This last week was so busy but so wonderful as well! Among many things this last week, we traveled to Tuguegarao to show the missionary broadcast there, prepared and taught in the missionary leadership council, and of course did quite a bit of proselyting as well.
As I ponder on all of last week's activities, my mind is drawn to one of our investigators whose name is Gloria. If you remember from my letter last week, she is the woman I mentioned who recently returned home from Lebanon to a very different son and upon request has been engaged in lessons the last month and a half. It has been wonderful to see the change that has occurred within her as she has accepted the Gospel and done her best to become a better disciple of Jesus Christ. There is one problem though. As her plans currently stand, she will be returning to Lebanon next week to work another two years abroad away from her family. This is extraordinarily unfortunate predicament as well considering the wonderful affect she has had on the rest of her family the past month.
A few days ago, Gloria told Elder Olsen and I that she has a strong desire to be baptized before she returns abroad to Lebanon. However, considering the circumstances, this wouldn't be possible as it must be ensured that whoever is baptized has the ability to go to church and partake of the sacrament every week, something that wouldn't necessarily be possible considering her profession and circumstances in Birut. Not to mention that she wouldn't be able to help herself and her family progress to the temple if she is abroad. After some consideration and some deliberation with Elder Olsen, it became very clear to me that Nanay Gloria must either choose to stay home, allowing her to be baptized and progress to the temple, or she won't be able to be baptized.
This fact pains me a little as I love Nanay Gloria. It is hard to see such a situation come about. However, this last Saturday, Elder Olsen and I decided to fast for Nanay Gloria to help her make the decision that is right for her family. And, upon my request, President and Sister Hiatt accompanied us last night to help her understand the decision she will have to make. I have prayed and prayed for days that the lesson yesterday would help her choose to stay.
Last night, as the lesson finally arrived that I had been anticipating, the Spirit was very strong, especially as President and Sister Hiatt explained the options that were before her. As we left last night, it still wasn't clear as to what she will decide, but in my heart I felt peace, knowing that I had done all I could do to help her make the right decision.
As I have subsequently considered what occurred last night and the feelings I had, I remembered the story of Nephi and his family, who were forced to separate from Laman and Lemuel after arriving in the promised land of ancient America because of their dangerous behavior. As recorded in the Book of Mormon, Nephi "did cry much unto the Lord" (2 Nephi 5:1) concerning the matter, but after all of his efforts to help his older brothers change, "it came to pass that the Lord did warn [him] that [he], Nephi, should depart form them and flee into the wilderness, and all those who would go with [him]" (2 Nephi 5:5).
I think many individuals may read this passage and think that Nephi was relieved to leave his brethren, but after some consideration, I feel otherwise I don't think it could possibly be easy to leave members of your family, no matter how difficult they may be. However, I feel that he must have had peace in his heart, for he had "exhort[ed] them with all the energies of [his] soul..with all the faculty which [he] possessed [many times] that they would give heed to the word of God and remember to keep his commandments always in all things" (1 Nephi 15:25). Perhaps Nephi had the strength to continue on and become as happy as he did because he knew in his heart he had done his best to help his brethren make the right decision, regardless of the decision they actually made.
As I have seen manifest throughout the course of my mission, it is quite a common circumstance to have family members or other loved-ones who make decisions we wish they wouldn't. However, as I have learned through consideration this last week, peace in such circumstances really does come from doing our best to love them and continue to help them. Although the end-result of many situations may be such that are unfortunate in nature, we will still have the peace of heart we need, knowing that we did our best to help them do what is right. That is indeed all the Lord requires of us.
Have a wonderful week!
Love,
Elder Pulley
 |
| Nanay Gloria and her family |
No comments:
Post a Comment