Fight The Adversary

Now that I am around more people, I have noticed a few things.

I've noticed the state of the world more and more. I've also noticed how the scriptures, especially the Book of Mormon, not only shows us, but foretells us the adversities and the adversary tactics.

When we see the lie, we are also able to see the truth. I mean it.

As D&C 45:26 says,

"And in that day shall be heard of wars and rumors of wars, and the whole earth shall be in commotion, and men’s hearts shall fail them, and they shall say that Christ delayeth his coming until the end of the earth."

Let me tell you first hand, men's hearts are failing them right now and the world is in commotion.

Let me also tell you that Jesus Christ is going to come again, you can almost feel it.

D&C:
27 And the love of men shall wax cold, and iniquity shall abound.
28 And when the times of the Gentiles is come in, a light shall break forth among them that sit in darkness, and it shall be the fulness of my gospel; "

The Restoration is the light.

We are the light sitting in the darkness.

We have the fullness of the Gospel.
But people don't accept it.

D&C:
29 But they receive it not; for they perceive not the light, and they turn their hearts from me because of the precepts of men.

Why would we turn away from God because of what men say?

D&C
38 Even so it shall be in that day when they shall see all these things, then shall they know that the hour is nigh.

I do not need to point out what's going on today, the hour is nigh. The influence of the adversary is widespread and seductive.

As a missionary it is hard to go out every day. It's hard to "never stop offering our bruised hearts despite continual rejection,” to bring them this light and truth.

We have had great success within our first 8 days. We put 7 people on date. I've tried to adopt Elder Kendrick's tactic in New York, and it's working, but it has to be consistent.

It is hard, but it is worth it. It’s sometimes hard to study everyday. It’s hard to write these emails, it’s hard to teach people who don’t reciprocate the effort, but I know when I do these things it is easier. If we know we need to put on the Armor of God to fight, we would never go out to battle without missing a single piece of our armor.

So why would we miss a day?

D&C 46:32 But my disciples shall stand in holy places, and shall not be moved; but among the wicked, men shall lift up their voices and curse God and die.

It so important to stand in Holy places, with Holy people and Holy influences. It helps us.

If we want to receive all that God has we have to be willing to give up all that we have

The rich young man almost gave everything.

So he almost got the blessings.

Let us give everything.

Satan has a grasp of this world.

You all are not of this world.

This is not our home.

We come from our Father in Heaven. Who wants us to return to live with him.

We are trying to overcome the world. Elder Hafen stated,”So we can return home and know what it means to be there."

The Lord accepts you when you accept him, when we accept God we grow.

Sometimes we grow in 2 ways.

Removing the weeds and growing flowers.

It's going to take sweat and discipline

It isn't easy to keep a garden clean of weeds nor is it to constantly water it and nourish it.

" Thru thorny ways leads to a joyful end.” Hymn 124

When God asked Abraham to sacrifice his Son, God knew he would do it.

So why did he ask?

Abraham needed to learn something about his faith. Not God.

When God asks us to grow, he's asking us to "sell all that thou hast" so that we may "have treasure in heaven."

It won’t be easy, it never was, but it will be worth it. Because Jesus Christ has felt what we have felt. He is "afflicted in our afflictions."

He wept when you weep now.

He felt pain when you feel it now.

He worried when you worry now.

But he feels joy, when you feel joy.

He felt it then, so he could help you now.

His grace, comfort, peace, Atonement, and love are a gift when we are willing to accept it. Please accept it. I couldn't go on my mission without the Savior walking beside me. I have to be consistent in my study and what I do so that I can continue on. I love the people I serve around and the privilege I have to serve, my heart hurts for the world and the people who blindly choose Satan. It seems when we grow closer to God, we share the feelings God has for his children, rather they be mourning or rejoicing. As I study I always find more reasons to do as the Sons of Mosiah did, to help our "brethren" find Jesus Christ.

Jesus Loves you

Stay with him!!

Elder Nick Kendrick
Detroit, Michigan






Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Winner's New Year

Image
Luke 18:22 Now when Jesus heard these things, He said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me. I love this scripture because at the end it says "Come follow me." It's at the end, which sometimes in life it seems last minute, last time we try, last thing we do, is our answer or our chance to "change things." How many last chances are we going to get? How many times can we make the same mistake? How many times are we going to stay the same? How many times do we need to be told what to do? I really hope 2024 is a year that we all grow a lot, grow spiritually, physically, and mentally. Let’s take up our cross and bear it, let's give up that thing we know we don’t want too, "because it is too hard”. Let’s face that trial, face our fears,”Don't let your fear decide your fate." Even though some of the motivation we have is from the date cha...
Read more

The Difference

Image
Think of the difference of your life without the Gospel and Jesus Christ's example.  Where would you be now?   What would you be doing?   How much different would your life be?   All that you know, the things that bring you peace, the things you enjoy you have been  blessed with, with all this you have, has it changed you?   One of the hardest things to do in life is change. I’ve reflected on how much the Gospel  has changed me. I feel like I've had 5 years of experience with having only being out for  what feels like a few months.   The Gospel helps us change when we follow it and live it, the change comes naturally  as God blesses us when we try to become like the Son.   As I look back from week to week, I see the change, though little, I see how each week  the Gospel helps me "overcome the world and find rest." It helps me know that we are  all children of God, and divine.  Those deep ...
Read more

New Perspective

Image
I am in Detriot. The city. Downtown. Talk about New Perspective. The adjustment has been an interesting one, but I love it. This will most likely be the last area I serve in. I have moved up closer to some of my favorite missionaries. As I reflect on my mission, my perspective has changed in life completely. Perspective is the way we see things when we look at them from a certain distance and it allows us to appreciate their true value and act accordingly. An example, you don't know how much you miss someone until you don't get to spend as much time with them... Distance kills what's fake and shows you what's real. Perspective is the window you look through to perceive everything. Is your window clean or dirty? Perspective helps you to know where you are now and where you want to go. While you're on the path, are you going to be looking for the tools on the way or the obstacles? Proverbs 14:8 The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way: but the folly of fools...
Read more