It has been a very busy and eventful week this last week. The weekend of the fifth and sixth was General Conference and then our Stake Conference was the following weekend (ending yesterday). Going back to the fifth, not only was that General Conference but we had a baptism in our Ward (Nia) in between Conference sessions. As if that wasn't awesome enough, the Mission President (Pres. Craven) even used her example during the adult session of Stake Conference on the twelfth. So, needless to say, my heart is full of the Spirit from this past week!
As for the messages during Conference, I would go into detail on the different things I learned, but there would be a lot to write and I don't have my binder with me that I wrote my notes in. So, to sum it up, I received a lot of council and answers to prayers regarding my calling as Ward Mission Leader. There were SOOO many talks that focused on missionary work during General Conference! As for Stake Conference...well, President Poole (the stake president) summed it up by informing us all of a letter he received from the Prophet to make the topic of Stake Conference on "Hastening the Work of Salvation."
During both Conferences, it seemed as if the common theme was a sense of urgency...hence "Hastening the Work of Salvation." There was urgency in doing Missionary work and finding those who need to be saved. There was also urgency in saving those who had once found the path but have strayed away. This may sound silly and perhaps a little superstitious, but I personally have had some weird dreams lately. The fact that I have been dreaming at all is odd but the feelings that I received during the dreams brought with them that same sense of urgency. (Sense a pattern??)
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Allow me to step away from Conference for a moment and share with you another thing I have been doing lately...reading! Bright and early the morning of the Fifth, Sarah, Grandpa Wallis, and I packed up the little ones and we hit up some community garage sales in our neighborhood. The one thing I got that I was really excited about was the entire Chronicles of Narnia (in one book) for only one dollar! Pretty awesome hunh?
A while ago, back before the third movie came out, I had read all of the books up to about half way through the Voyage of the Dawn Treader. So I decided to start back in at about where I left off and read the remaining books, which include the rest of The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, The Silver Chair, and The Last Battle. I pumped through them in about 3 days! The reason why I bring this up is to talk about The Last Battle.
**WARNING - SPOILERS COMING**
For anyone who hasn't read the books, understand that the basic premise is that there is a wonderful fantasy land called Narnia. Children from England in our world are pulled into Narnia so as to take on important adventures as directed by the lord of the realm who is the great lion Aslan. It is no secret that the author C.S. Lewis compares Aslan to Jesus Christ with many other elements in the books being related to Christian principles.
As you read about these children learning about and loving this land, you can't help but fall in love with Narnia and want to explore it yourself. Well, as the name might suggest, The Last Battle is about the end of the world of Narnia (similar to the book of Revelation in the New Testament of the Bible). Even though I knew when I started this last book that the world was going to end in this book, I couldn't help but think and hope that it would be at the very very end and I would be able to enjoy another whole books-worth of Narnian adventure.
This is where the cool personal revelation stuff comes into play. As you might know or could easily guess, the destruction of Narnia actually comes a lot sooner than that (about 3/4 the way through the book). I was at a point where it was obvious that the destruction was going to happen right then and there and I didn't see it until Aslan came forth and actually commanded the world to be destroyed. I was completely blindsided, even in the midst of it all!
---
Coming back to Conference, as I was reflecting on the messages of Conference as pertaining to "Hastening the Work of Salvation," I thought back to my surprise when reading The Last Battle and couldn't help but think that it was quite the "coincidence" that I would have that experience during this time of warning to prepare against the time of Christ's second coming! As we read in Luke's account of the Gospel:
As for the messages during Conference, I would go into detail on the different things I learned, but there would be a lot to write and I don't have my binder with me that I wrote my notes in. So, to sum it up, I received a lot of council and answers to prayers regarding my calling as Ward Mission Leader. There were SOOO many talks that focused on missionary work during General Conference! As for Stake Conference...well, President Poole (the stake president) summed it up by informing us all of a letter he received from the Prophet to make the topic of Stake Conference on "Hastening the Work of Salvation."
During both Conferences, it seemed as if the common theme was a sense of urgency...hence "Hastening the Work of Salvation." There was urgency in doing Missionary work and finding those who need to be saved. There was also urgency in saving those who had once found the path but have strayed away. This may sound silly and perhaps a little superstitious, but I personally have had some weird dreams lately. The fact that I have been dreaming at all is odd but the feelings that I received during the dreams brought with them that same sense of urgency. (Sense a pattern??)
---
Allow me to step away from Conference for a moment and share with you another thing I have been doing lately...reading! Bright and early the morning of the Fifth, Sarah, Grandpa Wallis, and I packed up the little ones and we hit up some community garage sales in our neighborhood. The one thing I got that I was really excited about was the entire Chronicles of Narnia (in one book) for only one dollar! Pretty awesome hunh?
A while ago, back before the third movie came out, I had read all of the books up to about half way through the Voyage of the Dawn Treader. So I decided to start back in at about where I left off and read the remaining books, which include the rest of The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, The Silver Chair, and The Last Battle. I pumped through them in about 3 days! The reason why I bring this up is to talk about The Last Battle.
**WARNING - SPOILERS COMING**
For anyone who hasn't read the books, understand that the basic premise is that there is a wonderful fantasy land called Narnia. Children from England in our world are pulled into Narnia so as to take on important adventures as directed by the lord of the realm who is the great lion Aslan. It is no secret that the author C.S. Lewis compares Aslan to Jesus Christ with many other elements in the books being related to Christian principles.
As you read about these children learning about and loving this land, you can't help but fall in love with Narnia and want to explore it yourself. Well, as the name might suggest, The Last Battle is about the end of the world of Narnia (similar to the book of Revelation in the New Testament of the Bible). Even though I knew when I started this last book that the world was going to end in this book, I couldn't help but think and hope that it would be at the very very end and I would be able to enjoy another whole books-worth of Narnian adventure.
This is where the cool personal revelation stuff comes into play. As you might know or could easily guess, the destruction of Narnia actually comes a lot sooner than that (about 3/4 the way through the book). I was at a point where it was obvious that the destruction was going to happen right then and there and I didn't see it until Aslan came forth and actually commanded the world to be destroyed. I was completely blindsided, even in the midst of it all!
---
Coming back to Conference, as I was reflecting on the messages of Conference as pertaining to "Hastening the Work of Salvation," I thought back to my surprise when reading The Last Battle and couldn't help but think that it was quite the "coincidence" that I would have that experience during this time of warning to prepare against the time of Christ's second coming! As we read in Luke's account of the Gospel:
"39 And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through.
40 Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not." (Luke 12:39-40)
When reading this scripture in the past, I had always thought that of course I would be ready if/when the time came, and yet this is exactly what happened to me when I read The Last Battle. That is when it occurred to me that even though I have read the scriptures and seen the signs, I will still be caught off guard when the second coming arrives if I am not diligently and consistently working to bring forth the Lord's work of Salvation. So it will be too for the rest of the world if we don't unite together as a people in preparing for the second coming of the Lord.
By no means do I pretend to know when the Lord's second coming is or that it is coming tomorrow, this month or this year. But I DO know that it will be soon. We are in the final days...the last book if you will. The time is soon and the Prophet and Apostles are warning us to make ready ourselves. Now is the time to get our house in order if it is not already. Now is the time to reach out to those who are not already on the path and to extend the arm of salvation.
One last thought. During Stake Conference, a brother shared his experience of straying off the path and into "the pit" of darkness. He spoke of his struggles and how he finally made his way back. President Poole then spoke of this brother's experience and stated that there is not a single person in that room that would not reach out to that brother (now that we know him) and pull him out of the pit. And yet there are many out there who we don't know that are currently in the pit needing to be pulled out. It is our responsibility to find them, get to know them, and to pull them out.
Similarly President Poole shared an example of his father "giving advice" to a farmer and his family. He was driving by the farm late at night and saw the roof on fire. He stopped at the farm, knocked on the door and window until the farmer answered. He then told the farmer, "Your roof is on fire. I suggest you get out." President Poole then said that there isn't a single person in that room who wouldn't have done the same thing but would have instead thought, 'I'm too busy,' 'I'm sure they'll be okay,' or 'I don't want to bother them and risk offending them.' Yet people are facing spiritual death every day and we come up with the same excuses.
My heart and soul are filled with a sense of urgency and love for family, friends and all others who are still my brothers and sisters. I want so much to help them find the way to their Savior through His Gospel. I know this post may seem like it belongs on my "Inspirations" page since it is Gospel related while my "Trip Log" is more for general life experiences, but the truth is that this is my life!
If you are not a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, then I strongly encourage you to go to Mormon.org. Learn of the Church, request a visit from full time Missionaries, and come worship with us at your local meeting house.
If you are a member but are not active in the Church, I invite you to come back. I promise you that, even though I may not know you personally, you are loved and missed! Do not let Satan trick you with his lies by thinking that you cannot come back to Church and to Christ. You can ALWAYS come back!
Finally, if you are an active member of the Church, I implore you to share this message of urgency and love with all you can. You are on Earth during a great and important time. It is not a mistake that you were brought here now. Please, please, please, find those who are lost and bring them back into the Savior's loving arms! That I might do this very thing every day is my hope and prayer! Amen.
By no means do I pretend to know when the Lord's second coming is or that it is coming tomorrow, this month or this year. But I DO know that it will be soon. We are in the final days...the last book if you will. The time is soon and the Prophet and Apostles are warning us to make ready ourselves. Now is the time to get our house in order if it is not already. Now is the time to reach out to those who are not already on the path and to extend the arm of salvation.
One last thought. During Stake Conference, a brother shared his experience of straying off the path and into "the pit" of darkness. He spoke of his struggles and how he finally made his way back. President Poole then spoke of this brother's experience and stated that there is not a single person in that room that would not reach out to that brother (now that we know him) and pull him out of the pit. And yet there are many out there who we don't know that are currently in the pit needing to be pulled out. It is our responsibility to find them, get to know them, and to pull them out.
Similarly President Poole shared an example of his father "giving advice" to a farmer and his family. He was driving by the farm late at night and saw the roof on fire. He stopped at the farm, knocked on the door and window until the farmer answered. He then told the farmer, "Your roof is on fire. I suggest you get out." President Poole then said that there isn't a single person in that room who wouldn't have done the same thing but would have instead thought, 'I'm too busy,' 'I'm sure they'll be okay,' or 'I don't want to bother them and risk offending them.' Yet people are facing spiritual death every day and we come up with the same excuses.
My heart and soul are filled with a sense of urgency and love for family, friends and all others who are still my brothers and sisters. I want so much to help them find the way to their Savior through His Gospel. I know this post may seem like it belongs on my "Inspirations" page since it is Gospel related while my "Trip Log" is more for general life experiences, but the truth is that this is my life!
If you are not a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, then I strongly encourage you to go to Mormon.org. Learn of the Church, request a visit from full time Missionaries, and come worship with us at your local meeting house.
If you are a member but are not active in the Church, I invite you to come back. I promise you that, even though I may not know you personally, you are loved and missed! Do not let Satan trick you with his lies by thinking that you cannot come back to Church and to Christ. You can ALWAYS come back!
Finally, if you are an active member of the Church, I implore you to share this message of urgency and love with all you can. You are on Earth during a great and important time. It is not a mistake that you were brought here now. Please, please, please, find those who are lost and bring them back into the Savior's loving arms! That I might do this very thing every day is my hope and prayer! Amen.