Letter of December 2, 2008

Dear Family,

I tis great to hear from all of you and how things are going. I know you probably would like to know more but honestly not much of real import happens here. Thus, I usually don't have much to write but what is on my mind and my testimony. My days here are spent learning doctrine, Spanish, and leadership skills through the Spirit. Every day I learn to understand the spirit better. It is almost as if, really is, I was fasting from the spirit before.

Don't get me wrong with what I mean by not much of real import happens here. Important things happen every day, usually it is just personal revelation and understanding though. Every one of you that comes through here will love it; it is awesome. The only thing is you will want to get out of here at the same time to get on with your missions and real life. I have learned so much here and I know you will too.

One of my previous letters talked about how insignificant the vain things of the world are. However, this doesn't mean we shouldn't care about them. The Savior said, "He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much... If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?" (Luke 16:10-11) Having to take care of things that are wholly unimportant in and of themselves are made important so that we can prove our faithfulness and desire to do all of God's will. We still must be in the world for our trials to prove us, but we don't have to be of the world and seek the unrighteous mammon. Therein lies the difference. Never has God given His children a law that was temporal, all things are given unto us for our spiritual benefit. It is the natural man that creates temporal things of the spiritual, for the natural man is temporal. If we are faithful in all things we are given and use them for our eternal and spiritual benefit, and not seek after more of the temporal than what we have for ourselves, we will inherit much more of that which is purely spiritual. It is the same concept as the Word of Wisdom, be faithful in taking care of this temporal body, that is the temple of the Holy Ghost, and you will be blessed with "great treasures of knowledge."

Remember that blessings will only come from obedience to the law upon which they are predicated. I promise all of youthat when we are exactly obedient to the commandments and also counsels of the scriptures and our priesthood teachers as well as our parents, you will be blessed. As long as your leaders do not tell you to sin, do what they say, even if you know they are wrong or not doing something right, or effectively to get something done. Ammon made this promise to King Lamoni, that whatsoever the king desired of him which was right, he would do. Ammon became a servant unto a wicked Lamanite king and made this promise. But because of his willingness to obey even a wicked ruler, he was blessed exceedingly, even with the coming of thousands into the Church of God.

I know that when we are exactly obedient, even when there is no real apparent need, we will be blessed without measure.

Love, Elder David Skiles