Sam's Mission To Zambia Blog: December 16, 2018

From Dad:

Dear Sam,

Mom will likely write you this week, but wanted to share a couple of things with you.

First, I've attached Mom's talk that she gave to day in Church. It was powerful and delivered, as usual, with the spirit and with grace. I love your Mom, most especially for her love of the Lord and the gospel.

Second, I've attached some of the pictures I took of Ben during his play (on the sly as they generally don't want your phone on during the play).

Finally a couple of pics from this last week with Mom making us a healthy supper and Cody helping with Christmas baking.

We also found a bunch of sheets we had typed up for a family newsletter in 2009. Attached your page to remind you of what you were doing almost 10 years ago.

Love you lots, Sam.

Dad.

From Sam - The Importance of Personal Revelation:

Hello everybody!!!

This week was a blast. I've been getting used to my new companion, Elder Jonah, from Nigeria. I've been able to teach some great people. Some of the people I feel like I knew them before we met. (I don't know if it's a pre-mortal thing or if i'm clueless about the people I pass on the street)

I'm still alive in the Warm Heart of Africa, which is sometimes too warm for comfort. I'm slowly losing the ability to speak correct English. But I'm in the work of the Lord, the second greatest work in the world next to Temple work.

I've had great conversations with drunk people telling them to go to bed then them actually going home to sleep. It's crazy how persuasive you can be when someone is willing to do what you say. All in all, I'm loving Malawi(Africa) and ready for another year of excitement.

The revelation of the week was about Nephi and Laman and Lemuel.

Nephi is the great example of following God to the extreme. All of us want to be like Nephi. We learn very early in the Book of Mormon that Nephi always sought personal revelation.(1 Nephi 2:16) Laman and Lemuel on the other hand always fell into wickedness. They saw an angel, they felt the power of God, they saw miracles, and they were also literally shocked before they started to live the gospel and repent.

Sometimes we do have to be "Shocked" into living the gospel. But if we don't seek for personal revelation, just like our prophet Russell M. Nelson said, we will not survive in the world we are living today. Laman and Lemuel were "Shocked" into living the gospel, but because they didn't receive their own personal revelation like Nephi, they turned away from the gospel and its blessings. All of us want the blessings of the gospel but we are not living the gospel. Live it because you want to, not because you have to. "Desire always beats discipline"

I love you all, Stay awesome and on the covenant path,

-Elder Smith

Pictures:

-Lunch everyday