Primary

Well this week I want to talk a little bit about the truths of God. Right. Throughout my life, I’ve heard a lot of different people ask a lot of questions about God, about the gospel, and about personal opinions. 

And as I look at it, I tend to find that there are two sets of real questions. Primary questions and Secondary questions. The Primary questions include: Does God exist? Does he answer my prayers? Did Jesus Christ die for me? Was Joseph Smith a prophet? Where do I go after this world? Etc. Etc. Secondary questions can be as basic as the priesthood restrictions, the first vision, the translation of the Book of Mormon.

Now a lot of secondary answers I take to the extreme end of comparison. Its like asking what type of nail, how thick, how long, what type of metal they used; to hang Jesus on the cross. While coming to the knowledge of these questions may build upon your testimony, knowing them by themselves won't give you a testimony of Jesus the Christ as our Savior. What matters most obviously aren't the nails, but him sacrificing himself for us on the cross. This is important to know so that we may overcome physical death, repent of our sins, and so that we can all make it back to our Heavenly Father. We need to know and understand the principles. The points of the doctrine most basic. We need to have our own personal testimony about them. Porque as it is said in 3 Nephi 26:  

"9 And when they shall have received this, which is expedient that they should have first, to try their faith, and if it shall so be that they shall believe these things then shall the greater things be made manifest unto them.

10 And if it so be that they will not believe these things, then shall the greater things be withheld from them, unto their condemnation."

Gaining our foundational testimony will make all other secondary questions become obsolete. You can tie back any secondary question, back to a primary question. While some may question the importance of the word of wisdom. The real question can be turned back to 'Was Joseph Smith a prophet?' If he really was then, that means he received the revelation, as prophets do, to guide us and give us this commandment in these modern days. Remember, knowledge is not a bad thing. But you can't do Algebra before you can even do addition. I encourage all of you to make sure your foundation is firm.

Also just a reminder to listen to the impressions of the spirit. You won't have regrets if you do so.

This week we helped clean a river clogged up with algae and seaweed that was rotting which was needed for the community. That was fun as we got in our boots and went to work. It smelled fishier than then the port in San Francisco where all the seals hangout in combination to what I would think a sewage treatment plant would smell like. We worked in shorts and tee-shirts and definitely got too much sun. I only have two pairs of pants here on the island. I will wear one of pants for a week and then wash it. But as we went on divisions to different islands, I didn't have the option to wash my pants last week.

This week was tiring from having a slight cold, but I've been working through it. How often do you get to be a missionary you know? We had a few prayers answered as we were able to work out a fiasco with the phones as we lost connection here. To contact people we tried using internet or Wi-Fi, but that was not working either. We were finally were able to make contact. We also had a baptism planned but he did not come to church on Sunday.  So, we were praying throughout all the sacrament meeting that he would make it. Then at last, in the last fifteen minutes he showed up and we baptized him. 

A lot of the kids love to collect and play with bottle caps here on the island. 

Who knew they were so much fun!