The Gospel Is A Choice

Hello everybody! Happy Halloween!

     Another week has come and gone and this week just seemed to fly by. It's seems as if the time is only getting quicker and quicker. It was a week of lots of proselyting, planning, and just the normal typical week. We don't have a ton of investigators so right now we're walking our shoes out talking to everybody we possibly can. It's been fun, and I'm really enjoying the ward that I'm in right now and I'm really happy and content with the work. Another thing that's been great is the fact that our mission is reading the Book of Mormon collectively, striving to strengthen our testimonies. It's been great, and the things I've been learning about the Atonement, and the love of Christ has been influential on the work that I've been doing.

     I'd like to share one experience with you from this week that has really been weighing on my mind. The last two weeks, I've had a missionary who has been training me in my new position. He went home on Friday morning and I've really enjoyed serving with him for a few weeks. We went out tracting for his very last time, and on our very last person. I was amazed at the power of this young man's testimony. We taught this young high school student on the street, and everything was going smoothly when my companion asked for his number. The kid said he didn't want to. My companion asked him what was difficult about doing that. The kid simply responded, "I just don't want to give it to you."

     My companion paused for a few minutes, and dug a little deeper into the kid. The kid felt the spirit strongly. After that small pause, my companion said, "We're not here to force you to believe, or to do what we're asking. We are here to invite you to partake of what we're offering. You know what you've felt, and you know this will help you if you'll allow it. If you don't want to accept it, it won't hurt us, or upset us, but you will know in your heart what you are passing up. It's up to you..."

     We asked again for the kid's number, and again... he said no.

     The gospel is a choice. It is our choice to partake, or to turn away. It is our choice to be happy, or to not to be. It is our choice if we want to follow the Savior, or walk the way of the world. Like this young man who denied us, it is up to us if we accept or deny our Savior.

     I declare my witness unto you of agency. In the end, it's up to our desires, our hearts, and our motivation to be who we need to. That's all it comes down to in the end. Will we stand tall, do what's right, and follow Christ, or will we shy away and falter. It is my humble prayer that we will follow Christ in all we do, magnifying our service and striving to be like Him. I love Him, I serve Him, and I want to be just like Him. 

     I love you all and am so grateful for all of you. Thanks for everything I'm so grateful for the kind love and support. Love you all, and miss you dearly. From the sincerity of my heart thanks for everything. Talk to ya'll soon.

Elder Roper