(Anziano Wilknson)
This week I did my first companionship exchange and I got
the chance to go to the beautiful city of La Spezia (literally translated, the
spice). It is a port city, the biggest in Italy I believe, and also is well
known for it's brightly colored buildings. It's very close to the famous Cinque
Terre and it is also, for you British literature buffs out there, where Mary
and Percy Shelly lived out the final part of their lives; the home still stands
today actually.
Elder Johnson (who I was on exchanges with) and I had a
great time, seeing as we are both extremely interested in the sciences.
Needless to say we didn't stop talking the entire time we were together!
This week I was studying chapter 3 of Preach My Gospel,
which contains the doctrines of the five lessons that we are to cover with
those we teach. At the very beginning of the chapter it says, "The lessons
in this chapter contain the essential doctrines, principles, and commandments
that you are to study, believe, love, live, and teach." It is a simple and
frankly obvious statement, but it nonetheless stuck out to me.
I realized as I thought on these words that the five actions
it mentions, "study, believe, love, live, and teach" are each
individually necessary for success in missionary work as well as for the
spiritual progression of any individual. Without all five of them,
effectiveness as a missionary and/or spiritual progression is impeded or
perhaps even halted. Even the removal or neglect of just one of the five would
result in limitations and loss of effectiveness in the other four. For example,
one can't teach the doctrines of Christ very well if one doesn't also actively
love, live, study, and believe the doctrines.
So often as we study the gospel we find this same principle
of interconnectedness between the doctrines and principles we teach. It's so
amazing that this is so. For me it stands as almost a small bit of undeniable
proof that this is Christ's church, led by an actual prophet of God, because no
mere man could create a religion with as much revealed truth as we have without
making it contradict itself. I know the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints this is the true church of God and I know that He has a prophet here on
the Earth who leads that church. I love the gospel of Jesus Christ it brings me
so much joy and I know that it will continue to do so well into the eternities.
I'm glad to have the opportunity to share this joy with the people of Italy and
I hope to make a difference in their lives by giving as many people as I can
the opportunity to experience it as well! I invite you all this week to share
with someone you care about the joy you have received from having the gospel is
your lives! The joy that comes from sharing joy is beyond compare!
Until next week,
Anziano Wilkinson
La Spezia
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