Wednesday P-Days Are Better, By The Way (6/13)

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Dear friends,

Our goal of baptizing by the end of the month is actually looking like it could happen. We met a former investigator named Michael who still remembers most of the lessons and is willing to be baptized--he just has to give up smoking, which we are helping him do. We also got a referral of a man who has been taught pretty much everything and has been to church 7 times, including this past Sunday. Sounds like he's ready to be baptized! We are meeting with him for the first time in a couple days and we plan to find out why the heck he didn't already have a baptismal date from whoever taught him before. But with those two guys, our goal is looking good! Thanks for the prayers!

I finished the Book of Mormon yesterday. I had forgotten how powerful the last two chapters, especially, are. In Moroni 9, Mormon tells us about the horror of what societies become and what happens to them if they become godless. Humans "somehow" (because of Satan) will inevitably and unfailingly fall, slip, or leap deep down into the well of depravity if they reject God. No secular philosophies, doctrines, or creeds will save us. Only Christ.

From President Ezra Taft Benson:

"Only the gospel will save the world from the calamity of its own self-destruction. Only the gospel will unite men of all races and nationalities in peace. Only the gospel will bring joy, happiness, and salvation to the human family."

Then comes Moroni chapter 10 which finishes off with a discourse on the Holy Ghost, gifts of the Spirit, the truth of these words, how faith, hope, and charity are the essential Christlike attributes, a call to awaken, and a testimony of the Atonement.

31 And awake, and arise from the dust, O Jerusalem; yea, and put on thy beautiful garments, O daughter of Zion; and strengthen thy stakes and enlarge thy borders forever, that thou mayest no more be confounded, that the covenants of the Eternal Father which he hath made unto thee, O house of Israel, may be fulfilled.

Before finishing the book (for what I believe was my third time), I read Ether 12. This was the first time I ever really studied it. Now it has become tied with 2 Nephi 4 as my favorite chapter in the Book of Mormon. It's about hope, faith, and weakness. I recommend you all give it a serious study like I did and perhaps learn more deeply what God can and will do for us if we will have faith in Him.

Verses 13-22 are especially awesome coming at nearly the end of the Book of Mormon, a sort of epic clipshow of the highlights of the rest of the Book of Mormon.

There's this classic verse:

27 And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.

But a full understanding of this verse won't come until you understand what grace really means. I always thought grace meant "being saved", but that's not really what it means. Let's go to the Bible Dictionary...

"The main idea of the word is divine means of help or strength, given through the bounteous mercy and love of Jesus Christ...
"It is likewise through the grace of the Lord that individuals, through faith in the Atonement of Jesus Christ and repentance of their sins, receive strength and assistance to do good works that they otherwise would not be able to maintain if left to their own means. This grace is an enabling power that allows men and women to lay hold on eternal life and exaltation after they have expended their own best efforts."

So it doesn't matter if our best isn't enough. Through Christ and His grace, we can do whatever it is we need to do. He will strengthen us as we come unto Him. And he not only makes up the difference when we have expended our efforts, but He is the difference. He's with us from the beginning when we humble ourselves before Him.

Ultimately, this chapter tells us, it does not matter who is the most talented. He who do not have faith, hope, and charity will not inherit the Kingdom of Heaven, and their talent shall be taken away.

So fear not what the enemy can say or do. God is on your side. Make sure you're on His.

Because when you are with Christ, Satan has no power. Weakness doesn't mean a thing.

Love,
Elder Gallagher

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