Well, after all the doctors visits and resting, my companion
is starting to get better, yet no one has any idea what is actually wrong with
him. However, he is doing better and we have been able to return to almost
completely normal work now! Anziano Robinson still can't ride bikes though, so
we're on foot or in bus wherever we go for probably the rest of the transfer.
In the midst of all this mess of stuff we happened to miss
my culture class, which I guess is part of the process to get my visa, so I
will have to make up the points by taking an Italian language course. While
this will probably take much longer and be a lot less painless, I can't
complain because it means more practice with learning Italian! And who knows,
it could also prove to be a great way to find people ready to hear the gospel!
This week I was reading in the Book of Mormon and the
footnotes led me to Luke chapter 14 verse 27, which reads, "And whosoever
doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple." This
verse is quite blunt and unmistakable in meaning. Christ, the speaker in this
verse, is basically telling all those who profess to be His followers that if
they aren't willing to endure with Him through think and thin, then they aren't
worthy of His association. That lesson in of itself is a powerful and important
one that anyone professing Christianity needs to be well acquainted with.
However, the JST on this verse continues, revealing further knowledge:
"Wherefore, settle this in your hearts, that ye will do the things which I
shall teach, and command you."
The phrase "settle this in your hearts" reminds me
of the council that I've heard everywhere since before I can remember,
particularly when discussing elements of the Word of Wisdom. The council always
boils down to something of the effect of, 'don't wait for temptation to befall
you to decide to choose the right, decide now and decide once to deny
temptation and then stand by that decision.' According to this verse in Luke,
this council applies to much more than just the Word of Wisdom. It applies
everywhere. "Settle this in your hearts, that ye will do the things which
I shall teach, and command you." Simply put, Christ is commanding us to
settle in our hearts, or in other words to 'decide now and decide once', to
"do the things which [He has taught] and command[ed]" us.
When temptation comes (be it in the form of laziness,
telling a lie, or whatever sin it is that "doth easily beset [us]")
we should never have a moment where we allow ourselves to rationalize or
compromise, our decision should have already been made that we will choose the
right! So I invite you all this week to follow the Savior's council to
"settle in your hearts" the decision to follow and keep His
commandments. Decide to choose what is right before the need to choose arises!
I promise that as you do so you will find greater strength in conquering
temptation and you will feel more powerfully the love that our Heavenly Father
has for you personally. I have seen these blessings come to me many times as
I've kept this council; I know that our Heavenly Father loves us and he is
always waiting eagerly to bless us for our righteous choices. Make Him proud
this week!
-Anziano Jake Wilkinson
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