Hello!!
Sorry, this email is going
out on wednesday. We had a meeting in hermosillo on Tuesday so I didn't have
much time to write on Monday.
This week in my studies, I
had an experience that really hit me. In the Book of Mormon, one of the
greatest features is the account of the events surrounding the life of Jesus
Christ, as told by the ancient inhabitants of the Americas. I was reading in the
Book of 3 Nephi, chapter 2 where it talks about all the signs that
were given regarding Christs birth, which can also be found in the Gospel of
Luke. It was because of these signs that the ancient american people knew about
the coming of the Son of God into the world. But what follows these signs is
what really called my intention. Keep in mind that these people have literally
witnessed signs from heaven, surpassing the capacity of human intelect. It
reads as follows
1 And it
came to pass that thus passed away the ninety and fifth year also, and the
people began to forget those signs and wonders which they had heard, and
began to be less and less astonished at a sign or a wonder from heaven,
insomuch that they began to be hard in their hearts, and blind in their minds,
and began to disbelieve all which they had heard and seen—
These people, after having
seen heavenly messages, began after a time to become used to seeing
"signs and wonders." They became so accustomed to the
occurrence of super natural events that they actually forgot that such things
had ever happened. It got so bad that when these events took place, they no
longer thought much of it. They became "less and less astonished" at
the signs that so commonly took place in their everyday life, to the point
where they "began to disbelieve all which they had heard and seen,
imagining up some vain thing in their heart, that it was wrought by men,"
so much that it "did blind their eyes and lead them away to believe that
the doctrine of Christ was a foolish and vain thing" and caused them to
"not believe that there should be any more signs or wonders given."
(3 Nephi 2:1-3).
This is mindboggling. How
is it that these people could be so forgetful as to forget the very signs of
their savior? How could they become so used to such miraculous events? Why did
they believe that such events had ceased!? But then for a moment I begin to
think that maybe a handful of us arent so different. Maybe every so often we
find ourselves, like Dory, forgetting very quickly the same good things that
occurr only a short time ago. How often do we forget the many "signs and
wonders" that happen daily? How often do we take for granted the small act
of kindness that a stranger offers us? How many times a day do we forgot to
thank God for the mere fact that we have a roof over our head, food to eat for
dinner, and a car (or several) to help get us around? Are not WE forgetting the
many "signs and wonders?" Are not WE becoming "less and less
astonished" at the things that we are just so used to seeing? I am talking
about things such as small as walking barefoot at home because our floor is
made of comfy carpet! I havent even seen carpet in over a year! Do you now how
much I am going to appreciate carpet now?
The problem is that sometimes
we get in the habit of being in a routine. In the mission, I hear that quite a
bit. We get up, go to school, go to work, go to practice, and then go to bed.
Occasionally there are some minor mix ups that add some spice to our day, but
for the most part, we find ourselves saying that every day has become the same
thing. To that statement, the world renown author Paulo Coelho writes in
"The Alchemist," on of my favorite books, "When each day is the
same as the next, it's because people fail to recognize the good things that
happen in their lives every day that the sun rises." It would be very wise
to frequently ask ourselves, "Is this happening to me?"
Always remember those
signs and wonders. Always look for the good things that happen in your lives
with each new sunset. There are beauties in every day just waiting to be
uncovered, and if you arent paying attention, you might miss em!
See you next week!
Elder Bernal
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