It's been good as always...

What a HOT week!! Wow.  School was let out up here this week and summer began. Before we knew it we were pushing 95 degrees the past 3 days and that's no fun in a white shirt and pants. But it is way pretty. Everything grows so so much here. It's nuts! 

As for mission work... It's been good as always.  We helped a family get baptized this past week and they're going to Hawaii on Thursday.  So dont be surprise if they swing by to say hi. 

We had a way cool experience this week when knocking we found someone who belongs to the RLDS (Community of Christ) Church and haven't been active in a while. They we were able to get a return appointment with them. I look forward to this unique teaching opportunity. It's really cool. 

We have planned to take a youth out from the ward who is 6 months younger then me and has his mission call. It's so so weird for me to think i was in his position a year ago. I was so grateful for those missionaries who took the time to hang out with the 17 year old noob I was. 

I've been thinking a lot about this scripture this week and what I really want to become as time goes on.

3 Nephi 5 1-3 

1 And now behold, there was not a living soul among all the people of the Nephites who did doubt in the least the words of all the holy prophets who had spoken; for they knew that it must needs be that they must be fulfilled.

 2 And they knew that it must be expedient that Christ had come, because of the many signs which had been given, according to the words of the prophets; and because of the things which had come to pass already they knew that it must needs be that all things should come to pass according to that which had been spoken.

 3 Therefore they did forsake all their sins, and their abominations, and their whoredoms, and did serve God with all diligence day and night.

I really enjoy how in this scripture we learn about a people who changed their hearts and, with that, their ways. But, in verse 3, we get a really cool insight. "Serve God with all diligence day and night.". I love that the word diligence was used instead of obedience or love or any manner of words. 

"Diligence: careful and persistent work or effort." it does not mean the people were perfect or without all sin but they continued to work.  And, as we learn later on in 3 Nephi, they received many blessings for it. None of us will be perfectly obedient in our lives.  None of will be perfect but if we recognize our sins and are persistently working to get better, then we too may receive blessings from God. I'm not saying we should just accept that we're not perfect and stop striving for perfection. We should try everyday to walk exactly in Christ's footsteps. But when we fall short we need to be reminded that it's ok. Falling short was in the plan we just need to persistently obedient to God's commandments.

I gotta go. Love you all so much

-Elder Johnson