This past week was fun. I don't remember what happened though haha. Sister Pam wants to be baptized now!!! So she'll be getting baptized sometime this month. I won't be here to see it though which is sad.
We met some cool guy named Aod at the park who is interested in learning more about the church. He's been to a couple different churches and says it's hard to develop faith but he's down to meet again!
I have heard about General Conference and I'm so excited to watch it this weekend. I was preparing for conference by reading conference talks and I came across one from awhile back which I thought was interesting. It's called "The Great Imitator" by Elder James E. Faust. It's from the October 1987 General Conference so it was just 30 years ago. It was interesting because it was a talk about the devil which isn't usually talked about in conference but Elder James E. Faust felt impressed to warn people about the dangers of "The Great Imitator". It's a great talk and recommend everyone to read it. But I'd like to share a little part in the talk. It is also partly a C. S. Lewis quote.
C. S. Lewis gave us a keen insight into devilish tactics. In a fictional letter, the master devil, Screwtape, instructs the apprentice devil Wormwood, who is in training to become a more experienced devil:
"You will say that these are very small sins; and doubtless, like all young tempters, you are anxious to be able to report spectacular wickedness. … It does not matter how small the sins are, provided that their cumulative effect is to edge the man away from the Light and out into the Nothing. … Indeed, the safest road to Hell is the gradual one—the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts" (The Screwtape Letters, New York: Macmillan, 1962, p. 56).
C. S. Lewis also wrote: "A silly idea is current that good people do not know what temptation means. This is an obvious lie. Only those who try to resist temptation know how strong it is. … You find out the strength of a wind by trying to walk against it, not by lying down" (Mere Christianity, New York: Macmillan, 1960, p. 124).
The Prophet Joseph Smith related from his own experience, "The nearer a person approaches the Lord, a greater power will be manifested by the adversary to prevent the accomplishment of His purposes" (in Orson F. Whitney, Life of Heber C. Kimball, Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1967, p. 132).
However, we need not become paralyzed with fear of Satan's power. He can have no power over us unless we permit it. He is really a coward, and if we stand firm, he will retreat. The Apostle James counseled: "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you" (James 4:7). He cannot know our thoughts unless we speak them. And Nephi states that "he hath no power over the hearts" of people who are righteous (see 1 Ne. 22:26).
The righteous good people know what temptation feels like, and I feel like they know it better than the people that always give into temptation. When you are trying to resist temptation and do good and be righteous, Satan is trying his hardest to bring you down. He uses most his effort on those who are faithful and keep the commandments. The ones that don't he doesn't really have to try as hard. The devil is a real being intent on destroying you. He wants to bring you down with him. He's not a happy guy. He's miserable and he wants to make all of us miserable too. We need to fight against the Great Imitator. We do this by having faith in Jesus Christ, reading the scriptures, praying often, and going to church. In the end, good will overcome evil. We just have to pick the winning side which is of course God's side. I love you all and miss everyone!!!
Elder Decker
เอ็ลเดอร์ เดกเกอร์
Thailand Bangkok Mission
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