Prayer and Preparation

When you are in the right mindset and you're doing what you're supposed to be doing, Heavenly Father has a funny way to reward you: He makes you cry;) 

Tonight I had the most heartwarming experience. I'm going to admit that I've been a slight procrastinator in terms of preparing for my mission spiritually. I have all of my clothes and most of my stuff to pack. My talk is almost done. And I've done what I can in learning Spanish, which isn't much. But I haven't taken the time to seriously read my scriptures or Preach My Gospel. I've even noticed that my prayers have become overly repetitive. I only have a week before I report! I should have studied this stuff months ago! I have a little, but not to the extent that will help me prepare spiritually.

Tonight I had nothing going on for me. So I thought I should go somewhere quiet and start preparing. Even though I had NO IDEA what I was saying, I read four chapters of my Spanish Book of Mormon. It was amazing though because even though I didn't know what the words meant, I knew what they were saying. It might be because I've read the story of Nephi and Laban a thousand times, but it was different.

I also took the time to start the District episodes... I know. I should have done that a long time ago. I just haven't thought about it until now. I thought they were going to be documentaries of missionaries giving advice, which it is, but it's so much more. It's amazing how much power and spirit can come from a video of people talking about baptism and the Book of Mormon. As these videos continued to go through the everyday lives of missionary companions and those they are teaching, I just had this overwhelming feeling that gave me excitement and that jolt to push me further in my study. This was wonderful for me to come to realize. But as I knelt down to pray, everything spilled. I thanked Heavenly Father everything I could think of, and it didn't even feel like I was in control of my own words. But they were words that needed to be said, things to be thanked about and things needed to be asked. And i cried in happiness. I haven't had an experience like this in a long time, let alone during a prayer. But it was a wake up call.

Missionaries, our anyone for that matter, who might be reading this: Do not procrastinate on your study. Let go of your worries of the world and focus on the blessings of the spirit. Read the Book of Mormon and if you've read it, read it again. Allow others the chance to read it by inviting them to. Serve others. Love one another and be like Christ. He and Heavenly Father are waiting for us to fully accept this gospel and what better way to do that is to be surrounded by things that bring their spirit. Prepare yourselves and be happy. That is the biggest piece of advice I can give you. It will be wonderful in the long run.

Building Our Arks: Moses 8:20-24

In this time, we are in need of preparation. The floods are coming and once it starts raining, it will be too late.

In the story of Noah, the prophet called the people to repent, and as in modern times, those who were not willing were offended and refused. They believed that if life was good, then they were fine. Even in their wickedness, they were sons and daughters of God (v. 21). Because the world was so corrupt, the Lord promised to save Noah and his family if they built and ark and saved two of every animal, one of each gender. After enduring 40 days and 40 nights in the ark, Noah's family was saved while the world was cleansed.

There will come a time when the world will be cleansed again, during the Second Coming, when Jesus Christ comes again, and we need to build our arks. For years we have been given the counsel to build up food storage and update 72hour kits. This will prepare us when we don't have the items we need to survive. Recently there have been a lot of talks on receiving revelation and how to do that. Becoming close to Heavenly Father through constant prayer and reading the scriptures will help us receive inspiration to receive revelation. We can also prepare ourselves by going to seminary and institute. As times become worse, these classes become more in depth. The young people who go to these classes are learning from the history of the Bible and the Book of Mormon and in other subjects and they're being prepared for when times get tough. They are building their arks for a time when they need it. They are becoming stronger in standing as a witness of God in a world that needs it most. We all need to build up our arks this way for when the time out Savior comes, in that way we wil be strong and be with him again.