Semana 83: It Only Happens When Serving In Zion

Semana 83: It Only Happens When Serving In Zion

I realized this week I've been mislabeling my weekly emails home. I'm actually on week 83 and not week 80. I'm not exactly sure how that was changed but I figured I should change it now at least so it is correct. Things are going well out here in Beaver. The small town lifestyle is kind of growing on me more and more every week. the Lord definitely has given me the patience to learn to love this way of life and the people. I remember how we would laugh at how everyone knew everyone in Randal and would say thing like, "Oh yeah, Johnny lives three houses down from Dave, next to the Smith's boy". Funny thing is I'm starting to see how people are related like that here in Beaver! :P

It was a really fun week getting to go to not only the Monday and then going to the Manti Temple on Thursday. I forgot to mention last week that we saw Julie B. Beck's husband in the temple (She is the former general Relief Society President). Then on Thursday at the Manti Temple the whole primary general presidency was at the temple. Several of the women were Hispanic and I wanted to speak with them but I never had the opportunity. Only in Utah can you go to two different temples in a week and see members of the general presidencies of the church and their spouses. It is such a blessing to be serving in Zion.

Tuesday went really well. We taught six lessons and we were able to meet with the Guzman’s again. We explained why the scriptures are so important and how The Bible and The Book of Mormon go together to testify of Jesus Christ. I don't know why but this family is one of my favorites here in Beaver. It was hard getting to see them the rest of the week. It seemed like we always stopped by at times when someone wasn't home or they were leaving. I've been racking my brain trying to figure out a way to explain to them why this message is so important. They really have most everything they need. They don't really have any problems and generally speaking those are the hardest people to teach. I love the scripture in Alma 32 that says, "Therefore, blessed are they who ^ahumble themselves without being ^bcompelled to be humble; or rather, in other words, blessed is he that believeth in the word of God, and is baptized without ^cstubbornness of heart, yea, without being brought to know the word, or even compelled to know, before they will believe." Humility is such a hard thing to teach, especially when someone is unaware of the need to be humble. It reminds me a lot of our family and how I didn't go to church just because I didn't know I needed it. Life was good without going to church. Now, the bigger picture is clear and I know that it is a commandment from God to go to church. When we humblest ourselves to the will of the Lord he only opens up the windows of Heaven to bless us more.

Thursday we had the temple trip to Manti. I cannot find words to describe the joy of entering into The House of The Lord. The purpose of these houses of the Lord is so that we can make covenants with our Father in Heaven so that we may return to live with him someday as an eternal family. So many people believe we as Latter Day Saints are force to keep "too many rules". What they fail to realize is that man did not create these terms by which salvation comes but the Lord, is the dictator of these terms. He has given us these commandments so that we may have everlasting joy, unspotted from the filth of this world.

Friday we had ANOTHER meeting, this time up in Richfield with President Leonard. He recently went to a mission Presidents seminar in Salt Lake City and so he came to share what he learned. My respect for President Leonard grew tenfold from this visit. I've always felt President lacked emotion for this work and showing genuine sincerity. I guess that stems from never seeing him get emotional and this time he did. It just made me want to stand by him and support him more.

Saturday was busy in the afternoon but the evening was pretty slow. It seemed like the whole town was either doing something for Homecoming, a Hispanic party for two ninos that were baptized in Cedar City or a wedding reception for a prominent family here in Beaver. The one thing about small towns is that if something is going on, we know about it.

Sunday was the temple dedication of the Brigham City Temple. It was broadcast to all of Utah and parts of Southern Idaho. This is the 139th temple dedicated and the 14th temple in Utah. It is staggering for me to think that in just approximately 1.5 years 5 temples have been dedicated to the Lord. Temple ordinances and work for the dead have always been signs of the full gospel on the earth (1 Cor. 15:29, D&C 109:8-9). It is amazing to see how many beacons are dotting the globe today.

I was reading this week and I loved Psalms 27:1,14: "The Lord is my ^alight and my ^bsalvation; whom shall I ^cfear? the Lord is the ^dstrength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? ^aWait on the Lord: be of good ^bcourage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: ^cwait, I say, on the Lord." I just fell in love with those verses. Just as the Lord is a light, HIS holy house is a beacon unto all who have desires to serve the master. He is my life and my salvation. It is a divine blessing to have the fullness of the gospel once again restored to the earth in this, the final dispensation before the second coming of the Messiah. There is nothing better than serving a mission. I'm livin' the dream! Vaya con Dios.

Dios es amor,

Elder Bennion