Pressing forward...

Elder Lish and I have been getting better at following the spirit and being able to bring the spirit into the conversations and lessons we have with people.  This last week we had a lot of success as far as lessons and stuff, and there were lots of people who definitely felt the spirit. We were able to invite like four or five people to be baptized who gave a soft yes, because they definitely felt something. They pretty much all bailed on saturday night when we called to confirm church the next day though. Jim also needs some extra prayers right now because it's getting hard for him. He walked into church, had an anxiety attack, and left.

 

I've pretty much come to the realization that everybody who doesn't get to the truth (who has it offered to them) misses it because of laziness. It's not wanting to search and pray to learn if something is true from God, because the internet is easier; or not wanting to go through five or ten minutes of nervous pain while your system acclamates to the people so you can feel better all week because it's easier to just sit at home and feel bad about not doing what you know is right, or not wanting to learn because that means you might have to change, and you are satisfied with the low level of responsibility you feel now, etc....  It has helped me to understand why this life requires a nearly constant output of energy.  No good thing can be gained without at least some work, and we want to get every good thing, so we need as much practice as we can get.

 

Something else to think about is that many people live under the misconception that we are stronger than Satan because we have a body and he does not. That is not true. Independently we are weaker than Satan. The body just gives us greater potential.  In Moses (I forget exactly where butI think it's chapter four), it says that the devil has power to lead men captive at his will, unless they hearken to God's voice.  So unless we hearken to God's voice, we are in the power of our adversary.  We need to link ourselves to God so that his power will support us, and then we will be more powerful than the devil. That link happens through covenants administered by the holy priesthood.  As we make, and keep covenants, we receive the power of God to resist the devil. As we succumb to the will of the flesh (2 Nephi 2:29), by failing to make or breaking covenants with God, we give the enemy of our souls power over us to do whatever he wants with us.  The will of the flesh is to not work, or to put off work. What the savior asks us to do isn't really that hard, but sometimes that makes us think we can just put it off... do not be slothful because of the easiness of the way (Alma 37:46).  Slothfulness really is the downfall of humanity. We just want everything easier... and that comes from pride, or thinking that you're better than just working a little bit. 

 

So yeah, I did some learning and growing this week, and overall it was really good. Zak is getting baptized on Sunday between sessions. Oh yeah! Everyone needs to watch conference and invite all their friends to come listen to a prophets voice.

 

Thanks for all of the help and love and support! Love y'all.

 

Elder Katzakian