PUT ONE FOOT IN FRONT OF THE OTHER

DATED:  Augut 18, 2014

This was a pretty good week. We did lots of tracting and tried to talk to a lot of people. We had Zone Conference up in Pembroke. We had to drive up there to get our car inspected, and it was a long drive. Like 161 miles round trip. We only have 1150 miles a month so that put a hurt on us. But it was great. Pres. Salisbury had a great meeting. It was fun. Usually in a zone conference they have a missionary bear their testimony as part of the opening exercise part, but instead of doing that, President did something new. He called on 2 or 3 people randomly, and had them come up and do a 2-3 minute talk. Now what they had to do was bring a hymn book and scriptures, and they had to open randomly to a page in the hymn book and share a thought about anything they find on either the left or right page. This is going to keep us on our toes but it is cool because you can see how the spirit will give you what you need to say in the time you need it.

In Zone conference we talked about accomplishing something. He gave a simple example, he marched in place for 10 steps. Then he marched 10 steps away. The difference, one you just moved and did nothing, the other one you got somewhere. It's easy to look active, to look busy, to look like you are doing something, when in reality you are just marching in place. But to actually accomplish you have to "put one foot in front of the other and soon you'll be walking out the door." This also applies to our conversion and it applies to another thing I learned this week, that is - This is an active gospel. I have realized and found that there is nothing passive about this church. If we want the blessings that God promises us, then we need to be actively living this gospel. We can’t passively come to church, or passively read our scriptures, or passively pray, or passively develop Christlike attributes. We need to actively do these things. Do them for the right reasons. We need to have real intent. I think this scripture puts it well.

 2 Ne 31:13 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, I know that if ye shall follow the Son, with full purpose of heart, acting no hypocrisy and no deception before God, but with real intent, repenting of your sins, witnessing unto the Father that ye are willing to take upon you the name of Christ, by baptism—yea, by following your Lord and your Savior down into the water, according to his word, behold, then shall ye receive the Holy Ghost; yea, then cometh the baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost; and then can ye speak with the tongue of angels, and shout praises unto the Holy One of Israel.

Lets do things for the right reasons and really be converted to this gospel. It's worth it. Don't just go through the motions. Take steps forward.

The next thing I came to understand a little better this week was the Atonement. I realized that every time we sin, and break a law or commandment from God, there needs to be a punishment. Someone has to be punished for our sins. It will either be us or Christ. If we choose to take it ourselves the consequence will be we can't dwell with Heavenly Father again. Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ want us to be happy and have eternal life, that is why Jesus Christ was willing to take the punishment for us. He was and is willing to step in our place and take it.

I heard a story about how in olden days, if royalty did anything bad, the people that were in charge of carrying out the justice of the law wouldn't inflict the punishment on the royal people, they would instead get one of their best friends and make them take the punishment instead of the royalty. That would be hard to watch and know. To see someone else suffer for your mistake. I know it would make me second guess making any mistakes again. Now, this is how the Atonement is. Christ is our best friend. We love him and he loves us, and he is standing in our place to take the punishment for our mistake. He was perfect, he was innocent, he was pure, Sometimes we are too casual about repentance and about keeping the commandments. Do we realize that when we break a commandment, the sin will have to be paid for? Do we think and realize that we are hurting our best friend? When we ask our Father in Heaven for forgiveness, do we realize that His beloved and Only Begotten Son paid the price and is the one making it so our plea can be granted? I feel so much gratitude for Jesus Christ. I realize the importance of keeping the commandments, and of being grateful for the Atonement. Christ was willing to do it for us because he loves us. When we feel Godly sorrow, we truly repent, not because of fear of the world or fear for the consequences, but because we know we have hurt our Father in Heaven, and His son Jesus Christ. Let us be ever more grateful for the Atonement, and never take it lightly. I know that we are loved by our Father in Heaven and by our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ. I hope that this all came across how I wanted it too. I just hope that this helps anyone who reads it have a different perspective on what Christ has done for us.

I love you all! Keep up the Faith!

Love,

Elder Josh Spencer

Chicken and biscuits!  YUM!  This is what Buck's
wife made for me before I left.

This was a couple weeks ago, but this
is all my stuff.

Elder Stout and I.

Elder Anderson and I.  Elder Rasmussen
is photo bombing.