2017-4-23
Peter and Moriancumer
Kamusta
po!
What
a great week! We taught a group of missionaries, called a zone, and started a
finding an activity, and this last week it really kicked off. As a zone we
found double the amount of new people who have interest to investigate the
church! Tomorrow we are sharing a lesson with two zones so as a
little preparation, I'll go ahead and write out my thoughts here. This is meant
for missionaries to be more effective, but of course using time wisely is
applicable to everyone...
The
Story of Peter and Moriancumer
Peter
had a lot of preparation to become the head of the Apostles, the head of
Christ's church. He spent 3 years with Christ during His ministry, and even had
more training from the Resurrected Christ. But there is a specific moment where
Peter became Peter. It wasn't when his name was changed from Simon to Caphas,
it wasn't when he witnessed Christ's triumph over sin and death, it wasn't when
he walked and stumbled on water, nor even the first time Christ administered to
him as a perfected being. Rather it was the 3rd time the Risen Christ
ministered to His apostles on the shores of Galilee that Peter became what
he was destined to be. A consecrated missionary, from good to his best in a
moment.
But
before we look into that moment of Peter's change, let's look at his darkest
hour, when he denied Jesus Christ. Peter was bold, always the first to give an
answer to Jesus's masterful questions, always the first to defend the name of
Christ (even with the sword, which is not the Master's way). But in the
twilight before Christ's crucifixion, Peter 3 times denied being part of Jesus
of Nazareth's followers. Mark, a close associate with Peter, who likely
included the details at Peter's request, noted that Peter "cursed and
swore" saying "I know not this man of whom ye speak". Then
the next verse notes the aftereffect: when Peter "thought
thereon, he wept". (Mark 14:71-72) Peter had denied everything he had done
the past three years. But of course there is repentance and forgiveness. But
Peter was still Simon at this point, he hasn't yet consecrated himself.
We
see that when after 2 visits from the Risen Christ, Peter doesn't know where he
should go, what he should do, with no Messiah guiding him. So, he goes fishing.
He does what he used to do, before the Savior beckoned him and asked him to be
a fisher of men. Found in the conclusion of John, Peter sees the Master at
shore, and typical of the rock, dives into the water to be the first there. But
what awaits him is the most beautiful form of chastisement ever designed. This
in my opinion is where Peter becomes the consecrated missionary. Jesus asks him
after they eat: "Do you love me more than these?" Referring to
fishing. Referring to movies, video games, or whatever thing we might not be
using our time wisely with. Peter says (paraphrased) "of course! You
know I love you!". Jesus says, "Then feed my lambs". Do
missionary work. Then a 2nd time, the same question. "Lovest thou me Simon,
son of Jonas?". The same response. Then for the 3rd time, and at this
point Peter is a little sensitive of the number 3, "Lovest thou me?"
This question breaks Peter's heart, this question makes him realize in his very
heart what he needs to do, that he can't go back to what he was or waste time.
I will call this chastisement because of the next story, but this is how Simon
truly became Peter, became what Jesus saw in him and called him to be.
Now
let's look at the brother of Jared! This story is found in the Book of Ether,
chapter 2, from the Book of Mormon. It has some remarkable similarities, and I
will use the same theme of having training, wasting time, and becoming what our
potential is.
The
brother of Jared is what I'll call an Exodus Prophet, like Moses, Nephi,
Brigham Young. His role is to preside over a people who are trying to reach a
promised land, or in other words, their fullest potential. I won't quote the
verses but this is all chapter 2 of Ether... This group successfully crosses
many waters by building barges and by being guided by the Lord. They have just
escaped the confounding of languages at the tower of Bable. Finally, they reach
a shore of a vast ocean. These waters are nothing like they have tackled
before. Even though they have been guided by the Lord, trained in
frontiersmanship, and are veteran nomads by now, something about a nice little
spot of land by the shore is enticing, and something about that vast ocean is
daunting. So even though they know the Lord's potential for them, they don't
cross those waters, they settle down where they are at. In fact they spend 4
years there. Then the brother of Jared, who is one of the greatest prophets,
has his Simon to Peter moment. It says in the record that he stopped praying,
which I take to mean his prayers became the same, repetitive, without action
involved. But the Lord has something else in mind for this man and his people,
and He pays him a visit. For 3 hours the brother of Jared is
"chastened" for his disobedience. I do NOT want to know what 3 hour
chastisement from the Lord is like.
A
natural man would get bitter and upset, but the brother of Jared is pretty
remarkable, he "repented of the evil which he had done" and although
there is not much detail, this is where he becomes consecrated. He sets out to
build barges needed to cross this ocean, and he uses revelation and his own
hard work and ideas to solve some problems. Then, they reach the promised land
after a long, hard journey. The theme here is also about wasting time in our
comfort zone, where really we need to reach our potential, be the best we can.
Thanks
for reading! Writing that out hopefully makes it easier to say it tomorrow,
so thanks for the help :)
That
family last week actually had a someone refer them! The oldest sibling was
baptized 1 month ago and just got home from college to help her family
join the church. They are not all ready and not all interested, but we had some
amazing experiences this week finding concerns, having some teary testimony
sessions. The result of 4 lessons this week is that 4 members of the family
will be baptized this coming May! Almost all of the trust and spiritual power
we developed in the lessons came from a recent convert who was baptized last
February, and who was able to share how to carve the path of conversion. The
real missionary work happens when normal people are involved, not just the full
time missionaries.
I
know the church is true, I love Jesus Christ, so I'll feed His sheep :)
Elder
Fish
the
picture of the family that came to church is not loading properly... next week
na lang!
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