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