Living and Applying Knowledge

This week was really difficult for me, but I learned a lot and I am still learning. I am so thankful we had the opportunity to go to the temple this morning because it helped a lot.

Well, my companion and I have been teaching Lupita (up until this past week) who is a member but is not active. We had to leave her because she will not progress. She refuses to pray because she told us she doesn't need to. She believes that the Book of Mormon isn't true and that Joseph Smith wasn't a prophet; she said she doesn't need to pray because she doesn't doubt this. It made me so sad because she was not willing to do what it takes to really find out if what we have taught her is true.

As missionaries we know that the only way our investigators and less-actives can know for themselves that this gospel is true is through prayer; Lupita won't soften her heart and become willing to do that. Why rely on the wisdom of man--which changes with the ways of the world, lies, and deceives--when you can truly receive a witness for yourself through prayer as you ask our loving, all-knowing Heavenly Father (who is the same yesterday today and forever)?

I think one reason she won't pray is because she knows the answer she will receive will be positive. She doesn't want that because when she receives a witness that it is true then she will be responsible to act.

In our last lesson with Lupita she made it clear that she wasn't going to pray and that she is happy where she is. So we just sang a hymn and bore our testimonies instead of teaching her what we were originally planning to teach. I bore my testimony to her that I know this Church is true and that I want her to know for herself that it's true too, but she can only do that through sincere prayer. Among  other things, I cried as I spoke. She just doesn't know what she has within her grasp! She could be so much happier by living and applying this gospel!

Living and applying are key words. As members, it may be easy at times to take the knowledge we have of these truths for granted. But if we really know its true, we should be putting forth every effort to live it. And if we are living it we will have every desire to share this precious gospel with all those around us.

This is all I can write for today. I love you all and I encourage you to "seguir adelante" (press forward) and to find more ways to live and act upon the principles of this gospel.

Love,

Hermana Olivia Nicolosi