We have had a fairly busy week, but it was all worth it.
We got new sisters in the district, whitewashing. So that's been pretty fun, as district leader, making sure they got a good start to the transfer. But, yeah, they're doing great, the elders who were there last transfer left the area book pretty organized.
We also did exhanges with members one fo the days this week so my comp could go check out a new area and try and find some new people. And it was a pretty good day, really guided by the spirit.
And yeah, let's get right to Sunday, cuz it was pretty sick. We had Six investigators at church, and one of the kids who got baptized got confirmed too. Also, one of our toughest investigators finally broke down and agreed to get baptized. She's getting baptized this saturday, along with K and J, the couple I talked about before.
And then we had Ward Council to talk about the changes from general conference, and we were able to refocus the ward on the whole ministering thing. It really sucks, but a lot of members here have a really bad attitude towards visiting people. Their attitude is "Well, no one visited me for my such and such years as a member, and I'm fine, even though I had problems. They made a covenant with God, not me. I'm not gonna do any visiting." It's honestly really sad to see.
Even sadder though, was Elder's quorum. We came in a little late, cuz some of our investigators had to leave early and we were seeing them off. And they were talking about what happened with a service project for an old widow.
They had never shown up to do it, and so she got someone else to do it, and got mad at the elder's quorum. So, when I came in and heard them talking about it, my thoughts were "Oh, they're talking about how this was a tragedy, a mistake we made, and we can't let it happen again." But no, they were justifying themselves and were talking about how we need to set a clear difference between "a job" and "a service." Apparently "service" is something small that we help with, but it doesn't take much time or effort to do, and how the elder's quorum is there to do service and not jobs. But I thought that service was just an unpaid job. And all I could think of were the Savior's words in the sermon on the mount: Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also. And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away. I felt like asking them to reread those words and then wonder whether or not we should be distiguishing between "a job" and "a service."
So yeah, please, all of you, listen to the prophets and apostles of our day. Service is religion in action. Truthfully, we wouldn't need a church to go to if all the gospel required was to read the scriptures and pray to get to know god and receive divine knowledge. The reason why we have a church to go to is so that we can receive help. And if you are fortunate enough that you do not need help, and you are fine just the way you are, then it is the commandment of the Lord: One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.
I can't stress this enough. It is only through service that we can truly get to know our Savior. For He lived a life of Service, how can we follow him, if we do not the things he did?
I share my testimony with you all, that if you follow the teachings of the living prophets, you will prosper in the land. And if you truly love your neighbor, serve them.
In the name of Jesus Christ,Amen
Elder Blaylock
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