์๋ ํ์ธ์ ์ ์ง๊ตญ๋ค๊ณผ ์ ๊ฐ์กฑ,
Well this is it. Final week in the MTC, lets go!!
So short story and my Book of Mormon thoughts:
So in the MTC there’s a weird phenomenon where you just run into the same companionships everywhere. Our first 6 weeks we had several sets like this but then they went home because I mean who is at the MTC for 9 weeks? Oh wait yeah that’s me. Anyways, we got a new set that we always run too. It’s a Sister tri-companionship made up of an Hermana from Mexico, one from Mongolia and another Sister from China. Each going to different parts of the U.S. so they are in the MTC for 9 weeks to learn English. We first met them during General Conference when we were in our international seating, because my companion and I are international. We got talking to them to practice our Spanish since Spanish is super fun to speak. So we talk a lot with the Hermana, learn a little Mongolian and some Chinese. Well one day we were leaving the cafeteria and we say our “Hola, come esta” as one does in Spanish. Usually the Hermana is very chippy and happy and excited to be able to speak Spanish. Well this time she seemed very cast down and sad. So I re-ask her. She then goes on to tell us about a distressing email from home that she got and then her struggles with English, and her teacher giving her a rough time about not speaking Spanish and speaking English. This was affecting her and getting to her. So as my companion continued to keep the conversation alive, I felt like I should share a passage from the Book of Mormon. I know there is power that comes from the Book of Mormon when we need support or hope. So I had to look quickly because we had to go and the conversation was gonna end soon. So not knowing what to share I started flipping through my last study area. I was drawn to a passage in Alma 26:27-30. In this passage, Ammon is discussing and glorifying God as a result of their successful mission among the Lamanites who used to love killing his people, but now would give up their lives rather than fight back and break the promise they made with God: to never take anyone’s life again. As a result these people would lay down their lives because of their love for God and their hatred of sin. Ammon talks about how God promised him and his fellow missionaries that if they were patient in their afflictions that they would have success. As a result of their patience, they were the instruments and the means by which these bloodthirsty people would become converted to the gospel of Jesus Christ, repent, become clean and receive forgiveness from all the killing they had previously done (Alma 24:23-24). So I shared this with this Hermana that her afflictions were learning English, but if she was patient she would receive success. That God wanted her to hear this message and it was specifically talking to her. At this time she was tearing up and the Holy Ghost and love of God was present. We testified that things would get better and with God she could do it. She thanked us and this was exactly what she needed. A couple days later we caught up with her and asked how things were going. Well she told us that an additional affliction she was having at the time was a very aggressive, rude, mean and demanding companion who was making her life miserable. As she told us this, the verse we shared with her couldn’t have been more perfect. Read the scripture we shared and you’ll see. I know that there are no coincidences. Keep in mind all this took place in Spanish. There’s no coincidence I still remember my Spanish from high school about 5-6 years ago. Not perfect, but the Spirit knows perfect Spanish.
I love the perspective that we gain from Alma. First off I just love all of Alma, I’m in Alma 32 now and just in love with Alma. Anyways, when reading Alma 31 you get the prayer of the wicked Zoramites and Alma and his brethren and sons behold all the wickedness, pride, etc. of the Zoramites. Dumb idols (I love that the Book of Mormon calls them dumb), perverting the ways of the Lord and all that good stuff. After we are given a clear depiction of what type of people the Zoramites are, we get Alma’s prayer. He prays for strength to bear with his infirmities, and suffer with patience the afflictions that will come because of the iniquities of the people. He prays for comfort to his souls in Christ, and prays to success. So we get this beautiful prayer that results in him clapping his hands upon his fellow laborers and being filled with the Spirit. After reading this and thinking what a beautiful prayer, I thought why are we getting this prayer? Yes he’s demonstrating we should always pray. Yes it’s good to pray. However, I think he’s praying because he’s buckling up and he knows that this mission in particular is gonna hurt. It’s gonna suck. It’s gonna be difficult. To think that Alma would consider this mission to be hard says a lot. Considering all that he’s previously done and especially after his experience in Ammonihah (Alma 8:8-14; 14). Where the people rejected him at first and cast him out. Then with Amulek, contending with Zeezrom who was the most expert lawyer and in the devices of the devil. Then after finally having much success with the people and finding hope for the city, only to have the most wicked bind them up and put them on a hill to watch a terrible scene take place. The scene being watching all their new friends and family that they just brought to God being cast into a large fire, being burned alive. Woman and children. Then if this wasn’t enough, the wicked would keep them bound up in jail for “many days” x 2 (so probably a couple weeks), to consistently be mocked, ridiculed, questioned, suffering hunger, thirst, being naked and constantly being smacked in the face by all those who came to mock them (people basically lining up). If this Alma, who experienced this on his previous mission, is now praying for strength and comfort before going among the Zoramites knowing that this mission is gonna hurt... Like man, this is the real deal.
I read this and I was just like dang. It reminded me of times at West Point where I too would have the same sick gut feeling, thinking “this is gonna hurt” and “this is gonna suck”. I don’t know what’s to come for these next 22 months in Australia. I may not experience what Alma experienced in the slightest, but I do know it will be my own personal version of it though. I know that the strength and comfort given to these brethren before going amongst the Zoramites is also extended to us if we pray in faith. If we do as Elder Bednar instructed in “Recognizing the Spirit”: Be a good boy, be a good girl. Remember and honor your covenants. Keep the commandments. Press forward and we will be guided in every step. Open our mouths and it will be filled. The scripture is PRESS FORWARD in faith, not stand around and wait in faith. There are times when we need to be like Nephi, in 1 Nephi 4:6 "And I was led by the Spirit, not knowing beforehand the things which i should do."
Then ultimately how is this made possible? How are our afflictions swallowed up? Alma 31:38 “... he also gave them strength, that they should suffer no manner of afflictions, save it were swallowed up up in the joy of Christ.”
Love you,
Elder Escamilla
Yes that’s a tiki piรฑata. Yes it’s being held up by a hanger. Yes it’s hung on a tree by belts.
Our district with 1 week left in the MTC. It was Sister Johnson’s Birthday so we threw a Luau Birthday thanks to the decorations sent by Elder Streeter’s Mom.
Elder Escamilla, Elder Bae, Elder Hwang
Nearer, My God, to Thee (Korean)
https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2015-11-0080-nearer-my-god-to-thee?lang=eng