November 1st, 2020 "Light Abounds" HMTC Week 3
(Hello everyone! Apologies for the late email - I've been
adding a couple of people to the mailing list steadily and I was waiting on one
more. Feel free to email me tomorrow as well, if you'd like, and I'll get back
to you all as soon as I can! Thanks - and cheers!)
皆さん！
What a week it's been! How has everyone been? Staying safe
and warm, I hope? For us here in the Decker home, Christmas has already begun
in full swing! My family is already decorating the whole house with garlands
and gnomes galore. The scent of cinnamon seems to hang on the air, and lights
of every kind brighten even the darkest corners of the house. And as
preparations continue to unfold, each new decoration placed is another little
spark of joy that brightens the home... and our hearts. And it's fun to step
outside my room at the end of a day of class to see the railings decorated with
festive cheer - red and white a proclamation of the tidings of the seasons.
Now, the Spirit of the Lord is now joined by a new spirit - the Spirit of
Christmas.
It's honestly amazing how everything has been shaping up!
Christmas is my favorite holiday for a myriad of reasons - family being among
them. That's why I'm extremely thankful that my family is celebrating Christmas
a little bit early so that I can celebrate with them before I leave for Japan.
I'm really looking forwards to spending time with them, laughing, and just
enjoying the spirit of the season together. It's a beautiful time of laughter
and joy for us - and I'm grateful for the opportunity to spend one more
Christmas with them before I head out!
But as for this week... unfortunately, it was fairly
uneventful. I wish I had more to report, but honestly this whole week has just
been nose to the grindstone. The speed is picking up, for sure! We're learning
five new phrases each day related to different aspects of the Gospel, as well
as new vocabulary (I'm setting a goal for ten words a day to try to stay
ahead!), and learning about the Gospel itself, as well! This week has been
focused on speaking the language confidently and clearly. I had a good
conversation with one of my teachers during one-on-ones where we talked about
using the sentences we already can create to go step by step to a goal. I
realized that in English, I was relying on my ability to ramble with a
direction to get to an end destination, if that makes sense. Because I'm trying
to teach in a completely new language... I can't exactly do that, right? So
I've been working hard at making sure my lessons go step by step to an end
goal, explaining everything... and asking more questions! I mentioned this
before, but I need to learn how to teach by the Spirit, rather than
explain. And that comes through testifying of truths that I know to
be true.
Overall, though, our district continues to grow closer and
closer. Seriously. We're all basically best friends at this point - probably
because we spend so much time together. Baxter長老 mentioned that if there was
something to have an opinion on, he would be able to take a stance and argue
about it - no matter what it is. So Greene長老 came up with a seemingly bizarre
debate topic - whether cake should be eaten with a fork or a spoon.
That was a mistake.
The lines in our district have been drawn. The banners of
cutlery have been raised, and there is no going back now. Neither side is willing
to back down, and it seems war is soon to be upon us...
...or something like that. I think there's beautiful
symbolism in it, though. :)
But other than that, this week has been pretty good! Can't
complain about anything too much. It's been a lot of fun to be able to have an
excuse to study the things that I love for hours on end every week. It's tons
of fun!
This week's spiritual thought comes from the book of Alma in
the Book of Mormon - specifically, the story of King Lamoni and his father. As
Ammon and King Lamoni were journeying to the place that Ammon's brethren were
imprisoned, they happened upon the caravan of King Lamoni's father - a literal
king of kings. As they talked, King Lamoni's father mentioned that King Lamoni
had missed the feast he had held for his family earlier - and demanded to know
the reason why.
But as he turned to see the Nephite standing next to him -
the king's sworn enemy - he knew immediately why.
Furious that his son had believed the words of the
Nephites, the "sons of a liar", he immediately turned back to his son
and demanded that he prove his loyalty - strike down Ammon where he stood, and
return to their home.
If he failed to obey, he would lose everything. Land,
possessions, his kingdom and his subjects, even family... it would all be gone.
And as such, King Lamoni found his heart torn. Not only did he face the fury of
his king, but he faced the fury of his father. And not only that, but his
choice seemed impossible - save himself and his kingdom, or continue to stay
faithful to the Gospel?
And not only that, but King Lamoni had just learned about
the Gospel but a few days prior. Was he willing to stake everything he knew on
something new?
King Lamoni made an impossible choice - and yet, somehow it
wasn't as impossible as it seemed. He knew Heavenly Father would bless him and
protect Him. His life had been irreversibly changed for the better - and he
knew, without a doubt, that the Gospel was true. He knew that Heavenly Father
loved Him.
And he knew that if he believed... He would be delivered.
Somewhat shakily, King Lamoni stepped forward, heart
brimming with fear... and courage. His words are recorded in Alma 20:15 -
"But Lamoni said unto him: I will not slay Ammon,
neither will I return to the land of Ishmael, but I go to the land of Middoni
that I may release the brethren of Ammon, for I know that they are just men and
holy prophets of the true God."
King Lamoni trusted in the Lord for deliverance - and though
the king of the land still remained angered, he instead drew his blade against
Ammon, for he was the one that had converted King Lamoni. But Ammon was
protected by the Lord, and the ensuing fight was short. With a broken arm and
pleading for his life, the king of all the land asked what they wanted in
exchange for his life. The two, in turn, simply asked for the release of their
brethren, that King Lamoni become a sovereign ruler, and for them to go on
their way. And this left a lasting impression on the king - who had surely
thought his throne was to be usurped. But most of all, as he gazed upon his
son, he realized how much he loved King Lamoni - and that through his
testimony, through his defiance, the king of all the land learned that his son
had found something special - something beautiful. He had found peace - and he
had found joy.
My brothers and sisters, how often do we find ourselves at
crossroads like these? There are times where our faith truly is tested - times
where it seems that we must choose between the impossible and the unfeasible.
What do we do in these times? What should we do? What can we
do?
In times like these, we must stand firm in our testimonies.
And if we don't have any... then now is as good as time as any to find one. Act
in faith. Read the scriptures, and then kneel before Heavenly Father and ask if
He is there. Listen in a quiet place for the quiet voice of the Spirit - and I
promise you that if you act in faith, you will be able to receive an answer.
And Heavenly Father will answer your prayers in the way that will not only be
the most effective... but the one that will leave the most lasting change
within you.
I believe that within the heart of that king of kings burst
a feeling of love for his child - a feeling sent from one who could only have
felt that feeling before Themselves. One that could only be understood by one
who feels that not only for King Lamoni... but for the king himself.
It could only have come from a Heavenly Father.
I know that He lives. I know that He is watching over us,
and knows each and every one of us. After all, we lived with Him before this
life - and we talked with Him and learned about Him. We loved Him... and He
loved us.
And if He loved us then, why would He not love us now?
And only as a loving Father would do, He has done everything
in His power to help us to become the best people we can be. He sends us trials
to help us grow - but none that we are not strong enough to handle, and never
any that we cannot handle with help from others. And in the midst of darkness
and sorrow, when times seem more than we can handle, and life rears its ugly
head in all of its horror, terror, sorrow, and fear... He will be with us every
step of the way. He has sent us a Savior - Jesus Christ, who suffered for all
of our sins so that He can offer to us in our darkest moments in life... a
guiding hand.
But He will only ever offer it. We have to act and choose to
grasp onto it. I promise that as we do, He will guide us through. And along the
way, Heavenly Father will continue to bless us and care for us - granting
encouragement, strength, and wisdom, as long as we look to Him sincerely, with
the intention to act and continue to step forwards, until the day where we
break free past the mists of darkness to find our Heavenly Father, with open
arms, waiting for us to come back to His embrace.
I know They live. They live, and they love each and every
one of us. They want nothing more than to see us happy - truly happy - and do
everything in their power to help us to do so. They have granted us the
Atonement - which allows us to be forgiven of our sins and move forward. They
have given us the scriptures - the Bible, and through revelation to Joseph
Smith, the Book of Mormon. They guide us and direct us to become the best
people that we can be - and help us to become more like Heavenly Father and
Jesus Christ, so that one day, we might be able to, in the end, return to their
loving embrace.
I love Them with all of my heart - and if I can help others
to feel even a small part of how much They love each and every one of us...
then everything I have ever done will have all been worth it.
Thanks for bearing with me in the long email this week! Not
much to report this week, but I've had a lot of really cool things that I've
been able to learn and grow from this week, and so I want to be able to share
as much as I can with you all. I'm still loving the MTC, between my district,
my teachers, and the Spirit that has so completely enveloped my heart and
spirit - and I can't wait to see how much more I can learn and improve
before these next nine weeks are done!
But for now, enjoy your week, everyone - and keep on keeping
on! You guys are all amazing! I think I'm going to go enjoy a nice cup of hot
chocolate and help decorate the house a little more. It's that time, of the
year, anyways!
Cheers,
Elder Decker | デッカー長老
