Well, we knocked a lot of doors this week. We
helped 2 people rake their leaves, and that's about all the new stuff
this week! Perks of being in Rapid City though is that this week the
weather has stayed in the 70's most days. So nice. Definitely won't
hear me complaining about that!
I had my last
ever ZTM this week. I got to bare my testimony for the last time (in
front of the missionaries, of course), as well accompany a couple Elders
for a musical number.
Aside from that, we've literally just been trying to find people to teach. Hopefully this week we see the fruits of our labors!
The
last few weeks there has been a very common theme in the things that
people have said to us. There have been quite a few people that would
let us in for a little, and the 1 thing that everyone and their dog
seems to know about the LDS church is that we believe that we have a
responsibility to do what is right, and to keep the commandments. I
can't tell you how many times people have brought up that we believe our
works save us, and I know that I have already done this a million
times, but I wish to debunk that myth once more, right here and right
now. This is absolutely positively false. The saddest thing is that it
is a myth that members of the church carry! Too many of us think that
we must do this much, then Jesus makes up the difference. Sorry folks,
but that's not how it works. "since man had fallen he could not merit
anything of himself" (Alma 22:14).
That's about as plain as it can get. We cannot merit anything of
ourselves. We are eternally falling short of perfection, which is the
requirement of entering God's presence."And if by grace, then is it no
more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works,
then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work."(Romans 11:6).
There are countless scriptures that say the same things. But don't
the scriptures also say that "it is by grace that we are saved after all
we can do" (2 Nephi 25:23)? Don't we read that "faith without works is
dead" (The book of James brings up this point over and over and over
again), and that we must "work out [our] own salvation with fear and
trembling"? (Philippians 2:12)
Yes, they do. So what are we supposed to understand here? This has
been a subject of concern for people for centuries! Obviously it was a
problem in the time of Paul and James which was less than a 100 years
after the death of the Savior. The Apostles of the time wrote these
letters to try and correct the issues that were being disputed over in
the places where they had preached. I feel comfortable assuming that
the Romans had put too much emphasis on their own works and not enough
on the Savior, so he told them countless times that it is grace alone that saves us. And yet, in the same letter he poses this question to them. "What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid." (Romans 6:1-2).
May I echo the words of the author Ecclesiastes in 12:13.
"Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep
his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man." C.S. Lewis, when
asked the question "which is more important? Grace or works?"
Responded by saying "I really have no business commenting on the
matter, but it seems to me like asking which blade on the scissors is
more important." If we try to put more emphasis on 1 verse of scripture
more than another, we create a serious theological problem for
yourslef. We cannot ever earn our way into heaven. Period. Jesus is
the one who payed for it, not us. Are works the Savior? No, Jesus is
the Savior. But if we truly believe in Christ, than we must believe His
words, and He taught us countless times, both anciently and in modern
times, the importance of obedience. If we are disobedient, will we even
want to live in God's presence? No. Nor has He ever told us that we
don't need to do anything. God's love is unconditional, and His Grace
is sufficient for all who come unto Him. Without Him, all is lost, and
we can never see the kingdom of heaven.
I'm
sorry if my thoughts are broken, time is short, and so are resources
haha! Love you all tons! Thank you all for your prayers, they have
helped me a ton.
Elder Carter V
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