President's Message

November 17, 2008

I had the opportunity last week to visit with mission home gardener Raul for few minutes. As all of you know, he does a fantastic job keeping the mission home grounds beautiful. He has created a masterpiece of beautiful trees, flowers and plants. I asked him what part of his work brings him the most joy.


He responded that it was caring for each individual plant so that it can flourish. I asked him how he goes about doing that. He says that it is important to know the strengths and weaknesses of each plant. I pointed to the rose and asked him to identify one of its strengths and one of its weaknesses. He said the roses can do well in the cold but do not do well in competition with weeds. He said the roots will not grow and develop if there are roots of weeds close to them. Their roots will not extend out and grow normally like they would if there were no weeds. Therefore they do not receive the water and nutrients that they need to flourish. Their flowers will not grow as large and as beautifully. (Alma 32:37,38)

As I thought of my responsibilities and the gardener here in the Chile Santiago North mission, I also find great joy in knowing each of you individually so that I can help you flourish and become the greatest missionaries the Lord created you to be. This also applies to each of you as caretakers of your own gardens. The wards in which you work are your gardens. As you work with your investigators, church leaders and members, it requires diligence, faith, and patience. (Alma 32:42-43) It is my prayer that we can be inspired missionaries and that we live our lives in a way that they we can draw upon the powers of heaven to cultivate and care for our gardens so that one day the Lord will say to us, ¨Well done my good and faithful servant!

I love you,

Presidente May
"Predicad Mi Evangelio para Bautizar, Retener, Reactivar!