Bountiful Ward Newsletter Article

[Mom note:  Elder Lott's home ward in the United States has many missionaries serving at this time.  Each month, one of the missionaries from our ward is asked to write an article for the ward newsletter, explaining what their mission is like, and suggestions for how ward members can best assist the full-time missionaries in our own area.  It was Elder Lott's turn for the month of April.]

Hey all!

It feels like just yesterday I was saying goodbye to everyone, leaving for the MTC. Now almost 8 months later it all seems like a blur but it has been one amazing ride, with so much yet to go! Although different from home and from each other in architecture, culture, food, language, and feel, Belgium and the Netherlands are two amazing places that have already worked their way into my heart. This has already become sacred ground for me.  The members here are so strong and good, being able to stand against the many spiritual whirlwinds which they are constantly faced with.  I am not surprised though at those that stand, because they are personally converted.

This is part of what I would like to share actually.  The need of becoming personally converted.

One of the best, if not the best personal conversion tests we can take can be found in Alma 5:14-35 which can help us all to take a deep look into how we personally are coming along.  But I would like to focus more on just a few lines, the first being in verse 14 when it asks: 'Have ye experienced this mighty change in your hearts?'  I would imagine that most of you reading this have received this, and for those of you that have, my question would be the same as in verse 26 where Alma asks: 'Can ye feel so now?'  Whether or not you have received this, we can all learn from how our conversion process begins.  In Alma 32 we learn that our faith is compared to a seed, that we must plant it in our hearts, and after we have done so and begin to realize it is a good seed, we must nourish this seed, or in other words we must learn of the gospel.  The way in which we learn is given to us in 2 Nephi 28:30 when the Nephi says: 'For Behold, thus saith the Lord God: I will give  unto the children of men line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little; and blessed are those who hearken unto my precepts, and lend an ear unto my counsel, for unto him that recieveth I will give more; and from them that shall say, We have enough, from them shall be taken away even that which they have.'  In order to keep our personal conversion we must continually look to deepen our understanding.  Not just of the mysteries of the Kingdom of God, but more specifically and especially of the principles of the gospel.  By doing so we can all become and keep our personal conversion.

My advice and challenge to all of you is to study out of Preach my Gospel.  Even though it is missionary tool, it is directed as much to personal conversion as missionary work.  Chapters 2-6 especially help with learning and studying some of the principles of the gospel, with my personal favorites being the missionary lessons in chapter 3 and learning about Christlike attributes in chapter 6. 

I love you all and hope and pray all is well in your lives and that you will all find success and happiness in ward and personal endeavors.

Love,

Elder Hayden L. Lott