MTC #8: It's Not About Arguments

So on Wednesday, my district went to the Referral Center to take some chats. So, my first and only chat that day was rather difficult. Jesse C. She started off by saying, "So, tell me one thing that will make me believe in God or religion." From our discussion, I learned that she came from a religious family, but she was quite anti-religious. She said that she had tried to pray when she was younger and never received an answer. The chat lasted for probably 45 minutes or an hour. It seemed like all she wanted was an argument. I kept telling her that nothing I would say would prove God's existence, because religion is about faith. I think she was trying to make me mad, because she would write things like, "Oh, so when you pray, you get an answer? God talks to you? Sends an email? Writes a message in the clouds?" She then tried to bring up the big bang argument "Here's where Science is on my side. The big bang created the world, not God." Part of me wanted to retort, saying something like, "Well, even scientists are starting to admit that some greater force had to have activated the big bang." But, i didn't. This isn't about argument. It's about letting go of your concerns and asking in faith. I challenged her to pray again. "Okay, Paul. I'll try one more lousy time to pray, and hopefully God will give you an answer and tell you that it didn't work." Please pray for her. I wasn't really mad, I was more sad for her, sad that her heart was so hard that she wouldn't even try to hope or exercise any faith. Please, pray hard for her that she will have a softened heart and recognize the gentle voice that will answer. The spirit speaks so softly sometimes, that if you are so set in your ways, you won't hear an answer.

Oh, and then on Saturday, I called this woman named Shel S. to ask about her ordering a copy of "Finding Faith in Christ". She hadn't received it yet, so I re-sent the item, but then talked to her a bit about Christ, and shared from the Book of Mormon. She seemed very interested until I told her that we couldn't mail her the copy because she already ordered the DVD - she would have to receive it along with a visit from the Missionaries. She kindly declined, and said not at this time. Please pray for her too. I'm going to call back this week and tell her about the online lds.org scripture library, so she can at least start to read it.

I called Amy D. back, but again, she was busy, but seemed very kind and said I could try back later. I just have to find the right time! This is so exciting!

So at the Temple this morning, just as we were walking downstairs, I ran into Robert Bennett from LDC. That was so awesome! It seems like I run into someone I know almost every time we leave the MTC!

Oh, by the way Mom, please tell Laurie and Brianna thank you and much gratitude from myself and Elder De Menezes. And please tell everyone about http://www.dearelder.com because they can write an e-mail to me and it gets printed out and delivered to my mailbox here. You have to open an account, but it's free to the Provo MTC. You have to tell them the following: MTC Mailbox #82, mission code: JPN-HIR and date I'm leaving : Mar16.

Well, I'm off to the devotional. Love you!

MTC #5: Agency

My first request is for you to start enlisting more people to write me. I hardly get any letters any more. I got a whole bunch the first week, and then it's kind of plummeted into nonexistence. Thanks for the packages though, and letters, they are much appreciated.

Okay, so concerning Elder DeMenezes, I can't remember what all I told you last week, but here's a recap:
On Monday last week, Elder D had a Lumbar Puncture done to test for MS related causes for his face pain (part of which is due to a tumor in his ear from 3 years ago, smashing the three branches of nerves on the right side of his face). So yeah, he had the LP on Monday, and I didn't know that he was supposed to be IN BED for 24 hours. The paper he brought back said that 24 hours of bed rest was recommended. I won't make that kind of mistake again. He did rest for a while, but he came with me to do laundry and such, and go to the temple. The next few days, he had some really bad headaches. We took him to the clinic, and he went back for more tests. It looks like the hole from the LP didn't seal properly, meaning a leakage of brain fluid; less brain fluid, meaning less cushioning for the brain = really bad migraines. So, on Friday, I went with Elder D to the Imaging center place down in Provo by the Hospital. I think I passed Sister Brimhall by the front Desk, but I couldn't remember her name at first. They performed a patch on the LP site, which followed with 24 hours of bed rest. We did some exchanges to swap out staying with him so that no one would have to miss all of class.

I'll tell you though, while he was laying in bed, we had a really good Companion Study. We discussed agency quite a bit. Before coming here, I never really grasped how important exactly agency is. Here's your spiritual message from me for the week:

The church is true, that is certain. But we can't prove its truth using logic. Yes, there is proof, but we're going to get nowhere by trying to argue (I learned that with my little talk with Private Davis at Basic Training - as he tried to share some scripture proving that our church was false, and I - even though not bible bashingly - tried to counter. He wouldn't listen). People must use their agency to choose whether or not to accept the church. I remember mom talking to me forever ago, saying that the spirit works based on knowledge, and I didn't quite understand it, but then I found a scripture - I wrote it down, but can't remember it off of the top of my head. Basically, the spirit speaketh unto men by knowledge, according to their understanding. God can't just inspire men right off the bat saying that the church is true - if he did, that would take away their agency. That's why missionary work is so important. We have to take this message to everyone so they can have the chance to hear it, and the chance to choose whether or not to accept it. Once the knowledge is presented to them, the spirit can then act, and then they must choose.

The great battle before this earth was all about agency, as the adversary fought to take it away from us. That war continues today, as the agency of man is still fought for. I think just about every major conflict has its root in forcing someone to think a certain way. Agency is critical!!! That's part of my schpeel, I can't remember the rest.

I just got the package, thank you so much!!!

Music is good, especially since the other companionship doesn't really like church music/hymns, and their music is a little less (well, not bad, just not stuff from the music list - like Disney music - although the Brother Bear music actually does help me feel the spirit sometimes "Take a look through my eyes, everything changes, you'll be amazed what you'll find" Ooh, and "Tell everybody I'm on my way, and loving every step I take".

Love you! More to come later!