November 18, 2013

Dear Friends and Family,

 

We had a wonderful week here in Selah. Lately, we've been teaching members about the Atonement and how it relates to missionary work, and we are now starting to see the fruits of our labors. Yesterday, a family brought another family to Church that they had invited. The ward fellowshipped them and made them have an awesome experience. We then had dinner with them and shared the First Vision and bore our testimonies of its truthfulness. They didn't accept a Book of Mormon, but they came closer to Christ and maybe they will eventually.

 

We also had a great lesson with a part member family we are working with. They have struggled with Word of Wisdom and Chastity issues, but in September, they were married and yesterday, he called us and told us that he had smoked for the last time! All he needs to do is fully repent and become active in the church. So, last night we shared about faith, repentance, baptism, Holy Ghosting, and Enduring to the end. We stressed church attendance and repentance. We were very bold, which is unusual for both of us, and we promised them that if they followed the commandments and repented, they could find rest. We committed them to baptism on December 21st IF they will come to church every week and meet with the bishop. Repentance is a tough process, but its designed to change us.

 

Repentance is a very cool concept. Though the Atonement of Christ, we can be cleansed from our sins as we recognize our faults, confess our sins, make restitution, and then forsake our sins. After these steps we can be cleansed from sin and feel the joy and peace that comes. Repentance is often thought of as something bad and looked down upon when actually, no one is perfect and it is one of the greatest things God has allowed us to do. It allows us to put off the natural man and become the son or daughter of God that we are. This is the scripture we shared with him in Alma 13:27-29:

 

 27 And now, my brethren, I wish from the inmost part of my heart, yea, with great anxiety even unto pain, that ye would hearken unto my words, and cast off your sins, and not procrastinate the day of your repentance;
 28 But that ye would humble yourselves before the Lord, and call on his holy name, and watch and pray continually, that ye may not be tempted above that which ye can bear, and thus be led by the Holy Spirit, becoming humble, meek, submissive, patient, full of love and all long-suffering;
 29 Having faith on the Lord; having a hope that ye shall receive eternal life; having the love of God always in your hearts, that ye may be lifted up at the last day and enter into his rest.

As we develop Christlike attributes, we can know that we have repented. I'm not perfect, but I know that repentance has changed me so that I can be a more worthy servant of the Master. This is my greatest desire: to be led by the Spirit so that I can make an impact on someones life. I love my mission so much and the opportunity it has given me to invite others to repent and see the same joy in the gospel that I have. I know that this is the Lord's church and that He leads it directly. I love the Savior and try my best to serve Him. I love you all and go and sin no more;)
Love,
Elder Spencer Coleman

November 11, 2013

Dear Friends and family,

We had an AMAZING week in Selah. This week was transfer week, which means the week is a little slower than normal. But not for the Selah missionaries! We found 4 new investigators and all of them have really cool experiences with them.

The first one was a couple that we tracted into about 2 weeks ago. We taught them on Tuesday and learned something really cool. We asked them why they let us in, and they said that the wife was going through a really hard time in her life and that missionaries always seemed to knock on her door in those times (coincidence...I think not). Even more amazing was that her husband, who is not normally religious, prayed for the first time in a very long time to find answers and almost immediately after, we knocked on their door. Later, we taught the Restoration of the Gospel and the Spirit testified to them that our message was true. Incredible experience.

Also, we had knocked into an old woman's house (she is actually old, not just compared to me) and we taught her the Restoration and a little of the plan of salvation, and she said that made sense because if God loves us so much, why would he let us suffer? She really appreciated and accepted our message. 

So, moral of the story, miracles do happen in our lives, even when they seem impossible. We have been praying earnestly and working diligently that we could find these people, and lo and behold, God has answered our prayers. 2 Nephi 27:23 says,

"For behold, I am God; and I am a God of miracles; and I will show unto the world that I am the same yesterday, today, and forever; and I work not among the children of men save it be according to their faith."

We exercised faith, which is an action word. It led us to work harder and talk to more people. With faith, all things are possible. I know that as we act on our faith, we can change our lives and the lives of others. I love you all and thank you for the many prayers which are said on my behalf!

Love,

Elder Spencer Coleman

November 4, 2013

Dear Friends and Family,

Well, it appears that I will be staying in Selah so I will finally have a three transfer area!!! Elder Maughan and I get along really well so I'm glad that we're doing it together. So, this week, we mostly tracted. Elder Ballard told us last Saturday that if we talked to 10 people a day (70/week) we would teach and baptize more. We took that challenge to heart and have almost tracted out our area now. We haven't really started teaching new people (and our old people are falling off), but we have the faith that something good will happen. Needless to say, we are a tracting mission still.

Speaking of tracting, one mission tradition is that we decorate our planner covers with gospel pictures. The front cover of this new transfer is the picture of the Savior knocking on the door without the handle. I guess that could be related to missionary work because we are representatives of Him and we invite others to choose to follow the example of Jesus Christ. My back picture is a picture of Jesus teaching so that is what we are hoping to see from the tracting:)

This week, I just finished the D&C and it was a really good experience. There was a lot in there that I had no idea about and little treasures of knowledge. I then restarted the BoM and was reading Lehi's dream (actually reading and not just dreaming about it;) and the chapters following when a cool thing hit me. I know almost everyone has sung "The Iron Rod is the Word of God" in Primary, but I noticed something different about it this time. In 1 Nephi 8:30 it says,

"But, to be short in writing, behold, he saw other multitudes pressing forward; and they came and caught hold of the end of the rod of iron; and they did press their way forward, continually holding fast to the rod of iron, until they came forth and fell down and partook of the fruit of the tree."

So we get that the word of God leads us to eternal life right? Now, 1 Nephi 13:5 says,

"And the angel said unto me: Behold the formation of a church which is most abominable above all other churches, which slayeth the saints of God, yea, and tortureth them and bindeth them down, and yoketh them with a yoke of iron, and bringeth them down into captivity."

So iron here is bad because it puts us in bondage. So I got out of this that as we read the scriptures, we will be free from bondage. So we just want to get rid of all the yokes I guess. As a childhood mentor would tell me, "Absolutely incorrect!" Jesus said, "Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." (Matt 11:29-30) As we cling to the iron rod and come unto Christ, we can find freedom and personal peace. I love the scriptures and my heart pondereth them. Never forget to study the scriptures! They will lead you by the hand to return to your Father in Heaven. I love you all and have a merry November 4th!

Love,

Elder Coleman