Pitch it Within and Without
“Pitch It Within and Without”
President Quinn’s Weekly Message
California Santa Rosa Mission
January 1st, 2024
Happy New Year! Sister Quinn and I welcome with excitement this new year. We look forward to serving with you.
We extend a warm welcome to the 18 new missionaries that arrived to CASRM last Friday. We look forward to serving with you. You are blessed to serve with faithful, kind, and loving missionaries.
My message on this New Year’s Day is the result of a conversation I had with a missionary last week. This missionary asked me how to address the little things in his life that were affecting his ability to fully feel the Spirit. His question reminded me of the counsel the Lord gave to Noah as he was building the ark:
“Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch.” (Genesis 6:14)
Pitch is tar. Tar can be used as a viscous waterproof sealant. The Lord knew that when completed, the massive wooden structure of the ark would have large and small gaps where water could leak in. Over time, water leaking into the ark would cause it to sink. By instructing Noah to “pitch” the ark “within and without”, the Lord provided instruction for sealing the ark to prevent it from sinking due to leaks.
As we begin this new year, I invite us to consider areas in our personal missionary service and life where gaps in our behavior may do harm to our spiritual growth and worthiness. Are there gaps we need to close to qualify us more fully for the Spirit? The “pitch” available to close these gaps is the Atonement of Jesus Christ. His blood, spilt on the cross, is the perfect sealant to eliminate our weaknesses. Please remember this promise:
“And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.” (Ether 12:27)
Sister Quinn and I look forward to the miracles and blessings of the new year in our continued and combined service to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Love,
President Quinn
(707) 758-6380
