July 6, 2020

I loved Elder Trezise's letter this week!  Here it is:

Hello family! 

Tis me! This week was super fun! We had exchanges early on, then Elder Smith's sisters wedding on Friday and the 4th of July Saturday. Good stuff. 

 

Anyways, onto some cool things I learned this week. I studied this cool talk this week by S. Michael Wilcox named "When My Prayers Seem Unanswered." The talk is precisely about that topic. In it, he shares a story out of Mark chapter 6. In this chapter the Apostles are out at sea, and the storms begin to blow, and they begin to despair. They look for the Savior, but he's not there. Now, in ancient Hebrew times they categorized the night into 4 parts called "watches." The first watch was from 6-9 pm. The second from 9-midnight, the third from midnight to 3 am, and the final, or 4th watch from 3-sunrise. In this chapter in Mark it says that the Savior appeared to them on the water at about the 4th watch. There's a lesson to be learned in that. And it's a lesson that's taught over and over. God is a 4th watch God. There are times that we feel we have suffered for so long, that we deserve a break. There are times we pray, and we pray, and we pray. And nothing happens. But that's because, despite the storm, the tempest and raging winds, we aren't in the 4th watch. From Joseph Smith's account of the 1st vision we hear, "At the very moment when I was ready to sink into despair and abandon myself to destruction—not to an imaginary ruin, but to the power of some actual being from the unseen world, who had such marvelous power as I had never before felt in any being—just at this moment of great alarm, I saw a pillar of light..." 

 

God came to Joseph in the 4th watch. Christ showed Himself to the Apostles in the 4th watch. It's selfish of us to assume that we are the special case where God will come earlier. He's a 4th watch God, and will remain that way, despite our circumstances. So remember that when you're down, when you're struggling. Can you give more? Have you put every effort you can forth? Are you in the 4th watch? If not, be patient. Answers to prayers come, believe me, I know. In my own life, I lost my uncle when I was a freshman in high school. It was an extremely hard moment for me. I prayed and I prayed to know if he was okay. And I didn't get an answer. I didn't see the light, or have someone come to me walking on the water. So I gave up. I gave up on God, gave up on trying, gave up on most things really. I pretended to be happy for those around me, but inside I was so hurt. It was so hard. I thought I was in the 4th watch. I thought I DESERVED an answer. That I was ENTITLED to receive revelation there, and then. Immediately. But it wasn't until over 3 years later that that prayer was finally answered. It took 3 years to finally feel something. Those years were my watches. And looking back, yes, that's a long time to wait for such an important answer. But it came at a time when I was ready for it. When I'd know what it is like to live without God. And to suddenly feel Him after not having that for 3 years made me appreciate it even more. Made me cling to the answer I got. It's that answer, ultimately, that led me to my decision to serve a mission. And that decision has changed my life permanently and helped me so much. It's that answer, ultimately, that led to the happiness I feel today. And that answer took time. 3 looooong watches. Be patient, the 4th watch is on the way. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. 

 

-Elder Trezise