So this is most likely going to be my
last blog post as a missionary, but just because its my last one
doesn't mean ill end my spiritual journey. I will continue to share
things that have tough me to grow closer to my savior Jesus Christ.
To days topic comes from a scripture from the Old Testament.
Malachi 3:3 And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and
he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver,
that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness.
While I was thinking of how I've gone through my refiner fire some
one shared this story with me.
There was a group of women in a Bible study on the book of Malachi. As they were studying chapter three, they came across verse three which says: "He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver." (Malachi 3:3) This verse puzzled the women and they wondered what this statement meant about the character and nature of God.
One of the women offered to find out about the process of refining silver and get back to the group at their next Bible study. That week this woman called up a silver smith and made an appointment to watch him at work. She didn't mention anything about the reason for her interest in silver beyond her curiosity about the process of refining silver. As she watched the silver smith, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest as to burn away all the impurities. The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot--then she thought again about the verse, that he sits as a refiner and purifier of silver.
She asked the silver smith if it was true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time the silver was being refined. The man answered that yes, he not only had to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire. If the silver was left even a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed. The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silver smith, "How do you know when the silver is fully refined?"
He smiled at her and answered, "Oh, that's easy--when I see my image in it."
If today you are feeling the heat of the fire, remember that God has His eye on you.
Author unknown
What a powerful story! There has been
times were I was always thinking of why do I have to go through this
right now? I don’t want this... But the Savior was teaching me
something that I needed to learn and to mold me into a better person.
One story sticks out to me that has taught me how to be diligent and
to continue on everyday no matter what life brings but to be
grateful for what we have. So this story took place on North side
Jacksonville around 3 in the afternoon me and my companion were out
knocking on doors and we were walking up to a door and I heard the
spirit say to me stay calm and everything will be OK... so we start
talking with this man and he seemed way interested in the message
that we have to share with all of our brothers and sisters and he
asked if he could turn the stove off because he was cooking at the
time... Sure we will be right here I said... I looked across the
street to see if there was anyone else to talk to and then my life
changed. I heard the man walking back to speak with us and all the
sudden I had a gun put to my head. ( then I remembered be calm and
everything will be ok.) the man said that he wasn't interested in
what we had to share and said to leave... By now my companion is down
half the street running. And as any Good missionary would do is ask
if anyone in the area would be interested in the message. So I asked
him this question. Do you know anyone in the area who has had a
resent death in the family that needs a uplifting spirit in there
home... the mad man replied NO BUT I CAN MAKE ONE FOR YOURS... I
stood there with peace knowing that everything will be ok and I just
walked away. I said to myself if hes going to kill me he would have
done it by now so just walk away and do the lords work. From that
day it has been really hard for me to go out and knock on doors no
one likes a gun to the head but I had to get over it I was doing the
lords work and I knew that everything will be ok.
The Lord truly had me in the refiners fire at that moment. I
learned from that to be more Christ like and if one day that man ever
reads this I forgive you. There has been many more trails and
story's from my mission that I could share but don’t have the time
to but if I had to sum up all that I have learned from them would be
to have more charity for my Brothers and Sister. Like in
1Corinthians 13 teaches in verse 2 says. And though I have the gift
of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and
though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have
not charity, I am nothing.
I know that the Savior has seen a
little more of him in my life and is starting to pull me out of the
Fire. I am grateful for the last two years of my life to help prepare
me to be the man and priesthood holder that I need to be. I know that
this church is true and that God leads us through a living prophet in
these latter days, I know that the Book of Mormon is true and to be
the word of God. I say this in my savior and redeemers name Jesus
Christ
Amen
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