“And moreover, I say unto you, that there shall be no other name given nor any other way nor means whereby salvation can come unto the children of men, only in and through the name of Christ, the Lord Omnipotent….For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father….and when that time cometh, none shall be found blameless before God, except it be little children, only through repentance and faith on the name of the Lord God Omnipotent.” -Mosiah 3:17, 19,21
This is one of my all time favorite scriptures. As we become as little children, the Savior’s grace and mercy can work in our lives. Children are so pure and loving. So forgiving and kind. I believe that all relationship problems could be solved if we could learn to become as little children. Become. It is a process, it is change, it is repentance.
Yesterday was a nice hot day in North Albany. we were walking down the street and a group of little kids were playing out front in the sprinklers. They all ran up to us and asked us what we were doing. We explained and asked if they wanted a picture of Jesus. They all got SO EXCITED! One little man said, “Im going to put this in my room next to my bed and keep it forever!” Then they saw the Salt Lake Temple pass along card and said, “We want that one too! Please! Please! Please!” They asked if it was Vegas or a castle. We explained that it was a temple where a man and woman and families could be bound together forever. They were like, “WHOA!!! FOREVER!? Where is it? Can we go? We wanna go there someday! Do you have the address?” Haha it was precious. They all said thank you for the pictures and were skipping around with them and had huge smiles on their faces! It filled my heart with joy! I love how children get so excited about the little things and can recognize truth and light so clearly!
We have also met several others who are truly child-like and recognize their true relationship with God as their Father in heaven. I will share just a little bit about them! Joe-awesome dad of 3. Referral from other missionaries that we just started teaching! He loved the church tour and has really been looking for the truth since he left the catholic church. Patrick- We had a few minutes before curfew, so we parked in Watervliet and he was the first person we started talking to! He showed up for the return appointment and knows the Book of Mormon is true and wants he and his 17 year old daughter to get baptized! Tish- super cute young mom we’ve been meeting with. She is SO COOL and has taught us a lot about parenting with love and is loving reading the Book of Mormon! Clanajiah- met her at Panara bread. Went and sat by her and talked for 45 minutes. She is 19 and new in the area and is way stoked to meet with us and learn more about the church! Anna- Adorable older lady who has let us come in her home and teach her. We were helping her look for her Book of Mormon and found it, along with another old one on her shelf from sisters a few years back! Cool how the Lord prepares people! She is a hoot! So honest and blunt, I love it! I adore all these black baptist folks! Jason- a less active guy that came up to us on the street and told us he was baptized as a kid and hasn’t gone back for 30+ years and he is 40 haha. You best believe the Lord got him to church this Sunday for all three hours! It was sweet. Charity, Norma, Laurie, Aalyiah and all of them are doing incredible and really developing such faith in Christ!
I am so grateful for a loving Father in Heaven who is aware of all of us and knows us by name. I have seen His love every day. I am also so grateful for my earthly father- BRETT ALAN FOLKMAN! He is so loving and such a wonderful example to me. I would not be here without him.. literally haha.
Starting now, I invite you to become as a child! Let go of pride, envy, jealousy, anger, lust, greed, laziness and the ego. Be excited about the little things! Be amazed at the world around you! Say ‘sorry’, say ‘please forgive me’ Say ‘I love you’, Say ‘thank you’ Say ‘I am grateful’. Accept the fact that no, you do not know everything and open your mind and heart to the wisdom that God is offering to you! I know as we follow the Saviors example of child like living, we will be full of positive energy and love! We will find joy in the little things and come to truly KNOW that God is our Father in Heaven and that He does love us more than we could comprehend!
Have a blessed week!
Sister Rebekah Ruth Folkman 