the living God, stood before them as the first fruits of the Resurrection, the proof that death is merely the beginning of a new and wondrous existence.
Each of us will have our own Fridays - those days when the universe itself seems shattered and the shards of our world lie littered about us in pieces. We all will experience those broken times when it seems we can never be put together again. We will all have our Fridays.
But I testify to you in the name of the One who conquered death - Sunday will come. In the darkness of our sorrow,Sunday will come.
No matter our desperation, no matter our grief, Sunday will come. In this life or the next, Sunday will come."
I'm so grateful to know you Sawyer, and to love you as though you were my son. I share Madie's story whenever I feel prompted to do so, and I am amazed at how often it happens. It is part of the journey that was laid before me. I am grateful to see that you too bless others with her story when you feel moved to do so.
ReplyDeleteI love this talk by Elder Wirthlin, It has given me strength when I felt like none was there.