Email January 26, 2015

Email January 26, 2015 – Elder Kenneth Wm. Burton

Bunch of Burtons

We've had a great week here in Randers. The Lord is continuing to hasten His work. The amount we've been teaching has tripled in the last few weeks, and we haven't even combined the areas yet. There are still two weeks left of the transfer.

Our lesson on Wednesday with Simon went great up in Langå. He doesn't believe in God, but he would like to find out if there is one. He had some great questions that we were able to answer for him, and in the process we recognized a way that we can improve our teaching. At times I feel like we are to ready with all the answers, and we give them two quickly. What we are wanting to change is to start using the scriptures more in answering questions. For example, "What is the atonement?" "Great question, lets look here in the Book of Mormon in Mosiah 3, where King Benjamin....." I feel that this would help those we teach to come to love the scriptures more and also to see that the answers are not just coming from us. It also teaches them to study from the scriptures to find answers rather than to just ask. In this way faith is a stronger action. 

We've been striving also to better teach to why behind obedience and learning. Very often as missionaries we ask others to read and study from the scriptures. But why? Is it just to read? Because its a good story, even if it is true? We read so that we can better understand, so that we can learn how we can use the gospel of Jesus Christ in our own lives. Which is faith, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end. We study so that we can change and become more like Jesus Christ. We have been applying this with Lona. She is stuck in a wheel chair and cant do much physically, but as she studies from the scriptures she can grow Christlike attributes. One of her favorites is Christs love. We invited Lona to focus on showing Christlike love for those she is in contact with, and to study from the scriptures that she might learn how to have that love. And she read! The last month she has been struggling more and more with smoking and her scripture reading became almost nonexistent. Isn't this why Christ said, "Thou shalt love the Lord they God with all thy heart, with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it. Thou shalt love they neighbor as thyself. Upon these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." When we focus on love or on being like Christ and having that love, all the other commandments are simpler to follow.

We've received snow this week! Quite a lot of it. Makes quite the adventure every time we get on our bikes. Although because of all the extra snow I've discovered a hole in the bottom of my shoe. I hadn't realized it had been wearing so thin. Interesting how we don't recognize our weaknesses until they are effecting us. I had been mentioning recently how much I love those shoes, very comfortable and waterproof. Pride is blinding. Now I'm down to one pair, a pair that I've stopped wearing because the way I've been walking wore the back heel at an angle so it feels weird to walk. I'm going to check out a few shops today see if I can find anything on sale.

"I am like a man on a sea voyage nearing his destination. When I embarked I worried about having a cabin with a porthole, and whether I should be asked to sit at the captains table, who are the most attractive and important passengers. All such considerations become pointless because now I shall soon be disembarking. -Malcolm Muggeridge

Isn't it interesting how whats important to us changes according to our perspective? What are the things that our important to us now? How are we spending our time and efforts? Have you asked yourself, "When all is removed and there you stand alone, who will you be?" and are you interests going to help you reach that potential?

"There are two ways of evolving: deliberately and accidentally. But, whatever you become accidentally it will not be nearly the full measure of your potential." (Lawrence E. Corbridge)

"Effective faith does require mental exertion." (Franklin D. Richards)

 I am thankful to the Lord that we can evolve and grow deliberately through our agency.

I wish everyone a great week!

Meget Kærlighed!

Ældste Burton