Salvation is NOT cheap

Well I love this gospel so so much. It has been a very trying week but we have grown much because of it. Last week we did some great finding and set up loads of appointments for this week. But every single person flaked on their appointment. Some texted us that they couldn't meet and rescheduled but some just didn't show. We were supposed to have 10 new investigators this week. We didn't get any. It was a learning and growing experience for sure. We were out on the street talking to people a lot this week and didn't get as much success as we did last week. I was feeling really discouraged half way through the week. We had been flaked on and no one was showing up and no one would listen to us in the streets and I felt like saying "Elder, lets just give up. This isn't going anywhere. The people don't want to listen to us."

One morning in my studies my mind was drawn to the Atonement. As I was thinking about it I read John 19:30. "... he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost." As I thought about this I realized that Christ gave up His own life. (John 10:18 No man taketh‍ it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.)  I also remembered how He did not want to drink the bitter cup. He became very sorrowful and wanted it to pass from Him. But He said "not as I will, but as Thou wilt" In the peak of His suffering Heavenly Father withdrew His spirit from Him. It was at this point that He cries to God asking why He has forsaken Him. In all of this reflection and all of this inspiration my mind focused on three words: It is Finished. Christ had the power to quit at any point. No man could take His life. He could give it up whenever He wanted. But He knew that He was not done. This work is bigger than us. This work is the work of the Almighty God. It is to bring to pass the Immortality and Eternal Life of ALL mankind. It is NOT finished. WE are not finished.

I then remembered the words of a hymn "Why should we think to earn a great reward if we now shun the fight? Gird up your loins, fresh courage take, our God will never us forsake." We are in the business of saving souls. The work is not done. It was selfish and foolish of me to think that it would always be easy. "Salvation is not a cheap experience. Salvation was NEVER easy" -Jeffery R. Holland

I have started to read the Book of Mormon in 30 days. I have to read like 10 chapters today...Haha. Elder Parsons and I are doing Personal Progress with our recent convert Paula. She is progressing so well. We are having a race to see who can read the Book of Mormon first. I think I will beat her but she is ahead of me right now ;) 

I sang in sacrament meeting which went pretty well. My ward is AMAZING. They are the greatest people ever. All my wards have been amazing people.

I had a mission leadership meeting in Edinburgh this week and as Elder Campbell and I were coming back we were talking to people on the train. This girl I talked to thought I was from Scotland!!! What?! I do NOT sound Scottish. MURICA!

I am excited as General Conference draws near. It is the BEST time as a missionary. I look forward to hearing from all our inspired leaders.

I love you. Learn of Christ and repent daily.

Elder Crowe