Elder Chiba Adventures: Rescue

Well, there is this awesome person we´ve been teaching and she was going to be baptized this past weekend, but there were a lot of problems. She and us did everything we could to prepare for the baptism, but in the end it didn´t work out. We´re going to work some more on this.

This past weekend we had the conference of the District of Parnaiba. It was very good. The speakers spoke a lot about rescuing others. There are actually a lot of members here, but there are a lot of people who get baptized and then stop going to church after a short while. My Mission President, Presidente Dias, and his counselor, Presidente Santos gave some particularly good talks in reference to rescuing others and following the Lord. First Presidente Santos talked about the rich young man in the book of Mark.

Mark 10:17-22

17¶And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?

18And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none ^agood but one, that is, God.

19Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit ^aadultery, Do not ^bkill, Do not ^csteal, Do not bear false witness, ^dDefraud not, ^eHonour thy father and mother.

20And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth.

21Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and ^agive to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and ^bfollow me.

22And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.

To this story, Presidente Santos talked about the importance of giving up things that are precious to follow the Lord or submit to His will. Where do our treasures ly? Here or in heaven?

Presidente Dias expanded some more on this subject sharing some scriptures in Matthew chapter 10:37-39

37He that ^aloveth father or mother ^bmore than me is not worthy of me: and he that ^cloveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.

38And he that taketh not his ^across, and followeth after me, is not ^bworthy of me.

39^aHe that findeth his life shall ^blose it: and he that ^closeth his ^dlife for my sake shall find it.

He talked about how in following Jesus Christ, we usually have to take the "Right" path rather than the "Easy" path. For example, it´s more easy to stay at home rather than go out to visit someone who is in need. For a married couple with problems, usually the easy choice is to divorce, where the right choice is to work. The easy choice in any case in life is often times not what we should do. Where do we keep our treasures? Work is the correct choice, although it may not be the easiest, it is the correct choice.

I still have a lot to learn. I´m really grateful to have a mission president who is so wise. I too need to work on my work ethic. I hope that I can make the correct choice instead of taking the easy way out. Let´s take up our "cross" and build up zion wherever we are. It may not be easy, but it is the right thing to do. If you know someone who is in need, or someone who was at one time actively involved in the Church but isn´t, I encourage you to take the courage to talk to them. I know that Jesus Christ lives. That is why I am here. I hope you have a great week. I love you.

-Elder Samuel H. Chiba