Um ano down, um to go!
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| Meghan getting baptized |
Oi pessoal!
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| Meghan and her family |
I've seen many
blessings and miracles throughout this year. Some of my favorite experiences
have been seeing the changes and effect the Gospel of Jesus Christ has on those
that we teach. Being able to see God's children overcome bad habits and realize
that their Heavenly Father loves them and wants the best for them are some
memories that I won't ever forget.
As missionaries, we
help others learn about the Gospel of Jesus Christ and his church, and help
them progress along the path that follows him. I was able to be a part of
Megan's baptism a little over a week ago. When I got to this area, Megan
already had a testimony of the Book of Mormon and wanted to be baptized. It
ended up being a smaller event due to quarantine restrictions, but it was still
amazing, the spirit I have felt at baptisms has always been so powerful.
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| My Uncle Jon and Family was able to visit me! |
Another event passed,
the 4th of July! Even though I was called to serve as a missionary in a foreign
country, I've been in the United States for both instances of the 4th of July
on my mission. I'm so thankful for all the privileges and opportunities
that I have had to grow up in this wonderful country and for the blessing that
being a part of Jesus Christ's church have given me. Being able to practice our
religion freely is such a blessing that we don't always recognize.
All in all, It's been
an amazing year. I've learned and grown a lot, but that doesn't mean that I
don't have a ways to go. I know that our Heavenly Father wants to see us do
better, and that he is cheering for us we strive to do that.
My Spiritual message
this week is a series of questions:
1. How are we shining
our light?
2. Who are we shining our light for?
3. What is the light we are sharing?
I want to share a story from a conference talk this last April
2020 entitled" That They May See" and Example from our Savior life.
"When I was 10 years old, our family had the honor of
hosting Elder L. Tom Perry of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles while he
was on assignment in my hometown.
At the close of the day, our family and the Perrys sat down in
our living room to enjoy my mother’s delicious apple pie while Elder Perry
recounted stories about Saints around the world. I was enthralled.
It was getting late when my mother called me into the kitchen and
asked a simple question: “Bonnie, did you feed the chickens?”
My heart fell; I had not. Not wanting to leave the presence of
an Apostle of the Lord, I suggested the chickens could fast until morning.
My mother replied with a definitive “no.” Just then, Elder Perry
entered the kitchen and with his booming, enthusiastic voice asked, “Did I hear
someone needs to feed the chickens? Can my son and I join you?”
Oh, what an absolute joy it now became to feed the chickens! I
ran to get our large yellow flashlight. Excited, I led out, skipping over the
well-worn path to the chicken coop. With a flashlight swinging from my hand, we
crossed the corn patch and passed through the wheat field.
Reaching the small irrigation ditch that crossed the path, I
instinctively jumped over it as I had done many nights before. I was oblivious
to Elder Perry’s efforts to keep up on a dark, unknown path. My dancing light
did not help him see the ditch. Without a steady light to see, he stepped
directly in the water and let out a loud groan. Panicked, I turned to see my
new friend remove his soaking wet foot from the ditch and shaking the water
from his heavy leather shoe.
With a soaked and sloshing shoe, Elder Perry helped me feed the
chickens. When we were through, he lovingly instructed, “Bonnie, I need to
see the path. I need the light to shine where I am walking.”
I was shining my light but not in a way that would help Elder Perry.
Now, knowing that he needed my light to safely navigate the path, I
focused the flashlight just ahead of his steps and we were able to
return home with confidence."
"The Lord’s invitation to let
our light so shine is not just about randomly waving a beam of light
and making the world generally brighter. It is about focusing our light
so others may see the way to Christ. It is gathering Israel on this side of the veil—helping others see the next step forward in making and keeping
sacred covenants with God.2"
Matthew 5:14–16 New Testament
14 Ye are the
light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid.
15 Neither do men
light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth
light unto all that are in the house.
16 Let your
light so shine before men, that they may see your good works,
and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
When we follow Jesus
Christ's example we are holding up His light to light their path to
Him.
Sister Cordon said, "The Savior testified, “Behold I am
the light; I have set an example for you.”3 3 Nephi
18:16 Book of Mormon
Let’s look at one of Christ's examples.
Let’s look at one of Christ's examples.
"The woman at the well was a
Samaritan who did not know Jesus Christ and was viewed by many as an outcast in
her own society. Jesus: met her and initiated a
conversation. He spoke to her of water. He then led her to
increased light as He declared Himself to be the “living water.”4
Christ was compassionately aware
of her and her needs. He met the woman where she was and started
by talking about something familiar and common. If He had stopped
there, it would have been a positive encounter. But it would not have resulted
in her going to the city to proclaim, “Come, see … : is not
this the Christ?”5 Gradually, through the conversation, she
discovered Jesus Christ, and despite her past, she became an instrument
of light, shining the way for others to see.6"
I have seen this pattern in my
life and on my mission. As we prayerfully ASK the Lord to be HIS light,
that lights others paths to HIM we become as the women at the well, INSTRUMENTS
of LIGHT in HIS hands.
Pattern:
1. Have our conversations and interactions led us and
others to Christ
2. Find out their needs
3. Meet them where they are
4. Lead them to increased light/invite
There is no greater JOY than
seeing others COME to CHRIST and partake of his healing.
I invite each one of you
to:
Look and pray for
opportunities to let your light shine that others may see the way to Jesus
Christ.
1. ASK: Pray to
our Heavenly Father to guide you each day to someone you can share our Saviors
light with to light their path to Christ,
2. Have FAITH that
the Lord will guide you.
3. Write down your
thoughts and impressions
4. Act on
them
5. Share your experiences with someone else. (I
would love to hear them)
I testify that Jesus Christ is the LIGHT and LIFE of the
world and our greatest JOY comes from HIM and in bringing others to HIM.
Yours in Christ,
Elder Madsen
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