crit·i·cism
ˈkridəˌsizəm/
noun
- 1.the expression of disapproval of someone or something based on perceived faults or mistakes."he received a lot of criticism"
synonyms: censure, condemnation, denunciation, disapproval, disparagement, opprobrium, fault-finding, attack, broadside, stricture, recrimination;
I felt insecure and scared Sunday. I felt like this letter was exposing me to criticism. But now it is Friday and I feel much more secure:
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Aug 13 (5 days ago)
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Dear BH's 2nd Ward Missionaries,
You are loved and admired. Thank you for serving.
1- Do you remember your first sin after being baptized? When did you first become unclean again? Do you remember your commitment to live pure and righteous? I do. The Bishop showed Danel Black advancing to Laurels. He presented Emily Gardine advancing to mia maids. Then he presented our newest baptized member Lydia Larson who was baptized yesterday by Derek Larsen. He told her not to come up but to just stand on the bench so all could see her with his permission just this one time. She did. I smiled. Perfect, deft, Bishop, I thought. But in priesthood Derek L divulged she was not very happy with that! It wasn't right for an 8 year old to stand on the bench! v- to her it might have seemed like the bishop was trying to get her to sin, break the rules, and she wants to stay pure. Oops.
2- Kent Perkins, Bishop spent 5 minutes in SS n in Priesthood explaining the Self Reliance program starting up for the second round Aug 17 or 27. He encouraged volunteers. It was cool in my opinion. I wrote about it to my home teachees today. Other 4 missionaries: KentP n Lynne have been called for a year as Self Reliance missionaries to Houston, Texas.
3- People seldom express their feelings. Andra Garrett dared to say she felt angry and anxious near the end of our SS lesson today which was about Eternal Marriage. DnC 131,132
Why mention that? Because if you don't know your feelings how can you feel the Holy Ghost? I believe he communicates with us through our feelings. In my opinion Andra showed great ownership of her feelings. She did not like what some of the brethren were saying. The brethren went silent. :)
4- I visited with Duane Derfler while out playing disc golf on our new course in the park Thursday morning, all by himself Kent. We have had summer thunderstorms like crazy and high humidity. He was taking off his hat and toweling his brow every five minutes. He is taking advantage of our new frisbee golf course! He presented a big screen show of Kent and Lynne Perkins last month for his self reliance lesson in HPG. Horray for our park service! Horray for Kent n Lynne Perkins.
5- Brinkerhoffs spoke today. They said it has only been 18 months since they spoke last time. Spiritual gifts is our sacrament meeting topic this month.
6- Only 2 more weeks of Saturday chapel cleaning and our 1/3 of the year cleaning is up!
7- Food at the city pool on Tuesday at our ward swimm party.
8- Britton Jensen, 14 teacher, accepted a call to serve as a counselor/ companion for our Stake Special Mutual Program.
9- Bishop Q Adams announced his son Q can accompany us in priesthood for the opening hymn! I asked Q for a list of hymns he can play. We did God Speed the Right with Elder Dallen Rickets conducting this week. Bishop said Q could have played that.
10- BKPacker said that having the 3 witnesses fall away really tested his faith. But it came back as strong as ever. "When I was a student, nothing tried my faith more than the falling away of the Three Witnesses. If ever there was a temptation, for the sake of appearances, for the Church to compromise Church principles, that was the time.
It was not done; and therefore, what had shaken my faith, one day was transformed into an anchor to hold it steady.
When you hear stories, be wise. Unless you are in all the interviews, and hear all the evidence, you are not in a position to really know. Be careful, lest you jump to a confusion."
v- Poor Joseph. He had all these new guys around him. He was a new guy! The three witnesses had the responsibility of choosing the first Q of the 12. How could they fall away? But notice, they never denied their testimonies of the Book of Mormon and the miraculous way in which it was shown them. Is the B o M true? Absolutely. So what went wrong? Answer: Their testimony of the prophet. How could that happen? Answer: How many times have you moved? How much have you been persecuted for the gospel? How much failure can you take? They fell away but Joseph never faltered. He had learned his lesson the hard way. 116 pages were gone. He was never going to do that again! If the Lord commanded it, he followed. Even if it took him 10 years before he dared reveal it to the rest of the saints! We studied sections 131 n 132 today. Back in 1831 when it was first revealed he must have wished he had never asked the question: What about Abraham, Isaac and Jacob? Oops.
1 Verily, thus saith the Lord unto you my servant Joseph, that inasmuch as you have inquired of my hand to know and understand wherein I, the Lord, justified my servants Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, as also Moses, David and Solomon, my servants, as touching the principle and doctrine of their having many wives and concubines—
2 Behold, and lo, I am the Lord thy God, and will answer thee as touching this matter.
3 Therefore, prepare thy heart to receive and obey the instructions which I am about to give unto you; for all those who have this law revealed unto them must obey the same.
4 For behold, I reveal unto you a new and an everlasting covenant; and if ye abide not that covenant, then are ye damned; for no one can reject this covenant and be permitted to enter into my glory.
5 For all who will have a blessing at my hands shall abide the law which was appointed for that blessing, and the conditions thereof, as were instituted from before the foundation of the world.
That is one focus of persecution and mocking you and I have never had to face! Man those early saints had to be tough.
So how much do you trust God?
Can you give him your all?
Luckily he only wants what we can offer with all our hearts. The rest will come. We improve and can get better and better. God bless you in loving and serving his children.
You are true peacemakers. His is the gospel of peace.
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Aug 13 (5 days ago)
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Thanks for the great email!
Keep up the great work and have an awesome week!
Love,
Love,
Elder Jensen
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