Long crazy interesting week.
THE BEST PART WAS A BAPTISM! I meant to tell you all about her before, but I didn't, so here you go! She is a girl who started listening to the Gospel before I got here to La Rioja. She was a referral from a member here. Once I met her, HOLY COW. She is soooooo spiritual and just understands everything so so so well! Seriously, one of the most understanding people I've taught in my whole mission. Throughout our time teaching her, she brought two friends with her to listen to us as well! SO SO COOL!
Anyways, this last weekend was her baptism! She was so ready and it was really cool to be there! Her friend, the one who invited her to the Gospel, was the one to baptize her. really really cool. She's going to be such a great member of the Church.
We had a good time in Cordoba this week as well in Concilio. Always fun to see the other zone leaders I know like Elder Kotter, Naegle, and others.
Chamical was also fun. The little sacrament meetings there are always really chill and fun to organize, even if it means that Elder Corgiat and I give talks every time:) Whenever I run out of ideas in these kinds of situations, the first thing that comes to mind is always one of the awesome classes that my seminary teacher Sister Nelson gave. This week I shared what I learned from her in Alma 47 about Amalikiah, and how his methods of gaining power are a lot like how Satan tries to overtake us. I invite each of you to read the chapter and find parallels. I want to point out one part that I like though.
10 And it came to pass that when it was night he sent a secret embassy into the mount Antipas, desiring that the leader of those who were upon the mount, whose name was Lehonti, that he should come down to the foot of the mount, for he desired to speak with him.
11 And it came to pass that when Lehonti received the message he durst not go down to the foot of the mount. And it came to pass that Amalickiah sent again the second time, desiring him to come down. And it came to pass that Lehonti would not; and he sent again the third time.
12 And it came to pass that when Amalickiah found that he could not get Lehonti to come down off from the mount, he went up into the mount, nearly to Lehonti’s camp; and he sent again the fourth time his message unto Lehonti, desiring that he would come down, and that he would bring his guards with him.
13 And it came to pass that when Lehonti had come down with his guards to Amalickiah, that Amalickiah desired him to come down with his army in the night-time, and surround those men in their camps over whom the king had given him command, and that he would deliver them up into Lehonti’s hands, if he would make him (Amalickiah) a second aleader over the whole army.
14 And it came to pass that Lehonti came down with his men and surrounded the men of Amalickiah, so that before they awoke at the dawn of day they were surrounded by the armies of Lehonti.
15 And it came to pass that when they saw that they were surrounded, they pled with Amalickiah that he would suffer them to fall in with their brethren, that they might not be destroyed. Now this was the very thing which Amalickiah desired.
16 And it came to pass that he delivered his men, acontrary to the commands of the king. Now this was the thing that Amalickiah desired, that he might accomplish his designs in dethroning the king.
17 Now it was the custom among the Lamanites, if their chief leader was killed, to appoint the second leader to be their chief leader.
18 And it came to pass that Amalickiah caused that one of his servants should administer apoison by degrees to Lehonti, that he died.
19 Now, when Lehonti was dead, the Lamanites appointed Amalickiah to be their leader and their chief commander.
Kinda long, sorry. But what I like about this is that Lehonti, like us, would never go all the way down to Satan's level. DUH, we don't like to follow Satan. But when he becomes trickier and says "Oh no just come down a little bit, you can bring your guards, it'll be okay, don't worry, you're still in control" is when the trouble starts. Because when we follow him just that little bit, it's the start of us being "poisoned by degrees" until he destroys us. Scary stuff.
That's why it's so important to "stand in holy places and be not moved," because as long as we are on that mountaintop, close to God, Satan doesn't have any power over us. And Jesus is ready to forgive our mistakes if we do take some steps downward, and He's ready to help us get back up.
have a good week
Elder Jenkins
