As we came into this conference I had a couple of questions in mind so that I could look for an answer. The question that hit me the Hardest was, " what isit that I can improve to be a more effective missionary?" The answer that I received was OBEDIENCE. I am not saying that I am a dis-obedient missionary, in fact I am proud of how obedient I have been able to be, but I am not satisfied because I KNOW that Obedience brings blessings but that PERFECT OBEDIENCE brings miracles. IT is how we show our Love to God and how we show that we are willing to Follow the example of Jesus Christ.
Elder Robert D. Hales spoke about obedience in a very clear way. He said, "Jesus Christ, if not 100% obedient, would not have Atoned for our sins." (I watched it in spanish and this was my interretation of it in english haha) He would have taken the easy way out and all man-kind would not be saved, However, he knew his purpose and he knew the importance of fulfilling that purpose. He Loved his Father. And he Loves each one of us. That is why he made that Ultimate sacrifice. He suffered that which no man can comprehend so that Every Man ould feel of his Love and Mercy through OBEDIENCE and the Atonement.
Really, the topic of Obedience was mentioned in every single talk in some way, shape, or form. Whether the actual word was used or it was just spoken to the heart be the spirit.
In the First Session (saturday Morning) Linda S. Reeves taked about the terrible influences of the world and how they are destroying familes. She said that "the only way to beat those terrible influences is TOGETHER!" By making a "Family Plan" (setting goals) like Daily Prayer, Daily Scripture Study, and Weekly Family Home Evening. As we set worthy Goals with a pure heart, we are showing our true desires to change and become perfected. However, we all know that the Desire alone is not sufficient. Desire alone doesn´t win National Championships...but DESIRE+ACTION+OBEDIENCE to every commandment that we have been given is Exactly how we are able to Show our LOVE for our Heavenly Father, and our Grand desire to return to live with him.
I think back on all the times when I wasn´t exactly the most obedient and the Sadness and frustration that came from it. I also think back about the times when I was obedient and the blessings that came from it.
I remember One very special moment in my life when I was rewarded instantly for my obedience. IT is something that I will never forget. "One day, a few years ago before Holly was born and when Ivy was still home. Mom was about to go somewhere with dad but you were telling us that we had to clean the house before we could do anything. Mom had been telling us for weeks that we needed to clean the house and it was pretty much burnt into my head. In that moment I didn´t really understand the importance of why it needed to be cleaned. I knew where my things were. There was no mold or fungus growing under my bed (at least not that I remember... ;) haha but you just wanted us to clean. I think I had heard the frase "Clean your Room" about a thousand times that week. You and dad left and instantly I started to think of what I was going to do; go build a race track on the dirt hill or build some caves? Make rapids in the Ditch? or just go hang out with the River guides at the warehouse. There were so many "fun" things that I wanted to do and all of them had NOTHING to do with Cleaning. However, on the back of my mind there was a lingering fee3ling that I should do what I was asked. That I should clean my room and cleean up the house a little bit. We started to clean up a little bit and then my siblings headed out to play, but for some reason I felt like staying and cleaning more. As I was cleaing (being obedient) a few different things happened that were very interesting. First, I was actually enjoying what was doing. I was finding joy in obedience because I was imaging the look that my mom would have on her face when she came home to a clean house! She had been asking and asking for weeks that we would just help her with that. The Second thing was that I was actually able to accomplish so much in such a short period of time. I felt as if I was being helped by someone else. I was able to Focus 100 percent on getting done what I needed. (which is incredible because I am TERRIBLE with the focusing)
As I cleaned, I never stopped thinking of how happy my mom was going to be when she got home. I cleaned my room, the kitchen, the TV room, and even the Living room. I organized the Laundry room and thought about cleaning my moms bathroom too ( but then I realized that I think she had told me to stay out of her room and bathroom, so I was actually being obedient to that as well)
When my parents arrived home from where they had gone, I remember looking out the screen door to watch the change that was going to come onto her face. When she got out of the Car she was in a bad mood...so I was a little bit worried, but as she walked into the house her face lit up like a christmas tree. Whatever it was that had been bothering her was completely washed away as she came home to a clean house. The only thing that she had been asking for. I remember that in that very moment, she gave me a big hug and told me, "I love you". The difference between this 3 word phrase and the other 3 word phrase that she had been telling me for weeks was incredible. I had finally understood why I needed to clean. I needed to help my mom to realize that I really did love her too.
That was a lesson that I will never forget. I don´t know if Mom still remembers that happening, but that was one of the happiest moments of my life. After weeks without hearing that simple phrase and without really feeling that love, I was able to be filled with it! All for a simple act of Obedience."
I know that Obedience is the most important thing that a person can learn and master in life. If we are obedient we have blessings. If we are obedient, we have self mastery. And if we are obedient, we will be able to feel Gods Love in every single moment of our Lives! I know this Gospel is made to be Lived with EXACT OBEDIENCE and that there is no other way to live it! I love my family and I love my Savior!
Elder Hazlett
Dear President,
This week was a good week. It was a week of a
LOT of reflection, and a lot of change. I have been really working on the
"Purificandose" challenge that was given as one of the talks in our
personal folders. I have seen and felt a change as I have been working to
purify myself.
As we entered into this conference, I went into
it with a couple of questions. The first being, "Am I doing the right
thing? Am I really where I need to be right now?" That question was
answered when President Uchtdorf said that the Lord is hastening his work and
he needs ALL of us to be a part of the Work of Salvation.
The second question was, " What can a do
better to become a more effective missionary and a more powerful intrument in
the Lord´s hands?" There were quite a few talks that answered that
question but the one that I enjoyed the most was that of Robert D. Hales about
Obedience. However, he explained it in a way that just made perfect sense to
me. Obedience is Love. IF we Love, we are obedient. He talked about the
atonement of Jesus Christ and how him doing that was the ultimate example of
Love. He was so obedient that he was literally willing to die for us. As missionaries
I am 100% positive that he doesn´t expect us to Die for the salvation of all
man, but yes he does expect us to "Give Our Lives" for 2 years for
the Saltvation of man. We have been Called and set-apart for that reason. We
have a Purpose. We are the only ones that can fulfill our purpose. And
Obedience to the Laws and Ordinances of the Gospel is the ONLY way to fulfill
our Purpose. I have been given a fresh perspective on the importance of
obedience and I have received an undeniable witness through the spirit that I
felt during General Conference that I have a Purpose, and I am expected to
Fulfill.
As far as my area and the District, we are not lacking in
the "Spiritual Animo" as you described in the Sol, but there is a
little lack of Temporal Animo. It is kind of hard to understand because I am
just a naturally happy person with lots of desires, but when I see that my
district is struggling...I get really bummed. We have all been spiritually
edified over the last couple of days and it is going to help for sure. Elder
Escobar will be receiving a new companion and that will also help the Animo a
little bit.
Elder Morgan and Elder Nacimento really just need to figure
out that they have a purpose. I think I am going to share a little bit of what
I learned with them in my District Meeting on Tuesday. They are great Elders,
they just lack the Desire to become Extra-ordinary. Hopefully the conference
helped them to achieve that perspective a little bit.
Elder Martinez is doing well. He has absolutely no
self-discipline as far as the rules are concerned (which is annoying because I
have to constantly remind him of why we are here) but he does respect that I
want to be obedient and follows what I do. It makes me more sad than anything
because I KNOW that what we learn and what we become on this mission is what
shapes us. It is what prepares us for the life to come. I know that if we learn
to master Obedience, we will be successful missionaries because the Lord will
bless us. But more importantly than that, we will be successfull Leaders in the
rest of our Lives. I am going to try my best to help him Understand that.
I know that the Lord knows the desires of my Heart and that
I really do want to be the best I can. I know that he blesses me for that, and
that I cannot do anything to lose his trust.
--
~Elder Hazlett
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