Stalker

DON'T GET LAZY! Or you will lose yourself and forget your testimony.

That was my attention grabber, but seriously, it's so sad talking to so many people from whatever religion they might come from that have completely lost their spiritual momentum and ended up losing their faith and testimony.

I am reading in the book of Helaman (in the Book of Mormon), and anytime I see the phrase "and they began to prosper," I brace myself because I already know what comes next: a falling away.

Helaman 12

1 And thus, we can behold how false and unsteadiness of the hearts of the children of men. Yea, we can see that the Lord, in His great infinite goodness, blesses and prospers those who put their trust in Him.

2 Yea, at the very time when He prospers His people... doing all things for the welfare and happiness of His people; they harden their hearts, forget the Lord their God, and trample under their feet the Holy One—yea, and this is because of their ease and their exceedingly great prosperity.

This is called the Pride Cycle:

A person humbles themselves through sincere repentance.

God blesses them both spiritually and temporally.

They begin to be prideful and think the blessings are because of them, not the goodness of God.

That pride turns into wickedness (making choices that take us further from God).

Wickedness leads to destruction (physically, emotionally, spiritually, economically, socially, etc.).

Destruction softens the heart, and they seek God's help through repentance and keeping God's commandments.

Which opens the door to prosperity and blessings.

And around the cycle, we go again and again.

Not going to lie, I sometimes feel like I repeat the pride cycle multiple times in one day, but the scriptures are helping me understand how to prevent this cycle in my life.

We are warned in the scriptures that prosperity can be dangerous, but it doesn't have to be!

After Christ came to the Americas, there were 200 years of peace. In Ether 9:15-25, we see a 225-period of wealth and righteousness.

Jacob 2

18 But before you seek for riches, seek ye for the kingdom of God.

19 And after you have obtained hope in Christ, you shall obtain riches if you seek them; and you will seek them for the intent to do good—to clothe the naked, feed the hungry, liberate the captive, and administer relief to the sick and the afflicted.

BOOM. Making "seeking the kingdom of God" the priority, we will prosper AND remain on the path of God, "abounding in good works" continually.

It is through our priorities that determine if we prosper and thrive or not.

Highs:

Aarón came to church (a reference from the youth in my ward), and he is SO TENDER! He wants to learn hymns on the piano and play for our ward.

Manuel and Rosita (the Swedes) are incredible, and their story is SO INSANE. It's also funny because before receiving my mission call to Chile, I kept thinking I was going to serve in Sweden, and now I get to teach Swedish people without learning the language #Swedishroots.

Our district is still the best in the mission #hagamoslopo.

Hermana Dos Santos made me arepas three times this week.

I was trying to hype up other missionaries this week because it was cold and raining. While skipping and taking a video, I slipped and fell, and the whole thing is on video. Watching the video never gets old.

Hermana Dos Santos and I created a version of "Grande Eres Tú" on the guitar and ukulele and sent the video to members and friends. It was a success.

Interviews with the President.

OUR NEIGHBORS GAVE US A COUCH!

My wolf poncho.

Dancing in the street and almost getting eaten by dogs.

Calling Hermana Vasquez on her birthday.

We have a dog named Stalker.

Lows:

I yelled in a store "Vende hierba?" And then people started to laugh, and the man next to me told me I just asked if they sold marijuana. Now I know I need to ask for té de hierba, not just hierba.

Soccer got canceled because it rained.

Decisions Determine Destiny - President Thomas S. Monson.

Hermana Pickett