Dear Sons of Mosiah,
What to say today? I truly have no idea...I do have to say, I've been seeing some pretty crazy things going on in the world, and my mind is caught up in the writings of Nephi when he spoke of the latter days, and the Great and Abominable Church. I've talked to a lot of people who are so hardened against religion because of the acts of such churches. They see wickedness high up in churches all around them, and I often wonder, can we blame these people who choose not to listen? Truly Satan's church is at large, and it has turned away many good people that see the hold Satan has on many churches--Christian and Non-Christian churches alike. This is why members need to help people see the difference between the Great Whore of All the Earth, and the true and restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. It's quite the battle out here, nevertheless a good work is going forward, and many people are being brought to a knowledge of the truth. And why should we be discouraged? Truly Nephi prophesied that our numbers would be few, and will always be fewer than those of the Great and Abominable Church--at least until the Great and Terrible Day when the Son of God will come again. Hopefully for all of us that will be a Great Day, and not so terrible. Nevertheless, it is what it is.
Now, where do we stand on this whole scale that determines the fate of the world? My father sent me an email about this, and I have to say, I wish I always truly understood my place as a servant of the Lord. Truly missionaries are a force going forth to dissolve the wickedness and secret combinations which plague our world. In the Book of Mormon missionary work is exactly how the Lamanites rid themselves of secret combinations in their society, and the Nephites were unable to do so because people would not hearken unto the word of God. Hopefully the people of this great nation, and of the world, are not hardened to that extent, in their hearts. This is all why we have a great need to do missionary work! Think about it, all of you who have ever wished to be great! The way to be great is to humble yourself, and understand your great nothingness before the Lord, then he will make you mighty in His hands. How cool is that? For a reference, check out Mosiah 4, and read it prayerfully. It's a beautiful chapter, and is honestly a lot of what got me out here on my mission.
Anyway, I'm done preaching now, but love you all! Keep safe, keep righteous, and keep doing the Lord's work, okay? Talk to you next week!
Love, Elder Chris Petersen
Monday, August 23, 2010
Monday, August 16, 2010
Food For Thought . . .
Dear Brethren,
I miss your stinking guts! (End of the carnal Chris speaking) How are you all doing? I was in sick all day yesterday, and was told to stay home by Sister Kunz, so my companion and I talked a lot. I got to think about all the crazy things we've done, and realized that we really had quite the experiences, didn't we? Anyway...
Well, I don't have much to say today. I suppose I'm just writing this week out of habit. The Lord's work is going great! Satan's working really hard against it, but no matter what he does, the Lord comes out triumphant! It's all about the casualties now. We must save as many of our brethren as we can. As Brigham Young said concerning the lost handcart companies, "Bring In Those People Now!" This is the job of missionaries, and of members! More dire than the physical death of a freezing, starving people, is the spiritual danger of a soul!
How many of us would jump in front of a car to save someone's life--especially somebody that we care about? I think a lot of us would. So should we not treat with the same urgency the soul who does not have the gospel, or who has strayed from the truth? Now we can't force them to accept it, but ought we not to continually present it? Is the immortal soul not more important than our temporary tabernacles? How much more then, should we care to save a soul, than even that of a life? We place lives at a priceless value--then of how much more value is the soul!
Anyway, it's food for thought. Too often we are afraid to talk to our nonmember friends or acquaintances about the gospel, but we wouldn't hesitate in the least to save them from an oncoming car. Where should we place our priorities? Anyway, good job to all who have realized it, and I'm still working on it. Lol. Half the time that I write things to all of you, I have a major realization myself--and I'm in the process of convincing myself of the truth of something.
Well, I love you all! Have a great week!
Love, Elder Chris Petersen
I miss your stinking guts! (End of the carnal Chris speaking) How are you all doing? I was in sick all day yesterday, and was told to stay home by Sister Kunz, so my companion and I talked a lot. I got to think about all the crazy things we've done, and realized that we really had quite the experiences, didn't we? Anyway...
Well, I don't have much to say today. I suppose I'm just writing this week out of habit. The Lord's work is going great! Satan's working really hard against it, but no matter what he does, the Lord comes out triumphant! It's all about the casualties now. We must save as many of our brethren as we can. As Brigham Young said concerning the lost handcart companies, "Bring In Those People Now!" This is the job of missionaries, and of members! More dire than the physical death of a freezing, starving people, is the spiritual danger of a soul!
How many of us would jump in front of a car to save someone's life--especially somebody that we care about? I think a lot of us would. So should we not treat with the same urgency the soul who does not have the gospel, or who has strayed from the truth? Now we can't force them to accept it, but ought we not to continually present it? Is the immortal soul not more important than our temporary tabernacles? How much more then, should we care to save a soul, than even that of a life? We place lives at a priceless value--then of how much more value is the soul!
Anyway, it's food for thought. Too often we are afraid to talk to our nonmember friends or acquaintances about the gospel, but we wouldn't hesitate in the least to save them from an oncoming car. Where should we place our priorities? Anyway, good job to all who have realized it, and I'm still working on it. Lol. Half the time that I write things to all of you, I have a major realization myself--and I'm in the process of convincing myself of the truth of something.
Well, I love you all! Have a great week!
Love, Elder Chris Petersen
Monday, August 9, 2010
The Atonement of Jesus Christ . . .
Dear Brethren,
The work of the Lord is going on mightily, and the powers of hell will be shaken forever! Nothing will stop the will of the Lord from being done, and we should all rejoice because of this thing. I have learned a lot this week, as life varies, and things change. We sometimes make plans, and they fail, and then we must remember in whom we have trusted, and remember Him who is mighty to save!
I wish to speak on a matter that came to my attention this week. I wish to speak on the write on the atonement of Jesus Christ--but it isn't merely what you think it is. I believe many of us have a testimony of the power of the Atonement of Christ to heal us and cleanse us from sin. Many of us have experienced this miracle many times, and glory be to God for it! However, fewer people (including myself, until this week brought about experience in the matter in just a small portion--even now I cannot fully comprehend it) have a testimony of the enabling and strengthening power of the atonement.
We know that it was said that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is to make "bad men good, and good men better". We get that it makes bad men good--for it cleanses us of ous sins. But how many of us believe that we are to rely on ourselves to become better? It is not so. The atonement of Jesus Christ is for good men to become better as well. Also, it enables men to do things they cannot do of themselves, and get through situations they could not handle on their own. Remember that the Savior conquered all of our pains and our sicknesses and infirmities--not just our sins.
Nephi had such knowledge when his brothers bound him, and planned his death. Read over it. In verse 17 of 1 Nephi 7, Nephi prays: "O Lord, according to my faith which is in thee, wilt thou deliver me from the hands of my brethren; yea give me strength that I may burst these bands with which I am bound." This, and many other passages in the scriptures give a great example. Nephi did not just say, "Get me out of this now!" or anything else. He asked to be given the strength. The cords did not just fall from his wrists, and he did not just magically pull a bit and off the came. He was not given "Hercules Powers", but he was granted the strength and the percision to break the bands with which he was bound.
There is a talk by Elder Bednar given in, I think, 2001, before he was an apostle. It was while he was President of BYU Idaho. It's titled, "In The Strength of the Lord". It's about the enabling power of the atonement. Read it, watch it, or listen to it. It will change you a lot if yo let it.
I love you all! Take care, and remembe the God in whom you should trust!
Love, Elder Chris Petersen
The work of the Lord is going on mightily, and the powers of hell will be shaken forever! Nothing will stop the will of the Lord from being done, and we should all rejoice because of this thing. I have learned a lot this week, as life varies, and things change. We sometimes make plans, and they fail, and then we must remember in whom we have trusted, and remember Him who is mighty to save!
I wish to speak on a matter that came to my attention this week. I wish to speak on the write on the atonement of Jesus Christ--but it isn't merely what you think it is. I believe many of us have a testimony of the power of the Atonement of Christ to heal us and cleanse us from sin. Many of us have experienced this miracle many times, and glory be to God for it! However, fewer people (including myself, until this week brought about experience in the matter in just a small portion--even now I cannot fully comprehend it) have a testimony of the enabling and strengthening power of the atonement.
We know that it was said that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is to make "bad men good, and good men better". We get that it makes bad men good--for it cleanses us of ous sins. But how many of us believe that we are to rely on ourselves to become better? It is not so. The atonement of Jesus Christ is for good men to become better as well. Also, it enables men to do things they cannot do of themselves, and get through situations they could not handle on their own. Remember that the Savior conquered all of our pains and our sicknesses and infirmities--not just our sins.
Nephi had such knowledge when his brothers bound him, and planned his death. Read over it. In verse 17 of 1 Nephi 7, Nephi prays: "O Lord, according to my faith which is in thee, wilt thou deliver me from the hands of my brethren; yea give me strength that I may burst these bands with which I am bound." This, and many other passages in the scriptures give a great example. Nephi did not just say, "Get me out of this now!" or anything else. He asked to be given the strength. The cords did not just fall from his wrists, and he did not just magically pull a bit and off the came. He was not given "Hercules Powers", but he was granted the strength and the percision to break the bands with which he was bound.
There is a talk by Elder Bednar given in, I think, 2001, before he was an apostle. It was while he was President of BYU Idaho. It's titled, "In The Strength of the Lord". It's about the enabling power of the atonement. Read it, watch it, or listen to it. It will change you a lot if yo let it.
I love you all! Take care, and remembe the God in whom you should trust!
Love, Elder Chris Petersen
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