Being able to read about pioneer history this week has been inspiring. An example and something that really made me think was about the early missionaries, of the very first missionaries that came to England. They landed in England on July 23, and by July 30th, they had the first baptisms in England! In a time and a place completely unique to the world, I thought of maybe what factors would allow these missionaries to do this in just that time? My answer came as I studied this week.
For the past few months, I've been studying the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and how rich have those studies been!!! On pages 176-177 (in Preach My Gospel PMG) are these expectations that we give those that we begin teaching. I have gathered these extremely slowly over my mission, and probably should have memorized these points before, but as I have attained them, they come as promises and a strength to me. The first three points mentioned are what build this great faith in Christ for me, that the Savior really can solve all my problems because He is the Son of God. And God loves me very dearly; he promised me a body and experience. There has been no doubt of this great blessing that I have received. And as I have studied these first principles of the Gospel, they truly work to change our hearts and become like the Savior.
Back in Antioch, Cheryl Pease got baptized, and President Frandsen let me write her, so I'm sending her a letter as soon as I can! But the Gospel has power to change us from whatever state that we are in to become as the Savior. Tying back to the early Elders of the Church, I heard (in the 7 hour long church meetings, yes, i gather something) among some very directed talks, of the statement that came from a study. This study was trying to understand the pattern of development in the body, and compared different sports to different bodies. A hypothesis came that a swimmer's body must come from swimming, and tests were made of experienced and inexperienced swimmers, and the conclusion from that was that in fact, the people that swam the best were those with a swimmer's body. That a specific type of object/person will fulfil a certain task.
I think this is true, and I'm not saying that if you feel like you don't have "a swimmer's body", that you cannot swim, but the message I hope to share is that there is one type of person that can; with the fulness of his abilities; do the work of an immortal, perfect, Father in Heaven. And that person is Jesus Christ. If we are to bring as many souls just as a disciple of Christ (early elders, faithful parents, sons and daughters of God) we must focus completely on who we are. As we strive to become like the Savior, the natural consequence of His love and His power will bless our lives. Study Him out, and pray for the strength to become as He is. But the nice thing is that it isn't so complex, the Savior taught us HOW we can be like him! As we have true faith, the blessings will roll in. (Moroni 8:25-26)
Our Savior is the ultimate Pioneer, to go forward showing us the way and His example.