Pictures from the hike we went on last week.

Then we had dinner. Dinner with a Tongan is great! There was corn, mashed potatoes, and some pork tenderloin. Sister Wright asked Elder Kupu if he liked corn because he had only eaten one ear, and he said, "yes, but......I like meat more!" It was pretty funny. We crashed a Halloween party a Ward member was having on Thursday. Then on Friday or Saturday we helped set up a haunted maze at an elementary school for the kids. That's about all that happened this week! So let's jump to the good stuff.

Something I learned last week that I did t have the time to write about it that perfection isn't just an end like we often think of it.

It's a means to an end, because perfection is also a process. It's something that we should continuously be doing.

Thought number two. The commandment to keep the sabbath day holy.

Under the law of Moses, it was strictly enforced with specific rules and punishments. You could only walk a certain number of steps, you had to have food prepared the day before (or you could only prepare certain kinds of food. Something like that) and there was no business done on the sabbath. Breaking this commandment was punishable by death. Now the law of Moses has been fulfilled, but the commandment to keep the sabbath still stands. We use the sabbath to worship God and renew our covenants with him. Please turn to Mark 2. The last two verses talk about the sabbath and the relation of it to man. Then the last verse kind of randomly starts talking about the Son of Man.

A.k.a. Christ. So we discussed in Elders quorum the translation of that and how the Greek didn't translate too well, but when it was translated to another language, all the 'man' and 'son of man' in the last two verses translate to 'mankind'. So in that context, the last verse says 'mankind is Lord of the sabbath.' So does this mean that we can do whatever we want on the Sabbath? No, of course not. In both the bible and Book of Mormon there are parables about vineyards. We often hear references to 'the Lord of the vineyard.' What does 'Lord' imply in this context? The Lord of the vineyard TAKES CARE of his vineyard and works with his servants. He leads by example. Thus as Lords of the Sabbath, it is our duty to TAKE CARE of it. Truly make it a day of rest from the labor  and cares if the world, and 'pay our devotions unto the most high.' The Lord blesses us for keeping His commandments.

I'd like to challenge all of you to take time to make a list of the blessings that come from keeping this particular commandment and have an honest inventory with yourself on how you are doing with keeping it. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen. I love you all tons!

Elder Hunter

Pictures

1. Us at the Halloween party we crashed.

2.-4. Setting up the maze for the kids.

 Last picture of manaquins at Nordstroms...