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| Happy Birthday to Me! |
Hey everybody!
How's it going? How's everyone
doing? Hope things are going alright in cold, cold, Utah. Well,
it's official, I'm now 21! Doesn't feel like it, but that's ok. I'm
now one year older, and I hope a bit wiser than I was last year. I had a
great time celebrating my birthday, and even there wasn't any ice cream cake I
did the best I could (see attached photo). Thanks for all the birthday
wishes and for all your support! Well, enough of that, let's get on with
this past week.
The week started off pretty good!
Monday night my companion and I held a family home evening activity for
our branch. The outcome wasn't what we expected, but we still had a great
time. We were able to help those individuals, including a few
investigators, see how this time together as a family can truly strengthen
relationships. One of our investigators, Brother Chen Huan Wen, mentioned
with the entire group that when he gets married he is going to hold FHE because
he felt and knew that the time spent as families is limited and as we spend
this time together, families will learn, grow, and become more united.
Although it wasn't quite what we expected, the impact it had on those
that attended was quite fascinating. It brought back memories of all the
family home evening's that my family and I held in the past. At that time
I sometimes felt that it was boring and that there were friends that I could be
hanging out with, or other things that I could do that were better, but I'm
grateful for the time my family set aside to hold FHE. Looking back I
have seen the blessings that holding FHE weekly has brought to my family and
me, and how it has strengthened the bonds within our family. Such a great
blessing to share with all those who were in attendance at our activity.
One of my favorite things that happened
this week was when we visited with a ward member, Brother Luo. He and his
wife have been sick lately and for that reason haven't been able to come to
church, and so we went and visited them to strengthen them. In return I
learned quite a bit from his remarks. He talked to us about hope and how
maintaining that hope and never losing hold of it is important in each of our
lives. It reminded me of the tree in Lehi's dream. Lehi beheld the
tree and the fruit that was desirable to make one happy. He then went
forth and partook of it and was filled with great joy. He then desired
that his family could partake of it. He had this hope and didn't lose
sight of it. It really made me think a lot on my own hopes as a servant
of the Lord, and how I can help investigators have similar hopes. The
tricky part is the buildings and other influences in Lehi's dream that cause us
to lose sight of that hope. However, as we hold onto the iron rod,
keeping our eye focused on that hope and not losing sight of it, we can and
will obtain eternal blessings. I was grateful for what he shared and we
all were truly edified.
Well, just wanted to thank you all for
all the support you have given my family and I these past two years. It
truly is felt over here :)
Love you all!
Elder Nick Smith
司馬長老
