I hope that February was a good month for you. It was very short, but it has also been full of many lessons and blessings for us here in Nsambya. Elder Abeka and I have been doing a lot of work, and while some people stay and some go away we are happy to be here.
For this month, I want to talk about the greatest principle that I have learned from my companion and the experiences that we have had together in the work.
Elder Abeka has taught me the importance of applying the scriptures into my life and allowing them to be part of the driving force behind my thoughts and actions. Through this, I have found myself guided to learn more about how we can all be better disciples of Christ. In the New Testament we learn that we must do things from our heart. (Matthew 6:1-7, James 1:5-8, 2 Corinthians 9:7). The first great commandment is to "love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind... And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." (Matthew 22:37,39).
What I have been able to understand from these few verses, as well as many others in the standard works, is that we must do things for the right reasons. We shouldn't be kind to someone hoping that in turn they will be kind back to us. We should not buy someone a gift hoping for a gift in return. On the other side of the issue, we should not withhold what we have (talents, gifts, you name it) because we are afraid that someone else won't accept them or us.
As Elder Uchtdorf advised during a devotional earlier this year, "don’t let discouraging voices dissuade you from your journey of faith. Remember, you don't answer to your critics. You answer to your Father in Heaven. His values count." Those voices may be those you work with, those you learn with, and they most definitely come from the adversary. However, we are more than able to overcome the overwhelming opposition that is around and within us through a very simple way. We must choose to love those who may not like us at all. We must start the change in our hearts to do things for God and for others without the incentive of getting something in return. We must go about doing good continually, because that which is good comes from God.
He has given each of us spiritual gifts, talents, unique personalities and perspectives to accomplish good in the world. The type of person I am is not the same type of person you are, and vice versa. We all bring good into this world and we have much to offer throughout our lives.
I know that God is not a being without form or affection. He is in every way our Father, and He is happy when we are happy as we elect to follow His way, as it will be the one that is best for us. He knows our thoughts and our desires better than we do, and if we let Him, He can do wonders among us each and every day to accomplish the things we didn't think we could do. I know that Jesus Christ is our Savior and that His suffering in Gethsemane has enabled us to repent of our mistakes, and that no matter who we have been or what we have done, we can overcome the past to say "twas I, but tis not I". We have hope in this and through Him. There is no other name or means whereby salvation can come unto the world. I know this because I have seen it in my life and in the lives of those I have had the privilege of serving for the past year and a half. Light and a higher sense of belonging come to those who follow Lehi's counsel in 2 Nephi 2:28. God first loved us, and He shows that love back to those who truly love Him enough to do His will.
I love you all and I hope that you have a great week and a better month!
Sincerely,
Elder O'Hagan
What I have been able to understand from these few verses, as well as many others in the standard works, is that we must do things for the right reasons. We shouldn't be kind to someone hoping that in turn they will be kind back to us. We should not buy someone a gift hoping for a gift in return. On the other side of the issue, we should not withhold what we have (talents, gifts, you name it) because we are afraid that someone else won't accept them or us.
As Elder Uchtdorf advised during a devotional earlier this year, "don’t let discouraging voices dissuade you from your journey of faith. Remember, you don't answer to your critics. You answer to your Father in Heaven. His values count." Those voices may be those you work with, those you learn with, and they most definitely come from the adversary. However, we are more than able to overcome the overwhelming opposition that is around and within us through a very simple way. We must choose to love those who may not like us at all. We must start the change in our hearts to do things for God and for others without the incentive of getting something in return. We must go about doing good continually, because that which is good comes from God.
He has given each of us spiritual gifts, talents, unique personalities and perspectives to accomplish good in the world. The type of person I am is not the same type of person you are, and vice versa. We all bring good into this world and we have much to offer throughout our lives.
I know that God is not a being without form or affection. He is in every way our Father, and He is happy when we are happy as we elect to follow His way, as it will be the one that is best for us. He knows our thoughts and our desires better than we do, and if we let Him, He can do wonders among us each and every day to accomplish the things we didn't think we could do. I know that Jesus Christ is our Savior and that His suffering in Gethsemane has enabled us to repent of our mistakes, and that no matter who we have been or what we have done, we can overcome the past to say "twas I, but tis not I". We have hope in this and through Him. There is no other name or means whereby salvation can come unto the world. I know this because I have seen it in my life and in the lives of those I have had the privilege of serving for the past year and a half. Light and a higher sense of belonging come to those who follow Lehi's counsel in 2 Nephi 2:28. God first loved us, and He shows that love back to those who truly love Him enough to do His will.
I love you all and I hope that you have a great week and a better month!
Sincerely,
Elder O'Hagan
