Timing

Life's good and busy as always. The toughest part is get the morale of the zone boosted. They're not finding a lot of people, and therefore not teaching much. That can get discouraging, so we're working to rekindle their fire a bit.

Our area is doing well. We started teaching a man named Ron this week. He's the principal of a high school in Dayton. He's also the president of Ohio's Lay Ministers' Association. He works with over 1000 ministers. So we concluded if we can convert him we'll convert ohio.

We started teaching a few other people this week including a kid that's Devin's age and a few others. Lots of fun.

Thanks for taking care of that card for me. No, i couldn't call in and cancel the card, so apparently Heavenly Father really really loves me.

One good thing this week was that I got to go on exchanges in Bellefontaine. I talked to Mike and Gina for a bit. Mike just got the Melchizedek Priesthood and they're preparing to go to the temple. Hopefully I'll be able to attend their sealing.

Ohio is treating me well so far this week. It's stayed pretty mild and hopefully it will stay that way.

My spiritual thoughts for the week concern the topic of "timing".

Elder Maxwell said, "The issue for us is trusting God enough to trust also His timing. If we can truly believe He has our welfare at heart, may we not let His plans unfold as He thinks best? The same is true with the second coming and with all those matters wherein our faith needs to include faith in the Lord’s timing for us personally, not just in His overall plans and purposes.”

Everything has a method, a purpose, and a time. (Eccl. 3:1–7) And as we learn for Nephi the Lord doesn't do anything except it be our good and benefit. (2 Ne. 26:24, Moses 1:39)

We must place our abiding trust in the hand of the Lord. His power is perfect, his knowledge is perfect, and his timing is perfect. His words will not fail. (D&C 64:31–32)

The first principle of the gospel is faith. Faith and trust are one in the same. Even the Savior has full confidence in the Father. He does not know the timing of the his second coming among the children of men, yet he is prepared knowing it will come to pass. The lord knows the timing of everything. (D&C 88:68)

There is one thing that we can control the timing of: the use of our agency in response to the trials we are blessed to endure. This is our time to overcome and apply the atonement of Jesus Christ. (Alma 34:32) "And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high..." (D&C 121:7-15, 25-29)

My last note comes from a phrase we all are familiar with "And it came to pass..." (1 Ne. 16: 1-2, 4-5, 7, 9-15, 18-28, 30-35, 39 Jacob 5: 4-7, 10, 14-17, 19-21, 23-24, 26, 28-31, 35, 38-39, 41, 48-49, 55, 70, 72, 75 Hel. 5: 1, 4, 13, 17-18, 20-21, 23, 26, 28-30, 32, 34, 36-37, 40, 42-43, 46, 50, 52 etc. etc. etc. haha.) I note this because it is a true prophecy, all things shall come to pass. We just have to exercise patience and faith.

I gotta run. Have a wonderful week.

Love,
Austin