I do not really know where to start... One thing I have loved the past few weeks that I have not emphasized enough is the Bible study class Elder Baird and I have started with 4 of our friends. We read bible stories together in Mandarin and English and talk about what they mean. It has been a really neat experience because all four of friends have never read the bible before except for just hearing about the stories. One of them had read just Genesis but that was it. One of the first weeks we read the story at the end of Mark chapter 4, Christ stilling the tempest. We noted how just as Christ stilled the tempest then, he can now still the tempests in our lives - still the physical, emotional, and spiritual tempests that afflict us today. The most recent study we had we read the story of the 10 lepers in Luke 17 and talked about what faith means.
I have loved being to help people experience the bible for the first time. I have been very touched by there pure desires. They told us they do not believe in God but that they want to believe and want to know how they can start believing. We explained that faith is like planting a seed and nourishing it to help it grow and protecting it from weeds that get in the way. Just as a seed needs water, sunshine, and fertile soil, faith requires effort on our part through study, prayer, service to others, and pursuing the good. We may feel at times that we are not enough and may struggle with doubts and questions. The Savior Jesus Christ stands ready with open arms to receive all that will come to him. Our loving compassionate Father in Heaven answers every question and consoles every doubt in his time if we but come to him.
I like the scripture you shared from Alma about thanksgiving, Alma 26:37, "Now my brethren, we see that God is mindful of every people, whatsoever land they may be in; yea, he numbereth his people, and his bowels of mercy are over all the earth. Now this is my joy, and my great thanksgiving; yea, and I will give thanks unto my God forever. Amen." Happy Thanksgiving! (At least it was here and for our family) We read the story about the lepers in part because the one comes back to say thank you!
On that note, thank you to my family! Thank you to everyone for reading this! Love you!
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