Dear Sisters and Elders,
How important it is to keep a positive attitude in our work as missionaries. We can never allow discouragement to enter into our thoughts because it will weaken our faith which leads to lowering our expectations, our effectiveness will decrease, our desire will weaken, and we will have greater difficulty following the Spirit (Preach My Gospel pg 10) We have a great example to follow in Nephi. In the very first verse of chapter one of first Nephi we read:
1 I, Nephi, having been born of goodly parents, therefore I was taught somewhat in all the learning of my father; and having seen many afflictions in the course of my days, nevertheless, having been highly favored of the Lord in all my days; yea, having had a great knowledge of the goodness and the mysteries of God, therefore I make a record of my proceedings in my days.
As we read further into the Book of Mormon we find out some of these afflictions that Nephi experienced. How many of us would ever put together afflictions and having been highly favored of the Lord in the same sentence. Nephi gives us a great example of how important it is for us to maintain an eternal perspective as we face adversity and challenges in our everyday proselyting activities. Elder Zeballos taught us in our Zone Conferences in December of 2008 that the Lord loves each of us and He wants to trust us but we must earn it. Do we feel the sacred responsibility the Lord has entrusted in us? Can the Lord trust us enough to place in our hands the responsibility of teaching one of His sons or daughters that He has prepared to hear the Gospel?
We must earn His trust as did Nephi in facing adversity with courage and faithfulness. What are some of the things we can do to keep our enthusiasm and excitement for work as we face adversity? Here are some suggestions:
· Keep our covenants that we have made with the Lord. In Elder D. Todd Cristofferson´s address entitled “Power of Covenants” he shares the following:
The Apostle Paul understood that one who has entered into a covenant with God is both given the faith to face trials and gains even greater faith through those trials. Of his personal "thorn in the flesh" (2 Corinthians 12:7), he observed: "For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me."And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me."Therefore I take pleasure in [my] infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong" (2 Corinthians 12:8–10).
· Praying, fasting, studying the scriptures, living the commandments, obeying mission rules, and immersing ourselves in missionary work.
· Express our understanding, love, and support of others.
· Strengthen our faith in the Lord by bearing our testimony often.
· Recognize spiritual experiences, and remember the times when we have felt the Spirit.
· Stop worrying about ourselves and lose ourselves in serving others, discouragement will be replaced by the joy of service.
In 2 Nephi 2:2 the Lord counsels Jacob that he would consecrate his afflictions for his gain. I testify as we face our trials and adversity in the mission field with courage and faith as did Nephi, we be highly favored of the Lord to bring many of unto Him is may prayer in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Read more!
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Friday, October 16, 2009
Wonderful insights from the new missionaries!
Our new missionaries in Phase 2/3 Trainings--October 16, 2009
(They have been here just over 12 weeks or 18 weeks and all of the meeting is in Spanish today)They share their success stories/relatos de exito with us:
Elder H: “A woman was very sad when we met her on the street. She had been raining (lloviendo), I mean crying (llorando). We didn’t think she wanted to listen, but then she did and now we have 7 people ready for baptism.”
Elder S: “We spoke to a woman who had been a bit against progressing, but when we came back and taught her, we found out she had been studying the Book of Mormon and praying. She told us she knew it was true. I know the Lord is preparing people for us to find. She knew.”
Hermana P: “We were teaching this woman, whose husband didn’t really support her studying the gospel and progressing. We were fasting for her, wondering what we could say to her and to him, to help them both. We returned and talked to both of them, and we all felt the spirit. Then we were so happy to see them both come to Sacrament meeting on Sunday. We returned to teach them both, and now he has also agreed to a baptismal date, like her, and he wants to learn more!”
Elder N: “We were teaching a man who didn’t want to leave tea, coffee, cigarettes, but now he has, and is listening and progressing with the lessons. He has been prepared.”
Elder L: “I loved my other ward, where I was with my trainer. We had many baptisms, we helped grow the ward, and I really loved the families. We fasted, prayed and worked with them. I heard of one of the men we had been teaching was baptized after I left and moved to another area, and I was still thrilled and feliz for him, because I really love him and want him to be saved. We are going to have that same kind of success and members in my new area too.”
Elder C: (This great Latin Missionary who was called on to say the opening prayer and he stood and prayed in English! I have to admit I didn’t know who was called on to pray, but as I sat listening to the sweet, humble and simple English prayer, my heart was overflowing to hear him and I had to peek open my eyes to see which tender -hearted Elder was praying with such sincerity, in broken English. It was a beautiful, tender prayer, and we could understand by the language of the spirit.)
Hermana B: “We were just walking quickly down the street and saluted/greeted a woman with just ‘hello’ but she stopped us and asked which church we were missionaries of and when we told her we are members of the Church of Jesus Christ, she asked, “Los Mormones?” We said that yes, some call us that. She responded that she wanted to learn more and have classes! Wow, we know the Lord is preparing them for us, enough that they are stopping US on the streets!”
Hermana B: “We found a family who had been less active/inactive for years. They now had two young daughters 8 and 9 who had never been baptized. We started teaching the girls and the family began to really feel the spirit again. They had their baptismal date and had been attending church. Last week the parents even bore their testimonies in the Fast and testimony meeting. We were preparing all for the baptism later that day, but the father came to us and said, “The girls aren’t’ going to be baptized today.” We were so sad, but then he explained that HE wanted to do the baptism, and felt he wasn’t worthy or ready yet. The girls now want their Dad to perform the baptism and they have a family plan to have him do it soon, and then a date to go to the temple together as a family soon, too. We are glad that they want to be eternal.”
Read more!
(They have been here just over 12 weeks or 18 weeks and all of the meeting is in Spanish today)They share their success stories/relatos de exito with us:
Elder H: “A woman was very sad when we met her on the street. She had been raining (lloviendo), I mean crying (llorando). We didn’t think she wanted to listen, but then she did and now we have 7 people ready for baptism.”
Elder S: “We spoke to a woman who had been a bit against progressing, but when we came back and taught her, we found out she had been studying the Book of Mormon and praying. She told us she knew it was true. I know the Lord is preparing people for us to find. She knew.”
Hermana P: “We were teaching this woman, whose husband didn’t really support her studying the gospel and progressing. We were fasting for her, wondering what we could say to her and to him, to help them both. We returned and talked to both of them, and we all felt the spirit. Then we were so happy to see them both come to Sacrament meeting on Sunday. We returned to teach them both, and now he has also agreed to a baptismal date, like her, and he wants to learn more!”
Elder N: “We were teaching a man who didn’t want to leave tea, coffee, cigarettes, but now he has, and is listening and progressing with the lessons. He has been prepared.”
Elder L: “I loved my other ward, where I was with my trainer. We had many baptisms, we helped grow the ward, and I really loved the families. We fasted, prayed and worked with them. I heard of one of the men we had been teaching was baptized after I left and moved to another area, and I was still thrilled and feliz for him, because I really love him and want him to be saved. We are going to have that same kind of success and members in my new area too.”
Elder C: (This great Latin Missionary who was called on to say the opening prayer and he stood and prayed in English! I have to admit I didn’t know who was called on to pray, but as I sat listening to the sweet, humble and simple English prayer, my heart was overflowing to hear him and I had to peek open my eyes to see which tender -hearted Elder was praying with such sincerity, in broken English. It was a beautiful, tender prayer, and we could understand by the language of the spirit.)
Hermana B: “We were just walking quickly down the street and saluted/greeted a woman with just ‘hello’ but she stopped us and asked which church we were missionaries of and when we told her we are members of the Church of Jesus Christ, she asked, “Los Mormones?” We said that yes, some call us that. She responded that she wanted to learn more and have classes! Wow, we know the Lord is preparing them for us, enough that they are stopping US on the streets!”
Hermana B: “We found a family who had been less active/inactive for years. They now had two young daughters 8 and 9 who had never been baptized. We started teaching the girls and the family began to really feel the spirit again. They had their baptismal date and had been attending church. Last week the parents even bore their testimonies in the Fast and testimony meeting. We were preparing all for the baptism later that day, but the father came to us and said, “The girls aren’t’ going to be baptized today.” We were so sad, but then he explained that HE wanted to do the baptism, and felt he wasn’t worthy or ready yet. The girls now want their Dad to perform the baptism and they have a family plan to have him do it soon, and then a date to go to the temple together as a family soon, too. We are glad that they want to be eternal.”
Read more!
Monday, October 5, 2009
Christlike Attribute of Charity
True charity means truly desiring the salvation of others. In Chapter 6 of Preach My Gospel, the Christlike attribute of charity states that, “you will come to feel a sincere concern for the eternal welfare and happiness of other people.” Helping people make and keep commitments is one of the highest forms of charity and love we can extend to a person.
We are not only helping them prepare to return to their Heavenly Father after this life but also received the many blessings that come from repentance throught the Atonement of Jesus Christ. In the Saturday afternoon session of General Conference, Elder Rusell T. Osgulthorpe taught asked the following question in regards to helping people repent:
Do I invite people to do the work that God has for them to do?
In other words, do I invite people to make and keep commitments so that they can receive the promised blessings associated with each of these commitments(D&C 130:20,21)? True love for those we teach involves inviting them to repent and change by making and keeping comitmments with the Lord. As we do so, they will begin to “feel the Spirit confirm that what they are doing is pleasing to their Father in Heaven.” Preach My Gospel p 196
Let us show our true love for all of those whom we teach by inviting them to come unto Christ and be perfected in Him is my prayer in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
We love you always,
Presidente May
Read more!
We are not only helping them prepare to return to their Heavenly Father after this life but also received the many blessings that come from repentance throught the Atonement of Jesus Christ. In the Saturday afternoon session of General Conference, Elder Rusell T. Osgulthorpe taught asked the following question in regards to helping people repent:
Do I invite people to do the work that God has for them to do?
In other words, do I invite people to make and keep commitments so that they can receive the promised blessings associated with each of these commitments(D&C 130:20,21)? True love for those we teach involves inviting them to repent and change by making and keeping comitmments with the Lord. As we do so, they will begin to “feel the Spirit confirm that what they are doing is pleasing to their Father in Heaven.” Preach My Gospel p 196
Let us show our true love for all of those whom we teach by inviting them to come unto Christ and be perfected in Him is my prayer in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
We love you always,
Presidente May
Read more!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
