Choose the Right

From: Kevin M. Bulloch Sent: Monday, November 29, 2010 8:20 AMTo: New York Utica MissionSubject: President's Weekly Message, November 29, 2010 November 29, 2010 Dear Elders and Sisters, I have been reflecting on our discussion in Zone Conference about the development of faith as it relates to the righteous use of agency. It reminded me of an old Calvin and Hobbs cartoon I am going to attempt to attach to this email. It illustrates something President James E. Faust taught very well. He said, we “need to understand… that private choices are not private; they all have public consequences. There is a popular notion that doing our own thing… is our own business and affects no one but us… But this is simply not true” (Ensign, May 1987, p. 80). Each day we are faced with choices. We exercise our agency in making those choices. Each choice invites a whole new set of circumstances that require more choices, not only by us individually, but also by others. For example, if a missionary chooses not to be obedient, his companion has to make some difficult choices in relation to how to respond to his companion’s disobedience. The Missionary Handbook states, “If you notice any inappropriate situation or behavior, discuss it with your companion. If the matter is not resolved, have the courage and love for your companion to ask your mission president for help… Your loyalty is first to the Lord, then to your mission president….” (p.31-32) It requires what can be a very difficult choice to follow that counsel. Yet, a missionary cannot be completely obedient and ignore the disobedience of their companion. We cannot live independent of each other. What we do affects those around us. We must remember that each circumstance we find ourselves in presents us with an opportunity to increase our faith through the righteous use of agency. We will all eventually come to know the truth of the oft repeated phrase, “If you have not chosen the kingdom of God first, it will in the end make no difference what you have chosen instead” (Maxwell, Ensign, May, 1984; October, 1999, p. 13). Our individual choices not only have an effect on those around us, but also on our ability to receive and respond to the influence and guidance of the Spirit. Choices that influence the degree to which we have the influence of the Holy Ghost in turn will affect our investigators, potential investigators, and many others. It is comforting to know that the righteous use of agency in making correct choices invites the influence of the Spirit and an endowment of increased faith. With increased faith, miracles can happen and lives are blessed. Thus we see, that it truly is by the seemingly small and simple choices we make that great things are brought to pass (Alma 37:6). May the Lord bless us to “Choose the right, when a choice is placed before [us]” (hymn 239). We congratulate the following on their baptism this week: Mikaila Berkgren in Ithaca, taught by Elders Neilson, Egbert and Bowles; Theresa Pessler in Watertown, taught by Sisters Ream, Cox and Goettsche; Gary Zayas in Utica, taught by Elders Cutler and Swain; and Melia Steed was baptized in Elders Johnson and West’s area of the Albany 1st Ward. I hope you have a wonderful week, President Bulloch

Cabin Fever Schenectady

Hey Mom!

How is it going?! Crazy week huh? How is the empty nest feeling? Do you have Nathan's box# yet?Oh yeah Pres Standage's first name is i think Ron or Rodney something like that... he knows Darrin and Devin Gray and Aunt Jennifer. Sis Standage is related to pres Driggs some how i think she said that's her uncle! SMALL WORLD! So, I got a knee brace now it hurt to wear it at first but now its helping i can walk a lot more. I think Sis. Bulloch called you on Tuesday right? if not I either bruised one of the bones in my knee probably the femar. OR I strained my meniscus... either way its feeling better. hope you have a good week!-EnRd