Obedience and Charity

Yesterday we received an invitation to join some members of the Ward at a "Game" party to be held Saturday evening. That was very nice, I thought. We won't go because they showed pictures of the games they play and "playing cards" were included. I learned a long time ago by my parents example, and by the counsel of local Church leaders and Prophets, that playing games with "playing cards" is an unwise use of time.

Someone once said to me that I was missing some really great movies--that I was missing out on some of the "really good things in life"--because I wouldn't watch a really popular movie that had rave reviews. It was also rated "R," so I wouldn't watch it. I told them, and I really feel it to my core, that it doesn't matter if I miss some "really great things" by living high standards. The Celestial Kingdom with my family is my goal, and it will take my concentrated, happily obedient, willing to serve effort! As long as we don't miss that, it won't hurt to miss some of  what others might consider "the really good things!"

I don't know why all that popped out of me, but I believe it with all of my heart! Now I will get to the subject I intended to share.

I am to give the Spiritual Thought this morning in District Mtg. I came across this scripture in Hebrews 13:1-3

"Let brotherly love continue, Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.
Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being ourselves also in the body."

The Lord teaches so many things on a mission! We discovered on our first mission that it was not so scary to meet new people. That was such a blessing to us shy farm children! Even tho' we were in such a controlled atmosphere--the new people we were meeting were all missionaries! Then we had all those years of loving the students in our music groups! What a blessing that has been in our lives! And what a blessing it is to us now as we meet all these new people to discover more and more love growing in our hearts. We are always meeting angels!

This is our District from the MTC. We grew to love them, and all the people we worked with, so quickly!

This picture from the MTC is of a baptism where missionaries are baptizing while the villagers are ready to fight off crocodiles! It is a beautiful example of love to me, and of the importance of obedience to the Lord's commandments!

Moroni 7:46 reminds us that if we have not charity we are nothing.  How kind it is of the Lord to answer the prayers we have sent up to Him begging for that gift, by giving us these great opportunities to learn to love!