Moses and Pharaoh

Today I was studying about Moses and his encounters with pharaoh. So the Lord tells Moses and Aaron to go to Pharaoh and tell him to let the people go. And because of this, Pharaoh not only says no but makes the burden of the children of Israel even heavier. So the Children of Israel are angry with Moses, and Moses goes to the Lord, and says, "Lord, wherefore hast thou so evil entreated this people? why is it that thou hast sent me? For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in thy name, he hath done evil to this people; neither hast thou delivered thy people at all." I love the Lord's response. He says, "I am the Lord!" Sometimes in our lives we do something good and trials come of it. We need to remember those four words. He has it all figured out. he knows us better than we know ourselves. We must not counsel the very Being that gave us life and controls life and death. Remember that he is the Lord and the wicked will receive their just reward. We know what happened to the Egyptians after they didn't listen to the Lord's counsel. The plagues came. Let us be patient in our afflictions!

Max's Big Change!

About 10 months ago, I was serving in Townsend, MT. It is an amazing place, 30 miles southeast of Helena. When you drive through you may miss it as there are only about 1600 people there. I didn't know that this place would change the course of my life. Then on Sunday, April 18th, I met Max Michaelson (name has been changed). He is originally from Idaho. And he has lives all over the northwest, and in Kansas. His wife had joined the church about a year and 3 months before. Missionaries had been teaching Max for 2 and half years, and he was so close. The first time I met him, he was even more stubborn than I was. He had issues with Prophets and coffee. He wouldn't budge but neither would I. It was a clash of the titans. i tried to commit him to baptism but he wouldn't. So I left there having dropped Max Michaelson for three months. During those three months I saw two companions leave Townsend. We visited him and his wife occasionally but didn't teach them. Right before the second one left he and I went back to teach him. We got there and something told us to start teaching him again. So we did. Then I got a new missionary, and we began the teaching process again. For two months, we struggled back and forth. Every night, hours of prayer was spent on his behalf. We even tried to set a baptismal date with him for August 14th. He declined the date. Finally at the end of August, he went to meet with the Stake President, I found out later, to tell him that he wasn't going to join. Well after a three-hour meeting with the Stake President, he went home. We had just gotten back from a couple baptisms in Harlowton, and the Spirit told us to go to the Michaelsons' Home. So we did. He told us that he was ready and wanted to be baptized. I can't tell the joy that i felt because not only the prayers of myself and my companions but the prayers of missionaries for the last three years had been answered. He was baptized on September 17th, 2010, a day that I won't soon forget! I testify that the worth of souls is indeed great in the sight of God. "And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people and bring save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom  of my Father!" I testify that because of Max Michaelson, my life will never be the same. I thank my heavenly Father that I was able to be an instrument in his hands to bring Max into the Church, the Kingdom of God on earth today.   

Touch My Heart

I have been reading lately about the brother of Jared and how when the Lord wanted him to think of a solution to his problems, he did as the Lord commanded. He needed light in the boat so he went into themountains and found stones. He took of these stones, which were shiny like glass, and brought them before the Lord. The Lord, seeing the great faith of the Brother of Jared, touched the stones with his finger and gave them light. He then saw the finger of the Lord because of his excellent faith. Faith is an interesting element to missionary work especially in finding people to teach. Our mission president talked about us replacing ourselves for the stones in this story in order to increase our faith to find. So this is the poem that came from it.

TOUCH MY HEART by Elder Kuck

Lord,
Touch my eyes to see through the facade of the world,
Touch my ears to hear the cries of a soul suppressed by the temptations of Satan,
Touch my hands to carry the burdens of those around me,
Touch my spirit to commune with the spirit of God,

Touch my heart to feel the love of God for my fellow men,
Touch my soul to speak with their souls,
Touch my mind to fear no longer the door before me,
Touch my mouth to speak with the tongues of angels,

I know who you are, Father, and I know who I am, your Son!
Touch me to share this knowledge with others,
Touch my heart to break its rough corners,
Touch my heart Lord.