This last week we contacted this
really old guy that was sitting on a curb. He lives in one of those places
where they take care of old people. He said we could come and visit whenever. So
we went this last week and visited him for a bit and he was so happy. The guy
is crazy old, we don’t know how old but neither does he. He doesn’t know how to
read or write but we shared a quick message with him and he told us we were his
best and only friends. We were passing by the area a couple days later and we
saw him on the same curb smoking. We walked up and when he saw us he quickly
set the cigar down. He said that it belonged to someone else, that he doesn’t
smoke and that he put it out for them. It was pretty funny, but sucked to see
that he smokes.
We also followed up with this guy
named Manuel that we contacted this last week. It was great because he actually
had read the pamphlet and did his homework and was ready with questions. During
the lesson he would stop and analyze scriptures we shared or sentences we had
him read and he would really think about what we shared. It was a great lesson
and everything just seemed to click.
This week we had a training by
President Chavez and he talked about the parable of the Good Samaritan and priesthood
keys. He said that one of the reason that we learn so much here in the mission
is because he has keys for that. He said even if our seminary teachers were
great we didn’t learn or change or progress as much as here during the mission
because they don’t have keys. He also taught about the parable that Jesus the
parable teaches us to fix problems that we have with others. Problems in
companionships, in marriage, or with any one in any life situation. We need to
have enemies to get eternal life. Every enemy we have is another chance we have
to achieve eternal life.
This week didn’t have services
because all those with temple recommends went to the main city Delicias to
watch the temple dedication. The temple dedication went well; we went to all
three sessions and the cultural celebration. The talks of elder Holland in the
first two sessions were great. In the first talk he talked about the saints
during the early days of the church. The first commandment to build a temple
was about a year after the organization. When the church was young and there
were only a few hundred members. He talked about how they had to abandon this
temple and then went to Kirtland, then Nauvoo then Missouri and how they were
given commandment s in these places to build temples as well and in the last
areas they had to leave while they were in construction. When they got to the
valley with Brigham Young he said that the lord commanded that they build
another temple and some said to him will we finish this one? He said I don’t
know. I don’t care. I have never cared. All that matters is that I’m where the
Lord wanted me to be doing what he wants me to do. Then Holland said more
important that beautiful brick, crystal, glass and granite is the dedication of
our personal lives.
My favorite talk was from him in the
second session. He talked about when Moroni appeared to Joseph Smith as a boy. He
quoted several scriptures to him but he quoted them a bit differently than they
are found in our bible.
“1. I will reveal unto you the Priesthood, by the hand of Elijah the
prophet, before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.
2. And he shall plant in the hearts of the children
the promises made to the fathers, and the hearts of the children shall turn to their fathers.
3 If it were not so, the whole earth would be utterly wasted at hiscoming.
Unless
Elijah came, the world would be wasted. He said think of all the good things in
your life, all of the good people, all of the good feelings you have ever had.
All of that would be wasted if Elijah had not come. Unless something could live
beyond the earth without the sealing powers of the priesthood it would be
wasted.
Elijah returned the
binding authority to every priesthood declaration. Giving force to every
covenant we make. And giving efficacy to every priesthood blessing.
He said that the
orthodox Jews every Passover they at their dinner table have an empty chair and
meal awaiting Elijah who needs to come before the second coming can happen.
They have been doing so for over 3000 years. They started getting more anxious
and started leaving the doors open as part of the ritual.
On April 3, 1836
during the Passover (Easter time) Elijah came. After over 3000 yrs. he came but
he didn’t go to a dinner table he appeared to Joseph Smith in the temple. April 3, 1836 for this reason is one of the
most important days in the history of the world.
Holland pointed out that in the
version that Moroni quoted when he appeared to Joseph Smith says promises. And
in the bible the word promises is not found. He said what promises are being
talked about. What children gave what pledge to what fathers. He said that in
our premortal state. In the heavenly counsel before we came here toe the world
we made promise. Our father gave us a plan, the plan of salvation, we accepted
it. The plan was intended for all people. But a lot of people would come during
the time when the authority to be saved wasn’t found on the earth. They would
come to earth in a time of darkness. We promised then to be part of the
salvation of those who weren’t so fortunate to be born during the time of
light. We pledge partnership with the lord. That day in became our work. We
promised our parents that we wouldn’t forget them. We all have convert
ancestors that aren’t that far back. Why did we get the chance, why did they
get born during the dark days and us in the light, because it is a gift from
our ancestors. We can be their saviors on mount Zion.
After the second session we went and
ate with a member and we going to head back and try and make it on time for the
next session. Everything was going great and on schedule but on the way over we
got pulled over. We ended up arriving three minutes late and we got locked out.
Luckily there were technical problems and they were running around on the
inside trying to fix it and they saw us all locked outside and let us in.
Love Elder Blanchard
