Week 16.5 The Book of Mormon is True! 10/24/2016

We are told as missionaries that the best tools for conversion is the Book of Mormon and the Spirit. Often I forget the importance of the divine blue book, which is the Book of Mormon.

How do you feel about the Book of Mormon? I don't know, but I do know that regardless of: if you believe [and] have a testimony of it or don't believe in it. It is true. It can change your life as it has mine, all one has to do is to read, study, and ponder the teachings it has in it.

This week has been a very spiritual high for me.

First we had mission tour, and we talked about how to individualize [the message to the] people. We had Elder Wong preside at that meeting.

The second and more important one that I had this month was [that] I know, without a doubt that the Book of Mormon is true. I was reading and studying hymn number 25 on the 21st of October. The hymn is "now I sing with one accord." Do you know what it says? verse 3 it says "And the Book of Mormon true, With its covenant ever new." That was a very wonderful and peaceful moment in my life, to know for sure, that the book that I carry around with me every day and the book that I talk about and preach about is the Word of God.

Because the Book of Mormon is True. That means Joseph Smith is a prophet of God, That means he did have priesthood power, the power to wash away our sins through baptism. That means there are people on this earth that can save us and help us get back to heaven.

Following the Gospel is simple. It is not easy, but if you first seek up the treasures in heaven, then "all things shall be added unto you" (3 Nephi 13:33). I found a way that could help me tell if I had my heart set upon the things of heaven. in 3 Nephi 13:21 Christ says that where your treasure is, there also is your heart. Where our heart is is so important because it provides the driving force for our actions. So I choose to treasure up the Book of Mormon, and I know that if I do that I will have a testimony of Christ as my Savior.

The Book of Mormon teaches that you must repent for we must all be cleansed through the blood of Christ. It says it like at least 140 times. Our ward mission leader brother Faahn said that we are still here on this earth for a reason, and that reason is because Bod still has hope in us that we well repent or change our lives. Every opportunity is to change and become more perfected in Christ. If we apply the things from the Book of Mormon, we will change. Jesus Christ's Gospel is to change and perfect us.

I know that Jesus Christ is my Savior. In the words of Elder Bruce R Mckonkie who says it much better then me 

"I believe in Christ; he is my King! With all my heart to him I'll sing; I'll raise my voice in praise and joy, In grand amens my tongue employ. I believe in Christ; he stands supreme! From him I'll gain my fondest dream; And while I strive through grief and pain, His voice is heard: "Ye shall obtain." I believe in Christ; so come what may, With him I'll stand in that great day When on this earth he comes again To rule among the sons of men."

He is my Savior, He is your Savior. In his name Amen.

Week 15.5 The Plan of Salvation 10/17/2016

This week was pretty good :) I learned and gained a testimony of the plan of salvation the greatest plan of all :)

Plan of Salvation

It is the plan which we can become perfect and gods and has all the good results that we want our lives to have.

CreationThis is one of the reasons that God loves us! because he created us. If we create something we want it to succeed and grow. We are god's creation and he wants us to succeed because he has put in so much effort such as our bodies, the holy ghost, all those things so that we can succeed. How disappointing it must be when we are not able to live up to our potential.

Life

there are things we must do in life to be able to live up to our full potential

Endure to the end

We must do this to reach the end but it seems super grudging sometimes

Do it with love

follow the commandments out of love. it will be easier because we will want to do it

Acts of service out of love

choose to love those that have wronged us in chinese it is 寬恕. The second character Syu is girl mouth and heart combined. We must forgive with our heart and mouth and do it like a mother would to her child.

Dont procrastinate repenting

Helaman 13:38

But behold, your days of probation are past; ye have procrastinated the day of your salvation until it is everlastingly too late, and your destruction is made sure; yea, for ye have sought all the days of your lives for that which ye could not obtain; and ye have sought for happiness in doing iniquity, which thing is contrary to the nature of that righteousness which is in our great and Eternal Head.

Hymn 229 Today while the sun shines

1. 1. Today, while the sun shines, work with a will;
   Today all your duties with patience fulfill.
   Today, while the birds sing, harbor no care;
   Call life a good gift; call the world fair.
2. (Chorus)
   Today, today, work with a will;
   Today, today, your duties fulfill.
   Today, today, work while you may;
   Prepare for tomorrow by working today.
3. 2. Today seek the treasure better than gold,
   The peace and the joy that are found in the fold.
   Today seek the gems that shine in the heart;
   While here we labor, choose the better part.

3. Today seek for goodness, virtue, and truth,

As crown of your life and the grace of your youth.

Today, while the heart beats, live to be true,

Constant and faithful all the way through.

Then we will be doing his will.

3 Nephi 11:11

And behold, I am the light and the life of the world; and I have drunk out of that bitter cup which the Father hath given me, and have glorified the Father in taking upon me the sins of the world, in the which I have suffered the will of the Father in all things from the beginning. 

So Trust in the plan!

Trust in the lord with all thine heart

he is the investment that will never fail

Lean not upon thine own understanding

Make decisions with him and not what you think would be best

In all thine ways acknowledge him

Whether the things you are experiencing are good or bad it is his will and sometimes we suffer but we can suffer with joy as they said in general conference

And he shall direct thy path

We have the heavenly promise that he will help us and direct us.

On this day of Joy and Gladness

1. On this day of joy and gladness,

Lord, we praise thy holy name;

In this sacred place of worship,

We thy glories loud proclaim!

1. (Chorus)
   Alleluia, Alleluia,
   Bright and clear our voices ring,
   Singing songs of exultation
   To our Maker, Lord, and King!

2. Open wide the fount of Zion;

Let her richest blessings flow

To the Saints who nobly serve thee

In the gospel here below.

3. May we labor in the kingdom--

By the prophets long foretold--

Where the children of the promise

Shall be gathered in the fold.

God loves us. I am glad we have a chance to make it back. Even if it is one in an infinity (like me) there is still a chance. We have perfect people parents and brothers who want to help us. With there help we can defy the natural odds and make it back. It is there that we will find 永恆的快樂 (eternal happiness). We can have all the blessings of god if we Trust him. In the name of his beloved son amen.

Week 14.5 General Conference (a week later) 10/10/2016

Ok Yes Hong Kong is special and didn't have conference until yesterday sorry haha :)

General conference was great so here I go!

I. we all have emptiness within us

we have the capacity to feel but we have not yet felt infinity. What makes us empty and want to fill it with something?We naturally desire for something to fill us, to love us, to lift us, and to trust us, to feel important in some way.

II. How do we then fill the void?

1. Gospel of Jesus Christ!!!!!!!

This is what this whole church is about, is that if we keep his commandments we can be made whole and we can have the ability to be filled with light and happiness!
i. Faith
Faith is so important because it starts it all. It is that because someone loved us and did things for us, we can achieve eternal potential. when we wax "firmer and firmer in the faith of Christ" we can fill that emptiness that there is someone that does love us. Some things are hard to accept but "some things can only be learned by faith" (W. Mark Basset)
ii. Repentance
We often look to the wrong to fill our emptiness thinking that we can become important to satan, but that is a lie. Satan doesn't care about us and sin makes us emptier and drains what light we have out of us. We cannot be saved in our sin. God gave us the gift of repentance to fill us again with the gift of love and peace. Elder Renlund said "repentance is not only possible but also joyful." May we be joyful in fulfilling our potential. Change is difficult but if we change into what the lord wants us to be, it will be completely worth it. "And now behold, I say unto you, my brethren, if ye have experienced a change of heart, and if ye have felt to sing the song of redeeming love, I would ask, can ye feel so now?" (alma 5:26). I know that if we use repentance like it is suppose to be used that we can be swept from our guilt and we can fill our emptiness with light and knowledge and testimony that Christ is our savior.

iii. Baptism
it shows the full power of the atonement and gives us promises that if we keep we can be happy in Christ. The lord expects perfection. If we strive for it, we will get as close as we can, and he will carry us the rest of the way. (not in this life, but we need to try as hard as we can).
iv. Gift of The holy Ghost
The gift of the Holy Ghost is so important because it can give us peace and comfort and fill us and make us feel special. It can fill us up to the capacity to make it so we no longer seek things of no value to fill our souls. It helps us know what is correct to help us to be happy and that there is a divine being that loves us even if we are not perfect.
v. Enduring to the End
Yes enduring seems kind of not fun but it is more fun that. It is more being faithful to the end. It is enduring trials, and struggles and turning to the lord at all times. Enduring to the end is not to be grudgingly don it is to be cheerfully done! if you do this you can be filled and happy now and be filled to have eternal happiness

III. It will be hard

Nothing worthwhile is easy. The people who make it big quickly also loose it all quickly. "Things that grow slowly lasts longer." having "treasures in heaven (Hel 8:25)" is not easy. It is a process. Elder bender said in General Conference that if we serve him and deny ourselves of ungodliness, gradually his will becomes our will. like it says in Heleman 10:5 are we seeking his will? Elder Eyering said the work "matters because we are serving others for our master."

IV.We are to have Joy

Most important of all, if you are doing all you can be happy! Elder Nelson said that saints are to have Joy because they are patient with their afflictions. The ultimate gift and proof of our emptiness being filled is joy no matter what happens in our life.

You touch more people then you think. Fruit takes year to grow, but when it blossoms you then see that it was all worth it. God wants us to be happy! he sees the capacity and potential of our souls and bases his love off of that because he has served us for all eternity. The plan of salvation is his ultimate gift and service for us because it required the ultimate sacrifice of someone who didn't deserve to be sacrificed but Christ willingly did so because he loved us. We are all worth loving to him. If we see ourselves through God's Eyes we will be filled. This is The truth and glad tithings of the Gospel. In the name of his beloved son, even Jesus Christ my redeemer, Amen.

Week 13.5 Preparing for Conference & Working with Members 10/3/2016

This week has been absolutely awesome!!!

We met some new friends and they seem pretty cool. Working with members is the best!!!!!!

I. The blessings of God

So general conference is coming up (for me anyway) and I am reading all the conference talks from last year. One of the talks I read this week was "that I may draw all men unto me" In this talk Elder Renlund quotes Elder Wilford W. Anderson. He says "The greater the distance between the giver and the receiver, the more the receiver develops a sense of entitlement." He talks about how we must make it so we are like Nephi who has the attitude of thanks 

1. Humility to become closer to God

The most important thing we can do is to be humble before God

1.1 Alma 51:17 Pull down their pride

we must pull down our pride if we want to see the blessings and tender mercies of God
1.2 Alma 56:46are we worthy to be called his sons (daughters) like the 2000 strippling warriors?
1.3 Alma 48:20 example of drawing unto Christ and being blessedAnd thus they went forth, and the people did humble themselves because of their words , insomuch that they were highly favored of the Lord, and thus they were free from wars and contentions among themselves, yea, even for the space of four years.
1.4 God of our fathers whose almighty hand being humble is we will follow god and do what HE wants, and not what we want
Of shining worlds in splendor through the skies,
Our grateful songs before thy throne arise.
In this free land by thee our lot is cast.
Be thou our Ruler, Guardian, Guide, and Stay,
Thy word our law, thy paths our chosen way.
Be thy strong arm our ever-sure defense.
Thy true religion in our hearts increase.
Thy bounteous goodness nourish us in peace.

1. God of our fathers, whose almighty hand

Leads forth in beauty all the starry band

2. Thy love divine hath led us in the past;

3. From war's alarms, from deadly pestilence,

I know if we do let him lead us, we will never go astray and we will always have his spirit to guide us

2. Act Like he would

our thoughts are not the only thing we must change, we must also change our actions

2.1 To the Rescue we can do it

Don't delay because you never know when it is too late, but be patient with your efforts.

3. When you have done all you can Trust

This is something that is very tender and dear to my heart because it is one of the principals that I have always tried to work on. Trust is so important because we have to trust that when things don't work out, God is behind it, that when we don't get what we want, that there is something better that he wants to bless us with. We have to be patient with his timing and patient with what his will is to be.

II. I realize I talk a lot about what has to be done

don't worry I am working on all these things too. I have come to realize that 

1. by small and simple things

nothing ever will come immediately, if it looks like it has in someone else life that is because they have been honing in on that specific aspect of their life for longer then you know. Don't be discouraged if it comes slowly. We are Children of an eternal being. We are to be learning forever and to progress forever. That is why we must be patient and that is why that is a Christ-like attribute

2. God and Christ are with you

They know exactly what you have been through. They are not ahead of you when you ask for help. he is exactly where you are and is there to nourish you. That is the great thing about the Gospel. Just because he is perfect doesn't mean he sees himself above us. He is perfect for us so that we can learn.

3. Moses 6:31

Why have you chose me enoch asks. It is not because we are perfect but it is because heavenly father and Jesus Christ want us to grow, they want us to fulfill our potential and to have the great joy and happiness that they have! it is a truth of the gospel that we are chose to try not to be perfect in this life, but to try to be perfect, and then achieve it later in the eternities.

III. If we are worthy

we will have the spirit to be with us. That is part of the greatest gift that God has given us. by using the spirit we can always make the right choice. God loves us all perfectly. He knows you individually, Don't you ever forget that there is a god waiting for you to call on him. In the name of His beloved son, Amen

Elders Chou & McGrath and view from apartment

BBQ with members

Week 12.5 Finding Happiness at the Temple 9/26/2016

3 months!!!! that is crazy... like really crazy

HAPPINESS!!!!!!!!

in this world we are all seeking for happiness, but how do we get it that is the real question.

1. Foundation

first and foremost we must have that foundation in Christ

How firm a foundation, ye Saints of the Lord,

Is laid for your faith in his excellent word!

What more can he say than to you he hath said,

Who unto the Savior, who unto the Savior,

Who unto the Savior for refuge have fled?

In ev'ry condition--in sickness, in health,
In poverty's vale or abounding in wealth,

At home or abroad, on the land or the sea--

As thy days may demand, as thy days may demand,

As thy days may demand, so thy succor shall be...

2. you choose

you choose everything, whether to take the easy path or god's path.

You can choose to break you habit

It will be hard but it will be worth it. whenever you have a bad thought, think that its a bad thought then change it!

3. look toward perfection

if you look to the rules, and what are the limits, you will never be happy because you will never have the peace of mind and be free from guilt. Rules are not what we look to it is the mark to know when we have gone too far. If you always aim for perfection, you may end up short but you will be a lot closer then the person who aims for the rules.

4. ponder

put the phone down!. We all need to know and understand the Gospel. We have to take time to be able to understand what we have read. I know that as we connect all aspects of the gospel together and we make the gospel one single thing instead of lots of strings, our testimony will be strengthened because it is all bonded together.

5. Pray

Talk to you Heavenly Father. He wants to here from you. Thank him for all he does. And ask him about the things you have ponder and that you have thought about. Its like in Ether 12:27 that we can know our weaknesses through him and by praying we draw upon the infinent power of God. and if we do all these things. and if we do not boast (alma 38:11) and like ammon give all the glory to god

6. God will bless us

He will bless you to know what you have to do to become happier and tell you how you can have your happiness in him.

The Gospel is the only thing that can make us truly happy. And if we turn to god and have him do it for us, we will new able to conquer any challenges that do come our way, in his name Amen.

harbor

Church Administration Building & China Hong Kong Temple

Week 11.5 Mid-Autumn Festival 9/19/2016

First I hope everyone had a great week and hope that everyone received a spiritual experience along the way. I learned a lot this week

The first is 

1. let him have your heart

in "come thou fount" it says

"O to grace how great a debtor daily I'm constrained to be!
Let thy goodness like a fetter, bind my wandering heart to thee
Prone to wander Lord I feel it, prone to leave the God I love
Here's my heart, O take and seal it, seal it for thy courts above"

I think the last verse of this hymn is so important because like it says in D&C we must serve with all our heart, might, mind, and strength.

If we follow all the commandments with our hearts, because we love him then "it benefits us" if we do things that way (scriptures somewhere). We have to believe that it can happen even if we don't understand how it does work (Alma 33:12)

2. daily strength

It benefits us nothing if we do not apply the atonement over and over again. Sometimes we might find that we are embarrassed because we made another mistake, and we have to use it again, but the great thing about the atonement is that it is infinite. it is by small and simple things that great things come to pass. it is reading our scriptures every day, pouring out our hearts, that we get a personal relationship with him. https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2011-09-016-flecks-of-gold?lang=eng

"the patient accumulation of these little flecks has given me great wealth." and we have to daily remember him. It starts with our thoughts. We have to choose where our thoughts are and in turn where our heart will be. It will not be easy but eventually you will see that thinking what God wants us to think will be so much easier and worth it because it brings us so much more happiness. We have to follow the commandments daily, and make it a choice, something more than a habit, then it will mean something and you will get something from it

If you are seeking an answer. I don't know how you expect one if you don't read and pray and put forth your best effort, you will never be sensitive enough to the spirit to get the answer that will change your life.

3. glory

finally we give all the glory to God (alma 26:11-12, 26:16,) We give all the Glory to him. He made everything happen, and gave us all the experiences so that we could touch people in the certain way that they needed to be touched. it is all because of him we don't deserve any credit at all

4. Really??

yes all of these things are true like in "a poor wayfaring man of grief" it says

Then in a moment to my view

The stranger started from disguise.

The tokens in his hands I knew;

The Savior stood before mine eyes.

He spake, and my poor name he named,

"Of me thou hast not been ashamed.

These deeds shall thy memorial be;

Fear not, thou didst them unto me."

I know that these things are true, and that “You never know. You never know whether you do any good. You never know how much good you do.” (press Hinkley https://www.lds.org/liahona/2003/11/to-the-women-of-the-church?lang=eng)

I know that these things are true, that we do have a prophet today. I know that hymns do touch our lives and like nothing else can. Let us be humble seekers of happiness and as Pres Eyring says "love is a gift" so let us seek to love and touch those that we have been sent by God to touch in the name of Jesus Christ Amen.

Elder Chou's first mid-autumn festival in Hong Kong.
Enjoyed wonderful dinner with members in Kowloon City.

Enjoyed hiking with members and investigators on p-day. Hiking 1.5 hour on Tsing Yi.

enjoying dim sum

Week 10.5 Serving in Kowloon City 9/12/2016

Elder Joseph Chou is serving in Kowloon City, near the old airport, about 2 wards over from where his Auntie Grace lives.
His daily schedule includes being up by 7 AM each morning and then going to bed at 11 PM.
He is serving in the Kowloon City ward, and he said:

there is a chapel and there are like 70 active members. My companion, elder McGrath is from Kaysville. There is also Elder Smith and Elder Stober that we live with [4 elder apartment].
We cook a lot... that's good. I've been trying to figure out my mission card... and its easier to save money here [than it was in California]
The mission is great and I know that I am blessed from all the tender mercies that I see.

We are one with the Savior in doing the will of the Father was my old mission statement, and it has changed my life. I know that if we are humble enough to do the will of the Father that we can never go wrong, that we can always have the peace of mind that we are good with god.

The things I studied this week

Humility

be wise yet harmless (alma 18:22)

alma 16:22

unconditional love

alma 17:2

love them even if they don't do what you want

enduring to the end

if it seems to take forever remember (happiness is meant to last forever) Elder Utchdorf

real intent

alma 22:14

Additional

Alma 20:27

Alma 17:22

Where is your heart is something that I studied a lot this week. Is my heart really into serving or is it to fulfill something else to make myself feel good. A scripture that came up again is Ether 12:27 and I have realized that Aaron, Ammons brother, "was patient in his afflictions." I know if we can learn the eternal principal of patience and doing the will of God and waiting for it to happen, we can have the tender mercies that are so prevalent in our lives revealed to us. I know that people won't change unless they know that you love them. So I love the people of HK.

Sorry this is short, but standing and typing is not fun haha :)

Some lessons can't be taught they have to be learned and the atonement, the greatest gift provides a way to learn from our mistakes without being condemned for them. That is the greatest gift that God, our loving heavenly father has given us. I know that God love me, in the name of Jesus Christ Amen.

Elder Joseph Chou and his companion in the small apartments in Hong Kong