Hello Mom :)
So this week was just another week over here in Douala. Nothing to
crazy happened. This past week we celebrated the birthdays of 3
elders… Elder Thompson, Hancock, and Tingey. Elder Thompson is in the
same apartment as me, so we decided to go out and get some chwarmas.
One of his investigators has the same birthday as him so we invited
her to come and eat with us. She is in her upper 30’s and her name is
Aurélie. I have no clue how to spell her name. Anywho, we had the most
bizarre lunch table conversation I have ever had in my entire life.
She sat down and before we ordered anything she insisted that she share
her “birthing” story. So, according to her, her mother was in Yaoundé
and she was crossing a carrefour (an intersection), and at this time she was 9 months
pregnant with Aurélie. While she was crossing the carrefour her water
broke and she gave birth right there in the carrefour.
Aurélie stopped there in her story and shared with us that in her
african tradition, “if you are born in a carrefour you will have a
life full of luck.” Hmmm, interesting (Picture me saying that the same
way dad says it). She then went on to tell us that she drank a lot of
milk from her mothers breasts and that is why she is so strong. She
then looked at me and asked, “Elder Schmid, did you drink milk from
you mothers breasts?” I was kinda caught off guard by the weird
question and didn’t really know what to say… I then looked at her in
the eyes and with all the seriousness I could muster gave her a firm
and solid, “oui.” It was so hard not to laugh. She then went on to ask
Elder Spens, Thompson and Nash the same question. We all admit and
agree that that was one of the weirdest conversations we have ever
had. The chwarmas were awesome though!
I know that more happened throughout the week but I would like to
focus on something more important. I feel prompted that I need to
write about this right now. What I am about to write is coming strait
out of my head, through my fingers, and into this email. I know that
my grammar and english are not perfect. But the Spirit is... and I hope
that you can all feel the Spirit bear testimony of what I am about to
tell you.
This past weekend I had the
opportunity to listen to our beloved prophet, apostles, and leaders
speak in General Conference. We finally found time in our crazy
schedules to get everyone together in Douala and listen to the
prophets voice. The four of us elders were upstairs in the church
because we all wanted to watch it in english and I am so glad that I
did. There were so many talks that touched my heart and helped me grow
spiritually but the one I think touched me the most was the powerful
and inspired talk by President Uchtdorf. My testimony of forgiveness
has grown so much over the last 10 months of my life. I know that it
is something that is real and something that is necessary. Sometimes I
feel inadequate when talking to others about forgiveness because after
all, I am only 19 years old, I haven't lived a long life and because
of that I still don't have the wisdom and knowledge that comes from a
life of learning and growing. BUT I do know what the scriptures say
and I want to talk about some of those scriptures. I loved that
President Uchtdorf used D&C 64:9-11. That scripture has helped me out
so much. Problems, bad actions, scandals, and so many other 'trials'
will come our way as we are traveling throughout life. That is how God
works! We read in D&C 95:1-2 that heavenly chastisements are necessary
in the plan of God. I am a firm believer that those 'chastisements'
are actions that befall us because of the free choice of others. So in
life the question isn't 'How can I avoid being chastised by God?' but
instead 'How can I handle myself when I receive these chastisements
and what does the Lord want me to learn?' That's reality, and it bugs
me so much when people here complain day after day and ask me why,
why, why?! If we are truly Christian and if we truly believe in the
bible we would never ask ourselves that. We know exactly why...
because God wants us to grow. I love how President Eyring put it...
God wants us to be that much more polished before we return home. The
question, "How can I handle myself?" has helped me out a lot. Out here
on my mission I received, by far, my biggest trial and it was so
difficult. But thankfully before that day my mentality changed... so I
wasn't asking myself "why, why, why?" but instead I was looking at my
future and seeing how I can take this trial and make the best of it so
that I can make my future even better. At that moment, I was asking the
Lord for so much forgiveness... I realized that change was necessary
in my life and I bit the lemon and took on responsibility. While I was
in the process of asking God for so much forgiveness, the Lord threw
at me another trial. It wasn't a physical trial... but simply a test
to see if I could extend forgiveness. A test to see if I could hand
out the exact thing I was pleading for. I am proud to say that the
moment that 'trial' came into my life I knew exactly what I was going
to do... forgive! That little choice has had one of the greatest
impacts on my testimony. I thought it was funny that God would work
like that, and I am so glad He did. So where am I going with this? It
all goes back to D&C 64:9-11. If we are real with ourselves and
realize our worthlessness we should all be on our knees every day
pleading for forgiveness so that mercy can be handed to us and we can
return and live with our Heavenly Parents and with our families for
eternity. A necessary requirement for forgiveness is found in verse 10
of the 64th section. It is REQUIRED that we forgive others. It does
not say, "of you it is required to forgive all men, unless..." It is
plain and simple... forgiveness received for salvation comes when
forgiveness is given for temporal matters. When someone wants to hold
on to those evil horrible feelings of hate, bitterness, jealousy they
are only doing ONE thing. They are creating a two way road... a lane
for the Spirit of Christ to leave a lane for the spirit of the devil
to come in. That is the ONLY thing that is happening. It creates
tension and unnecessary contention. And we all know that eternal
verity found in 3 Nephi 11:29... contention is the fruit of the devil
himself. When we harbor our feelings and anchor our hearts in the
anger of a TEMPORAL act we are hindering our potential to receive
things that are ETERNAL. When forgiveness isn't given, destruction
follows. We can all see it today in the world around us. There is
internal, personal destruction...and then the even worse... external,
involving families, destruction. God created Adam and Eve the next
thing we read is that the 'man was with the woman'. God married Adam
and Eve... he created the first earthly family. Right there we see the
importance of the family in the eyes of God. It is one of the most
important building blocks of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Satan is
working so hard today to destroy that which is so precious to our
Heavenly Father... us and our families. God's work and glory is to
bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man...US!! and not
just us personally but with our families. The greatest joy, 1st degree
in the Celestial Kingdom, will only come IF we have a family bound and
sealed together for eternity. That is EXACTLY what Satan doesn't
want... and it breaks my heart to see the success he is having today.
What does Satan do? All he needs is for us to not forgive each other.
It is simple. I will paraphrase what the doctrine says in D&C...
"Look, I will forgive whoever I want to forgive, but you need to
forgive everyone. If you don't want to forgive everyone you only bring
upon your own head the greater sin and you tumble down at a faster and
faster rate and make that hellish chain around your neck even
stronger." I know that is bold... but it is also truth. No unclean
thing can enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. We all have those infamous
'spots' on our souls that we need to get off. So we go to the Lord for
help because it is only through Him that we can have those eternal dirt
spots removed. If we don't have them removed they will scream to the
Lord and testify of our unworthiness when we stand before His
judgement seat. So what will help us remove those spots? Us having the
strength, courage, and faith to forgive others. I don't know how
merciful the Lord will be. I know very well that I have no right
whatsoever to cast out judgement in that regard. But I do have the
right to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I do have the right to
call others unto repentance... and forgiveness. I am swimming in the
blessings that have come my way because I can forgive others. At this
time you are probably saying, "Huh, just wait big guy! You have no
idea whats coming for you!" And to those who are thinking that I say
'what right do you have to judge me of my spiritual strength and my
spiritual foundation. Was it not a 14 year old boy who had so much
faith that he saw our Heavenly Father and our Savior and Redeemer,
Jesus Christ? Was it not the little boy David who killed the giant
Goliath? Was it not the 10 year old Mormon who was entrusted with the
responsibility to take care of the plates of Nephi when the time came?
Yes, I am only 19 years old but I know that power of forgiveness is
real. My heart aches for the destruction taking place today because of
the pride of others. Please forgive, please show your love, and I
promise you that the Lord will only pour out His Spirit upon you in
even more abundance. I know that I am not perfect and I hope that you
can all forgive me for any wrong that I have done to you. Take my hand
and lets show our Heavenly Father and our Savior Jesus Christ that we
are not hypocrites... that we truly are disciples! We truly are
members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints! We are the
symbol of our religion! We heard that multiple times in conference...
now lets show the world who we really are. I love you all and I leave
this things things with you in the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ.
Amen.
Elder Christiaan Schmid
PS - I am sorry that I wasn't able to email everyone this week. This
took all my time. I love you all and thank you so much for your love
and prayers! Til next week!
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