Dear Dad,
As for the pictures... I haven’t taken any. I don’t have time and we are not allowed to take pictures of our prosliting area. So I don’t know when there will be pictures. Sorry.
Sounds like you are keeping busy. Don’t forget to take time to rest. Steven Covey said we need to sharpen the saw, and the Lord says it is not meant for man to run faster than he is able. Even missionaries have a P-Day. Take time to rest from your labors.
I think I’ve discovered the secret to life. I think complete happiness is found in our relationships with others. When the Lord gave the 10 commandments - the first 5 describe the relationship we should have with The Lord and the second 5 were the relationship we should have with other people. When The Savior was asked what the great commandment was, he responded "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, mind & soul". The second is like unto it, "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself". His response details the relationship we should have (1) with God and (2) other people.
I think the relationships you cultivate with God and with other people, no matter who they may be, are the things that will bring you the most happiness.
I see this principle in missionary work. The more we cultivate a relationship with an investigator, the more success we tend to have with him or her. Thus the greater our joy is with that person. As we help our investigators cultivate their relationship with the Lord, the more converted they become, and thus they are more blessed as a result (and generally more happy)!
One thing I think it is interesting to note is that our relationship with God comes first and should (theoretically) be the easiest to develop. Yet often because we do not see a physical person or actually hear a voice, we are slow to develop this relationship. In every relationship we have on this earth, the other person has the ability to harm the relationship, despite our efforts to build up the relationship because of their own agency and human imperfection. Our only relationship that is in uncorruptable is our relationship with the Lord. He is the only person whom is capable of fulfilling all ends of a relationship to perfection. The only thing that keeps us from having a perfect relationship with the Lord is ourselves.
Once we have done everything in our power to cultivate a perfect relationship with the Lord, I can only imagine that will naturally strengthen every other relationship we have with every other person we know. It’s a trickledown effect. Love for the Lord leads to love for your fellowman.
I short, I believe the key to living a happy life is to develop a close and personal relationship with the Lord.
This all came to me one night when I couldn't sleep but I think it’s pretty profound.
Love,
Elder Smith
As for the pictures... I haven’t taken any. I don’t have time and we are not allowed to take pictures of our prosliting area. So I don’t know when there will be pictures. Sorry.
Sounds like you are keeping busy. Don’t forget to take time to rest. Steven Covey said we need to sharpen the saw, and the Lord says it is not meant for man to run faster than he is able. Even missionaries have a P-Day. Take time to rest from your labors.
I think I’ve discovered the secret to life. I think complete happiness is found in our relationships with others. When the Lord gave the 10 commandments - the first 5 describe the relationship we should have with The Lord and the second 5 were the relationship we should have with other people. When The Savior was asked what the great commandment was, he responded "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, mind & soul". The second is like unto it, "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself". His response details the relationship we should have (1) with God and (2) other people.
I think the relationships you cultivate with God and with other people, no matter who they may be, are the things that will bring you the most happiness.
I see this principle in missionary work. The more we cultivate a relationship with an investigator, the more success we tend to have with him or her. Thus the greater our joy is with that person. As we help our investigators cultivate their relationship with the Lord, the more converted they become, and thus they are more blessed as a result (and generally more happy)!
One thing I think it is interesting to note is that our relationship with God comes first and should (theoretically) be the easiest to develop. Yet often because we do not see a physical person or actually hear a voice, we are slow to develop this relationship. In every relationship we have on this earth, the other person has the ability to harm the relationship, despite our efforts to build up the relationship because of their own agency and human imperfection. Our only relationship that is in uncorruptable is our relationship with the Lord. He is the only person whom is capable of fulfilling all ends of a relationship to perfection. The only thing that keeps us from having a perfect relationship with the Lord is ourselves.
Once we have done everything in our power to cultivate a perfect relationship with the Lord, I can only imagine that will naturally strengthen every other relationship we have with every other person we know. It’s a trickledown effect. Love for the Lord leads to love for your fellowman.
I short, I believe the key to living a happy life is to develop a close and personal relationship with the Lord.
This all came to me one night when I couldn't sleep but I think it’s pretty profound.
Love,
Elder Smith
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