Rats Part 2

This week I studied a lot about the importance of covenants and keeping commandments and how that leads to peace and contentment.

One of my favorite scriptures is 2 Nephi 4:26-27.

"O then, if I have seen so great things, if the Lord in his condescension unto the children of men hath visited men in so much mercy, why should my heart weep and my soul linger in the valley of sorrow, and my flesh waste away, and my strength slacken, because of mine afflictions? And why should I yield to sin, because of my flesh? Yea, why should I give way to temptations, that the evil one have place in my heart to destroy my peace and afflict my soul? Why am I angry because of mine enemy?"

I'll just use this scripture to express what I learned this week (I'll list others if you want to read them). The way to have peace is to keep the commandments, we won't feel guilt, and we will abide in the love of Christ. That's it. That's my TED talk. I just love how the gospel is so simple, we don't need to over complicate things.

- Isaiah 32:17-18

- Job 22:21

- John 14:27

As for the covenants side, I focused on a talk titled "stay by the tree" and another called "temples and our spiritual foundation." I know that "eternal life with our loved ones is sweetest and more desirable than any other thing." Keeping commandments and striving to be continually worthy to enter the temple is how we can be content with where we are and our standing with God.

- 1 Nephi 8... specifically verse 12

I reccomend reading those two talks as well.

This week was pretty crazy. We went on exchanges and I went with one of mu favorite missionaries: Sister Stringham. She's just so fun, and I always go back to my area motivated to do better. But while we were together we got to knock a couple Doors in the 100 degree heat. We learned a lesson not to wear clothes that show sweat... a change of clothed was required.

Fun insight into what it's like teaching English classes. Here is a real conversation:

Me: (going over vocabulary) grandfather and grandmother.

Student: grandfather and grandmother

Me: explains that we don't use those very often... we usually say grandpa and grandma.

Student: this is the problem with English.(translated for your reading pleasure)

Haha I love English classes!!

Also... I went to take the garbage out...yah know... to prevent maggots... and while I was grabbing a new garbage bag, I thought to myself "Wow it reeks in here." My immediate next thought was "can I see the rat trap?" I couldn't. Oh no. I get my flashlight and move a bunch of stuff and I found the trap... and blood... and a dead rat. We aren't really sure how long it's been there, long enough to smell bad and for it's body to get stuck to the bottom of the cupboard. Yah... I had the lovely privilege to clean blood and a little of rat fur off of the wood after taking the limp rat to the dumpster. But on the high note... no maggots:).

Other things, I learned how to make Watermelon water... really good. I re-learned how to park... And our mission president and his wife are going home next week. I saw them for the last time this week. Sadness! But our new mission president seems really cool.

My question of the week is: How can you be more temple worthy?