Aloha. It has definately been a good, and yet in some ways, frustrating week.
The good news is, JJ has committed to be baptized. The funniest part has been all of the ward leaders shock when we told them. But, JJ has realized that he needs the gospel in his life and is willing to do all that he needs to to be able to return to live with our Heavenly Father again. We were able to have a good lesson with him this last week, and had our stake patriarch along (who is also our landlord of sorts) and it went really well.
Also, Derrick continues to do well, but has his struggles. We were able to get him to commit to live the word of wisdom this last week, and were able to straighten out any confusion over marriage and baptism. They thought that he would have to get baptized, and then they wait a year to get married so that they could get sealed... so we explained that, no, you need to get married before you can get baptized, and then after a year you can get sealed. That made them both very happy. The problem is that he will probably be moving soon from his home because he is tired of having to deal with his parents and all of the drama they bring. So, we will see how all of this works out.
We also are doing well with a referal named Bryan. He is excited to learn. He has had some drug problems in the past, but has come clean. They only concern with him is how much the drugs affected his head while he was on them. I guess we will see in the end.
One of our concerns right now is the group that all got baptized in December. Most are doing well, but we have caught a couple smoking again, and they all got really offended over the priesthood lesson last Sunday (even though two weren't there at all....). So, we have told the bishop and are going to let him step in, but it will be interesting to see what happens.
But mostly I wanted to take some time to discuss the atonement, and conference yesterday. How often do we think about what gifts we have been given? Two of those being the Atonement of the Savior, and the other being apostles and prophets. Joseph Smith himself said that these two things are the basis for our religion, and everything else is simply an apandage.
Prophets and apostles? What are they? Men called of God to lead his children in this life. To help us know His will. To give us the direction we need to keep us on the path. As a human being's legs are not the same length, he will over time without any sort of guidance, begin to walk in a circle. Without a prophet, we each would begin to stray from the path, even if we tried as hard as we could to stay on it. It would never fully work. How grateful I am for prophets, apostles, seers, and revelators.
But most importantly, the atonement. Our Savior came to this earth as the most humble Being ever to live upon this earth. He thought nothing for Himself. He devoted his life to service. In the end, He suffered more pain than any one of us could even think of enduring. Why? So that we could return. Notice, not that we would return, but that we could. He died for us. He was perfect, and therefore never needed baptism, repentance, or anything. He should have never suffered spiritual death (separation from our Heavenly Father's spirit and comfort) yet to fulfill the atonement He did. If there was ever a time when we could try to say that our Father performed an "unjust" act, it was at the same time our Savior cried, "Father (daddy), why hast thou forsaken me?" Yet, our Savior endured on, He made it through, and because of that, we can make it through.
As I near the end of two years of service to our Lord, I again marvel and give thanks for all He has done. I have faced harder trials than I ever thought I would doing something that seems so simple. At times I have wanted to give up, to call it quits, to say "Pau Hana" (done with work), yet I know our Savior did so much for that, and through His help I can endure on. I have never regretted coming or staying, but I know the only reasons I ever did come, or I was able to stay, was because of the Saviors sacrifice for me.
I love you all, and am so continually grateful for your support and prayers. Remeber that you are loved by Him who is Love.
Elder Kidd
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