"For Such A Time As This"

We received some hate mail yesterday. We’re popular.

So I was going through the mail that had come for the day, and saw a letter addressed to the Church. I opened in, and was rather appalled by what I read. Apparently, we are “devils in disguise”, that we are allowed in Singapore because the government here are “lackeys” to western countries, and to the Babylon of the world, America. Also, worship a false Jesus Christ.

To be honest, I was rather upset about it, but as we walked back from buying lunch, Elder Austin and I just talked about how we just can’t let it get to us. The thing is, we know that we’re right (please forgive what might seem to be pride or arrogance), but everyone else thinks they’re right, and we’re dead WRONG. So, how is it that all of us “know” that what we believe is true?

Later on in the evening, we were teaching one of my high school acquaintances. She asked how we could know that it was true just by praying, since everyone prayed too. We explained to her that our claim really is unique, that we believe in the Restoration of the gospel, and really explained that concept of priesthood authority. She accepted the answer, and pondered on it a bit. I went on to say to her” What we’re sharing is either a 100% true or a 100% false. The Book of Mormon is the word of God. If it is, Joseph Smith truly was a prophet of God called to restore Jesus Christ’s Church on this Earth today. If it is false, then me, and Elder Austin, and a lot more people are really being mislead. But, if it is true, then the message we are sharing tonight is the greatest message that all should hear.”

As I said those words to her, I felt a calm feeling come over me. It wasn’t anything overwhelming, but rather a sense of peace of knowing that what I was doing and saying was alright. It was a very light but solid assurance from a loving Heavenly Father.

Life goes on.

We had a few surprises this past week. For one thing, L.G. , our wonderful investigator who we set a baptism date with, didn’t come to Church! When we called him, he didn’t sound too penitent about it either. On another note, we found out that Steven, our other investigator on baptism date, is being held in remand by the police for fighting. The thing is, he’s got to be in his 60s. What a world. We love him still, and we’re trying to figure out how we can just say hello to him. The others, as I mentioned last week, continue to take those little steps of progression or regression, depending on their level of interest and love for the gospel.

Raja! Remember him? He was an investigator Elder Palfreyman and I had about six months ago who seemed to be right on track for baptism, but who then disappeared off the face of the… Clementi area. We got a hold of him and had the opportunity to meet him again. He seemed genuinely happy to see us. He asked us about reconciling his long-held belief in the Catholic Church with what we’re teaching him now. We explained that what we were doing was to add on to the good that he already had, not to take away from it at all.

Elder Neil went home this week. Boy, I am getting older in the mission! All these missionaries whom I know really well are heading home!

I’ll be returning to BYU Summer 2010! Go Cougars!

So, big news! I’m being transferred! Well, Elder Austin and I are being transferred to cover Ang Mo Kio and Bedok Ward, while still staying in the office. We’ll be moving houses, to an apartment much closer to the office, so that’ll be good. The sisters are being moved out to East Malaysia, along with a couple other transfers. Just not enough missionaries right now. Just waiting for the eighteen missionaries coming in August! Seven months in the ward! I sure will miss it. Six months and twenty-eight days in my first area. Yet another adventure!

District Training went well. My lesson was based on Esther 4:11-14, and entitled, "For Such A Time As This." Essentially, I talked about how we had been prepared for so long, and how we needed to fulfill our destiny. If you ever want to look at any of the trainings, let me know. He's a part of a talk that I used by President Benson, titled "In His Steps."

For nearly six thousand years, God has held you in reserve to make your appearance in the final days before the Second Coming of the Lord. Every previous gospel dispensation has drifted into apostasy, but ours will not. True, there will be some individuals who will fall away; but the kingdom of God will remain intact to welcome the return of its head--even Jesus Christ. While our generation will be comparable in wickedness to the days of Noah, when the Lord cleansed the earth by flood, there is a major difference this time. It is that God has saved for the final inning some of his strongest children, who will help bear off the Kingdom triumphantly. And that is where you come in, for you are the generation that must be prepared to meet your God.

Have a wonderful week!

-Elder Chua