Sanctify Yourselves

January 29, 2017

Hey everyone!

I will have to be quick on this email because as always, I got distracted on my email and forgot to send this one... Sorry. This past week was actually the Korean New Year so we were busy with a lot of conferences and other things, so it was kind of a hard week to do the work. But we had a ton of fun and actually had a chance to eat some traditional foods and see a traditional folk village (pictures of that to come I promise, our camera battery died haha).

This past Saturday evening was a pretty eye opening experience for me. As a very old missionary, you must be very careful not to let yourself get distracted, even a little bit because if you do then it kind of just snowballs really fast into just a bad attitude and you get really tired and all of that. And, of course, since I don't want that, I have been thinking about ways that I can be more sanctified and diligent. In the book of Joshua before the Israelites enter the promise land, the Lord says this.

 5 And Joshua said unto the people, Sanctify yourselves: for to morrow the Lord will do wonders among you.

I want this promise in my life, for my mission and for my life afterwards. One thing that I have learned on my mission is that even if we are very intelligent, funny, diligent, and all of those good things, without God backing us, we are going to have a lot of problems accomplishing the things that we need to accomplish. When we are sanctified, or when we are doing those things that are pleasing to God such as living his commandments, studying his word, and helping others, we are promised the help of God. That is so important on a mission when I am trying to teach people about Jesus Christ and about how He can bless their lives. I need that additional power, strength and wisdom that come from God. But even after my mission, I hope that I can live a sanctified life. Of course, we can have fun and enjoy ourselves, but my greatest wish is to always be living in a way that if I was called to be judged at any moment, I would be ready. Of course, I don't think I will ever reach that mark in this life, but it is something to aim for. I know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that He lives still and can help us in our daily trials and help us become far better than we can ever be alone.

I love you all,

Elder Coleman

Delightsome People

January 22, 2017

To my friends and family,

Today I will be a little brief in my email. We are doing the same things we have always been doing and we are actually seeing a lot of success! It has been fun to serve in this area with one of my best friends and also two super young missionaries. We have had a blast wandering around the streets of this city and even though we are always tired, we are so happy here. I want to share this scripture because I read it this morning.

And my prayer to God is concerning my brethren, that they may once again come to the knowledge of God, yea, the redemption of Christ; that they may once again be a delightsome people.

I have learned on my mission that as people come closer to Jesus Christ they become more delightsome. Sometimes when we follow Jesus Christ, people may call us boring or unfashionable, but what I have seen is those people who follow Jesus Christ are simply happy. They are kind, loving, and peaceful. Of course, there are exceptions and no one who follows Jesus Christ is perfect, but when we believe in Jesus Christ He leads us to be better. All I really want in my life is to be a little bit better today than I was yesterday and to be better the next day than I was today. I hope that all of you who are followers of Jesus Christ or any religion are truly followers of those beliefs that you hold. If you do you will become delightsome people. I hope you all have a great week!

Elder Coleman

A Sure Foundation

January 15, 2017

Hey everyone!

This week was more of the same here in Korea! We have a lot of people in this small city who are very nice and curious about who we are and what we teach. This week, we actually had the chance to teach 3 separate people who are all Muslim. Serving in this area has definitely opened my mind even more to how people in the world feel about ideas like the purpose of life, how to find happiness, and where we go after death. It is a wonderful experience to learn from others and also to share things that I have come to know are true.

So this morning was actually pretty interesting. I spent a lot of time this morning thinking about different beliefs around that world and what I felt was true and how I came to know the things that I believe. Honestly, I can't explain where all the religions in the world came from. I don't think that they are all wrong or that there is only one path to happiness in this life and all other paths lead to misery. That is not what I have seen when I have been in Korea or when I was growing up. I have seen many good people be happy by doing good things. One of the appointments that I had this week was actually about this. This man talked about how every religion is trying to point the believers of that religion towards God. If followed, all religions teach us to believe in Christ and God, even if the way that they view God is not always the same. As I pondered these thoughts I read this scripture in the Book of Mormon, another testament of Jesus Christ.

15 And now I, Jacob, am led on by the Spirit unto prophesying; for I perceive by the workings of the Spirit which is in me, that by the stumbling of the Jews they will reject the stone upon which they might build and have safe foundation.

 16 But behold, according to the scriptures, this stone shall become the great, and the last, and the only sure foundation, upon which the Jews can build.

As I read this scripture I pondered what Jesus Christ has meant to me in my life. I, of course, have been raised in a church and by parents who believe in Jesus Christ, but I have felt every time I learn of him, think of him, and pray to him that  I feel a strength in my life and a desire to be better that is not just a thought in my mind. It, in my belief, is truly strength from someone greater than me. I don't know exactly what kind of judgement will wait for us after we die. But I know that it will be a merciful judgment for those who have desired the good and have done their best to follow Jesus Christ's example, even though they may know him as another name or read about him in another book. But what I do believe and what I do know is that Jesus Christ, if we truly follow His example and rely on Him, can be the safe foundation and the sure foundation on which we can build, to find safety from the confusion and chaos of the world.

I love you all,

Elder Coleman