Don't be casting stones

Hello everyone! 

 

Another week has come and gone! I hope you all had an amazing week! We had in-person 24-hour exchanges with our amazing zone leaders! We also started teaching Dan! At our first lesson, I invited him to be baptized, and he said yes! He's not on date quite yet.  Hopefully in October! I'm so excited for him!  Also, Mike he is still learning slowly but surely.  

 

My Aunt Dee sent me these water beads, and I didn't read the instructions so now I made like a billion of them lol. So our kitchen is full of them. Elder Christiansen, my companion, is a good sport lol. Also, I’m excited for Halloween. I swear I buy something new every time we go to Walmart! I got Halloween masks, and I'm so excited to wear!  

 

Spiritual thought time! The world today has this mob mentality for sure. We see something or hear something, and we automatically believe it to be true and jump to conclusions. It makes me think of Jesus teaching about compassion when confronting a woman accused of adultery (John 8:2-11). Because this woman made a mistake, everyone wanted to stone to death! Then Jesus says, "He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her." One by one they all drop their rocks and walk away realizing they have no right to judge her for sinning differently than they do. I ask everyone during these times to be as the Savior and be merciful. Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy. Don’t jump to conclusions - be patient and loving, it’s something I have been trying to do.  

 

Love you all,  

 

Elder Hedrick 

I LOVE TO SEE THE TEMPLE!!

 

Hello everyone!  

 

I got to go to the temple this week and see my parents!!! So much fun! It was hard to say goodbye again.  I cried a bit, but during the car ride home my mind was preoccupied with what just happened at the temple. SPIRITUAL HIGH! I honestly loved going with my parents and my mission president and his wife. The Oklahoma City temple is small, but it was amazing. 

 

This week I gave a blessing to a man dying of cancer. In the blessing I felt bad as I told him that he was going to die in a very nice way. I felt bad too that I was basically telling his wife that she'd be a soon widow. I cried so much.  The Spirit definitely directed the blessing - the veil was so thin. I wanted to say he would recover, but that's not what I was prompted to say.  

 

Also our lesson with Mike, our potential member, went well. He is now willing to pray and ask if Joseph Smith is a prophet of God. A HUGE step for him. We read the King Follett sermon with him because he is very intellectual. I just love Mike! We also are doing a ton of Facebook finding, and we've had some little success with it so that's good.  

 

Time for Elder Hedrick’s spiritual thought - in the most recent conference President Nelson asked us to strengthen our ability to receive personal revelation. He states, "I renew my plea for you to do whatever it takes to increase your spiritual capacity to receive personal revelation." Then he later states we cannot survive spiritually without personal revelation! Please open your hearts and minds and prepare for the General Conference!  

 

I love you all!  

 

Elder Hedrick 

The Car door vs My name badge

 

Becky sent these to Zac because he misses our 2 dogs - Oliver and Pearl

Hello everyone!  

 

Another good week in Manhattan, Kansas. We should all have smiles on our faces - Conference is 4 week or so away!  Also, the smile on my face is a little bigger because I get to go to the temple on the 9th and see my parents. I am going to the Oklahoma City temple, and I can't wait!  

 

A couple weeks ago I forgot to tell everyone a funny story.  So I'm getting into the car for church, and I notice my magnetic badge fell off.  We couldn't see it anywhere on the ground or in the car. So we leave for church and close the door. CRACK!  The badge was caught in the plastic lining of the door. Lol RIP, I'm getting a new one soon.  

 

My challenge to you all this week is to read the General Conference talk "How to Obtain Revelation and Inspiration for Your Personal Life" by Elder Richard G Scott. Read it, and then pray and think of ways to invite the Spirit to speak to you during the conference. General conference is a great time to receive answers to our questions!  

 

Love you all,  

 

Elder Hedrick