Soul knowledge and Elder Wilford W Anderson of the Seventy

Hola familia!

This week was pretty sweet! We had Elder Wilford W. Anderson of the 70 come to our mission: Here is the summary of what he talked about. 

MISSION CONFERENCE

This past week has been wonderful. Our mission was blessed to have had Elder and Sister Andersen visit with us and teach us so many important things. I want you to know that Elder and Sister Andersen expressed to us how impressed they were with you. They appreciated your reverence. They appreciated your wonderful questions. They appreciated the way in which you looked and the spirit that you shared. Thank you. You are all truly amazing - the best of the best. 

There were several teachings from Elder & Sister Andersen that I feel are important to be reminded of:

1. There are several ways to gain knowledge: Head knowledge (things we learn from reading, studying, observing, touching, facts, logic). Heart knowledge (things we feel, desires). Soul knowledge (things we learn from doing something - acting). I wrote down that soul knowledge has to do with becoming. The Lord taught that if you want to "know" my doctrine - you have to live it. If we don't act - we don't become.

2. Covenants are at the heart of our theology. D&C 128:9,11. I love the way in which Elder Andersen taught us that we don't serve because of our callings - we serve because of our covenants. I encourage each of us to remember the covenants we've already made: to remember Christ, be willing to take upon us his name, to always remember him, to be obedient, sacrifice, law of the gospel, chastity, consecration. We have each made these covenants before we came on our missions. When we honor the covenants we've made the Lord will honor us. He will strengthen us through challenging times (Ether 12:27). 

3. D&C 121:41-46. The power of God flows to those who take on the wonderful characteristics of Christ (patience, long suffering, temperance, meekness, love unfeigned). Power and influence in God's economy does not flow from those who exercise dominion or authority over others - rather it flows to those who strive to have Christlike attributes. Very important lesson.

4. Setting goals and planning. Elder Andersen said that planning is spiritual creation - see Moses 2. We need to live our plans out in our mind. I am convinced that if we will set goals as companionships - and then make plans to reach those goals (spiritual creation) - the Lord will bless us with insights, and will put people in our path such that his purposes will be accomplished. We must be willing to be persistent. 

5. Faith and Hope are 2 sides of the same coin. If you feel like you lack hope - go build your faith in the Savior. As our faith grows in the Savior - our hope will grow. Elder Andersen referred to the definition of faith in the Bible dictionary. "Faith is kindled by hearing the testimony of those who have faith (Rom. 10:14-17). Miracles do not produce faith, but strong faith is developed by obedience to the gospel of Jesus Christ; in other words, faith comes by righteousness, although miracles often confirm one's faith. 

6. Sister Andersen said the following in stake conference: We need to center ourselves. One of the purposes of the Sabbath day is to center ourselves by partaking the Sacrament. Make the center of the Sacrament the Savior. We need to center ourselves each day in the scriptures. When we center ourselves in the things of God we find great peace and calm - even when other things around us may be in turmoil.

It was very inspiring! The thing I liked most was the discourse he gave on head, heart, and soul knowledge. He actually had me come up in front of everybody to help him illustrate to them what he was trying to get across. He had me try to explain to a sister missionary the difference between the black keys and the white keys on the piano. (I played prelude music for the conference and all they hymns so that's why I was chosen to go up). It was hard to explain it to her. I said "you really don't know the difference?
Well, the black keys are black, and the white keys are white....She still didn't get it so I said that the white keys are less thinner than the black keys." She still didn't get it. Clearly Elder Anderson was trying to demonstrate how when we teach we can't just teach with head knowledge (facts, logic) we need to bear testimony so they can experience heart knowledge (feelings of the spirit) and then we need to invtie them to act so they can experience SOUL knowledge. REally great lesson he taught. 

It really got me thinking on how I can better acquire soul knowledge because I have a lot of head knowledge that's for sure. Applying the gospel is so so hard. But I really liked what he said. I've been trying this week to be a lot more consecrated missionary and bearing my testimony more often.

I had a random idea yesterday morinng that we should skip dinner. Elder clark didn't want to because he was feeling a little sick and so we were about to go in for dinner. Then our WML called asking to go out with us. it was a good thing we did because we wouldn't have run into Eugenio. He is from Honduras and I tried my best to speak spanglish with him. He understood enough and we got a hold of Elder Barney the spanish mi ssionary. He is going to come to church on Sunday and his friend is Mormon back in HOndruas! So that was pretty cool! The timing of the Lord's tender mercies is pretty cool.

Well I best be get going

Love you all! Hope you are all not too sad that Jenessa is gone She will be a remarkable missionary as most sister m issionaries are. It's always hard to leave family, but I just think of Elder Parley P. Pratt who heeded the call to serve ANOTHER mission after being on a mission to Chile for 25 years! He basically said that why should I complain to leave family when I have an enternity to spend with them. (You should look up the quote which is found in A Consecrated Missionary because it is really good.)

Love you all! be good

Elder Soutas