Exchanges and a Power Contact

The week has been an interesting one indeed. Starting with exchanges, reaching into powerful contacts, and ending with less-active members returning to Church after years passing by.

The clock struck 08:59 as Elder Payne and I came to the close of companionship study, the final hours of our companionship exchange. A message came in from a member stating, "Elders! We need your help with a blessing immediately. Please come." So we grabbed the consecrated oil and jumped into the Nissan Hardbody 2.5, heading to their home.

As we arrived, the husband of the powerful Sister said that he'd take us to the lady who messaged them for the blessing. It was a woman they barely knew, who wasn't even a member of the Church. The member dropped us off as the lady immediately identified us, saying, "Elders, come. I'll take you to the child. You also need to come see me when you're done."

It turns out that her neighbour's child actually needed the blessing. This lady had heard about the Church from a friend in Bloemfontein, and somehow came across a member's phone number after hearing the story her neighbour's had to tell.

We were invited into the home, and the family seated us down. Immediately things went straight to business - like we were living in the medieval ages, consulting a family on their circumstance. Or even Peter and John from the New Testament.

The family told us that their child hadn't slept in four days - and that none of the doctor's medicines were working. That the child would stay up at night as if it was looking at something; and they were convinced spirits were in their home. That was when they were about to go visit a Sangoma in the area. However, their neighbour turned around and said, "No! I'll call the Elders from that Church, they're powerful."

As we discussed this, I looked at the child and immediately noted that there was nothing physically wrong with the child. We proceeded to dedicate the house and bless the child, after teaching the family why were doing so and how they should continue in prayer, keeping the commandments for the dedication and blessing to continue in affect.

As we speak, the family is on baptismal date and committed to attending Church and receiving the missionary lessons. "We don't just want a few day friendship. We want an eternal friendship with you," they said.

After the exchange we met a lady who had worked next to the chapel here in Botshabelo, and she had always wanted to come in and see. However, she didn't know the requirements for attending the Church (whether she needed to be a member).

In her words, "I walked passed and heard them singing, and just felt uplifted. These people know what they are doing." So I invited her to Church, taught a brief lesson on prayer and exchanged contacts for a return appointment with her and her friend this week.

My sister will understand when I say, this girl is a writer/poet and her friend is an artist.

Anyway, that was the week. The Lord is mindful always and makes a plan for his faithful sons and daughters always.

Trust in Him.

One Year and Counting

Exactly one year ago, as of 08:22 CAT this morning (15 December 2014), I was confirmed a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. One year, exactly, and what a year it’s been.

I’ve been to the Temple (baptisms only) and distribution centre, completed this year’s Institute modules, done Home Teaching, received both the Aaronic and Melchizedek Priesthood, given talks, taught lessons, blessed and passed the Sacrament, given blessings, gone out teaching with the missionaries, been called as a Ward Missionary, attended PEC and coordination meetings, handed in my mission papers, completed tithing settlement, attended firesides (spoke to Elder Hamilton) and went to activities (ward, stake and multi-stake), participated in Helping Hands projects and the Stake Fair, and even experienced mission life as a Priest through a coordinated Centurion Stake activity.

And to think, just over a year ago I tried to prove the Church wrong.

This is my life now. I have people waiting to talk to me in places almost too far to schedule, daily conversations over WhatsApp and Facebook and intense discussions with friends and family – all because, “I want to hear Jonothan’s explanation first.”

It can be frustrating at times, though. Often, I find that me teaching them goes well, but the moment I involve missionaries everything seems to go awry. They talk to me, but not to them (and this goes both ways – missionaries and informal investigators).

I have a friend who asks me, and only me, questions about the scriptures and gospel doctrine and principles. I have an inactive member just hanging on a thread, making excuses every time I mention the word missionary, but openly discusses with me and constantly requests that I visit. I have a family friend waiting for me to tell him about the Church, but won’t see the missionaries, listen to anyone else or read anything related until such time as I find a chance to visit (which may very well be good with regards to Anti-Mormon literature).

I’ve had had positive and enthusiastic referrals who simply fell off the radar after meeting with (or trying to meet with) missionaries. I’ve had missionaries stand up investigators and investigators stand up missionaries. I’ve had cancelled appointments and wrong addresses and all no-shows.

But the change I see in my friends and family since I joined the Church has been remarkable. My immediate family sees the missionaries every other Sunday. My friends are constantly on my case about when I leave for mission and my best friend (who happens to be agnostic) witnessed my ordination to Elder out of his own free will; seriously, he asked me if he could come.

Beyond that, I’ve made friends trying to preach the gospel and planted seeds wherever I could.

As bad as the response often is, beauty almost always shines through.

It feels like a decade has passed, but it’s only been a year. And I am grateful for all the people who came into my life to make a difference. I’m grateful for the missionaries from the start, even though I often complain. It is thanks to them that I am on the path I am on; for they guided me towards truth and, in all their patience, I finally accepted.

So I felt like making a list of all the people who helped make me the Latter-day Saint I am today.

• Kevin Farquharson, who I knew before the world was.
• Shan Farquharson, who sussed me out from the start.
• Dylan Farquharson, who invited me over the night I met the missionaries.
• Elder Beenfield (Daniel Beenfield), the first missionary I ever met.
• Elder Black (Jordan Black), who lied about not being American.
• Elder Dalton (Dakota Dalton), who owes me a photo – now that I think about it.
• Elder Baker (Alex Baker), who I taught about John’s tarrying.
• Elder Zulu (Siyabonga Armstrong Zulu), the first non-American missionary I ever met.
• Elder Tew (David Tew), who I saw as an older brother.
• Elder Mukarati (Alphaa Alphanum Mukarati), the first foreign, non-American missionary I met.
• Elder Day (Brandon Day), who I’ll meet at Tribulation.
• Elder Deichman, my first unofficial companion (Priest's mission experience).
• Elder Carpenter, who made me shake my head more than twice.
• Elder Pulley, who sang me a generic song I swear he plagiarised.
• Elder McAllister, who took me teaching everywhere (most of the time).
• Elder Martin, who loves Diablo III – as well.
• Elder Broadhead, who hugged me without my permission.

So this is my journey thus far. Missionary work seems to be the focus, but soon I’ll be doing my dad’s work and have my chaotic family tree up and running on the genealogy site. Then comes my endowments and then I’m off to mission. I hope I at least get to experience a couple of Institute lessons – it is Doctrine & Covenants, after all.

My Own Personal Liahona

“Your patriarchal blessing will see you through the darkest night. It will guide you through life’s dangers.” - Thomas S. Monson

We've been urged by Church leaders to receive a Patriarchal Blessing so that we can receive inspiration from the Lord. Had I known this, I'd have gotten it a lot sooner. Fortunately, however, I have it now. Even though it four months to get to me after I had it done.

Let's back up a little. What is a Patriarchal Blessing? Well, a blessing is spiritual guidance, comfort, and inspiration from our Heavenly Father through a worthy Priesthood holder. But a Patriarchal Blessing is a blessing from from a Patriarch specifically.

And what is a Patriarch, you ask? Well, Abraham was a Patriarch. In the English language, it quite literally means "father". In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, one Patriarch is called to watch over a stake (more on stakes here). This Patriarch, therefore, becomes a father to stake, available for guidance and council. This calling, unlike most other Church callings, is a lifelong calling.

With that in mind, we return to the Patriarchal Blessing. Patriarch's hold the Melchizedek Priesthood, as well as keys to the office of Patriarch, so that he may administer blessings to those who seek them out.

The difference between a Patriarchal Blessing and a normal blessing, primarily, is that Patriarchal Blessings are only received once. In fact, the information, inspiration, warnings, promises, and declarations given are typically enough to last a lifetime. Whereas a normal blessing targets a specific event or occurrence.

In our Patriarchal Blessing's, we receive specific revelation to guide, inspire, warn, and promise to us throughout our lives. Here we learn which tribe we fall under with regards to the Abrahamic covenant, what Heavenly Father deems to be of importance to us, and what He desires that we look out for or seek out for.

I remember my Patriarchal Blessing as I walked into the High Council room with Brother Comrie (our local stake Patriarch). It was the first time we'd met and I was there on my own. We began with a prayer and he went on to teach me about Abraham, his covenants, our covenants and shared with me his own personal experiences. We dabbled a bit into my conversion, as well as my family situation and offered support, as would a father. It is here that I learnt exactly what the role of a Patriarch was.

He went on to giving me my blessing, and I remember how the Spirit warmed my soul. The words kept coming and the messages seemed endless. I knew I wouldn't remember it all, but much was impressed on my mind since that day. As he ended, he counselled me to share with others of my faith what had been said. This briefed as curious to others, because this is typically kept secret (another sacred vs secret debate). It is peculiar, though, as to what I have mentioned to a select and what I have not. Sometimes I long to share, as is my nature to share all things, but I'm held back because I've been told countless times not too. It's the conflict between doing what I've been counselled to do by my Patriarch and what other members continue to remind me of with regards to keeping it to myself.

But that is besides the point. Our Patriarchal Blessings are there for us, specifically. We need to study them out and learn what it is our Heavenly Father wills us to do. Sometimes the words are vague, requiring constant prayer and seeking out, while other times they are as specific and detailed as can be. A suggestion put forth was to type out and print out a pocket sized copy to keep on me at all times. I like that idea.

Let me end off with the somewhat humorous process of getting a printed copy of my Patriarchal Blessing. I received mine on the 3rd of June 2014 (the blessing that is). And then I moved to Alberton (out of previous stake boundaries). Brother Comrie sent out a printed copy via postal service. The postal service went on strike. Two months later he sent out another copy. Still no post. I was unable to fetch it from him in person due to my busy schedule with Church and work in Alberton.

We organised that he give it to Centurion 1 Ward clerk so that he could give it to Centurion YSA rep who would give it to another YSA who would then bring it to me at Institute. The great Mormon grapevine. That didn't work. Something about one being there and the other not and one week the wrong Patriarchal Blessing was brought.

Eventually, when Elder Cook came to town for a YSA devotional (okay, he was here for the missionaries - first Zimbabwe, Harare and then South Africa, Johannesburg - and just fit us YSAs in) I had planned on going. So I asked Brother Comrie if I could fetch it from him there. Needless to say, more chaos.

Brother Comrie gave it to President Martin (Stake President) to give it to me. He even went to the pulpit and called for a "Jonothan Smith". I was not there. It was my sister's honour's evening at school, so I needed to be there to support her. I found out too late and the message didn't get to him until afterwards.

A friend of mine even spoke to President Martin, saying that he was looking for me as well. After discussing with this with that friend, I began mustering up a new plan to get my Patriarchal Blessing.

A week later, the Centurion 1 Ward clerk messaged me to say that he took my Patriarchal Blessing from Pres Martin to give to a sister in Institute so that she could give it to me. I believe I missed a week to go teaching with missionaries and then we left before we had time to discuss it, then she forgot it at home.

Fortunately, we live in the digital age, so she sent me photos... and I was finally able to receive the physical copy a week later. It took four months, but I finally got it. I don't know why he didn't just email it to me in the first place (as he suggested after I finally got the copy).

Anyway, I'm glad to finally have it. I know that it will continue to help me as it already has begun to. Whatever the reason for the delay, it was worth it. And I'd recommend all baptised members to work towards it. And to everyone else, read the Book of Mormon and learn for yourself. Who knows, you might be waiting for your Patriarchal Blessing for four months as well. But I can promise you, regardless of your decision, you'll never regret it.