Salvation is Not a Cheap Experience

This was a great week. As I told you on Monday, I did a one week long exchange with Elder Hart in his sector. It was really awesome, I had a great time, and learned a lot from him.

On Tuesday, we got to see Elder Holland. We were about 1000 missionaries. It was a historic meeting, all four Santiago missions got together for a conference. Elder Holland was very excited to be in Chile again. He said that he loves it here. 

They shared some excellent talks. Something I liked was that he said that a lot of times we talk about going home from the mission as returning to "real life," or going back to "the real world." But he said that it shouldn't be that way. One of the most powerful things he said, as he passionately hit the pulpit with his fist, was "This is real life!" 

He advised us not to waste time asking why the mission is so hard. Because "salvation is not a cheap experience." It shouldn't be easy for anyone, and it certainly never was easy for Christ, His Apostles, or the prophets. But it is so worth it to do everything you can to try and help someone find their way back to God. Sacrifice is fundamental in the salvation of a soul. Christ always asks us to take up our cross... I don't think He meant it would be easy. 

He also quoted Elder Perry in saying that this time period is equally important historically as the First Vision, the translation and publication of the Book of Mormon, and the restoration of the priesthood. We are making history as we share the gospel like never before.

If we want to be successful, he said, we have to kick when we don't want to kick, and stroke when we don't want to stroke. (Reference to swimming.) When we think we can't do anything else, or we don't have any energy left, we have to give it all. That is the moment when we have to decide just how committed we are, if we really want to finish. Because they give out the prizes at the end of the race, not in the middle, and it's always easy to start a race.

Anyway, it was really great, and it has helped me out a lot. I hope you're all doing well. 

The Book of Mormon is true.

Elder Garrett 

Last night president called at midnight and said that I would be going on an exchange for a week  in Los Andes... with Elder Dallin Hart... it was a little unexpected but pretty sweet right?

We had Bernardo's baptism this week. It was awesome. He was so ready. He married a member four months ago, and was baptized this week. It was really great. 

We also had another baptism in the ward yesterday. She said that a couple of weeks ago she had considered suicide, because she had suffered a lot of really terrible things. A couple of days later, the missionaries showed up in her door like angels to her. She immediately accepted their visits because she'd always felt a desire to enter the chapel, but it had always been closed when she passed. About three weeks later, she was baptized. She bore a powerful testimony. She said that the gospel filled the emptiness inside, and she's never before felt so loved.

The church is true folks.

Elder Garrett (CHILE)

P.S. Tomorrow we leave Los Andes at 5:30 AM to listen to Elder Holland in Santiago.... so sweet.

This weekend we had Stake Conference here in the Los Andes Stake. We are lucky that our chapel is the Stake Center.... many others had to travel 30-45 minutes in a bus. The great part about it is that I got to see many people I knew in Centenario.

 

One of them was a recent convert that told me that she decided to take my advice and set the temple as her goal, and is now preparing herself to go to the temple this month. I was so happy to hear that news! I hope that her husband will soon follow her example and be baptized. 

 

Another member called me by name and thanked me for everything I did for her family. She said she hadn't wanted to go to conference, due to the distance, but remembered that if she does her part, God will do His part. She was surprised to see me there, and she recalled a scripture that I had shared with her over eight months ago and told me that she still remembers it and it gives her the strength to keep fighting everyday. 2 Kings 6:15-17. "Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them."

It's good to find out every once in a while that you were really able to be an instrument in God's hands to help someone in their time of need.

 

Alma 29

 

9 I know that which the Lord hath commanded me, and I glory in it. I do not glory of myself, but I glory in that which the Lord hath commanded me; yea, and this is my glory, that perhaps I may be an instrument in the hands of God to bring some soul to repentance; and this is my joy.

10 And behold, when I see many of my brethren truly penitent, and coming to the Lord their God, then is my soul filled with joy; then do I remember what the Lord has done for me, yea, even that he hath heard my prayer; yea, then do I remember his merciful arm which he extended towards me.

 

Elder Garrett

This week we had a good experience with Daniela and Cesar. They went to mutual with their grandma this week and it was the first time they'd entered the chapel. They said they felt at home there. They met the Bishop and made several friends. They were very excited and have watched several church films and have been reading the Book of Mormon. On Saturday Daniela said that she believes it to be true. She still doesn't know with certainty, but she feels like it's true. They also came to church on Sunday.

We had changes this week. I am still in Almendral, but now I'm with Elder de Castro and Elder Román... my first chilean companion! He's really cool and we are having lots of fun and working hard. 

My trainer, Elder Kelson went home this week, as well as one of my other companions, Elder Cuadros. It's kind of weird that I've already had several companions go home... and to think that I've only got 8 months left....

In a couple of weeks we will get to listen to Elder Holland. John said that he will also be speaking to them that week. So that should be awesome. 

Anyway that's about it. 

Elder Garrett (Chile)  

We had some great blessings this week, and we were able to find a lot of really great people to teach. We are teaching two children who are really incredible. Their mom and grandma are both members that participated actively before.

The grandma said that whenever she sees us, she feels peace in her heart. She had lost her scriptures many years ago, and when we pulled out the Book of Mormon she said it was like seeing an old friend, and she felt something when she held it again in her hands. They are very excited to learn, read, pray, and go to church.

We were teaching them about the Book of Mormon and how to receive and recognize an answer from God with respect to the book. We had one Peruvian, one Brasilian, one Chilean, and one Gringo who could all testify that they'd received an answer. And if we could receive answers, anyone can. It is true that anyone who asks sincerely and demonstrates their faith by their works will receive an answer.  

This week there was a stake activity right after a baptism and our building is the stake center. I ran into Fabiana, from Centenario. It is a great feeling when you can talk to someone you taught seven or eight months ago and see that they are stronger than ever in the gospel. I am so happy for her and her family. 

That's it for this week.

Elder Garrett (Chile)

This week we had a great blessing to be able to participate in the baptism of Victor. He is a great young man and we have seen great changes in his life as he has learned and lived the gospel of Jesus Christ. I am so happy for him. And I know that as we live the gospel, the Lord blesses us. Our lives are happier because we are blessed with a happiness that will last forever.

 

 

We were able to find many great people this week to teach, and a couple of people who we'd taught before but we'd lost contact with them. 

I know that God answers our prayers and He is always there to help us, even when we're not sure of it. He's often just waiting for us to ask help. We have a bright future ahead of us because of our faith.

Elder Garrett

Conference

This week I have noticed that when the Spirit touches someone's heart, they start to change. I don't know if it's becuase the Spirit changes our heart, or because we change because we want to continue feeling it... but it happens. We have seen great progress this week in investigators as they excercised their faith, as they read the scriptures, prayed, and went to church. One investigator went to four of the five sessions. Even though he didn't understand everything, he kept coming, because he has a desire to know more.

This week I feel like I have come to know my Savior better. I started the week with that desire and a lot of prayer... and during the week and the weekend I felt like I got closer to Him and came to know Him better.

I know that He lives. I understand better what He did personally for me, even though I'll never fully understand it. I have felt His influence in my life, and in the lives of many. I know that He suffered for us to lighten our burdens... He is constantly lightening my burdens. I know that He was resurrected the third day, and I look forward to the day that we are all resurrected. That will be a glorious day. I know that if we follow his teachings and endure to the end, we will be able to enjoy a happiness forever that for now we don't understand. We will see each other again after death. 

Elder Garrett