Dear all,
It should not surprise you when I say that it has been another wonderful week. We were able to go on four exchanges, find new families to teach, and prepare for a baptism this coming Saturday. I love this work! We are truly led by the Lord each day as we go about doing His work in His way.
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| We ate lunch at a super cute burger joint! |
I have fond memories of loudly singing (probably shouting more than singing) one of my favorite primary songs as I proudly copied the hand motions my teacher was doing. We sang of a "wise man" who built his house upon the rock, and a "foolish man" who built his house upon the sand. As the verses progress in this beloved song, we learn that the home built on the rock stands strong against rains and floods, but the house on the sand washes away.
This children's song is, of course, based upon the Savior's words:
"Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
"And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
"And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
"And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it" (Matthew 7:24-27; see also 3 Nephi 14:24-27).
The purpose of this parable is not to give young children a fun song to sing--although that is a wonderful bonus--but rather to allow us a chance to self-evaluate.
Are our foundations built upon the rock, solid and unshakable; or upon the sand, weak and easily destroyed?
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| Exchange with Sister Atkins! |
In our day it is essential to be steadfast and immovable in our faith (see Mosiah 5:15). If we are going to be immovable in the faith, then we must be firmly planted on solid gospel ground. We must be as the wise man who built his house upon the rock. We must have unshakable foundations.
Any lasting physical foundation is based upon four strong cornerstones, and our spiritual foundations must also be built this way if we are to expect them to weather the storms of this life. Anyone who desires to be sound in their testimony must come to understand and accept four foundational elements of the restored gospel, which are first, Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the Savior of the world; second, Joseph Smith is the Prophet of the Restoration; third, the Book of Mormon is the word of God; and fourth, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the kingdom of God on earth.
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| Sisters Paul, Hardman, and Waite with Danny |
These four great truths are the unshakable cornerstones which should be our anchors in these turbulent times. We need only know these four things with our whole being in order to stand tall and strong. The four cornerstones are truths upon which an everlasting foundation is built.
My greatest desire is for all men to come to this great knowledge. I pray each day all within the sound of my voice will desire to enter the kingdom of God, come to know the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon, feel the Spirit testify of the Prophet Joseph Smith, and--most importantly--anchor themselves to their Savior Jesus Christ, who is Himself the Chief Cornerstone. There is no other foundation that will stand through the turmoil of these days.
In my last four letters, I've touched on each cornerstone. By starting with the Restoration of the gospel and church of Jesus Christ, moving to my testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith, following that with my conviction of the Savior's divinity, and then sharing my witness of the Book of Mormon, I have laid my foundation before you. Each of these important truths are embedded in my soul.
Our Father in Heaven has not sent us here to be blown about by every wind, tossed about on every wave, and shaken with every quake. He has made it possible for you to build a foundation so strong that "...when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation where on if men build they cannot fall" (Helaman 5:12).
I know with every piece of my soul that Jesus is the Christ, that Joseph Smith is His prophet, the Book of Mormon is His word, and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is His kingdom on earth. I have built a solid foundation and I will not be moved.
My prayer is that you will do the same.
Love,
Sister Waite
