Pretty basic week. We taught a few people, normal, nothing too exciting. Edwin is still progressing. He had some doubts about tithing so we cleared those up with him the other day. The members helped out a lot with that so now he understands.
Other than that I can’t really think of anything too exciting...
One cool thing was at the Whalley’s this week. John told us his conversion story. His life was pretty crazy too. When he was younger he was the bass player in a rock band. Then he was a doctor in the army, he has really crazy stories from that! Then later on he ran his own little business in Manchester. Anyways he told us about the moment when he really truly began to understand what the gospel was all about. It was at a fireside on the island Cyprus in the Mediterranean Sea. He had been baptized a few years back but had fallen into old habits and become less active. Upon hearing from a friend about the fireside that was going to take place he decided to go. The man who spoked related 1 Corinthians 13. We all know that one (Charity). The man asked the audience to replace the word charity with their names. I will write in how John explained it to us, using his name.
1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
4 “John” suffereth long, and is kind; “John” envieth not; “John” vaunteth not himself, is not puffed up,
5 “John” Doth not behave himself unseemly, seeketh not his own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
6 “John” Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
7 “John” Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
8 “John” never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
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As he began to read through each of these verses with his name he begun to realize that a lot of them were not currently true statements about himself.
As the speaker continued he this time replaced the word charity with Christ’s name.
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1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not “Jesus”, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not ‘“Jesus”, I am nothing.
3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not “Jesus”, it profiteth me nothing.
4 “Jesus” suffereth long, and is kind; “Jesus” envieth not; “Jesus” vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
5 “Jesus” Doth not behave himself unseemly, seeketh not his own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
6 “Jesus” Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
7 “Jesus” Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
8 “Jesus” never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
13 And now abideth faith, hope, “Jesus”, these three; but the greatest of these is “Jesus”.
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Listening to this helped John to realize the importance of Christ’s example. This helped him to understand the true meaning of the gospel and see that changes needed to be made in his life to become more like him.
As John read this chapter to us I realized that I had read the same chapter that very morning during my studies. I had not gotten nearly as much out of it though. The difference was he likened the scripture to himself. It reminded me of an important lesson taught long ago by Nephi. He taught that we must liken all scripture to ourselves “that it might be for our profit and learning.”
Sometimes we take the scriptures for granted. Maybe because we think they don’t apply as much to us having been written so long ago. Fortunately that assumption is not true. The scriptures were written for our day. The prophets who wrote them knew that they would be of great value to us. They testify of Christ and teach us the key principles and doctrines to find peace and comfort among all of the stresses and difficulties we face in the modern world.
I’d like to invite you all to look over this chapter and likewise apply it to your own life. It will help you to see the changes needed for you to become more like the Savior and thereby receive the comfort and strength he promises us.
- Élder Alex M. Childers
