Faith and Hope

I was thinking about an experience of Faith and Hope... which my missionary friends understand is about everyday we have faith and hope.. haha so the experiences are to many and sometimes to small.. but one that has really really helped me is called "A prayer of Faith". Which of course is EVERY DAY. I first want to share a quote that I absolutely love it's called, "Get to Know Him"

"I thought I knew Him when I saw Him nestled in the straw; A babe in the arms of his mother was the picture that I saw. I thought I knew Him when He was among a group of learned men, Teaching them of God’s plan and things they didn’t comprehend.

 I thought I knew Him when thousands of people were all fed, Not only with the word of God, but with fishes and loaves of bread. I thought I knew Him when Pilate said, “I find no fault with this man.” “Crucify Him” the people cried and drove nails in his hands. 

I thought I knew Him when a crown of thorns was placed upon his head, Or when out of the tomb He came, having been resurrected from the dead. All of these scenes are pictures that help me know that He is real, But I only start to know Him when I change the way I feel. 

When I visit with God in the morning and again at each days end, Not with memorized words, more like talking with a friend. When I share with God my problems and I feel His helping hand, Guiding me from day to day, I begin to understand. 

I get to know Christ better when I have pondered what He said, When I go to church each Sunday and partake of the water and the bread. I know that He can help me, if I will let Him show the way, So He can teach my spirit when I say my prayers each day. 

I pray that I can live my life in every sort of way, That I can get to know Him better, every single day. So that when this life is finished and I have endured until the end, He will put his arms around me as a brother and a friend."

Also in the Bible Dictionary it says "As soon as we learn the true relationship in which we stand toward God (namely, God is our Father, and we are His children), then at once prayer becomes natural and instinctive on our part. Many of the so-called difficulties about prayer arise from forgetting this relationship. Prayer is the act by which the will of the Father and the will of the child are brought into correspondence with each other. The object of prayer is not to change the will of God but to secure for ourselves and for others blessings that God is already willing to grant but that are made conditional on our asking for them. Blessings require some work or effort on our part before we can obtain them. Prayer is a form of work and is an appointed means for obtaining the highest of all blessings."

Prayer is one of the most important tools that we have to exercise our faith and hope for things to come. Like in Alma 37:6-7 "by small and simple means the lord brings great things to pass" this is a very small thing, to kneel down every day and plead to our Father in Heaven to align our will to his. This has been one of the MOST powerful tools on the mission for me. Without it I would probably be back home now. "Faith is a principle of power" and prayer is where we receive that power from our prayers of faith. I know that our Father in Heaven listens to our prayers and is waiting and ready to answer them. I know that Jesus is the savior, redeemer, and christ.

They both love us and wait for us to exercise our faith so that they can help us.

Love Elder Cody Johnson

P.S I LOVE YOU MOM AND DAD!

Member Missionary Work

Well... this week.. was absolutely amazing.. we had such a SPIRITUALLY high week, BECAUSE we had our training by President Lopez!!!! His training's just blows me away every time and give the boost I need! I actually want to share because I know it will help EVERYONE!! 

So, in Preach My Gospel... Page 160 "It's All in the BOX" LOOK AT THE BOX!!!!! ALL members need to be INSIDE the box!! We will never become effective finders unless we can get all our members inside the box! Can you envision if all members in your ward (you probably would have about 500 members) become converted finders? All you have to do is teach and baptize. 

There are 3-ways to get members inside the box: 

(1) Teach; 

(2) Teach; and

(3) Teach! 

And there are 3-ways how we can make them converted to finding: 

(1) 15-min member visit; 

(2) 15-min member visit; and 

(3) 15-min member visit! (last paragraph p. 161 PMG) HOW GREAT NO? 

What is our purpose?? To teach, teach, teach and then we will baptize, baptize, baptize! It's very simple. If the members are doing their part like it says in preach my gospel, then we will receive the blessings of baptism. 

This just pushed me and my companion so hard this week. We contacted ten new less actives that haven't been visited in over five years.  And two of them actually came to church and brought a investigator!! And that, brothers and sisters, is what this work is about!!  Members are MISSIONARIES. All of them!! Less active, Recent converts, and Active, EVEN investigators! If we are asking everyone "if they have someone they know we can teach" we could possibly receive ten  referrals in one day!! I know that this is what this work is all about. Missionaries are working with the members, if not, it is not missionary work and will not be successful. 

Another experience I want to share is that we have an ex-bishop in our ward who is now Less active.  I've noticed we've been treating him like he is an active member of the church. At first he wouldn't even look at us or notice us.  But now he is working with us and giving us referrals.  He is on his way to returning. I know that this is what this work is about. This is how we will be MOST successful. I've seen it work and cannot deny it. Out of all the many ways that I've tried and this is the most fruitful!

Love Elder Johnson

Your Guess is JUST as Good as mine!!

Yummy Intestines ...on a stick! 

Pig Tongue!

Pig Ears!