Testimony

August 28, 2016

Hello my friends and family!

Believe it or not, today I have more time than I thought I would have! That doesn't mean that my letter will be super long but I have some time to explain some of the changes that have happened and how AWESOME it is to serve in Korea. First of all, my new area is sick. It is not exactly Seoul, it is like a suburb of Seoul, but really not because it is still a huge part of the city. The people are very friendly and kind and we meet a ton of people on the street who know us and who like us and who want to meet with us. My companion is going home in 4 weeks but he is doing well, still working super hard. Anyway, these have been some of the best times and most busy times on my mission.

As I pondered what to share with all of you today I have pondered some experiences in my life that have added to my testimony. Most of you probably know what a testimony is. It is a belief or sometimes a knowledge based on experience that you can share with others to help them find faith or hope. So I wanted to bare a little bit of my testimony about some things that I know through my own experience.

I know that we have a loving Heavenly Father. I don't know everything about him, I have never seen him, and I don't perfectly understand why he does everything that he does, but I know that he is there. I know this partly because of some physical evidences I have seen and studies that I have done, but the biggest reason is because of the feelings I have felt when I have done the things God has asked me to do. When I pray, read the scriptures, serve others, and follow other commandments I am happy. When I pray, I feel at peace, which is promised in the scriptures, and I know that I have been directed on decisions that I have had to make and I know that I have received answers to questions that I have asked. I love my Father in Heaven and I know that He loves me and all of us, even though I have never seen Him.

I know that Heavenly Father provides us guidance for our trials and experiences in life. He has given us scriptures, prayer, prophets, leaders, parents, and other tools to teach us and guide us through our hard times. I have been a grateful recipient of that guidance through many times in my life that I have needed it and there have been many times that I have found answers that I didn't even know that I was looking for.

Finally, I know that Jesus Christ came to this earth as the son of God and died for us so that we can all one day be clean from sin, guilt, and pain. Sometimes people look at missionaries as great rocks of faith assuming that they don't have doubt or questions or that because they wear a name tag they are blessed with perfect knowledge. As much as I sometimes wish this was the case it isn't. I have always had questions, always had doubts, and always have had things that I don't understand. But I am grateful for the experiences that God has given me to learn some things and to be able to believe some things. I invite all of you to do the same things that I have done, if and when you have questions or you need guidance. Religion is not magic. It is not something that people make up in their minds. Anyone can gain a testimony if they are willing to act and work for it. I hope all of you seek that testimony, because the value of a testimony, the hope and direction that it brings, is more valuable than any other gift that we can obtain.

I love you all,

Elder Coleman

Choices and Attitude

August 21, 2016

My email today will be very short partially because I just moved this past week so I have a lot of things to organize and partly because I sometimes feel like shorter letters are more powerful and effective. In the Book of Mormon there is a section of over 20 chapters about a great war. At the end of the war there is this scripture: “But behold, because of the exceedingly great length of the war between the Nephites and the Lamanites many had become hardened… and many were softened because of their afflictions, insomuch that they did humble themselves before God, even in the depth of humility.

When trials come, when the storms of life and winds of misfortune inevitably blow, we have a choice. We can choose to become hardened, be cruel to those we love, not help others, and be greedy. Or we can choose to be humble and look to God. I know that as we choose the second, specifically to have a good attitude, that we will be more receptive to the path that Heavenly Father wants us to take.

I love all of you and I pray for you often.

Elder Coleman

God shall wipe away all tears

August 14, 2016

I am leaving to a new area actually. I will have to go fill a position in Seoul and am getting transferred this week. I know the elder that I will serve with (I worked with him in the MTC) and I am excited, but right now I have not spent any time thinking or worrying about it. The assignment there will be much different than the one here in Gimpo but I will cross that bridge this Wednesday. I have a lot of stuff to do in the next two days. 

As missionaries we are often given words by God's spirit, the Holy Ghost, to comfort those who stand in need of comfort, to mourn with those that mourn, and to stand as witnesses of God. Today I hope that the spirit can guide my words and testify of those things that I feel to stay at this time to you. In the book of Revelations we are told of a day when the Lord Jesus Christ will come back to this earth. It will be a wonderful day, and it is described like this.

“And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” (Revelations 21:4)

Although I wish that it was that day, it is not. There are still tears, still death, sorrow and pain. As long as we walk this earth it will always be the case. But I testify and leave a promise that God will wipe away those tears from our eyes. He will carry the burdens that are too heavy for us to carry. That promise is fulfilled today. Not tomorrow, not in a thousand years but today. This moment. As we make the choice to trust. As we turn in prayer to our Heavenly Father and put our heart and destiny in his hands, that is when he will wipe away those tears. He may not take away our troubles or our sicknesses, but he will comfort us when there is no one else who can. I testify of the Holy Ghost that will come to anyone who seeks it and I testify of the love of God that will spring out like the well of life to all of those who diligently seek it. 

“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (John 14:27)

Don't be afraid, only believe.

Love,

Elder Coleman