Hong Kong: FILLING OUR MINDS WITH THE TRUTHS OF THE GOSPEL

11/22/15

Family,

Thanks for the pics of Hawaii. It looks awesome.

Investigators are good this week. Except for we don't know what happened to the Chen Family. We were planning on having a lesson with them on Friday before english class, and they confirmed they were coming thursday night, but they didn't show up to the lesson or English class. They won't pick up their phone and haven't since thursday and didn't come to church on Sunday. Kind of weird.

We had a lesson with Ada and she brought her friend. She is great. Her name is Cherry. She is christian and reads the bible and prays. We gave them both baptismal dates for the end of next month.

We also met with another Chen DX. He is great. We found him in the former investigator records. He has had 5 baptismal dates from other missionaries and has been taught everything multiple times, but for whatever reason hasn't been baptized.

We had planned on having 6 investigators at church. Ada and Cherry both said they were coming, Chen Family, Chen DX said he was coming, and Lydia all said they would be there, but none of them showed up. That was a bummer.

The temple on Thursday was great. It is amazing how peaceful the temple is. Especially when compared to the very busy, fast moving life style here in Hong Kong. It was awesome to take a few hours and feel of that spirit and peace in the House of the Lord. My mission prep teacher at BYU told us that the only emotion that Satan can't imitate is peace.

My ponderize last week was Abraham 3:25. "And we will prove them herewith, to see if they will do whatsoever thing the Lord their God shall command them." (i think, might of missed some words, don't have scriptures with me.) I love that scripture. At zone conference, we watched a clip from President Monson on obedience and he shared that scripture. I have been thinking about it a lot since then. As I was reviewing "This Day" from Henry Eyring, I found that he quoted the same scripture in that talk and reminded us that the test of this life is one of faithful obedience. That is the test. Obedience to the commandments, the words of the living prophets and the promptings of the Holy Spirit. I don't think it is a coincidence that the very first thing the Savior tells the Nephites when he visits the America's is about obedience. In 3 Nephi 11:11, He tells us that he suffered the will of the Father.

I have gained an increased testimony this week of the importance of filling our minds with the truths of the gospel and being worthy to have the spirit to be with us. A few experiences this week have helped me to better realize this. The spirit has brought back to my memory different things I have studied in the past of which I needed to be reminded about to lead me to action. Little things. But the little things are the things that matter. For by small and simple things are great things brought to pass.

I love you all. Thank you for your prayers and examples to me.

Elder Stratford