66th week in Japan
11/13/2016
喜びを見つける方法 (The way to find joy)

Dear Family and Friends,

At the end of the week this past week we had the opportunity to go to
Nishiwaki city to participate in District Conference. It was a great
opportunity to hear from the leaders in the Fukuchiyama District and
also President Welch. As always I tried to think of some questions and
had thoughts in my mind that I brought with me to District Conference.
It is amazing the answers that come even when you don't get to ask
President Welch your questions. We gathered together with members from
a few other areas and heard some very powerful talks.

Lately I have been reading in the middle of Alma about Alma and his
sons. In chapter 36 and 37 Alma talks to his son Helaman about keeping
the commandments and repentance. Alma tells the story of before he
became converted to follow God. He talks about how he "went about with
the sons of Mosiah, seeking to destroy the church of God." Alma had
rebelled against God. When the angel finally came to Alma he fell to
the Earth and could not speak or move for 3 days. Alma describes his
experience

"12 But I was racked with eternal torment, for my soul was harrowed up
to the greatest degree and racked with all my sins.
13 Yea, I did remember all my sins and iniquities, for which I was
tormented with the pains of hell; yea, I saw that I had rebelled
against my God, and that I had not kept his holy commandments.
14 Yea, and I had murdered many of his children, or rather led them
away unto destruction; yea, and in fine so great had been my
iniquities, that the very thought of coming into the presence of my
God did rack my soul with inexpressible horror.
15 Oh, thought I, that I could be banished and become extinct both
soul and body, that I might not be brought to stand in the presence of
my God, to be judged of my deeds."

I can only imagine the amount of pain that Alma was going through at
this time. He describes it as racked with eternal torment, tormented
with the pains of hell, and inexpressible horror. He would have rather
been completely extinct rather than stand in the presence of God. It
was at this time that Alma recalled his father having prophesied to
the people of the coming of Jesus Christ. When Alma remembered the
Savior he had the faith that he could be freed from the torment that
he was experiencing. He called on the Savior for mercy, and through
sincere repentance he could remember his pains no longer.

It is amazing to me what happens next considering the amount of pain
that Alma went through. It says "And oh, what joy, and what marvelous
light I did behold; yea, my soul was filled with joy as exceeding as
was my pain!" His joy exceeded his pain. "Yea, I say unto you, my son,
that there could be nothing so exquisite and so bitter as were my
pains. Yea, and again I say unto you, my son, that on the other hand,
there can be nothing so exquisite and sweet as was my joy."

When President Welch came to give his talk at District Conference he
told us something so simple but so profound that I will never forget.
"If you want to feel joy, repent!" I know that this is true. Through
faith in Jesus Christ and repentance we can experience great joy in
our daily lives. I know that Jesus Christ is our Savior. He felt
incomprehensible pain, so that we could repent. I truly do stand all
amazed at the love Jesus offers me. I say these things in the sacred
name of our Savior Jesus Christ, amen.

Ponderizing scripture: Alma 34:32

Questions:

Bart Bateman contacted me on Facebook and said he served in Fukuchiyama many years ago. He wanted me to ask you how the branch is and where the missionaries live and such there?

1. The branch is doing pretty well. We have some members who really
love to come out and do missionary work with us. The number of people
who come is pretty small (about 15-20 every week), but they have
strong faith. We live a little bit north of the church about 10
minutes or so by bike.

 As a zone leader do you guys make the transfer calls to let the missionaries know where they are going?

2. Yes we will do that. We also have to prepare their travel plans.

Do you see a lot of Christmas stuff in stores now like they have already in the stores here?

3. I do a little bit. We are in a pretty rural area, so we don't have
a lot of big stores. I know last year they were setting up Christmas
stuff around this same time.

How has your health been?  How is your bike and everything holding up still?  Anything you need for us to send for Christmas?

4. I have been very healthy. I have maintained a pretty good weight of
about 160-165 lbs and I haven't gotten very sick. My companion has
been a little sick but I haven't gotten anything. My bike is holding
up very well. I am thinking of taking it home with me and riding it to
college to save on gas. I am pretty good. You don't need to send much,
but maybe some protein powder and like 1 stick of deodorant would be
good. I will try to prepare a package for you back at home. Do you
care if I send one to Logan as well? If you don't mind what is the MTC
address? Or will he be there?

Have you played ping pong much lately?  Are there many youth in your area?

5. We haven't played ping pong at all... This church actually doesn't
have a table. There is no youth in our branch.. :(

 Is Fukuchiyama smaller than your last area?  Do you do service for the members or investigators sometimes there?

6. It is bigger than my last area but a lot more rural. We get to do
service every once in while here. We help the branch president and
another member in their gardens sometimes. 

Have a great week everyone!

Elder Hirschi