Just hangin' out with Paul

This week found us in Antalya, Turkey, which lies on the southwestern Mediterranean coast.  We brought together 20 plus other CES missionary couples.  The purpose of our conference was to share ideas, testimonies, insights and information.  Each one of these CES couples is responsible for furthering the teaching of the youth in East Europe.  Some areas are large, geographically, some smaller and more dense.  More about the conference itself later.

It was a wonderful week.   As part of the learning experience, we were privileged to travel to Perge, an ancient Greek city about 10 miles east of Antalya.  Both Perge and Antalya are mentioned in Acts 13 and 14.

Before our journey to Perge, we spent time reviewing the journeys of Paul and again studying his teachings.  As we then explored the ruins of the ancient city, we could almost imagine that great apostle impatiently striding the length of the main thoroughfares and preaching in the marketplace.

In 46, A.D., Paul and Barnabus journeyed to Perga, from there to Antioch, then back to Perga, where they preached the word of God.  He went from there to Attaleia (Antalya).

In the fourth century, during the reign of Constantine, Perga became an important center of Christianity.  It retained its status as a Christian center through the 5th and 6th century.

As we walked the streets of Perga, we talked of many things we love about Paul.  After the vision by the resurrected Lord, Jesus Christ, Paul dedicated himself to the preaching of the gospel, becoming one of the greatest missionaries in history.  He was instrumental in bringing the gospel to Jew and Gentile alike and in helping them to understand that through Christ they could be unified in faith and love.

Like Joseph Smith, he was true to his vision and acted with unrelenting faith and courage, bearing testimony to a skeptical  world.

The Prophet Joseph Smith described Paul:  

"He is about five feet high, very dark hair, dark complexion, dark skin, large Roman nose, sharp face, small  black eyes, penerating as eternity, round shoulders, a whining voice, except when elevated, and then it almost resembles the roaring of a lion."

As we talked about the many things we learn from the teachings of Paul, one of the things we love most is the tool he gives us to measure the degree to which we are Saints.  He teaches of Faith, Hope and Charity but "the greatest of these is Charity".  (1 Corin 13;13).  The power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ will show through us as we love each other.

Walking among the ruins of Perge, with layer on layer of ancient civilizations, we treasure most our knowledge of this gospel and the teachings of this beloved Apostle.  As with Joseph Smith, his witness was sealed with his blood after having fervently preached the gospel throughout his life.

May we all wear out our lives in service as he did....