Happy Birthday to Sister Teresa Robinson
We had a fun Thanksgiving; I am sure that mother is telling you all about it. We had two sets of Elders and one set of Sisters and the Ward mission leader over for a meal at noon and then took three meals to families of their choice. One of the families is a lady who is going to be baptized on Dec. 6. We first met her at a “group “ meeting about four weeks ago. (a group, is an extension of a Ward we live in but they live a good distance out of the town where our ward is so they hold church meetings in a small room near the Elder’s apartment.). Sister Robinson made a connection with this sister and was holding her hands and the sister was crying. The sister so appreciated the encouragement that she received from Sister Robinson that on the next Sunday, Stake Conference, the sister found her and gave her a small gift that she had made. My companion sure has a way of connecting with people on a personal level.
This past week we gave talks in two wards. I will share part of the message from my talk. This talk was similar to one that I gave at Tia’s baptism. I still like what I learned from the scripture reference. (2 Kings 5) Some Great Thing.
The story is that of Naaman who was captain of the host of Syria, who had become a leper. I told the story in more detail than I will here, but when Naaman came to Elisha seeking a cure for his leprosy he was told to wash in the river Jordan seven times. Naaman was wroth and went away. He was expecting much more of a show of power in calling upon the Lord. Naaman’s servants “spake unto him and said, My father, if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it?"
The words “some great thing” caught my attention. The words must have caught the attention of Naaman too because he then went into the river Jordan 7 times and became clean.
What would “some great thing” possibly be? Would it be to kill a lion or a bear or to lead in a battle and defeat an enemy of Israel? The truth is that there is no “great thing” that Naaman could have done to bring about the desired result of curing leprosy.
The story is like baptism but it was not baptism. Naaman was invited to do a simple thing under the direction of a prophet of God and act in faith.
We may know people who have done pretty “great things” but could they have done these things without having already been blessed by Heavenly Father? Such as strong body, good health, sound mind, and so forth.
I have come to believe there was only one truly great thing that has been done on earth and that is the Life and Atonement of our Savior Jesus Christ. He is the only one who could have accomplished that. He does not ask us to do “some great thing” to receive the benefit of His Great Thing. Like “baptism for the remission of sins”; how is it possible that that is all we have to do? It is not really all that we have to do; we need to keep his commandments and endure to the end but still it is an amazing gift.
When we take the Sacrament each week we can remember “Some Great Thing” that was done for us.
I love you all. Have joy in your hearts.
Love Dad
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