Dear Brethren,
I don't have a whole lot to say this week. This week has been pretty good, and the work is continuing to get better. We are still meeting and teaching new people, as well as helping the ones we have been meeting with for a while progress. Everything is on the brink of exploding out here in Broken Bow, and we should definitely baptize some of these people soon enough. However, when the greatest good is being accomplished, opposition occurs. This last week I got to face anti-mormon views THREE TIMES in THREE DAYS!!! Of course, they were ridiculous, and our testimonies are still very strong. The Lord never leaves His servants, and thus, if we always have the Spirit with us and don't let our anger drive it away, the Spirit will always show us the way to conquer the enemy.
Anyway, I do not have much to say today, other than that things are going well. The Lord is constantly answering the prayers of those who truly seek with real intent, for the truth. Testimonies of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon are being born every day. My testimony always remains firm of its truthfulness. In my entire 19 months as a missionary, I have talked with many people. Of all of them I have talked to, the promise always stands that if one will sincerely read the Book of Mormon and then pray about it, really wanting to know whether or not it is true, they will always come to know that it is in fact true. I have never met a person who received a "no". The Holy Ghost is constant, in that all who will read and pray, will know. However, unless you want to know, you will receive no answer at all. I have met some who maybe read a chapter over a six-week period, prayed a couple times, and waited for an answer that isn't going to come, because they didn't do their part. So if you are looking for truth, and you have not yet read the Book of Mormon and prayed about it sincerely, do so!
Love you guys! Have a great week!
Love, Elder Christopher Petersen
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
The Lord's Work is Thriving in Broken Bow . . .
Dear Brethren,
"Behold, I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I have been called of him to declare his word among his people, that they might have everlasting life" (3 Nephi 5:13).
This week has been an amazing one. Transfers just took place, and I am still in Broken Bow, for what I assume will be one last six weeks. Making it through this transfer will amount to four transfers here. So much has happened, and we are teaching many. I do not know that I have ever had this many wonderful people to teach. They are so great, and I believe many of them will receive the Savior, and be baptized in His name.
As disciples of Jesus Christ, I hope that all of us are declaring His word to the people we are around. Every one of us should be a missionary. I have been "called of him to declare his word" full-time, among this people, but you have also been "called of him to declare his word" part-time among your people, if you are not currently doing so full-time. The Gospel of Jesus Christ should be the center of our lives in all that we do. It's okay to have fun, live life, etc., but we should also remember to keep our covenants and in all things, in all places, take upon ourselves the name of Jesus Christ--acting as His disciple; or acting as He would.
I've been putting a lot of thought into some things this last while, striving to refine my teaching skills. Being a full-time missionary for the past year-and-a-half, you can imagine that it becomes easy to get stuck in a rhythm of teaching. I have been working on breaking it, and always trying to find new things to better teach to the needs of those I'm teaching. But without fail, I find that the simple testimony of things that we know are true, always brings the most power--especially testimonies of Jesus Christ, and the Book of Mormon.
Today, I would like to share with all of you something I came across in my reading of the Book of Mormon. I am currently in 3 Nephi. There is a passage that really struck me.
At this point in the Book of Mormon, destruction has come upon the land, in which many people died. The signs of Christ's death over in Jerusalem, are taking place on the American continent (three days of darkness, fire, earthquakes, tempests, etc.). Those who are still living are mourning for their dead, when suddenly a voice comes to them from the heavens, announcing the cities that were destroyed for their great wickedness. Immediately after that announcement, that same voice--the voice of Jesus Christ--says the following:
"O all ye that are spared because ye were more righteous than they, will ye not now return unto me, and repent of your sins, and be converted, that I may heal you? Yea, verily I say unto you, if ye will come unto me ye shall have eternal life. Behold, mine arm of mercy is extended towards you, and whosoever will come, him will I receive; and blessed are those who come unto me" (3 Nephi 9:13-14). (I encourage you to read the whole passage of 3 Nephi 9:13-22. It will be well worth your time. Will you read it?)
Christ loves each of us so much. For all of those who are troubled, He offers peace. For those who are hurting, He offers healing. To those that mourn, He offers comfort. For those who have trials, He offers strength. He beckons, "come unto me". He pleads, "Return unto me...that I may heal you." His very motive--the love that brought about an infinite atonement--is His love for you. This is the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Brethren, are we denying ourselves of His love and healing? He begs us to come. Will we not do so now? And are we sounding this glad message abroad to all of our fellow men that they may feel His love and peace in their lives?
This world has so much pain. Few people are truly happy, and instead of seeking happiness, they seek all of the evil pleasures that last only for a moment, because that is all many believe they can truly find. But there is peace. There is love. Sometimes we need to go through the pain of trials for a time so that we can grow, but at the perfect moment that we need Him, Christ will always be there to succor us according to our needs.
I love Him, and I hope you love Him. Feed His sheep. Come unto Him always, and repent everyday so that you might take advantage of the gift that He bought for you with a price. I love you all! Have a great week, and go forth with a steadfastness in Christ.
Love, Elder Christopher Petersen
"Behold, I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I have been called of him to declare his word among his people, that they might have everlasting life" (3 Nephi 5:13).
This week has been an amazing one. Transfers just took place, and I am still in Broken Bow, for what I assume will be one last six weeks. Making it through this transfer will amount to four transfers here. So much has happened, and we are teaching many. I do not know that I have ever had this many wonderful people to teach. They are so great, and I believe many of them will receive the Savior, and be baptized in His name.
As disciples of Jesus Christ, I hope that all of us are declaring His word to the people we are around. Every one of us should be a missionary. I have been "called of him to declare his word" full-time, among this people, but you have also been "called of him to declare his word" part-time among your people, if you are not currently doing so full-time. The Gospel of Jesus Christ should be the center of our lives in all that we do. It's okay to have fun, live life, etc., but we should also remember to keep our covenants and in all things, in all places, take upon ourselves the name of Jesus Christ--acting as His disciple; or acting as He would.
I've been putting a lot of thought into some things this last while, striving to refine my teaching skills. Being a full-time missionary for the past year-and-a-half, you can imagine that it becomes easy to get stuck in a rhythm of teaching. I have been working on breaking it, and always trying to find new things to better teach to the needs of those I'm teaching. But without fail, I find that the simple testimony of things that we know are true, always brings the most power--especially testimonies of Jesus Christ, and the Book of Mormon.
Today, I would like to share with all of you something I came across in my reading of the Book of Mormon. I am currently in 3 Nephi. There is a passage that really struck me.
At this point in the Book of Mormon, destruction has come upon the land, in which many people died. The signs of Christ's death over in Jerusalem, are taking place on the American continent (three days of darkness, fire, earthquakes, tempests, etc.). Those who are still living are mourning for their dead, when suddenly a voice comes to them from the heavens, announcing the cities that were destroyed for their great wickedness. Immediately after that announcement, that same voice--the voice of Jesus Christ--says the following:
"O all ye that are spared because ye were more righteous than they, will ye not now return unto me, and repent of your sins, and be converted, that I may heal you? Yea, verily I say unto you, if ye will come unto me ye shall have eternal life. Behold, mine arm of mercy is extended towards you, and whosoever will come, him will I receive; and blessed are those who come unto me" (3 Nephi 9:13-14). (I encourage you to read the whole passage of 3 Nephi 9:13-22. It will be well worth your time. Will you read it?)
Christ loves each of us so much. For all of those who are troubled, He offers peace. For those who are hurting, He offers healing. To those that mourn, He offers comfort. For those who have trials, He offers strength. He beckons, "come unto me". He pleads, "Return unto me...that I may heal you." His very motive--the love that brought about an infinite atonement--is His love for you. This is the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Brethren, are we denying ourselves of His love and healing? He begs us to come. Will we not do so now? And are we sounding this glad message abroad to all of our fellow men that they may feel His love and peace in their lives?
This world has so much pain. Few people are truly happy, and instead of seeking happiness, they seek all of the evil pleasures that last only for a moment, because that is all many believe they can truly find. But there is peace. There is love. Sometimes we need to go through the pain of trials for a time so that we can grow, but at the perfect moment that we need Him, Christ will always be there to succor us according to our needs.
I love Him, and I hope you love Him. Feed His sheep. Come unto Him always, and repent everyday so that you might take advantage of the gift that He bought for you with a price. I love you all! Have a great week, and go forth with a steadfastness in Christ.
Love, Elder Christopher Petersen
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