The Worth of a Soul

Hey Family:)

 

I hope everyone is doing well and enjoying the freezing cold. I would brag and say the sun is shining here, but thats not true. Its actually pretty stormy today:)

 

This week was miraculous!

 

In district meeting on Wednesday our District Leader did a training that I felt like was just for me. In fact, I was in tears almost the whole time. He trained on diligence. He trained about how diligence is continuing to do the things that you know you should, even amid trial, and even when the fruits of your labors aren't so obvious. I've been feeling a little unsuccessful. Our teaching pool is still small. We will find someone who seems super prepared, but their door never opens to us again, and we don't know why. But his training was very motivating. He share the Mormon Message, Good Things to Come. I felt absolutely pumped!

 

So Thursday morning, 10 oclock, we get on our bikes and get to work! Sister Johnson and I have figured out a routine for street contacting. She is very bold and she is not afraid to go up to anyone and everyone. Me on the other hand, I tend to pass people by. BUT she doesnt feel like she knows what to say after she makes the initial contact, and I LOVE teaching and testifying. Teaching is my biggest strength. So we finally figured out how to work this to our advantage and it worked so well! We boldly contacted TONS of people and got 4 peoples contact information in the span of 30 minutes. Then we went to teach a referral from a cute member family. He told us he wasn't interested. But we boldy told him why he should be interested and taught him the restoration. By the end he had committed to pray about it to know if its true!! We taught a total of 4 lessons that day! Which was the same amount that we taught total the week before... We also were able to visit with a member family, who in the past, wouldnt dream of giving the missionaries referrals. BUT we prayed with them and they thought of the idea of inviting their neighbors over to dinner. AND THEY ACTUALLY FOLLOWED THROUGH AND INVITED THEM THE NEXT DAY!

 

Speaking of that dinner, it went awesome! Turns out their neighbor that they invited is atheist. But he was very very curious about our lifestyle as missionaries. This member family has a son who just got home from his mission two weeks ago, so he and sister johnson and i talked to him about missionary work. What we do, and why we do it. He said he was in awe at what we do. He loves it and feels like everyone in the world should have an experience like ours. He also told us that we can come and teach him more about the church!! It was glorious!!

 

So I've told you guys about our Sunday Game Day program where we visit with members during second and third hour and church and seek referrals, right? Well this sunday was pretty much discouraging. Member after member came up with any and every excuse they could. "All my friends are members!", "I dont know anyone!" "I dont want to push my beliefs on anyone!", "I've already invited all my friends and they say no!" "None of them would accept it." and blah blah blah. If any of you have ever said this to a missionary, I invite you to repent! And apologize to that poor missionary. I've repented too. Ive said these to missionaries many a time! But never again! So basically we went home yesterday absolutely frustrated.

 

When we got back to the apartment, I went into my closet and prayed. I asked Heavenly Father why its so hard for people to do missionary work. So i prayed and asked, and Heavenly Father clearly answered that the reason why its so difficult for people to share the Gospel is because none of us fully comprehends the worth of a soul... Just chew on that for a minute. None of us fully comprehends the worth of a soul. If we did our attitude toward missionary work, home and visiting teaching, our callings, serving others would be completely different. If you fully comprehended the worth of a soul, you wouldn't groan when the speaker gets up in sacrament and says, "Today i'm going to talk about missionary work." I know you have all done it! So have I!

 

So what is the worth of a soul?

 

D+C 18:10 The worth of a soul is great in the sight of God.

 

okay...

 

As a matter of fact, the worth of a soul is so great in the sight of God that he sent his Only Begotten Son to suffer and die for EVERYONE, knowing that only SOME would choose to follow the path that would lead them home.

 

Alma and the sons of Mosiah understood the worth of a soul:

 

Mosiah 28:3 Now they were desirous that salvation should be declared to EVERY CREATURE. For they could not bear that any human soul should perish. Yea, even the very thought... did cause them to quake and tremble.

 

Alma 31:34-35 O lord, wilt thou grant unto us success in bringing them again unto thee.. Behold o lord, their souls are precious.

 

So if we truly understood the worth of a soul, how would we do missionary work?

 

This spirit taught me this through an analogy.

 

Picture this: So you are in an ER at the hospital. A man is being rushed in. He was in an accident and is in critical condition. They don't know if he is going to make it. The doctors and nurses are rushing around frantically trying to save this mans life. They are doing everything in their power, using every resource they have, every bit of energy, all of their time, to save this stranger. They don't know him at all. Yet they are urgently doing everything they can to save his life.

 

There are people all around us whose souls are in critical condition. Should we not frantically do everything in our power? Should we not use every resource that we know how? Should we not put all of our energy and time into saving their souls? 

 

The worth of souls is great.

 

So who are we supposed to share the Gospel with? The scriptures teach that we are to share the Gospel with "all nations", "all the world", "every creature", "all people". Keep that in mind next time a missionary comes up to you and asks, "Who do you know...?" I definitely will. Better yet, keep that in mind next time you see a missionary and go up to them and say, "This is who i know."

 

I know that this work is so important. Its much more important than any of us understands. There is no time to casually share the Gospel. There is no time to wait to be asked questions. There is no time to pretend that you don't know anyone. I know that as you all consider the worth of a soul and pray to understand it, your attitude will change. And with your attitude, your actions will change. And as your actions change, many precious souls will be brought unto Christ. And He will heal them.

 

I love you all so much!! Your souls are precious to me:)

 

Love, Sister Rowland