5/21/2017
喜び (Joy)
Dear Family and Friends,
Last week on Saturday the missionaries of the Japan Kobe mission were
recently given the opportunity to meet together at Ibaraki in Osaka
and hear from an apostle of the Lord. Elder Oaks from the quorum of
the 12 apostles came to our mission to speak to us. One of the things
that we were challenged to do is to write about what gives us joy in
our journals at night.
Since Elder Oaks addressed us I have been thinking a lot about joy and
exactly what does bring me joy. As I have been reading the Book of
Mormon challenge that we received from President Welch I have been
focusing on what things bring us joy. Today we are reading Alma 26-30.
These chapters are full of joy.
Before these chapters Ammon and the other sons of Mosiah had a desire
to go up to the land of Nephi and declare repentance to their Lamanite
brothers and sisters that they may be saved. They were laughed at by
the people. "Now do ye remember, my brethren, that we said unto our
brethren in the land of Zarahemla, we go up to the land of Nephi, to
preach unto our brethren, the Lamanites, and they laughed us to
scorn?" (Alma 26:23) Despite what their Nephite brethren thought they
made their journey to the Land of Nephi to preach the gospel.
Ammon had great success through his labors. His brothers, on the other
hand, had suffered much and were cast into prison. "And when Ammon did
meet them he was exceedingly sorrowful, for behold they were naked,
and their skins were worn exceedingly because of being bound with
strong cords. And they also had suffered hunger, thirst, and all kinds
of afflictions; nevertheless they were patient in all their
sufferings." (Alma 20:29) However; they were patient. After enduring
through trials they all saw thousands of the Lamanites become
converted to the gospel.
I imagine there were many more trials that they suffered than just
those that are written in the Book of Mormon. After all, they went to
teach the gospel for 14 years. "And they had been teaching the word of
God for the space of fourteen years among the Lamanites." (Alma 17:4)
After 14 years of trials and seeing miracles through the power of God
they returned home to the land of Zarahemla with their converted
Lamanite brethren. On the way back to Zarahemla, Ammon and the sons of
Mosiah ran into a good friend of theirs named Alma. They had been
separated for 14 years and finally reunited. Alma says, "this was a
joyful meeting." (Alma 27:16) In fact it was so joyful that Ammon due
to being swallowed up with joy was "exhasut[ed] of his strength; and
he fell again to the earth." (Alma 27:17)
Many things can bring us joy and I have come to realize that one thing
that brings me joy is the people around me. We are all sons and
daughters of a Father in Heaven who loves us. We all are in this trial
of life together. It brings me great joy to know that we are not
alone. In the name of Jesus Christ amen.
Questions:
Last week on Saturday the missionaries of the Japan Kobe mission were
recently given the opportunity to meet together at Ibaraki in Osaka
and hear from an apostle of the Lord. Elder Oaks from the quorum of
the 12 apostles came to our mission to speak to us. One of the things
that we were challenged to do is to write about what gives us joy in
our journals at night.
Since Elder Oaks addressed us I have been thinking a lot about joy and
exactly what does bring me joy. As I have been reading the Book of
Mormon challenge that we received from President Welch I have been
focusing on what things bring us joy. Today we are reading Alma 26-30.
These chapters are full of joy.
Before these chapters Ammon and the other sons of Mosiah had a desire
to go up to the land of Nephi and declare repentance to their Lamanite
brothers and sisters that they may be saved. They were laughed at by
the people. "Now do ye remember, my brethren, that we said unto our
brethren in the land of Zarahemla, we go up to the land of Nephi, to
preach unto our brethren, the Lamanites, and they laughed us to
scorn?" (Alma 26:23) Despite what their Nephite brethren thought they
made their journey to the Land of Nephi to preach the gospel.
Ammon had great success through his labors. His brothers, on the other
hand, had suffered much and were cast into prison. "And when Ammon did
meet them he was exceedingly sorrowful, for behold they were naked,
and their skins were worn exceedingly because of being bound with
strong cords. And they also had suffered hunger, thirst, and all kinds
of afflictions; nevertheless they were patient in all their
sufferings." (Alma 20:29) However; they were patient. After enduring
through trials they all saw thousands of the Lamanites become
converted to the gospel.
I imagine there were many more trials that they suffered than just
those that are written in the Book of Mormon. After all, they went to
teach the gospel for 14 years. "And they had been teaching the word of
God for the space of fourteen years among the Lamanites." (Alma 17:4)
After 14 years of trials and seeing miracles through the power of God
they returned home to the land of Zarahemla with their converted
Lamanite brethren. On the way back to Zarahemla, Ammon and the sons of
Mosiah ran into a good friend of theirs named Alma. They had been
separated for 14 years and finally reunited. Alma says, "this was a
joyful meeting." (Alma 27:16) In fact it was so joyful that Ammon due
to being swallowed up with joy was "exhasut[ed] of his strength; and
he fell again to the earth." (Alma 27:17)
Many things can bring us joy and I have come to realize that one thing
that brings me joy is the people around me. We are all sons and
daughters of a Father in Heaven who loves us. We all are in this trial
of life together. It brings me great joy to know that we are not
alone. In the name of Jesus Christ amen.
Questions:
Is it the rainy season there right now? How is the weather?
1. The weather has been great lately. Rainy season hasn't quite started yet.
Have you seen any missionaries lately you haven’t seen for a while?
1. The weather has been great lately. Rainy season hasn't quite started yet.
Have you seen any missionaries lately you haven’t seen for a while?
2. I have. On Saturday we had a meeting with all of the missionaries
in the mission.
What has been some of your favorite service projects you have done there?
3. I enjoyed helping the Nishidate family out with their field. I like
working in fields a lot more now.
What kinds of pets do you see more there? Cats? Dogs? Have any does chased you on your bikes?
3. I enjoyed helping the Nishidate family out with their field. I like
working in fields a lot more now.
What kinds of pets do you see more there? Cats? Dogs? Have any does chased you on your bikes?
4. No dogs have chased me. The most common pet is probably cats.
Have you given any blessings recently? Have you been on any exchanges recently?
5. No blessings recently. I gave one in my last area. We went on an
exchange with the zone leaders a couple of weeks ago.
5. No blessings recently. I gave one in my last area. We went on an
exchange with the zone leaders a couple of weeks ago.
What are some things you have learned to cook there in Japan that you like?
6. I like cooking curry. It is really good. I also have really come to
like nato. I hope that we can find some in America so that you can try
it.
I love you all. I challenge you all to look for the joy in your lives
this week and write what brings you joy down in your journals.
Elder Hirschi
6. I like cooking curry. It is really good. I also have really come to
like nato. I hope that we can find some in America so that you can try
it.
I love you all. I challenge you all to look for the joy in your lives
this week and write what brings you joy down in your journals.
Elder Hirschi
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