Elder Duke and I have been able to hike a lot since we've been together. There are even hikes we can do for morning exercise. They're quick and very close to the house. I have now hiked 5 trails and they are all worth it. Haven't been to one yet that was disappointing. I've been to Devil's Bridge, 7 sacred pools/soldiers pass, chimney rock, cathedral rock, and sugar loaf. We were going to hike west fork today but we have a foot of snow and flurries off and on.
This week we were able to go on exchanges with the Assistants to the President of our mission. We had one with us and the other went with another set of missionaries. It was a great learning experience. It helped me to refocus my efforts to help other people. Everything that any missionary teaches is centered around the atonement of Jesus Christ. The way that we access the atonement is if we live the doctrines of Christ, which are: Faith, Repentance, Baptism, Receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost, and Enduring to the end.
It all begins with faith. Faith in Jesus Christ leads us to action. Read the first two chapters in the book of James in the New Testament. We learn that our actions or works are how we show our faith. Faith is required for progression. We especially show our faith by keeping the commandments. We learn by experience. We learn that repentance is necessary as we test it. Keep one commandment you are not now keeping and you will see the difference it makes. "Faith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things; therefore if ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen which are true." You cannot see the blessings that will come through obedience to a commandment. But you hope for the blessings. Ask yourself, "Will God keep his promise?" We know that "there is a law, irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of this world, upon which all blessings are predicated- And when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated."
When we begin to keep the commandments we are repenting. repentance is change. It is aligning our will with God's will. That may start with just aligning our actions with what God wants us to do, with the hope and faith that His word is good. Then our hearts soften and we continue to keep that commandment because of our love for the Savior.
Baptism and receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost follows repentance, and actually helps us fully utilize the atonement of Jesus Christ. Baptism is for a remission of all our past sin. The Gift of the Holy Ghost is for the sanctification of the spirit. Partaking of these ordinances tells Christ that we are accepting of his sacrifice for our sin. Partaking of the emblems of the sacrament renews the baptism every week.
Enduring to the end requires much. But, three basic things help us to do all the others the best we can. Read the scriptures. Pray daily. Attend church meetings. Those three things will keep you in tune with the spirit received at baptism. It will develop your relationship with God. Most important these three things are the modes in which we receive revelation from Almighty God. Spiritual things must be understood spiritually. How do we understand spiritual things?? Through the Holy Ghost, whose mission is to testify of all truth. How do we communicate with Heavenly Father? Through the Holy Ghost. What is revelation? Things that God REVEALS to you through the power of the Holy Ghost. When do you feel the Holy Ghost the strongest? When we are communing with God, when we are reading the word of God, when we are in buildings dedicated and concecrated to worship the Lord with all others who come to draw closer to God.
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