Lessons on Study, Selfishness, Repentance, and Never Looking Back (Part 4 of 5)

We have come to month fourteen of the eighteen months of lessons learned along the journey. I hope you are all enjoying reading these email snippets from Ashley’s emails. The life lessons she shares as she learns them was so valuable to me and I hope it proves to be valuable to all of you as well. Here is part 4 of the 5 part blog:

———FOURTEEN MONTHS IN –  (SCRIPTURE STUDY)                                         April 18 2016

I’m reading the New Testament for the first time in my life! Holy cow. I’ve been missing out. I fully regret not having my priorities in line before my mission. If only I knew then what I know now. I’m reading one of the world’s greatest books in all of history and I can’t get enough of it!! I’ve found myself taking every single extra second that we have to flip open my Bible and study! Before morning studies, at meals, in the car… every second I can get! And when I do I put the book down and feel the Savior literally walking with me. It is incredible what “feasting upon the words” can teach us.

———FIFTEEN MONTHS IN (AFFECTS OF SELFISHNESS – REPENTANCE)         April 25 2016

Last week God showed me the effects of one small act of selfishness…Rather than proselyting for 20 minutes, I was selfish and we went to get ice cream. Although I didn’t feel bad for it at the time, I knew that it wasn’t the best decision and prayed that God would help me feel sorrow so that I could repent and learn. The next day God did just that: Because of the ice cream, I got no sleep that night (too much sugar) and was extra tired. Then I didn’t have time to pack in the morning because I took a power nap. Then we had to miss people in our plans because we had to pack during proselyting hours. So in the end, my small selfish decision to get ice cream effected someone being able to receive the restored gospel. I was wrong to be selfish. I know that now. But I am especially grateful for the atonement and second chances.

I am constantly being reminded of something huge about this work… ITS NOT ABOUT ME!

———SIXTEEN MONTHS IN   (NEVER LOOK BACK)                            May 9 2016

I know that Christ is my Savior. When I had the privilege to visit Jerusalem with my family, I walked where he walked. But now I’m living what he lived. We can ALL know Christ as closely as our Prophet and Apostles do. We just need to be willing to give what they would give.

A scripture that changed my life this week: Luke 9. To preface, these are disciples who are telling Christ they will do anything to follow him. But then Christ hits home by asking them to give up certain/specific things… Things that maybe they were hoping he would never ask. Suddenly, there are some BUTS that come up from the disciples. Then we get this last verse from Christ who says, “No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” 

Never look back.

**LOVE THAT!  Tomorrow will be the final blog of Ashley’s emails. Have an amazing day today everyone!  Remember, never look back!

~Amy Rees Anderson

1 Comment

  • Jane says:

    I have been enjoying the daily testimony of Ashley and how she has grown in maturity and in her love of Jesus Christ. It took me to age 26 to come to faith and love Jesus. I was stubborn.

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