(written Nov 15th)
Now that I have some time to write about it I'll tell you guys
about the meeting we had with Elder Christofferson last weekend. It was a
wonderful experience. I was stressed out all week and that morning as
we prepared for the meeting to start. Elder Christofferson was to enter
the building at 9:30
and by then all missionaries had to be seated and reverent. It sounds
simple but it was not an easy feat. The remaining missionaries to arrive
showed up just minutes beforehand. Once Elder Christofferson walked in
we were all waiting. Elder Garcia and I were waiting by the doors and he
called us over to shake our hands and talk to us for a minute before
going in. Just seeing him there in the building made all the stress of
the week worth it and it was as if the weight was lifted off of me. All
of the missionaries were able to shake his hand. The meeting started
exactly at 10am
and consisted of short testimonies from Elder Gonzalez (Area President
and member of the First Quorum of the Seventy) and his wife, President
Goates and his wife, the wife of Elder Christofferson, and the rest of
the time was taken by Elder Christofferson himself. He gave a pretty
humorous introduction, talked for about 20 minutes, and the remainder of
the time he opened up to questions.
I'll start off by sharing some of his funny remarks that he said at the beginning.
He
mentioned that upon his arrival to Argentina (his first stop was
actually in Mendoza) an Argentine man working at the airport spoke to
him. He said that it was probably a couple of phrases but it just
sounded like one long word. He then said that he knew a little bit of
spanish but knew nothing of castellano (that's what they call spanish
here). It was funny to hear because I can relate to it.
Elder
Christofferson also mentioned something that I had heard before but
forgot all about. Elder Richard G. Scott was his mission president! They
are now both serving together in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. He
mentioned that Elder Scott directed and mentored him in those days and
continues to now. Elder Christofferson said that Elder Scott knows all
of his failures and weaknesses but he still doesn't know any of his...
haha! He told us that he wonders when they meet together on a weekly
basis, and Elder Christoffeirson walks into the room, if Elder Scott
thinks to himself, "¿que hace éste acá?" (what is this guy doing here).
I'd
also like to mention what he said before opening up the question and
answer section, "don't ask me about the three Nephites because they
never call or write." Ha! As I'm about to start this section I realize
that this is going to be a very long entry so I hope you hang in there
with me. I'll write about two questions that were asked and a summary of
his answers.
I'll start with the shorter one
in which someone asked about helping people overcome addictions. The
missionary said that he has been working with someone for a few weeks
that is really struggling with addiction. This person is going to
church, reading the scriptures daily, and pleading for help from the
Lord. They aren't seeing any results and the person is starting to feel
that the Lord has forgotten them.
Elder
Christofferson said that the Lord suffered for each and every one of us
so profoundly and on such an individual basis that it would be
impossible for him to forget us. He then stated that if the Lord were to
forget him then he would be the first person the Lord has ever
forgotten.. it just doesn't happen. He reminded the missionary about the
power that comes from reading the Book of Mormon specifically and the
knowledge that is gained through prayerful study of it. The Book of
Mormon goes into depth about the Atonement and Elder Christofferson
stated that in order to overcome weaknesses we must deepen our knowledge
of the Atonement. To finalize his statement he said something very
interested - he told the missionary, "if that person is truly fighting
then remind him that he can speak with confidence before the Lord as he
pleads for help." I really loved that statement as it was a reminder to
me of the essence of prayer.
I'd like to share
this second question because it reminded me of an experience I had as a
young teenager. When he was telling his experience as an answer to this
question I couldn't believe how wildly similar his experience was to
mine. I don't think I have ever shared this other than in my testimony
at youth conference when I had this experience over 5 years ago.
First
things first, the question that was asked was how Elder Christofferson
gained his testimony. Elder Christofferson mentioned that his testimony
didn't come in a moment or with one single experience. His testimony
came, as it does for many, through building precept upon precept. He
said that his experience is similar to many in the fact that it didn't
come from a single experience but from many smaller experiences and more
than anything "confirmations" of truth. He said that the Lord works in
that way, that as we study and worship he shows his mercy by giving us
many confirmations of truth from which we can build on. He is merciful
in the fact that those confirmations are reminders and that he doesn't
just give us one big experience to depend on for our whole lives. He
then shared an experience he had as a youth with a visit he made to the
Sacred Grove. He had set in his mind that he was going to pray in the
Sacred Grove and have some big testimony building experience. He
described the build up to the prayer, his prayer, and then waiting to an
answer that didn't end up coming until a couple of weeks later when he
was studying in his home. Even then, the answer wasn't a manifestation
or vision but rather a simple confirmation from the Spirit that these
things were true and that is really enough.
I
had a pretty similar experience. One of my first Youth Conferences as a
youth was a trip to see historical sites of the church in the northeast,
one of them being the Sacred Grove. I knew that we would be visiting
the grove where Joseph Smith had the his proclaimed First Vision; by
chance, I just so happened to be reading the Book of Mormon for the
first time. So I decided to time it out so that I would finish the last
chapter of the Book of Mormon in the Sacred Grove and follow through
with Moroni's promise there in the very place.
The
day arrived in which we were to visit the sacred grove. I read a few of
the last chapters leading up to the end of the Book of Mormon trying to
intently take in the information and left the last chapter to read in
the grove. Upon arrival to the grove I split off on my own to have some
time to read, reflect, and pray. Everything happened perfectly in my
plan up until that point. I eagerly finished the last chapters of Moroni
10 (even reading versus 3-5 a few times to make sure I was doing it
right), meditated upon what I had learned, and knelt down to offer a
sincere prayer in regards to its truthfulness.
I
got nothing... it felt like a big blank. I even felt a little bad due
to disappointment. I set off to walk out of the grove to wait for
everyone else. I didn't irrationally determine that all that I had ever
known was suddenly untrue but it was the first time I ever really
questioned. As I was walking out I saw my dad walking along the trail,
he was alone as well, just taking it all in. He talked to me for a
minute without any idea of what had just happened to me. I wanted to
pour out my experience to him and ask for his help but I was also a
young teenage boy and would never think of doing such a thing ;) So I
didn't. In this case it actually turned out to be okay because it
allowed to me think it out on my own and has turned in to a key part of
my testimony. When we finished our small-talk he walked off and I sat
down by myself on one of the benches in the woods.
I
started asking myself what this could mean, why I didn't get an answer
when I was fully expecting one, why God would choose not to answer me in
that moment. I asked myself what it would mean if I decided that these
things weren't true and chose a different path in life. That question is
one that often helps me realize, more than anything, the truthfulness
of the Gospel and what it offers to it faithful followers. In that time
of reflection I was able to think of all the experiences I had had in
the Gospel up until that point, I thought of the stirrings of the Spirit
as I read the Book of Mormon, and I thought of moments in which I had
felt the soft but undeniable burning of the Spirit from within. I
realized that I didn't need some grand experience or manifestation to
know the truthfulness of the Restored Gospel. I already knew from what
it had to offer me and from the small stirrings I had had that it was
true. And really, the confirmation of that principle and key part of my
testimony didn't come until a couple of years later.
I
know I haven't always made the best choices in my life. My testimony
then wasn't what it is now. And what it is now is a small portion of
what I hope it to be after many years of service for the Lord in the
future. Although my testimony has always been there doesn't mean that I
have made the best choices but the consequences of my choices,
fortunately, have allowed me to gain an even stronger testimony after
repentance.
Well, that's enough for my little
tangent experience. But if any of you are feeling like the Lord hasn't
answered you then just think about it for a minute, reflect, and give it
some time. The Lord answers in his own time and when he knows it is
right. The fact that he will answer it in the right time will mean that
you will be more ready and that the answer will mean more when you
receive it.
I guess I ended up talking more
about myself than Elder Christofferson but I felt like sharing that
testimony of mine with you all. I hope you were able to get a little
something either from what he or I said. Have a great week!
Love,
Elder Rainock
