Dearest Family and Friends,
Something my father wrote me, and recent talks in conference about "dribbling out of bounds", and events in the world today have led me to think greatly about the ideal of Keeping our Covenants. Being a covenant keeping people. The first covenant comes at Baptism, which most of us have made at one point in our life, mostly in our younger years. However, those promises we make are tested every day, and everyone needs support. We can no longer afford to "let others take care of themselves" but we must take a pro-active role in being our brother's keeper. When we deliberately withhold help, or time, or assistance in helping someone keep a covenant, then in a sense we are the ones putting the nails into their spiritual coffin. A prophet's role is to be a voice of warning, and every day he prays for our assistance in helping our brothers and sisters. We must begin to help them before baptism and continue to do so after baptism. I know that if you REALLY understood how important you are to those who are struggling with covenants, or starting to make new ones, you would take every opportunity to attend their baptisms, be their Diligent Home Teachers, and exemplify the Savior in their life.
Keeping our covenants really is the key in obtaining righteousness and happiness. The world is going to continue to decline in unbelief and corruption, and that is why we need to stand strong in our covenants. As we stay focused on the important things, then other things will be easier to deal with. I find this so important as well in missionary work as well. I know that as a missionary it can be very lonely sometimes when trying to help someone make such hard steps in their life. Most members have no idea what it is like to change your previous life to the Gospel life. That is why I feel they are apathetic to assisting others to "join". Every time a member comes to a lesson, or better yet takes a pro-active role in the investigator's church attendance, in class, or between lesson fellowshipping, or in attending their baptism, giving talks, prayers, I feel like it is no longer just us us missionaries helping this man, but the ward/branch. I know that if you take a more active role in helping the recent converts, you will feel a stronger spirit in your daily life. You will feel God's love stronger than before, and you will be serving your fellow man in eternal steps towards their eternal happiness. Don't you want these things? Doesn't everyone? "Arise out of obscurity" (2 Nephi 1:23) and be the helping hand that the Savior was for us. Now I may be preaching to the choir, but I know that there are many who could lift a little more.
Lately here in Miri, our area has taken off with people committing to baptism and desiring to learn and come to church. 95% of our investigators have a baptismal date and actively attend church. Now this is not because Elder Steadman and I are the perfect missionaries (we are trying though) but it is because of the member's involvement. They are talking with them between appointments, reading with them, helping them go to church, sitting by them in church, and being what the Savior would be for all of us. This help is so greatly appreciated and because so, the work has been going very, very, very well. We are keeping so busy that we have needed to try some new and fun strategies in our planning. It has been pretty rad :) We are dividing each hour of the day into "points" and during our weekly planning we decide how many investigator points (hours set aside to meet investigators) we have and then allocate them to our investigators according to their needs. I'm excited to see how it turns out :) Now.....we may use a little bit more nerdier gamer terms in actual execution, but that is another story :)
I know that the Lord loves you all and desires the utmost for all of us. He desires to bless His children so much, and I feel that love everyday. I can't imagine how big His heart is. It's probably the size of a pumpkin. Here are a couple suggestions I would like to invite you to do:
1) Read from the Scriptures daily. Not from the internet or from the iphone or ipad, but from the paper scriptures themselves. They are not meant to be read when you have a second here or there, but to be given specific dedicated time. If you feel you are "too busy" then I would suggest you rearrange your priorities. Go Slow to go Fast.
2) Ask for the Holy Ghost to guide your prayers. It may seem odd, but try it. Bring your Spirit and thoughts into submission before you begin your daily personal prayer, and then plead that the Spirit will guide you before you have an "Interview" with the Lord. That is what prayers in essence are.
3) Spend the time in Sacrament meeting thinking about YOUR covenants, and YOUR efforts to fulfill them, and recommit yourselves for the coming week. Now it's really easy to get distracted and think about other things, but that is why they don't have pictures in the sacrament room, why they don't play music while it is being passed, and why our incredible Aaronic Priesthood humbly dress and administer this most sacred ordinance. Now, you may think that you can't concentrate because "that baby keeps crying in the back" or the kids are being noisy in front of you. But I know you can do it :) I wish each of you could see a typical Iban sacrament. 10% of the branch are children, and with parenting techniques in need of help, most children run free during the sacrament meeting. But it is still possible to concentrate :) If I can do it, you can do it. :)
I love you all so much, and pray that sometimes what I have said, that the Spirit has said, or that the speakers, leaders or teachers in church have said has stirred you to become more in your service towards your fellow man, your family, and your God. It really is the greatest thing you could ever do. All other walks of life are imitations, or supporting roles in helping us return to our Heavenly Father. Don't forget the big things :)
Your loving friend, brother, and son,
Elder Willem Kampenhout
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