Hey guys,
So this week, I don't really know what to say so I'm gonna tell you everything significant that happened and then I'm just gonna spout off things that I've been studying about. Cool? Cool!
-We had zone conference, it was neat.
-Our mission has been selected as a test mission to test if 3rd world countries (specifically the Philippines) can have missionaries with smartphones. We will get smartphones in around 2 weeks or less and we will test it out. If all goes well, every mission will get one. If it doesn't, we will be the last mission to ever have smartphones in this area of the world.
-we found like 9 new investigators. some of which are families. They're pretty cool and though their kids didn't go to church, the parents did. #CaloocanisGreat #masipagpadin #lightinouterdarkness
-I had tacos and burritos this week for the first time in 14 months. It made me feel trunky and it made me want to be in Mexico.
-I found a few good food places
-I realized that if I stood a certain way it really complements my legs. Like wow. Walking works.
-I have a sore throat. But who knew downing half a bottle Robitussin can help you get your voice back.
-I got a haircut the other day and it is the tightest fade I've ever had and I am low-key proud of it.
-I saw a few old friends from zone conferences. It was good
Anyway to more important things
So lately I've been studying about one phrase "I am a Child of God," and looking for ways to apply it to my teaching. And I realized Dallin H. Oaks mentioned something that in his last talk. His talk, to be honest, is kinda awkward. It's called "where will this lead?" But let's analyze it real quick. it centers on a topic that is not around the talk itself but somehow fits in nonetheless.
Context: the talk had 3 main points
-Choices (like doing nothing or doing better than what's good)
-Reputation (how you see yourself, God's commandments for us)
-A Goal (having the end in mind or thinking of its consequence and having an eternal perspective)
You can easily make a talk with any one of these points but if you look at his talk the 2nd point only has a few sentences and is barely relatable to the title and focus of the talk itself.
BASICALLY, IT CAUGHT MY ATTENTION.
Specifically 3 sentences. 3 Lil' nuggets of gold.
"Most important, each of us is a child of God with a potential destiny of eternal life. Every other label, even including occupation, race, physical characteristics, or honors, is temporary or trivial in eternal terms. Don’t choose to label yourselves or think of yourselves in terms that put a limit on a goal for which you might strive." (Oaks, 2019).
At this point, I was like TOTALLY FREAKIN OUT. WHAT DOES THIS MEAN!?
and to me, it teaches you or ought to teach you 3 things. 3 very simple things that we sometimes forget. The phrase I am a child of God;
1. Changes how I see myself. Am I Elder? am I Brigham? am I Asian? am I weird? yeah sure, but most of all I am a child of God. And because of that title, we ought to remember the divine potential we have because of that. And I hope you know that too. Because at least for me.... it shows me who I can become.
2. Tells me how God sees us. Knowing that you are a Child of God means that God has expectations of us too and has a plan for us. Can we meet 'em? whelp in Alma 38:14, " Do not say: O God, I thank thee that we are better than our brethren; but rather say: O Lord, forgive my unworthiness, and remember my brethren in mercy—yea, acknowledge your unworthiness before God at all times." To be honest I don't know if I can ever fully meet His expectations. But I know that if we strive to get there, and consciously act to come to closer to Him, we will.
3. Shows you how we should see others. Lemme ask y'all something
Have you ever met a stranger and been like "He's a son/daughter of God"
Follow-up question "How often do you do that?"
Because I promise you that if we do that to everyone, the world would be an infinitely better place. That life would be more perfect, if not perfect. That if we choose to actually give a crap and care about each other and tell them they are children of God.... whelp we wouldn't need missionary work. The work would be done.
My Job for the last 13-14 months and my job for the next 10-11 months of my life is to invite others to come unto Christ and to hopefully show them how much our Heavenly Father loves us. The work ain't done yet. But who's to say I'm the only one with that job?
So gonna give you a challenge, a sister missionary in the past gave me a challenge that for any lesson to be productive you need to invite them to come unto Christ and to help them come closer to the atonement. Whelp I'mma do something similar, they're a Child of God yeah? I invite you to tell someone or make someone feel they are a Child of God. at least 1 per day for the next week. (optional, make everyone you meet feel that way too). Are you down? Cuz I am.
-Elder Villanueva
Stay Awesome
a funny picture of my old companion in zone conference
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