Overpowering forces and faith

Because we so often deal with forces beyond our control, we realize more than ever before, why faith is the first principle of the gospel and why repentance is only second to faith. After that, comes baptism, a covenant so powerful that it opens the gate of eternity with just a few words of profound Priesthood pronouncement and symbolic washing renewal. Then comes the most supreme gift of mortality-- the constant companionship of The Holy Ghost, an actual member of the Godhead! Imagine the anticipation we must have felt at hearing of that plan in the pre-mortal realm! We had faith that with the bestowal of that supernal gift we would be ever reminded of our Savior's love, and of the the hope of dwelling with our Heavenly Father again. The Godhead was all encompassing in our hope of eternal joy. I wonder if Satan looked so foreboding in that realm; probably so, we'd been at war with him there too. So, we must have faith that we can win again, here. We have seen the reality of Satan's armies on the broad battlefield here in Zambia. The scope of his weaponry has been alarming. The focus of our mission has been much different than on our Durban mission. We've had to hold on firmly to the foundation of our faith while facing the evil designs of conspiring men. Amazing how deeply those designs can take root in the glorious gospel, and how difficult it is to prune them out. The allegory of the olive tree has become a living document to us. We will leave this vineyard without seeing many new branches bearing fruit. And we leave it with no incoming "servants" to keep tending to the pruning. We know the Lord is in charge and He will eventually, with the help of yet unseen servants, get the roots and branches of this tree balanced, but, it is grievous to leave it, not knowing when or how it will happen. We can only, in faith, leave it in the Lord's hands, and lean not unto our own understanding. Most gratefully, we will leave Zambia with a heart full of love for many more people on this amazing earth-- love for our brothers and sisters who have been gathered into the fold in this last dispensation. The miracle of the message of the restoration in individual lives still shines supreme in our mission experiences. We attended a baptism of 14 people last Saturday; five were children of record. That is happy evidence that the vineyard is not completely corrupt, that there is still joy to be had in the natural fruit of the tree.
"And we will nourish again the trees of the vineyard, and we will trim up the branches thereof; and we will pluck from the trees those branches which are ripened that must perish, and cast them into the fire. And this I do that, perhaps, the root thereof may take strength because of their goodness; and because of the change of the branches, that the good may overcome the evil.
Wherefore, go to and call servants, that we may labor diligently with our might in the vineyard, that we may prepare the way, that I may bring forth again the natural fruit, which natural fruit is good and the most precious above all other fruit." (Jacob5:58,61)