Guided by the Spirit

Dear Family and Friends,

This last week we had a great zone conference! No special visitors, except one, The Holy Ghost. :) Tricked ya! but not really because he is there for all of us. But we had a lot of guidance on how we can be better listeners and better head the promptings of the spirit. The thing that really stuck out to me was that the spirit isn't always so strong we are filled, and overwhelmed. I think that many of us get into the mindset that if we can't feel the "Burn" then the spirit isn't thereat that moment. I had to be reminded that the spirit is in the background most of the time, just giving slight brushing thoughts in our minds. It is not always a voice that directs us in every step of our journey here on this earth. It was never intended to be. We are agents unto ourselves, given many gifts from our father which also makes us stewards. We need to act as the agents that we are doing many things of our own free will right? That is the goal of the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost. To train us up until the point where our thoughts are the same as our Father in Heaven. I have a long way to go though. The thing that popped into my head was D&C 58; that we need to be anxiously engaged in a good cause. 

This week we were not able to see as many people as we normally do. This area is amazing for teaching! We usually have at least 40 lessons a week. That is a lot. The thing is it gets hard to remember what to teach so many different people, because not only do we teach that many one week, but the next week it could be quite a few different people that we teach. So needless to say it is so important that the spirit is there to help us really understand these people and their needs. Without that we would have very little hope of making any impact on anyone. But with it we are even astounded with many of the things that we learn in each scenario that we are presented with. The spirit is so powerful and wonderful. I love the guidance that it gives. 

We had some powerful experiences yesterday. After weekly planning we had the chance to go help a man move. His mother died a little under a year ago and he was moving to a smaller place in the same apartment complex so it was quick and easy. But right after we left we had to go bless a home where there was a lot of, what would people say paranormal activity. Anyway the family was terrified so we went to bless their home. That lead us to a discussion about the gospel and ultimately two new investigators. Then we had dinner with a less active family and an appointment right after. The appointment was with a part member family, and it fell through. The cool thing was, just down the road a little old lady was sweeping her drive. We went talk to her and ask her for some brooms to help. She actually started talking to us before we got close enough to ask. Cynthia is battling Cancer and she is a Christian converted from Catholic. We had a wonderful conversaion about the church and general conference this weekend (Which I am So excited for by the way!) as well as missionary work. We asked her if we could explain the Book of Mormon a little bit more and she was vey excited to learn. Too bad we had just given away our last copy to Yvette that morning. But we will be going back to teach her and we are getting another box of 40 BOM this week so that should tide us over for a bit :) 

So in one day we found or cam in contact with 4 new investigators. I don't know any other way that that could happen unless it was guided by the spirit. I love this work and all the blessings that it brings. The next  baptism coming up is Anthony and he is a Stud. He always reads 4 or more chapters ahead of his "Homework" Martin who was baptized the Saturday before last finished the BOM in one month! Now he is starting over with his wife to help her learn to read better and understand it all. Miracles happen every day. I love you all so much and I pray that we can all better recognize the still small voice that has changed more in this world than any other single influence (Considering Christ's Atonement as an event). It is by his guidance that all the scriptures came about and also by his power that God will continue to pour pout revelation and mysteries to all those who are willing to seek them and live by them. A man might as well try to stop the Missouri river with his arm than try to stop God's revelation through the Holy Ghost on the heads of the Latter Day Saints. (D&C 121:33)

-- 

Elder McGarry

​(Sorry I forgot my Camera, I'll have to send pictures next week) ​

How Easy is The Way

Dear Family and Friends,

I am humbled and blessed daily. I love getting to know people and see things from their perspective. I have a huge opportunity here in the mission field where people are able to open up in a way that they otherwise would not in many cases. I take that responsibility very seriously. For that reason I try not to share to many personal things. I did have an experience this week though that changed my perspective for the future and I'll get to that in a second. I have had the honor of being part of Martin's Baptism, by his son Frank. It was beautiful :) I got to share my testimony right after the baptism itself. I know that these are the days that I will look back on for years to come, but more importantly that I will strive to see more of in the years to come. 

Humility can be a very hard thing to overcome. It requires a change of personality and character in a lot of ways. It's hard to admit that you are wrong. The opposite of humility is pride, and it is a desolating disease. It can sneak in at any stage of life or in any kind of relationship. I have seen how pride can destroy people's love for each other. I feel that to be prideful is to say that you do not want understanding. You feel that you are right. You area "knower" and no-one else knows as good as you. Is that not what pride tells us? Or at least that in order to fill our responsibilities we have to do it ourselves without help from outside. In contrast being humble is to say that I do not know what is best. Maybe my (In my case it would be companion) SOMEONE(Insert Bishop, Spouse, Councilor, Parent, Heavenly Father) knows better than I do. Alma 7 talks about how we need to 'come and fear not, and lay aside every sin which doth easily beset us.' Is it scary to say that you are wrong? Is it hard? Is it enjoyable? Some hearts may say "What will people think to know that I, of all people, made a mistake or that I don't know what to do?" This week I had an introspective view of what this kind of thinking leads to. A family was divided against itself. I can only say that a house divided against itself will not stand. Nevertheless, I know that God provides a way for all of his children to be complete and whole and to be equal heirs to that kingdom he has prepared for them. My desperate plea to this circumstance is that each of us will be humble enough to let go of our own pride, because it get us absolutely nothing but pain and sorrow. I have seen this in my life. 

The scriptures teach us to be ware of Pride. I would say that even more than that, dispel pride and be eager to accept guidance and council in truth. Strive to be unified in whatever you do. It takes a LOT of Humility and Patience. But it will turn out :) I know that it's not easy to get along with some people, I am probably one of them, I don't know because I haven't had to put up with me in that way ;) but I'm grateful for those of you that have. We are nothing without our loving Father in Heaven. I know that he loves each and every one of us. I know that he wants us all to have a personal relationship with him. If you haven't built one then start now :) Just like the children of Israel had to only look to the staff to be healed, we only have to look to our Father in Heaven. Let us not be slothful because of the easiness of the way. Remember to exercise faith, and humility unto repentance. I love you all and can't wait to hear from many of you :) (Yes that is an invitation to write back)

Have a great week!

Elder McGarry

 

 

Baptism

Redneck'n it before dinner with the Sanchez Family :)​

St. Patrick's Day

Dear Family and Friends,

Where to start.. I often have this problem because there is so much I could tell you. So many people that are preparing to be baptized, about 9 right now. n particular though we have Martin who is going to be baptized this Saturday by his son Frank. Frank is a miracle story in himself, we made first contact with him about a month and a half ago. Now He is an Aaronic Priesthood holder and we have had the privilege to teach his father, Martin since we met him at Frank's Baptism on the 28th of Feb.  So, less than a month later, he is going to have the chance to baptize his father! So cool.

The struggles of missionary work are, honestly hard for me to call struggles. I know it is hard to see people go through what they do, but it is so worth it to see the reward and the joy that comes from all of it.

Nelida, who I had the chance to baptize on Feb. 14th, gave a talk in Sacrament meeting this Sunday. It was so cool to be apart of that. I can just think right now, in a year from that day Neli and Jose get to go to the temple and be sealed and I might have the privilege to go to that as well. Another Miracle, Stacey who has been less active for a number of years has been meeting with us and her husband Anthony is going to be baptized next month. I look forward to that day but also to the year from that day when I will get to attend their temple sealing as well. These experiences are the kind that 'fill your lamp' and the true value is hard to express. But the significance can be understood. Eternal Life is something we strive to understand but have Faith in obtaining so that we can fully understand by experience. Just like we had no idea what mortal life would be like until we chose to come down to this life, we won't know what eternal life is like until we choose to prepare ourselves and obey the laws that are necessary to live in that state.

 

Let every man and woman learn their calling and purpose and fulfill it with all diligence. (paraphrasing D&C 107: 99) Each of us take  different path, but have the same goal in mind. So in celebrating the Holiday today I urge each of us to also celebrate the gift of the Atonement which is the greatest gift this world has been given. I can honestly say that some days I don't know how the Atonement can apply to what I am going through, but I have faith that it does. My desire is to better understand and utilize this gift in each moment of each day. It is through faith and desire and diligence that this is possible. In times of discouragement always remember that it is better to look up. Look up to the Father who gave you life, because he is always looking to you with arms open inviting you to come. I love you all!

Elder McGarry

Time no More

Dear Family and Friends,

I have pondered a lot this week, about where I am, what I am doing and why. I am so glad that I get this opportunity to be blessed so greatly. Of all the places that I could be right now, I would not be anywhere else. And let me say, time is so short. When the scriptures say there will be time no more, wow. That is an interesting thought. I guess that is the meaning of eternity, no end. I feel so strongly that Eternal Life is so simple to obtain, but why does it seem so hard? Because of Fear. Because of Doubt. Anything really. We are all children of the most high God. He has instilled in us a desire and furthermore, the potential to live and learn and to progress. Purity and cleanliness allow us to feel comfortable in his presence. But it is so easy to get caught up with the small things like comparing and trying to think we are doing better, or maybe not as well as someone else 'seems' to be. Let's apply the famous words of Dieter F. Uchtdorf "Stop It"

​ We are given life experiences to learn and to grow. We have the example of Jesus Christ to show us how to let go of the worldly influences and cares that try to tie us down. ​Well we learn in a couple of ways. Through other people's experiences, and more importantly, and lastingly, through our own. So to learn patience, we are given trials that test our patience. To learn Love we are given trials that may make it hard to love someone, yet we have to learn to love them anyway. Is that not what Christ did? Have we not all done something that made him bleed a drop of the most pure blood ever on this planet? And still he is patient and loving with each of us. Ignorant, or careless as we may be. We are commanded to read. Is it not easy to read? How many of us take for granted these things we've been given. I know I do. What a blessing it is to read and learn about patience, because how much good does it do to worry about something that we can't control? And if we have patience in those times when we could have been stressing, then we may look at those times as blessings. Maybe sitting in traffic we have the chance to think of an old friend and call them to see if they are doing well. But if we are impatiently striving to alter circumstances that are out of our control then we wouldn't think about that opportunity and our friend may continue to struggle instead. Sorry for rambling for a bit. The point is, through learning Christlike attributes our so called trials just become small moments in which we have the chance to choose joy and appreciation for God's gift of life instead of wondering or staying in confusion or anger or fear or disdain. 

Obtaining Purity and cleanliness through the Atonement may not be easy, but staying focused on the Savior and believing that he is inviting us continually to come unto him is easy if we allow it to be. I want to pose a question:

   If you were given 15 minutes with someone you knew very little about, and you were told that you had once chance to make an eternal impact in their life, what would you do or say?
And I'll add one more little twist, what would you share from the Book of Mormon to make that lasting eternal impact? 

There will come a time when this may to each one of you. It will also pass as time always does, and that time will be no more. The Lord will ask you to account for the time that you spent in that 15 minutes (or hour or week or month, and in fine your whole life). This day is the time for men to perform their labors yea behold the day of this life i the day for men to perform their labors, yea behold the day of this life is given unto men to prepare to meet God." Alma 34:32

I love you all so much and I hope that each of us can take the time to put in order the tings that the Lord is asking us to do. No matter how big or small. Have a great week!

 

Elder McGarry

 

Another Massive Tumble Weed! We had to move it out of the road to get around!

Contemplating, and planning (Excuse me I mustache you a question) :)​

 

Good Enough

Dear Family and Friends,

 

I am so excited that I get to spend another transfer here in the Sage area! Elder Hardy and I are going to stick around and get some work done for another six weeks. Things are going so well here! I was honored to Baptize Frank this last weekend. We originally contacted him through a media referral in which he had requested a bible. We taught him the restoration and then passed him off to the young single adult sisters in the Manzano branch. Now only about three weeks later he has quit smoking and is baptized! Oh another note about saturday, IT SNOWED A TON. Ok for Albuquerque it is a ton, but from what I hear it may be even more than what is going on back home in Logan. We got a good six inches and the mission kind of shut down, as did the rest of the city. Luckily (Sort of) we didn't get the mission-wide text that morning telling us to stay off the roads until firther notice and I drove us safely down to Los Lunas to participate in the Baptism.

This week we have been very busy and we didn't get to teach as many lessons but we had some wonderful experiences. One of my favorite parts of the week was in chruch Brother Jimenez told me that he is so happy that I am serving here. He told me that he really knows that I care about the people and the Sanchez family who is taking the temple prep class from the Jimenez' is always talking about me. I don't want to say this in vanity because that is not what I am trying to do. It is all God and his gospel that brings joy and he is the "only one that is good" Matt 19:16. But Brother Jimenez told me something that I have heard and I really liked the reminder. He said that "Noone cares how much you know, until they know how much you care." I know that this is true. I am so grateful to be counted worthy to serve the Lord in this capacity.

 

The thing that I want to emphasize this week is along the lines of being "Good." Or "be ye therefore perfect." Well let me say that no matter what we do there is never any chance that we can cover any of the distance between us and God alone. It is all because of Christ's grace that we are even allowed to have a hope of life or salvation. So in that sense we are not good enough, only through Christ. We all have to rely on the mercies of him who is mighty to save. But when we do that then we are able to obtain a hope. Not only a hope but a "perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men..." 2 Nephi 31: 20. We are not perfect, but we are good enough. You are good enough. Each of you. I'll try to do a little diagram for this next part. UnWorthy---Worthy--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Perfection. Hopefully that is sufficient. The idea is that there is only a small difference for each of us from being unworthy to being worthy. But the path to perfection is much longer. It's not a destination, it is a journey. The Hope of Christ helps us each to continue in that journey and progress in life. I love you all and I hope you have a great week!

 

Elder McGarry

 

P.S. I'm still waiting for testimonies to put in some books!!