A good day at church. . .

Today we had an exceptional lesson for our last block at church today.  Our bishop shared a story with us that he had heard many years ago.
- - A college kid was hunting one day and shot a wildcat.  He then noticed there was a little kitten, so he took back for his sister.  She and her roommate hand raised this little wildcat kitten in their dorm at school. They were so close to the kitten that they didn't really notice how large or strong it was becoming over time.  One night one of the girl's came back home late and alone.  Apparently, the cat got spooked or something and reverted to its wild nature, attacking the girl and trying to kill her.  In the struggle the phone was knocked off the hook and the switchboard operator heard the girl's screams and sent for help.  Deputies were able to put the cat down with a bullet and save the girl's life, though she had pretty severe wounds.   - -

The bishop then asked us to really take a look at ourselves honestly; look for what our wildcats are.  Look for those little things that started out innocently, but may have become unmanageable or out of our control over time. . . things that we may just trifle with, thinking "it's no big thing, I'm an adult and I can handle it"- Some of these may be alcohol, pride, negative thoughts, a lack of respect for the office of some of our leaders, lustful thoughts, choosing our will over the Lord's will, etc.  Do we need to seek repentance?  He then quoted from Alma 34: 31-34 which says-

 31 Yea, I would that ye would come forth and harden not your hearts any longer; for behold, now is the time and the day of your salvation; and therefore, if ye will repent and harden not your hearts, immediately shall the great plan of redemption be brought about unto you.

 32 For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors.

 33 And now, as I said unto you before, as ye have had so many witnesses, therefore, I beseech of you that ye do not procrastinate the day of your repentance until the end; for after this day of life, which is given us to prepare for eternity, behold, if we do not improve our time while in this life, then cometh the night of darkness wherein there can be no labor performed.

 34 Ye cannot say, when ye are brought to that awful crisis, that I will repent, that I will return to my God. Nay, ye cannot say this; for that same spirit which doth possess your bodies at the time that ye go out of this life, that same spirit will have power to possess your body in that eternal world.

Today I may also have felt extra "tender" since one of the people who I love dearly and admire the most has made the decision to come unto Christ and be baptized later this month.  I am so happy for them and can't wait!!!

This is a few weeks old, but this was Dax's district at the MTC names left to right are his companion Elder Jorgensen, then Elder Bullock, me (Dax), Elder Whitby, Sister Best & Sister Snyder are in front, Elder Hatch, Elder Bentley (aka Elder Nice Car), Elder Godfrey, and Elder Westover.