The enthusiasm of the Stake Presidency, and even Mission President was grand. Taken aback, it was not long after the idea was initially presented, that I was informed for a change to make it on April 25th. Initial planning on my part targeted May 22nd to deliver this grand Fireside to the Branch. I presented this information at some point to Brother Brown and President Kimball and slowly started to make arrangements for the Fireside. One idea was frequented and prayed about, a Fireside to help give counsel to the members of the branch. Sometime close after all this, several ideas of possible things we could do to help the Member Missionary Effort get better came and went. Most weeks this meant at least 4 or 5 outings with the Elders. I went out as often as possible with the Missionaries. In the process of that, on January 16th 2010 I I finally got affirmation as I read D & C section 42 that I needed to become more familiar with the word of God, and free of fear that comes from teaching the Gospel to investigators with the Missionaries. Each time I began to get more and more insight and testimony of the Holy Ghost that the Lord indeed was guiding me. I went to the Temple 6 or 7 times in those two months. Finally, a special moment came for me, but I must first tell you concerning January and February of this year. But, such is the way the adversary works against me. Often, almost every time the Stake Presidency visited (Mostly President Kimball) I would ask for the assurances that I should have been able to realize without them breathing a word in my direction. So I set out just to do that very thing, sadly, having to deal day in and day out with doubt concerning my ability to fulfill this new calling. “Counsel with the Lord in all thy doings, and he will direct thee for good yea, when thou liest down at night lie down unto the Lord, that he may watch over you in your sleep and when thou risest in the morning let thy heart be full of thanks unto God and if ye do these things, ye shall be lifted up at the last day” ( Alma 37:36–37 emphasis added). “Cry unto God for all thy support yea, let all thy doings be unto the Lord, and whithersoever thou goest let it be in the Lord yea, let all thy thoughts be directed unto the Lord yea, let the affections of thy heart be placed upon the Lord forever. Now, that simply states you need to pray, but not some monotonous casual prayer that the Zoramites of old would be tickled pink to hear! This prayer that was needed of me by the Lord, was His way of telling me to continue steadfast in prayer, not meant to cease. “Study it out in your mind then … ask me if it be right, and if it is right I will cause that your bosom shall burn within you therefore, you shall feel that it is right.” ( D&C 9:8 italics added.) Little was I aware that the Lord wasn’t going to Fed-Ex all my needed wisdom, but did indicate to me (Or caused me to reflect on) a particular scripture I went straight to work (Amidst A Re-organization of the Stake Presidency.) trying to get the info that I needed from deep reflection and humble prayer in the Lubbock Temple… I began to ask to what extent or specific that the Lord wished me to approach this new calling. Truly, it was a calling that humbled me deeply as I looked well into the responsibilities of such a great calling. On January 10th, 2010, I received a calling that would be the last I’d ever think the Lord would have inspired our Branch Presidency to call me to Branch Mission Leader. I would love nothing more than to elaborate on how this came to be, before I discuss the fireside in actuality. On Sunday, April 25th 2010 we had a momentous occasion! It was (From the recollection of our Branch President Williams) the first fireside Plainview had seen in over twelve years.
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