Spiritual Thoughts for the Week

As Moroni concluded his father's writings (the Book of Mormon within the Book of Mormon), he made this comment: 
"Condemn me not because of mine imperfection, neither my father, because of his imperfection, neither them who have written before him; but rather give thanks unto God that he hath made manifest unto you our imperfections, that ye may learn to be more wise than we have been' (Mormon 9:31).

I came across this scripture as I was studying about weakness and how the Lord sees our imperfections and mistakes as opposed to how we see them. As I changed the wording, this verse became veru personally significant:

"Condemn not yourself because of your imperfection... but rather give thanks unto God that he hath made manifest unto you your imperfections, that ye may learn to be more wise than ye have hitherto been."

The Savior wants to forgive. He knows we make mistakes, and He has suffered for them so that we do not have to do so continually. If we will turn away from our self-criticism and doubt, and look up to God in gratitude for every mistake, He will raise our vision, our hearts will be lighter, and we can continue to do His work and the resulting peace and joy rather than remain immobilized by the buffetings of Satan. He is teaching us wisdom when He allows us to fall! Did He intend for us to rewrite our identity and shove aside every blessing to focus on our mistakes? No. Thank the Good Lord for the Atonement.

This week I met the first missionary ever from Syria! His name is Elder Ahmad, and he's serving in Frisco. Elder Callister actually talks about his family in the last October General Conference in "Parents: the Prime Gospel Teachers of Their Children". He's the one on the right in the picture next to Elder O'Neal, another great Elder from Frisco that we went on exchanges with this week. 

   We had some great miracles happen in our own area too. Specifically Elder Hill and a member were able to give a blessing to a young woman who was in a car crash and paralyzed. A family from our ward met them at the hospital while there for their grandmother. And today we're going to go by and teach the young woman's family. Also a man that has been closed off to missionary visits for a long time (his wife is an active member of 50 years+) has agreed to let us come by and read together with him from Jesus the Christ and watch the Life of Jesus Christ bible videos with him and their home teacher! The Spirit was really strong as we presented this idea to him yesterday and gave him a copy of the book. We think something really good is going to come out of it.  

I love you! Thank you for blessing the lives of so many people, including mine.

Elder Gaughan