Rough Week 8!

Well hello again!

Been a really rough week this week as i caught the flu and have been stuck in the apartment. Not much has really happened as you could imagine but from all the studying, might as well enlighten you all rather than bore you!

I've recently restarted reading the Book of Mormon. And ive come to the book of Alma! One of my favorites as it talks about my favorite Book of Mormon prophets and heroes such as Ammon, and Captain Moroni. As I read, I've come to LOVE Alma Chapter 2. It talks a lot about faith. Lately Ive been dealing with a ton of Physical trials and what not, and believe it or not, its been hard! Keeping faith in this kind of stuff is hard. Not being able to go out and proselyte is heart breaking, makes me feel like im wasting time, and that im not successful sometimes. But when i read this Chapter, it picked me right back up.

If you read Chapter 1, it talks about certain events that occur. At the end of it, and at the beginning of chapter 2 It says that the church was very prosperous at this time! As time moved and the more prosperous they became in their industries and what not, some of the nephites began to lust after the vain things of the world wearing all manner of fine clothing and dwelling on gold and silver and precious things. One Nephite in particular, Amlici (hate that guy) began to build up another church and began to draw away the hearts of many people. Army became very strong and he and the Amlicites desired to go to war against Alma and the Nephites. Physically, the Amlicites could probably wreck anyone any day of the week, key thing is, they had no faith! No faith in their Heavenly Father about anything. The Nephites were JACKED on faith, Spiritual giants everywhere! Because of their faith and because of their prayers, God heard them and their prayers and delivered them out. The Amlicites fell before the Nephites and everyone was happy.

BUT, The Amlicites took off and decided to go chill with the Lamanites for a bit, and then come and try again to smite the Nephites off the earth. Sure enough, the Amlicites AND the Lamanites came, Thats two armies people! Two freakin strong armies thirsty for blood of the Nephites. Basically what i imagine is going through the minds of the Nephites is, `Shoot man! its all good though we have GOD on our side, psssh we are good!` So the Nephites begin to pray with everything theyve got and cry and plead unto God to help em out. Because of that and their faith (once again) It is said that the Nephites slew THOUSANDS, and TENS OF THOUSANDS through the power of god within them.

Basically from these two experiences they had, we know that all of us can cry unto our Heavenly Father for help, or guidance or about anything really, and we will receive help ONLY when our faith in him is there, and that our desires are righteous ones. 

BUT WAIT THERES MOREEEE

Chapter 2, Alma goes face to face with the man himself, Amlici, in a sword duel. Alma being a man of god, and having been exercised with much FAITH, he asks god `Hey God, help me out man! Let me win the battle so that I CAN CONTINUE BEING AN INSTRUMENT IN THY HANDS` After, He freakin slays Amlici like a beast. Soon as that Happens everyone freaks out and starts running for it across the river Sidon, The Nephites build a bridge over the river out of the Lamanite and Amlici bodies that they killed (freakin savage man!) and pursued them and continued to slay them so that they wouldn't come back.

Freak man! That's sick! We can liken this story to us. In a very suitable way considering the world we live in. The Amlicites are the Devil and his temptations. May we all build up our faith each day, become spiritual giants so that we don't fall before the adversary. may we have faith like unto Alma, and be able to contend with `The Devil` when he comes our way and be able to Slay him. Now some of us may make mistakes, that.s okay, that's what the atonement is for, we can take what we`ve learned, meaning take the bodies we've slain, build that bridge and continue to slay the Devil so that these kinds of problems don't   ever mess with us anymore and we can say NO, and keep moving forward in faith so that we can achieve Eternal life with our Father in Heaven.

I have really began to strengthen my faith through DAILY prayer and scripture study, really makes a difference and I know it will help you too!

Hope what i have taught you makes sense, and i Hope you continue to work hard at building your faith! I advise you to read this Chapter!!

Love you all and PRAY for me that next week  i'll be better to leave the apartment! Hate being sick!

Love,  Elder Preciado

プレ氏アド長老　

Jacob drew this picture for a Japanese family named Mitsukawa, which means river of light. He drew this picture of a light river leading to the Tree of Life. The scripture is Matthew 5:16 "Let your light so shine before men so that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."