November 12, 2018 - This Week Was Nuts

This past week was absolutely crazy and all over the place. we had our Tempe trip on Tuesday which was great! Wednesday was Brandon's baptismal interview which he passed! Thursday Elder Crafts had a District Leader meeting so I was in a trio with a Spanish missionary. I got to listen to a whole lesson in Spanish and I could understand quite a bit! Friday was district council we did a ton of role plays and then one of the elders told us he would be going home the next day. So Saturday we were supposed to have the baptism but we were also in a trio and it was quite hectic. We hadn't heard from Brandon for like 2 days so we called off the baptism. We had an extra Elder and another area to cover so we were all over the place but we made it work. We got transfer calls that night, I will be staying and training a new missionary. Elder Crafts will be going to Sweet Home. Then Sunday we had ward council, then we went to five hours of church. It was crazy and I was so tired. I was so spiritually uplifted though. As we were sitting in Elders Quorum, I was reminded of something I heard a long time ago.

Back: Elders Peterson, Robbins, Lubbers Front: Elders Johnson, Crafts, Rasmussen

Basically there is this man asking for the Lord to strengthen him. He prays and prays for strength to overcome his trials, all that the Lord tells him to do is go outside and push this boulder. This boulder is huge and no man could push it. Day after day, month after month, year after year he pushes this boulder. It doesn't move an inch, he asks the Lord why he had him push that boulder and not have it move an inch. The Lord then proceeds to tell him to look at himself and the person he has become. His muscles and endurance have grown dramatically over the 10 year period of pushing this boulder every single day. Yet because the boulder didn't move, he didn't feel like he accomplished anything.

Many times we feel like this where we are doing everything we need to be doing and everything the Lord has asked us to, yet we still feel like we are failing. As long as we are faithful, the Lord will strengthen us and make us into the people he needs us to be. We must not compare ourselves to what we accomplish because we will always fall short, but we must compare ourselves to who we used to be and who we are now.

I love this gospel and the person it has made me into! I love the Book of Mormon and the teachings contained within. I'm grateful for all the Lord has blessed me with.

-Elder Robbins