Week 10 Basically Normal

 My dear friends,

This week was the last week of the transfer which means we have the potential of leaving the area next week. So Elder Batista and I were trying to make the most of what could be our last week. 

Honestly though, the week was a bit of a swing and a miss, not entirely our faults. With our contacting we found maybe 2 people that will progress, dead ends, and… interesting, people. We also had a member meal in the same manner. Our lessons were on point, but the big hitter was some gang violence which kept us inside on Friday and ended our Saturday at Sunset. So, not really the end of the transfer we were looking for.

I do want to talk about our friend Janilce. She has been so patient with me and actually tries to understand me (and I think she maybe does sometimes), and it makes all the difference. We invited her to be baptized and she goes “Why not”. She reads The Book of Mormon and (from what I can tell) asks some great questions that shows she's been thinking about what we teach. Grateful for her.

This week, I study in Alma 36, and this verse caught my attention. This is during the three days and three nights where Alma the younger is racked with a remembrance of his sins.

“Oh, thought I, that I could be banished and become extinct both soul and body, that I might not be brought to stand in the presence of my God, to be judged of my deeds.”

We have, as part of our doctrine, the concept of three kingdoms of glory after final judgment, but also outer darkness. I think we see in this verse why such a place exists, because for those who will not trust in the Atoning Power of Jesus Christ, the most merciful thing God can do is give them the desire of their soul, and banish them. A bit of a downer spiritual thought, but I think it's important to remember, almost everyone gets glory, but everyone gets mercy.

Stay safe, the boogeyman is out and about this time of year.

Elder Pinkney