Week 46--Doctrine and Covenants 121:41-45

Hey 's 's,

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY! 

"Charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him." (Moroni 7:47)

Bad news...Sister Forseth are getting split up. She is going inner city Indy, being double transferred to her area training a greenie missionary. I am staying in Columbus and also training a new missionary, fresh off the boat! There is really no better place to bring a new missionary, but Sister Forseth and I are sad we are being separated. We felt like we were the dynamic duo and loved each other so much! We were working hard, having success, and expected to be together for like 6 months. When President called to transfer us, he was almost apologetic. "I only do this because I need you to train, ok? ...Is that ok?" He knows we love each other. I told him anytime he wants to put us back together, anyplace, it's good with me.

Brother Linder is planning on getting the Priesthood this week. He is so excited! As soon as he is ordained to the Priesthood we are all going to the temple to do baptisms. As it turns, Brother Linder's mom has their family history done all the way back to 400 A.D. We have started teaching them this week and they are so receptive! I think the commitment to family history is a big sign their hearts are prepared. The Linders are both so willing to serve in the Church already. Sister Linder is very excited about getting a calling and a Visiting Teaching route. She has a big heart for the elderly, and has told Bishop she wants to get all the old ladies on her route! Brother Linder is excited to be a home teacher, and we think he would make a great Gospel Doctrines teacher. They're learning so fast!

I'm noticing that people who have studied both the Old and New Testament of the Bible, not just the 4 Gospels, are much more prepared to receive the Gospel and understand the Book of Mormon.

Charlie, for example. He has been slow to progress because our return appointments are so far apart. But he's been scheduling them more and more frequently. He is a devout Roman Catholic and a lay minister in his church (he brings sacrament to sick people in his congregation), but he realized there has been an apostasy and he thought the Priesthood was no longer on the earth. He converted to Catholocism because he felt like it was nearest to the truth. When we were teaching him about Joseph Smith being called as a prophet, he said, "I thought I knew where this was going! Can we meet again?" We said yes and asked him what he'd like to focus on. "The Priesthood," he said. We came back and the members we invited we were nervous to bring because they are very silly and Charlie is serious. But they clicked SO WELL, it astounded me. At first he started telling us about how the Holy Eucharist (sacrament) was blessed and "transmitted the priesthood to the entire congregation" instead of by laying on of hands. We eventually asked him if he believes that is how the Priesthood is given. "I wasn't sure. I don't think so," he said. He is very excited to learn more about the blessings of Priesthood, and he accepted a baptism invite!

 

As I think about Valentine's Day and "brotherly love" (or agape in Greek, as Brother Linder taught me,)  there are so many words synonymous with love that the Priesthood is described with: Virtue, long-suffering,  gentleness, meekness, and love unfeigned. "Kindness, and pure knowledge, which shall greatly enlarge the soul without hypocrisy, and without guile— Reproving betimes with sharpness, when moved upon by the Holy Ghost; and then showing forth afterwards an increase of love toward him whom thou hast reproved...That he may know that thy faithfulness is stronger than the cords of death. Let thy bowels also be full of charity towards all men, and to the household of faith, and let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God; and the doctrine of the priesthood shall distil upon thy soul as the dews from heaven." (Doctrine and Covenants 121:41-45)

Every person who has entered into a covenant with God and is holding fast and keeping those promises, is entitled to the wonderful blessings that come from the Priesthood equal to the covenants they have made. And really, the Priesthood is the only reason we can make that promise with God. I'm so thankful for the Priesthood holders in my life and everyone who magnifies their calling in the Church.

And I  you, but Jesus  you best,

Sister Pugmire