A Connolly in Lansing: Two in One

Please forgive me as I did not get to post Rory's email from last week. Here it is along with today's.

April 15

The president of our stake, Brother Cochley, who served a mission in the Humbolt- Mendocino area gave an amazing talk last Sunday at church that went somewhat like this...

Borrowed light is something that many may have and something that many fail to realize they actually have it.

What I got from his words helped me realize that it is easy to have a strong testimony of your faith and life style when you are surrounded by devoted members, make as much money as you desire, have agency to do what you want, and to only put forth the effort to apply the gospel to your own life and a select few around you rather than every one in sight. I've had to dig pretty deep lately to find out who Rory Patrick Connolly really is. I don't know about anyone else but its not easy to keep every last covenant you make with God and to live with the same moral and mental caliber as Jesus Christ did. It's not easy to keep not only a missionary companion but a friend motivated to work and act just like Jesus Christ when he is just 95 days away from the reality of college, family, work, and women... not bagging on him because Elder Duffin rocks but his mind has been in other places lately and it's hard to blame him. It's hard to labor with all your mind, might, and heart when there are many already in college or living self sufficiently. It's not easy being happy and outgoing all the time when you're in a place where friendliness is scarce and when at church... few show up and are willing to give of there time to others and it's extremely hard to love and minister to people who don't love you and struggle to love themselves with the decisions that they make.

Now this is a long list of why life can be miserable for many but here is the beauty of the fullness of the gospel...

This journey we have here on earth is the equivalent to a grain of sand on the beach... we have knowledge that enduring to the end of mortality with a perfect effort of obedience can land you eternal life and a level of glory higher then we comprehend. We know that so long as we strive to keep promises that are made with God through baptism under proper authority... glory is ours for the taking.

In the Book of Mormon, the saint Moroni shares that, "The first fruits of repentance is baptism; and baptism cometh by faith unto the fulfilling the commandments; and the fulfilling the commandments bringeth remission of sins; And the remission of sins bringeth meekness, and lowliness of heart; and because of meekness and lowliness of heart cometh the visitation of the Holy Ghost, which Comforter filleth with hope and perfect love, which love endureth by diligence unto prayer, until the end shall come, when all the saints shall dwell with God." Moroni 8:25-26

So long as we follow the simple pattern above which is also stated in the bible and taught by Jesus Christ in the book of Luke... by repenting for every wrong doing and to follow the example Jesus Christ set with a perfect effort of exact obedience we get the company of the Holy Ghost who is the spirit that works through God and so long as you have that entity to be with you.... you cant ever go wrong. And what is our reward for these actions? Dwelling with our creator once more. God wants us to be joyful and I've found that is much easier to do so when you remember that there is a reward and consequence to match your efforts and actions. These blessings may not come exactly when we want but they will come.

I'm thankful for this mission experience and I know of the good that will come of it. I'm thankful for the struggles that I'm going through because through losing myself in it... I've found who I need to be and have found ways to achieve who I want to be. Life was not meant to be easy and if you're doing things the right way, it never will be. But for choosing the right path you will have your reward.

Anyways my week was long and rather slow but I always stay busy. We do something called trade offs where we travel to a bordering area and help other missionaries with there work so I've been all over Lansing for the past couple of days. It's fun and all but I'm thankful to be back in my own area to hasten the work here in Meridian. We've had several appointments set up but many no shows which is ok because it happens. Micheal our guy close to baptism hasn't responded to a single call all week and we dont have his address because we only meet with him at the church so it was a miracle when he called yesterday asking if he could take us out to lunch on Wednesday. I hope and pray with all my might that he'll be interested in living by and for the gospel still. Time will take its coarse.

I've been reading a lot and memorizing a lot of church documents as well as listening to countless talks by the church on retaining knowledge and on acquiring spiritual knowledge. I'm very motivated to become a more intelligent person out here and I'm giving that my every effort.

We had zone conference this week where all 40 missionaries in the Lansing area met to listen to talks given by the mission president.. his assistants... and the leaders of the Lansing zone and it was great and I was very humbled because they gave great speeches and had so much knowledge of the gospel and other things and I'm working to be at the same level as them. I'm determined to make these next 2 years ones where I can become a much more knowlegable person. I'm working hard and no matter how much failure I experience I know success will come. Being on a mission is just like baseball.... you will lose, strike out, make mistakes or come short in many ways but so long as you adapt and keep giving maximum effort you'll find success and I'm so happy to have the opportunity to push myself to grow and progress. I hope everyone is well at home and till next week!! 53 days down and only 681 to go.

PS. in June either the Prophet or one of his apostles are coming to Ann Arbor and everyone in the mission is going to meet him who ever it may be and listen to him and I'm so excited!!!

Today's Email

I'm just a few days over being 1/12 of the way done with my mission!!! Time is flying sort of. The days are long but the weeks are fast if that makes sense. Working very hard as always and I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter Sunday. I testify that the savior conquered death so we all can and have eternal life.

Anyway. It was a bitter sweet first holiday in the mission field for me. Just went to church did my studies and tried to find people in south Lansing that were interested in hearing a little bit more on the true meaning of Easter. We met someone new at church named Dorothy who was an investigator in the past and her mom was a latter day saint and passed away a few years ago and now Dorothy said she was interested in meeting again. I hope and pray that can work out.

I must say that I do miss my parent's cooking, nicely assorted Easter baskets with candy, watching my step siblings hunt for eggs and attending church in my home ward as well as simply enjoying my family time with them all but I know that these experiences I'm having right now in the field will help build a greater appreciation for those tender mercies in the future.

Things have been pretty slow and it's hard to stay happy and motivated at times but I've been learning a lot about myself and exercising ways to press forward with patience and love. I'm really trying my best. I gotta just learn to be happy with the situation I'm given because this mission is indeed a blessing. All I want is inner peace and a stronger relationship with God to help me be successful with my mental and spiritual health. Being anxious and full of stress isn't fun so through the atonement of Jesus Christ I'm working on just living with a clear head.

Not a lot of super new things. I did meet some people that had some colorful comments for my companion and I this week based on the upcoming presidential election and the values that we stand for as members but just as Jesus Christ would do... I think... we asked them if there was anything we could do for them, politely explained what we were about, and wished them a nice day. The black nametag I wear on my white buttoned down shirt can be metaphorically heavy at times due to all the responsibilities that come with it such as representing the true church but thanks to the help and companionship of God and the holy Ghost. It's all possible. Loving personal study. Currently reading the book of Mathew as I really needed some spiritual uplifting and inspiration this week and just studying about the way that Jesus Christ carried himself and how he directed his apostles and taught Jews and gentiles in such a righteous simple way just gives me hope to be the better example that he is. I recommend that anyone and everyone should take some time weekly to just read the life of Christ in the New Testament at least once a week. I love you all and till next week.

Elder Connolly

The pictures here are of my Easter dinner I made myself.