This week was pretty incredible-- I'm still just so thankful to have been able to meet my family, to see my mom and my Grandma Kim-- and to know that everyone back home is really OK. ..Now, I've just gotta push through the next few weeks, and put together my lectures to give to my siblings when I get home. ..Hahah, only joking :P
..Mostly.
Outside of all that, we were also able to go to the temple this week, which was wonderful as well. The Korea Seoul Temple has been a place of solace for me when times get rough or frustrating out here. Which isn't too often, but it's still been such a blessing to have been able to go once a transfer. I can't imagine missions where you can't go. ..And even more wild to think that I'll only have two more opportunities to go from here on out. One more next transfer, and one last visit the day before I come home. ...Ay yi yi.
Anyways, yesterday we had a really cool lesson from our Bishop in our Priesthood meeting at church. Priesthood meeting - if you don't know- is a meeting where all of the male members of our church gather into one room in order to better learn our responsibilities and role as men in the church. Our Bishop started by showing us beautiful pictures of temples.
With each one, he said, "I really want to go here-- don't you?"
He then told a story, and showed us a video of a man carrying a cross. It was in Spanish (go figure..) but it was pretty interesting. This animated man and several others were all carrying crosses-- going to some distant destination. Among the travelers, one man stopped, and complained that the weight of his cross was too much to bear. So, he took a saw, and sawed off a small part of the bottom of his cross to lighten his load. He now happily carried his much lighter cross and continued on the road with his friends. As the man continued, the weight seemed to return as his body grew more and more tired. He resorted to his original seemingly "genius" plan, and cut more off of the bottom, as well as the sides and top -- to make sure it would be light, and convenient to carry. The man soon grew weary again, and repeated the process a few more times as he traveled before becoming satisfied with the new weight of his cross.
Eventually, the man came to huge chasm. Puzzled, he looked to see how his fellow travelers would react, and how they would reach the other side, in order to continue on their journey. One by one, they laid down their burdens-- these large crosses, and walked across them carefully, and safely to the other side.
..The man fell to his knees, looking at the small cross he know held in his hands, knowing that he could never make it across. He had been so concerned with making his life easier, that he threw away every opportunity to understand why his burden was so important. He never learned from his trials, and, in turn -- would never get to where he wanted to go.
Our Bishop then asked us afterwards what we would do for a million dollars.
Would you marry someone you didn't really love?
Would you spend a year of your life in jail?
Would you erase your memory?
Would you forget all of your friends, in exchange for one million dollars?
Apparently there was a survey, and, though I don't remember the exact numbers-- they were kinda freaky. The lengths we, as human beings will go to to just make life easier, is crazy.
He then asked us, What is your cross?
..But he went on to explain that these trials, these crosses are here to help us grow. We must sacrifice these few uncomfortable experiences in order to win an eternity. Without a body, we would never become like our father in heaven.
Like Neil A. Anderson once said,
"Real, personal sacrifice was never placing the animal on the altar. Instead, it is a willingness to put the animal in us upon the altar and let it be consumed."
..You can do this.
Carry that burden, whatever it is, and let it help you grow.
You'll need that experience one day.
Have a great week!!
All the love,
Elder DeMille
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