PRESIDENT KILLPACK'S MESSAGE
I remember an old experiment that I did
as a part of a High School Physics class. We took a rod of soft iron and placed
it next to some iron filings. Nothing happened, because the rod was not
magnetic, it caused no change to the items around it. If you wrap the rod with
a wire, still nothing happens. But if you wrap the iron rod with a wire
carrying an electric current, the rod becomes a magnet that affects a change in
the iron filings and anything else around it that is subject to magnetic
force. If you wind the rod with
many wires, all of which possess a current, it becomes a very powerful magnet.
The rod itself did not change, but the electric current affected a change in
the property of the rod and its’ ability to affect the things around it.
An
analogy could be drawn from this example in many ways. But let’s say the Church
is the iron rod. Through the things we teach and the testimony we bear, we are
trying to bring others closer to the Savior and His gospel. We would be the
wire wrapped around the rod. But unless there is a current of electricity
flowing through us, no change occurs around us. That electrical current we
could compare to the Spirit, for it is the Spirit that brings others to the
Savior. If we are wound with a single strand of wire, we will have some
magnetic pull. But if we wrap ourselves in many strands of wire, our ability to
conduct the Spirit will be even greater and our influence will be felt even
stronger.
A
lengthy list of things could be made of what the strands of wire should
be. They would probably be
slightly different for everyone. But for a missionary, in my opinion they would
include; obedience, prayer, obedience, faith, obedience, diligence, obedience,
knowledge, obedience, charity, obedience, humility, obedience, repentance,
obedience, patience, obedience, hope, and obedience. Do you see the pattern? I
believe as we wrap ourselves in obedience to the laws and principles of the
gospel, we are given great power to do the Lord’s work. His Spirit flows
through us and we are able to be an instrument in His mighty hands.
Sister Killpack’s
Wisdom
I recently visited a ward where the question was raised after reading, 3 Nephi 11:3-5. Why did it take three times before the people understood the voice of the Lord? This question intrigued me, because if I were in Bountiful at that time, I could very well see myself standing there, wondering, “Did anyone hear that? What was that?” So I decided to research the question; why didn’t they understand the Savior? I found a quote from President Harold B. Lee that may answer this question:
When the voice came from the heavens to people in the
land Bountiful they heard it not. It was just to them a confusion of noises,
and when they tuned their hearts they could hear words but they couldn’t
understand; but when with all their
hearts and minds they concentrated upon it, then the voice could be
understood.
I think his
assessment is interesting. We often talk of how our hearts need to be tuned to
our Savior, but what about our minds? So I guess the question is how do we tune
our minds to the Savior? Here are
three ideas I think can help us in this effort:
1. When we approach the Lord for
guidance, we want to make sure that we put ourselves in the state of worthiness
to receive that for which we pray.
2. Be humble. Be
willing to open your mind to what the Lord is trying to tell you. [see D&C 112:10].
3. Learn to talk to
God. Talk to Him as you would talk to your father, for He is your Father, and
He wants you to talk to Him.
As we strive to be
humble and worthy to talk with God, our minds will be open to be able to hear and understand our Savior
as we listen for his voice (see D&C 8:2).
Assistants
Remarks: Have
you ever wondered if you can actually have the change of heart like it talks
about in Mosiah 5:2? Well if you
have then here is your answer. There are 2 falls, the first is the Fall of
Adam, which is taken care of by the Atonement, it is a free gift. The second is
on us. With every decision, we choose life or death. When we come to understand
the Atonement, we will realize the eternal damming effects of sin. Only this
understanding and knowledge can change us.
Miracles...
About
diligence ….. we were driving to go see our
investigator. It had already been a long, rough day, and our enthusiasm was
dying by the second. When he wasn't home, we stopped at this house that we had
seen little kids playing soccer in the front yard. We joined in and out came
the parents to see what was going on. We got talking to them and they invited
us in. In our getting to know them, we learned they had moved here a year ago
from Mexico, had never talked to missionaries, or even heard of Mormons before.
With a smile on our faces, we shared the Restoration with them and they
listened intently to what we said in our mediocre Spanish. Miracles are happening and the Lord will
bless us as we're doing His work.
About hard work ….. When we took over the area
just a few short months ago, absolutely nothing was happening, and I wondered
how we were going to find anyone to teach. Now we have a pretty good sized
teaching pool, and several investigators ready for baptism in the next couple
of weeks. I am a believer and have a testimony of hard work. If we work hard
and be diligent every day, the Lord will deem us worthy to teach his children,
and he will bless our efforts with the opportunity to teach them. I'm excited
for the future and the opportunity to work hard, and reap the happiness of
changing lives.
About
using all methods of finding ….. A Miracle came from a former investigating couple. The family
has been taught for a few years now on and off. Their daughter is a member and
is sealed in the temple. As we first met him, he was a little "busy"
and was a little cold. But just last week he let us set up an appointment with
him that he kept. We sat down with him and his wife and the Spirit was so
strong. We committed them to be baptized and set up a "daily contact"
schedule. We are meeting with them Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday and
they said they are willing to try again. It was a great Spirit and a true
miracle for us to find these two new investigators.
About talking with everyone ….. This week we found an awesome new investigator! We met him in a parking
lot on the way to find a less-active. When we called out to him saying that
"we had a question" he told us that he knew that we weren't asking
for directions. Apparently minutes prior he had just been talking to his
friends about how they needed to make changes in their lives. This investigator
used to be very strong believer in Christ, but when he came to college everything
fell apart. He wasn't ready for the fast pace life, and it consumed him. We set
a return appointment with him, and come to find out the very next day he had
fallen off a balcony and broken his ankle, BUT he still wanted to meet with us!
With the accident he was both physically and spiritually broken. Many of the
sentiments he felt related to the story of Alma the Younger, so we read from
the BofM with him in Alma 36. As we got to vs. 23 which reads "but behold
my limbs did receive their strength again, and I stood upon my feet, and did
manifest unto the people that i had been born of God," I literally stood
all amazed, and just laughed with gratitude that the scriptures really were
written for us, and can speak to us in the most specific ways. Even give hope
to those with broken ankles. It was an awesome experience to see our
investigator have that experience with the Book of Mormon. It gave him both the
physical and spiritual hope that he needed at that moment. When we extended his
baptismal date, he said it wasn't soon enough. It was music to my ears!!!
Hopefully we can continue to work with him and see miracles in this area.
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