Week #4 en el CCM: Obedience

THIS WEEK WAS ONE TO REMEMBER! We had the opportunity to visit the temple today for a couple hours and even though it was closed for something, IT WAS AMAZING! The spirit was so strong throughout the whole visit (which is my topic and highlight of the week). Two sister missionaries gave us a tour of the visitors center in temple grounds and my oh my it wonderful. We watched a short clip about the saviors atonement and how he changed everything and anywhere he went. I am pretty sure its on LDS.org or somewhere. But it struck my heart so hard. I thought of what he did for all of us and especially after this week, I realized that the atonement is not only for when we make terrible sins or mistakes. This week Elder Neilson and I had a couple disagreements with lessons, or frustration because of our lack of communication between eachother. I was struggling so hard until Sunday when I realized that i needed the atonement in my life at that moment to help me change the way I interact with my companion.

For starters, sunday was fast sunday and it was the first sunday where I really realized what it means to fast. (it breaks my heart to say that and I regret every fast sunday I could have done something more) There were a couple people in our district and our presidents wife who needed the blessings and thoughts. I decided that I would fast for them throughout the whole day and decided to change the way I looked at each day and change my actions.

I know the Lord has been wanting me to change some things before i have to go out into the field to help others. Each lesson and devotional last sunday were FILLED with personal revelations and thoughts that i had through the Holy Ghost. Each speaker mentioned multiple times answers to questions I had been asking the whole week. With our district, we had been struggling to find the balance between fun and spiritual. I was getting frustrated and down because all I wanted to feel was the Holy Ghost. I wanted his constant companionship throughout each day and really was not finding it. But Lessons were taught on Obedience and what that meant. I realized yet again that I had some repenting to do and some changing to do. I talked with my companion and figured out what was going on and we worked it out together and came up with a better way of doing things. Ever since then our lessons have been stronger and the Holy Ghost has been the Senior companion throughout the day guiding us and building us. (the way it should be for ALL companionships)

The Holy Ghost has been something that I strive for and something that when I have i realize what i need to do and where i need to go. He has guided us in our lessons, our thoughts, our actions, and how we live. President Machado shared a quote with us which i have been constantly thinking about. He said "You want to have the spirit with you? How do you do it?" he continued with the lesson and ended with this sentence which really made everyone in the room ponder. "The way to have the spirit with you is simple... Obedience."

I thought for a moment and after some time I realized just how important and true that was. The only way the spirit would not be able to be our companions is if we break one rule. If we make a joke that leads our thoughts away from our purpose of if we do somthing that is not allowed. This is something that I am learning to do more and more. Though honestly i think i do a pretty good job at it, but i look back on every day and see multiple parts of my day i could have done better.

The Holy Ghost is the way that we recieve personal revelation and the way we are guided in this life. Without the Holy Ghost, missionaries are nothing. In one of our devotionals, the speaker said this, "What is a missionary without the Holy Ghost?... Nothing. He/she can not teach investigators without the spirit. Because we are not the people that teach. The spirit is. If you do not invite the spirit into the lesson, the investigator will not feel the truth and power of your message and will not want you to return."

Those devotionals were super important as I continued throughout the week working harder and harder on having the Holy Ghost in my studies, lessons, and throughout my day. I want to feel it forever because i know the importance of it.

Im greatful to be a part of the Lords work in touching every one of his beloved children. And i can not wait to better myself as I move forward. This next week will be a test for me as I apply what I learn daily.

Much love from Mexico City,

Elder Stonely