Yin and Yang

Free Agency. There's no question in my mind about why there was a war in heaven about this single principle. For my whole life, I'd always been grateful to have the freedom to choose my own path, but recently it's been the most frustrating thing of all. The mission is really a battlefield, a conflict between good and evil, and our job is to run out into the crossfire and save as many as we can. The problem is that as much as we desire to help some people, we can't make decisions for them. We can talk to them, testify to them, and do all we can to show them a better road, but they have to make the choice. They have to act, or they will never receive.

I say this because lately we've been losing many great people in this war. As much as we've implored people to read the Book of Mormon, to ask God the truthfulness of it's message, and to visit Church to truly feel the spirit of the Lord, few have even showed efforts to change. Sometimes, I just feel the urge to drag people to church just to feel how true it all is, but as much as people frustrate me, they must make their own decisions. In the end, if people think TV is more important than prayer, sleep than church, or visitors than scriptures, they won't receive a response from God. It's as simple as that.

But for everyone that chooses not to progress, or not to know, there is always one that does, and it is through them that the power of the Lord is truly manifest. As much as this week has been dark and disappointing, I've seen some of the greatest miracles of my life. In particular, one family I've probably mentioned many times before. Starting with the simple inspiration to knock at a door, (one a great distance away from our usual area) we found a mother, daughter and son. We taught them about the Restoration and invited them to church. Despite the father being against it they went to church. Then they went again, and again. Then, miraculously, due to the constant prayers of the mother, the father began to change, began to accompany them to church, and became the spiritual strength of the family. Soon afterward, this family lost everything. They lost their car, most of their appliances, and arrived at the point where they couldn't even stay here in Ivoti. But something happened. We visited them just this week, and invited them to pray, to decide whether to go home, where they had work, but the church was not, or to stay here and take a leap of faith. 

Brethren and sisters, we are truly saved by grace after all that we can do. Having nothing left, and no idea how they would survive, they decided to stay. The very next day, the father was promoted as a boss and the mother received work near the house. A cheap car was located as well, and now, the family is all set to stay and survive. Just as they had no reason to believe the Lord was with them, they trusted in him still, and the light shined through the dark.

There's probably a lot of messages I could pull from here, but the one I want to talk about is that there will always be light within the dark. For as much as people around you are choosing not to follow, there are those that will. As much as your world is crumbling around you, there is always help to be found. As much as your world may be filled with darkness, the Savior is only seconds away. Trust in the Lord, and he will guide you, comfort you, and light up your world. He will be your pillar by day and your fire by night. All they that come unto him shall not suffer, but have eternal life.

Never lose hope.

... Sorry if I sounded more cryptic than usual, my mind does that from time to time. Anyway, thanks to everyone who's done so much for me. 

It's always helpful.

High fives for everyone. 

Elder Angus