We are trying to help him quit smoking but there is this hang up. Last week when we went over I was trying so hard to get this guy to understand the importance to quit smoking. I was asking a lot of questions and felt like I was interrogating him so I just gave up because I didn't know were to go from there. It ended alright though.
So this week we are over there and it was kind of starting off the same way but this time I paused and thought to myself, "why am I getting frustrated with this guy?" I realized there was no reason for it. I mean it was my fault for not explaining it well enough to him. So I stopped and we prayed. After the prayer I just began talking with him about Jesus Christ. I established what he understood about the Savior. Then we read verses Alma 7 11-12. We focused on the part were it speaks of Christ suffering our pains and temptations. We established a common ground and went from there. We taught him about faith and about the Saviors love. The spirit was so strong and the man's faith began to grow. When it all started he wanted to finish his huge bag of tobacco but by the end of it he wanted to get rid of it so he could show his faith in Christ and grow closer to his savior. It was a way spiritual lesson and a great experience for all of us.
I learned a few things from this experience. The first was that charity truly never fails. I changed my attitude from trying to push this guy to see how smoking is bad. To lovingly teaching him of what Christ expects and of Christ's love for him. I know that that love changed everything. I testified of the saviors love and he felt it was true. By the reaction on his face you could tell that the Holy Ghost touched his heart proving Christ's love to him. I know that Christ loves us all and will give us all the strength and comfort we need to sacrifice our worldly desires to follow him. Christ wants us to dwell with him for all eternity and because of that desire he lovingly gave his life for us. So we should lovingly give our lives to follow him. It is hard but that is why Christ suffered so we could receive strength and forgiveness.
I also learned that the Holy Ghost is truly what changes peoples lives and desires. Like I said before you could tell the spirit touched this man. He know that he receive a great feeling and that it was from God. This feeling strengthened his desire to draw closer to his savior and because of the Holy Ghost he was willing to change. The Holy Ghost was key in my part as well. Once I went about it with love the Holy Ghost guided me to exactly what needed to be said to touch this man. God knows exactly what we all need to hear and feel and Christ promised his servants that the Holy Ghost will give them what to say in the hour they needed it. Jesus also promised that the Holy Ghost will bring all things back to our remembrance. The Holy Ghost will bring us closer to God and guide us to the path of righteousness.
It also showed me that we all have weaknesses and make mistakes but when we recognize them and turn away from them God will for give us and strengthen us. I know that God loves us all. I know that he will forgive us of all of our sins if we turn unto him and turn from our sins. I know that all good things come from God and it is up to us to seek them out. I know that the Holy Ghost will guide us on to that path that leads to God. We have to do our part by studying it out. I know that God will send the Holy Ghost to answer our prayers. We just have to pay attention to the good feelings that come. All good feelings come from God. Feelings of fear, doubt, anger, and frustration come from the devil. We need to try to turn from these feelings. At times we fall short but because of the great sacrifice of Jesus Christ we can be forgive. I know that Jesus Christ lives and that he suffered and died for us all. I know that through him we can live with God and our families again. I know that if we read and study the book of Mormon we will come closer to Christ.
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