Monday, February 8, 2016

The Star Spanglished Banner, Deluge and Delusions, and Other Short Stories By Elder E. Allen Poe

Hola señoritas and gentleman! Caliente!
Somos misioneros #iglesia!
Well, I've got a story about a telltale corazón! Or, in other words, I will tell a tale from the heart!
This week was absolutely awesome, but so much happened that I am not quite sure where to begin. Random thought: The same sodality that exists in this life will be perpetuated throughout the eternities!
We met a crazy guy this week outside of Winco that thought we were Nazis. Once we allayed that concern, I started teaching him the restoration, but it quickly became apparent that he was not mentally capable or willing to understand our message. Seriously, this guy was loony. So, I just asked him if we could say a prayer, with him, to which he responded that he would only let us pray if we said a prayer in a different dialect. Well, I certainly wasn't going to let that stop me.
I then informed him that I could pray in a different language called 'Spanglish'. Well, it sufficeth me to say that he permitted me to supplicate, and I said a very succinct prayer in that was mostly in English, but it incorporated a few churchy and applicable words that I did know in Spanish. Basically, I blessed him to have peace in his heart and to know which church was true. It was pretty fun, though. There is no end to the interesting experiences that happen on the mission. (That sentence should be added into one of the later verses of "If You Could Hie To Kolob")
In fact, just a few days later I was on an exchange with Elder Franks,  (the previous Assistant to the President). We ran into some totally whacko guy who kept claiming that his name was "Water Increaser Bridge", and somehow because of that in combination with some sort of 
Jewish- Mysticism-tree-of-life-and-reincarnation-of-King-Tut-Zodiac-sign-Sagittarius-astrological-combination-pseudoscientific-calculation he had come to the conclusion that he was God. I know. Unholy blasphemy is correct. At that point, I asked him where his glory was, and he told me it was his face. Yep. Crazy. At times like that, I realize that I would never, ever in a million years have been able to experience anything like that except on my mission. It is one of the peculiarities that is a large part of mission life, and I honestly have come to relish quirky experiences like that. You just have to be able to enjoy them. However, although I always enjoy talking to crazy people, it makes me sad to see how messed up the world is. A lot of times people have had complete mental craters blasted into their brains because of drug usage, and it is really sad to look at. It is really quite sad to see how depraved society has become. Will it end? Nevermore. Oh wait, just kidding! That's why we're out here, changing the world one heart at a time. Will the truth of the Gospel ever be lost from the earth again? Nevermore! Will this dispensation fall into apostasy like so many others before us? Nevermore!
The priesthood will never again be taken from the earth (see Oliver Cowdery's account of the Restoration of the Priesthood, D&C 13, referenced in the footnotes)
So, we need to do our temple and missionary work! That is our job! To do missionary work on both sides of the veil! How great is God, to trust is with the work of salvation among so many of our brothers and sisters! Let us not take lightly the responsibilities with which we have been entrusted. We have great power given from God, yes, but also great responsibility, for with great power comes great responsibility. Seriously. That quote is basically just a different translation of a verse from the Doctrine and Covenants.

I suppose I should also mention that our room flooded this week. That was interesting. I should also mention the best part of the week! The Sisters in our ward had a baptism this week. Her name is Paulette, and she asked me to baptize her! It was an amazing experience!  It felt so good!
I know that this church is true. I know that God called me here for a specific reason. I know that He loves every one of His children, and that He has planned and prepared this world so that we can all have the very best opportunity to receive all that He has. God looks upon our hearts, and our motivations. If our motivations are righteous, He can and will strengthen and guide us to do what is right. Through faith in Jesus Christ, we truly can lay hold upon every good thing. Have a good week, everyone!
Mosiah 4:11


--Elder Benge

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