May 25, 2011

   This past week was really good!!! We found 3 new people to teach and 2 of them were definitely spiritually guided. We had an appt with Savanah to watch the new Joseph Smith movie and she was running a little late. So we were sitting there on a rock thinking and Elder Santiago asked me if there were any houses nearby that we could knock (asking me because I know this area like no other). One house came to my mind, it was not the closest house and it had been knocked like 10 times before. Everyone told us they were "super catholic". I told him about the house that came to my mind and we went. We knocked on the door and this girl answered the door. We began to talk and she told us that they are Catholic. Then Elder Santiago told her of the little experience we had had choosing her house to knock and she looked a little shocked and invited us in. We sat down and she began to open up to us. The mom came down and began to talk too. Turns out the girl had been feeling depressed for the past while because she felt like something was missing in her life, she felt like her heart lacked something and she hadnt found it in the Catholic church. Her mom told us of how her daughter will cry and she can just feel it as she is working and she will call her daughter and ask her if she is ok. This lady has so much faith but she says she doesnt feel like her current religion takes advantage of the faith she has. She told us how she learned to pray from her heart from a Mormon friend. We bore testimony and I felt inspired to promise her that if she listens to our messgae and applies it in her life she will never feel that empitness again. Anybody could have felt that spirit. They invited us back and they want to be taught.

    We also began to teach this 17 year old boy named Ramon. He was released from prision just recently.e used to sell drugs, and just be involved in a lot of not so great stuff, but he told us that when he was in jail last time he just started praying and he doesnt know why but he prayed and he now has this huge desire to change.

    We had zone conference this past week and I heard an analogy that I really liked. I talked about us and the gospel and compared it to a puddle and a stream. A puddle is stagnent and doesnt move, it sits there and grows dirtier and dirtier. While a stream is constantly flowing and as it flows it naturally purifies itself. We must be the same, we must always be moving in the gospel, we must always be purifying ourselves. President Miller also talked a lot about loving those you serve and teach. I really have found that I have come to love the people I teach and serve. I love their culture, there Spirit, I just love everything about them and I know that is because the Spirit has given me a greater capacity to love and understand.

   I love the Lord's mission that I am on. I love every minute of it! Sometimes it is hard but there is something to be learned from every hard moment we encounter. If nothing is learned than we wasted an opportunity to understand a little bit more God's plan for us. I love you all and have a miracle filled week.

 

Love,

Elder Jolly

Three Kinds of Love

Since our English word love is used so broadly, it is helpful to distinguish between different types of love in order to gain a more precise understanding of the New Testament's message. This can be easily accomplished because the New Testament was written in Greek and there are various Greek words for love.
Eros:  Eros is probably what most people mean when they announce with a smile, "I'm in love." This type of love covers everything.   There is a very interesting characteristic about Eros love. In order to exist, Eros love is dependent upon the situation and circumstances.
Philia:   This word refers to brotherly love. This is the love of friendship, best friends, and the fellowship of being with those people you enjoy.
Agape:  This is charity or God’s love.  Unlike the previous two types of love, agape is not limited to being held hostage by its environment and someone's perception. The reason why agape can soar above these is because it is based upon the commitment of a decision. It entails the decision to proactively seek someone's well-being.  Understanding this opens up a whole new understanding of the scriptures. 

“This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead.  So      when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.  He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto his, Feed my sheep.  He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.”  John 21:14-17

John is giving us a clue when he tells us this is the third time the Savior has appeared.  There is significance in this number.   Now the Savior asks Peter the same question three times.  The first question translated from the Greek refers to newborn lambs and he asks Peter if he loves Him in the Agape form.  The second question from the Greek translation refers to young lambs and again Jesus uses the Agape form of love.  Each time that Peter answers “thou knowest that I love you”, he answers with the Phila form of love or friendship.  The third question the Greek translation refers to full grown sheep.  When the Savior asks “lovest thou me”, he asks in the Philia form or, in other words, he is saying to Peter “Do you only love me as a friend?”  This is why “Peter was grieved”.   
Even though we read and have some understanding of the scriptures, it takes searching and feasting on the scriptures daily to uncover the hidden messages and profound doctrine in them.  “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.” John 5:39.  If you want to be free of discouragement, search the scriptures.  If you want to teach with power and authority, search the scriptures.  If you want to speak with the tongue of angels, search the scriptures.  If you want to know your Savior Jesus Christ, search the scriptures.  This is not an invitation to enjoy an appetizer; it is an invitation to enjoy a feast.