"I found myself delivered from the enemy" (Joseph Smith History 1:17) - August 16, 2021

 Spiritual Thought

As we study and teach Joseph Smith's account of the First Vision, our tendency is to focus on the appearance of God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ.  This is rightly so.  A vision of such magnitude deserves our constant study and recounting.  In that moment when "a pillar of light descended gradually" upon the head of young Joseph Smith, heavenly choirs surely were singing for joy.  In that moment the darkness of apostasy was chased from the earth, never to be reintroduced on a global scale.  In that moment the dispensation of the fulness of times began to role forth in all the import and splendor inherent to such an anticipated period of time.  In that moment our Heavenly Father's voice was once more heard by man.  In that moment an adolescent farmhand from upstate New York became the prophet of this final dispensation prior to the return of Jesus Christ to the earth.

I wonder, however, if in our zeal over all that this vision entails we too often forget the terrifying event that took place immediately prior to this vision.  In Joseph's own words he was "seized upon by some power which entirely overcame" him.  Joseph Smith's own history tells us that in this moment he feared he was "doomed to a sudden destruction" and that "all of the powers of the unseen world were combined against him".  It is easy to see why the adversary would try so desperately to destroy this young man when you and I consider all that would shortly transpire as a result of this simple prayer.  There is a lesson for all of us in this portion of the account.  Profound, spiritual, even life-altering experiences are quite often preceded by an increase of trial and opposition.  Satan desires that all men might be miserable.  He is also the enemy of all righteous.  Because of this fact he will do all within his power to sway us or cause us to falter when we are on the cusp of something great or glorious.  When you and I are faced with these periods of darkness may we ever keep in memory the "pillar of light" which did immediately expel all darkness from the boy prophet Joseph.  The light and power of Jesus Christ's atonement will forever and always conquer the pathetic performance that the adversary may put forward.  Because the Lamb of God descended below all things he possesses all power and has eternally vanquished darkness.  He is the Light Which Shineth in Darkness.  May each of us more earnestly draw upon His power I pray.

In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen

 

Weekly Update

Hello everyone,

As I began to write last week's email I came to an uncomfortable realization.  I had spent each hour of each day working to bring others closer to Christ.  I had walked for mile after mile trying to find someone to talk with.  I had contacted each and every person who seemed even remotely interested in our message, but to no avail.  And through it all I had been praying and fasting for miracles to take place.  At the end of the week, however, I had very little to show for my efforts and those things that I did have were depressing and discouraging.  Thankfully, this past week was different.

It would take too much time to discuss each of the miracles that took place this week.  I will focus on only a few and am sure the others will be discussed as the weeks progress.  On Tuesday Elder Divelbiss and I visited a family in one of our wards.  There is the mom, her daughter, and her son, none of which are members.  Her fourteen year old son, Connor, has been involved with the young men in the ward and went on a campout a few weeks ago where he asked how we pray.  He then proceeded to ask what the Gospel is and if he is allowed to read the Book of Mormon.  Needless to say that we were very excited to hear about his interest.  When we visited with his mom she was very friendly and supportive of his interest in the gospel.  She said that Connor has lists of questions about the church but she does not know enough to answer them for him.  We are going over later this week to begin teaching the entire family.  Teaching entire families is a very rare experience in Utah.  There are missionaries who complete there missions and still have never taught a full family.

We also were able to talk with the mom of one of our investigators.  Her son, Mason, is nine but will turn ten in October.  Over the course of the conversation his mom told us that she would like Mason to be baptized before he turns ten.  Nothing makes a missionary want to start doing cartwheels more than hearing someone say that.  

As I said earlier, these are only a couple of the highlights of the week.  Elder Divelbiss and I think that it is almost a certainty that we will baptize one or two people over the next transfer, five is very reasonable, and ten is a definite possibility.  To put that in perspective, Elder Divelbiss will reach his one year mark next month and has baptized three people.

Elder Divelbiss and I were asked to teach a training at zone conference on Wednesday along with three sister missionaries.  Two members of the seventy, Elder Schmutz and Elder Sikahema, will be in attendance.  I am very excited but also a little intimidated.

This week I received one of the clearest promptings I have ever had.  Very rarely do most people hear an actual voice when they receive a prompting.  I had one of those promptings this week though.  We were talking to the Relief Society president in one of our wards.  She said that her daughter was originally called to France on her mission.  As soon as she said "France" I heard a voice say "you need to learn French".  It was so clear that I thought someone standing right next to me had said it.  I do not know what the Lord has planned that requires me to know French but needless to say I have begun learning French.  I am still spending my official language study time on Malagasy but am working on French in spare moments outside of that time.  Regardless of what the bigger picture is here, it can't hurt anyone to be fluent in the language of love after their mission, if you know what I mean.

I hope you all have a great week,

Elder Payne

One of the wards in our area meets in this building.  This building was built in 1904.

The other three wards meet here.

Elder Marchman and Elder Schiel have to walk through part of my area to get to their area.  I saw them in my area on Wednesday so I started heckling them and taking pictures that I threatened to send to President Johnson.

This is the crippled pug Elder Divelbiss and I walk past every day.  We have named him Breadloaf.  Three of his legs are broken, he is blind, rabid, and absolutely covered in fleas.  His sinuses are also seriously blocked, even for a pug.  Every night one of us will say "I hope Breadloaf lives through the night".  We want to make shirts that have a picture of him and say "I believe in Breadloaf" then pass them out to other missionaries.

A Llama we saw while walking home from district council.  Frankly, I don't know why I took this picture.  I just thought everyone would like to see a picture of a Llama because they are such beautiful animals and keep many a Peruvian shepherd safe during lonely nights in the hills.

The two fawns were closer to the road this week.  They are young enough that they still have spots.

My district.  Back row L-R: Elder Schiel, Elder Davis, Me.  Front row L-R: Elder Divelbiss, Elder Fairbanks, Elder Marchman, Sis. Stevenson, Sis. Holt.