Anonymous note from one of our valiant missionaries:
"In regards to Caridad:
I have really been praying for charity and the opportunity to show charity everyday, but quite possibly my spanish grammar isnt correct in my prayers, because this week people have been showing me charity. I have been sick this week, and my companion has been super sweet to me. And when I threw up at the church poor Elder **** and Elder **** cleaned it up. What great examples of charity they are. Afterwards the elders gave me a blessing of health, and thankfully it hasnt disrupted the work too much. If there is a mission medal of valor or charity, Im nominating these three missionaries. The members too show me charity everyday, and are patient with my language skills. So again, thanks for letting me serve here with this amazing district and zone."
Another wrote:
“So, tired or energetic, discouraged or excited, you just have to keep on going in the work of the lord and trust that if you do your best, the Lord will do the rest and everything will work out in the end. I love the mission and would not trade it for anything else!”
“Así que, cansado o lleno de energía, desanimado o emocionado, sólo tiene que seguir adelante en la obra del Señor y confiar en que si usted hace su mejor, el Señor hará el resto y todo saldrá bien al final. Me encanta la misión y no cambiar mi situación por cualquier otra cosa!”
Read more!
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Monday, October 25, 2010
Missionaries' thoughts from their Book of Mormon Studies
What a blessing it is for me to be able to interview each of you during the month of October. As you have shared with me scriptures from the Book of Mormon that have impacted your life, I have felt the truthfulness of the scripture found in D&C 50:22
22 Wherefore, he that preacheth and he that receiveth, understand one another, and both are edified and rejoice together.
Here are some wonderful scriptures shared by missionaries in interviews in the Quilicura zone:
2 Nephi 9:20-23 has helped this missionary teach the doctrine of Christ powerfully in lessons.
Jacob 7:25 teaches to trust in God and rock of salvation which has inspired this missionary to overcome trials.
1 Nephi 2:16 helps this missionary to understand the principle of praying about a commandment or mission rule to gain a testimony of it and obey it.
Alma 26:27 brings inspiration to this missionary that the Lord will bless us with success if we remain faithful to Him.
3 Nephi 5:13 reminds this missionary why he came to the mission.
Ether 12:4 assures this missionary that faith in Christ brings hope which forms and anchor to our souls to remaing strong in the Gospel.
What great examples of the power that the Book of Mormon has to bless our lives. The Book of Mormon, combined with the Spirit, is your most powerful resource in conversion (Preach My Gospel pg. 103). We will continue to be blessed as we learn through our diligent study of the Book of Mormon focusuing on its three great purposes:
“Which is to show unto the remnant of the House of Israel what great things the Lord hath done for their fathers; and that they may know the covenants of the Lord, that they are not cast off forever—And also to the convincing of the Jew and Gentile that Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God, manifesting himself unto all nations.” (Book of Mormon, title page)
We are grateful for your wonderful examples of faith, humility, obedience and diligence in magnifying your callings in servants of the Lord in helping all come unto Christ by receiving the restored gospel.
We love you and continually pray for your success.
Read more!
22 Wherefore, he that preacheth and he that receiveth, understand one another, and both are edified and rejoice together.
Here are some wonderful scriptures shared by missionaries in interviews in the Quilicura zone:
2 Nephi 9:20-23 has helped this missionary teach the doctrine of Christ powerfully in lessons.
Jacob 7:25 teaches to trust in God and rock of salvation which has inspired this missionary to overcome trials.
1 Nephi 2:16 helps this missionary to understand the principle of praying about a commandment or mission rule to gain a testimony of it and obey it.
Alma 26:27 brings inspiration to this missionary that the Lord will bless us with success if we remain faithful to Him.
3 Nephi 5:13 reminds this missionary why he came to the mission.
Ether 12:4 assures this missionary that faith in Christ brings hope which forms and anchor to our souls to remaing strong in the Gospel.
What great examples of the power that the Book of Mormon has to bless our lives. The Book of Mormon, combined with the Spirit, is your most powerful resource in conversion (Preach My Gospel pg. 103). We will continue to be blessed as we learn through our diligent study of the Book of Mormon focusuing on its three great purposes:
“Which is to show unto the remnant of the House of Israel what great things the Lord hath done for their fathers; and that they may know the covenants of the Lord, that they are not cast off forever—And also to the convincing of the Jew and Gentile that Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God, manifesting himself unto all nations.” (Book of Mormon, title page)
We are grateful for your wonderful examples of faith, humility, obedience and diligence in magnifying your callings in servants of the Lord in helping all come unto Christ by receiving the restored gospel.
We love you and continually pray for your success.
Read more!
Friday, October 22, 2010
El Rescate/ The Rescue...includes faith to move mountains
BLOG ENTRY: “Faith to Move Mountains”
Saturday, October 16, 2010
This past week, Chile experienced yet another event to the see the hand of God perform miracles right within its borders. What a blessing to be here in this spectacular country, and observe how merciful God is to all of His children, as we watched with great interest in what took place here in a secluded and previously quite unknown pueblo of Copiapo’, in northern Chile. There are many types of disasters or catastrophes world wide, including Chile’s previous 8.8 earthquake back on Feb 27 of this same year, when news from here again rocked the world. However, the question this time is not how you drill into the seafloor and connect with a blown-out oil well like was needed in the U.S.A., but how do you drill a half-mile-long tunnel into very hard rock, and then use that hole to extract trapped men? The whole story changes to become one more with human interest when there are lives at stake.
Here the local television broadcasts all labeled the specific event that was requiring the success during the challenging feat of rescuing 33 trapped miners as ‘El Rescate” (The Rescue). We found that quite interesting, since in our notes the main theme of our dear prophet’s comments for last year was labeled, The Rescue. It is with these thoughts we would like to share some of our observations and comparisons we discovered and discussed during this process.
To share a bit of background and insight from a local here, we found many details flung at us, left and right, from the news, media, neighbors, members, missionaries, etc, all sharing their tidbits and opinions about the whole ordeal. This is a journal entry, and not a published article, so take the details and thoughts as only personal insights, not doctrine!
The accident happened on Aug. 5, where the 33 miners suddenly found themselves trapped in a copper and gold mine, that unfortunately, (and this would be considered illegal in the USA,) had no second, back up exit. They found their way to the small, emergency shelter down below, but the problem was, they had no communication with those up above, to tell them they were still alive. This was their lot for 17 days! Meanwhile, they survived off 2 days worth of rations of food, water and oxygen that was there, 700 meters below/ or 2,300 feet; practically ½ mile below the earth’s surface. This took organizational skills, leadership, patience, faith, prayer, and much more.
The newly sworn in Harvard trained businessman, millionaire President, Sebastian Pinera had the wisdom to insist they begin the work to search for the apparently trapped men. As with any mining disasters, locating these men entombed in the mine in Copiapo posed the first challenge for rescuers.They were searching in certain areas, drilling where they might imagine they could be. After another cave-in blocked a ventilation shaft, the only option rescue workers had for reaching the missing mining team was to drill six-inch (15-centimeter) exploratory holes deep into the ground. Attempts to reach an underground shelter where the miners might have sought refuge failed seven times – blamed on the mining company's poor maps – but the eighth try finally reached the sanctuary at a depth of 2,257 feet. This mountain on top of these men consisted of about 700,000 pounds of rock overhead, enough to give anyone a newly acquired case of claustrophobia!
“Drilling straight down over hundreds of feet can be tricky business, according to Jeffery Kravitz, a U.S. Mine Health and Safety Administration (MHSA) technical expert. After all, drilling just a single degree off of a straight line (perpendicular to the surface) to a target can leave one more than 40 feet off-base.”
After 17 days, there literally became a ‘light at the end of the tunnel,’ as workers sent down another probe that came back up with a tattered paper attached which was written in scribbled red pencil, “Estamos bien en el refugio, los 33.” (All 33 of us are well inside the shelter.) When the elation died down, and the reality set in, it was obvious it would take quite monumental efforts to find a way to get the men out of the mine. Chilean rescuers on Monday started sending down five-foot- (1.5-meter-) long tubes called palomas, or "doves", like carrier pigeons. A large drilling machine, donated by Codelco copper company in Chile, soon began drilling the 26-inch hole through which the trapped miners would be hauled back to the surface. This rig would be a rotary-type drill, meaning its drill rotates with several diamond-tipped, teeth-like "bits" that chew up the rock underneath. The mine's veins of gold and copper ran through quartzite with a high level of abrasive silica, rock so tough that it took all their expertise to keep the drill's hammers from curving off in unwanted directions. At one point, the drill struck a metal support beam in the poorly mapped mine, shattering its hammers. Fresh equipment had to be flown in from the United States and progress was delayed for days as powerful magnets were lowered to pull out the pieces.
On day 26, a team from the US space agency, NASA arrived at the mine to offer their advice on keeping the miners healthy. Previously the miners had been surviving on water, cans of tuna, and then after they were discovered, began to receive only glucose tablets and high-protein milk. Finally they were able to have Meatballs, chicken and rice piped through a tube, which changed their attitudes. They were told that it might be 4 months to get the escape tunnel drilled through the massive rock mountain, but now those above had goals and made plans. The workers above began to monitor each individual miner and follow his health and well-being to ensure the safety for the men. They began to have communication with their families who were all waiting anxiously, in the impromptu tent city dubbed affectionately, “Campamento Esperanza—Camp Hope.” After a total of 69 days underground, they had a new perspective on their future, as the miners really had hope to be rescued.
As we began to see the results of the rescue come to pass, we observed different actions, comments, comparisons that reminded us of the Savior and His way of rescuing us in this life. We might be listing these ideas in future blog entries, but
we continue to see sybolism in this rescue and how the Savior rescues each one of us
in our lives here on earth.
This whole miner experience was compared to the spectacular world wide phenomenon that occurred 41 yrs ago, on 21 July 1969, when mankind left the safety of the earth and took their first step to walk on the moon. Now here we were trying to send people from the safety of the world as we know it, to enter deep into the earth and help bring people from the dark, into the light.
What we learned from Gordon B. Hinckley is true, more so now than ever before, (“The Faith to Move Mountains,” Liahona, Nov 2006, 82–85,) “Increased faith is what we most need. Without it, the work would stagnate. With it, no one can stop its progress.” We know that faith can move mountains!
In this recent Oct 2010 session of General Conference, Bishop Edgely said, “When the disciples asked Jesus why the could not cast a devil out as they had just witnessed the Savior do, Jesus answered, “If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove. (Matthew 17:20) I have never witnessed the removal of an actual mountain. But because of faith I have seen a mountain of doubt and despair removed and replaced with hope and optimism. Because of faith I have personally witnessed a mountain of sin replaced with repentance and forgiveness. And because of faith I have personally witnessed a mountain of pain replaced with peace, hope, and gratitude. Yes, I have seen mountains removed.”
Read more!
Saturday, October 16, 2010
This past week, Chile experienced yet another event to the see the hand of God perform miracles right within its borders. What a blessing to be here in this spectacular country, and observe how merciful God is to all of His children, as we watched with great interest in what took place here in a secluded and previously quite unknown pueblo of Copiapo’, in northern Chile. There are many types of disasters or catastrophes world wide, including Chile’s previous 8.8 earthquake back on Feb 27 of this same year, when news from here again rocked the world. However, the question this time is not how you drill into the seafloor and connect with a blown-out oil well like was needed in the U.S.A., but how do you drill a half-mile-long tunnel into very hard rock, and then use that hole to extract trapped men? The whole story changes to become one more with human interest when there are lives at stake.
Here the local television broadcasts all labeled the specific event that was requiring the success during the challenging feat of rescuing 33 trapped miners as ‘El Rescate” (The Rescue). We found that quite interesting, since in our notes the main theme of our dear prophet’s comments for last year was labeled, The Rescue. It is with these thoughts we would like to share some of our observations and comparisons we discovered and discussed during this process.
To share a bit of background and insight from a local here, we found many details flung at us, left and right, from the news, media, neighbors, members, missionaries, etc, all sharing their tidbits and opinions about the whole ordeal. This is a journal entry, and not a published article, so take the details and thoughts as only personal insights, not doctrine!
The accident happened on Aug. 5, where the 33 miners suddenly found themselves trapped in a copper and gold mine, that unfortunately, (and this would be considered illegal in the USA,) had no second, back up exit. They found their way to the small, emergency shelter down below, but the problem was, they had no communication with those up above, to tell them they were still alive. This was their lot for 17 days! Meanwhile, they survived off 2 days worth of rations of food, water and oxygen that was there, 700 meters below/ or 2,300 feet; practically ½ mile below the earth’s surface. This took organizational skills, leadership, patience, faith, prayer, and much more.
The newly sworn in Harvard trained businessman, millionaire President, Sebastian Pinera had the wisdom to insist they begin the work to search for the apparently trapped men. As with any mining disasters, locating these men entombed in the mine in Copiapo posed the first challenge for rescuers.They were searching in certain areas, drilling where they might imagine they could be. After another cave-in blocked a ventilation shaft, the only option rescue workers had for reaching the missing mining team was to drill six-inch (15-centimeter) exploratory holes deep into the ground. Attempts to reach an underground shelter where the miners might have sought refuge failed seven times – blamed on the mining company's poor maps – but the eighth try finally reached the sanctuary at a depth of 2,257 feet. This mountain on top of these men consisted of about 700,000 pounds of rock overhead, enough to give anyone a newly acquired case of claustrophobia!
“Drilling straight down over hundreds of feet can be tricky business, according to Jeffery Kravitz, a U.S. Mine Health and Safety Administration (MHSA) technical expert. After all, drilling just a single degree off of a straight line (perpendicular to the surface) to a target can leave one more than 40 feet off-base.”
After 17 days, there literally became a ‘light at the end of the tunnel,’ as workers sent down another probe that came back up with a tattered paper attached which was written in scribbled red pencil, “Estamos bien en el refugio, los 33.” (All 33 of us are well inside the shelter.) When the elation died down, and the reality set in, it was obvious it would take quite monumental efforts to find a way to get the men out of the mine. Chilean rescuers on Monday started sending down five-foot- (1.5-meter-) long tubes called palomas, or "doves", like carrier pigeons. A large drilling machine, donated by Codelco copper company in Chile, soon began drilling the 26-inch hole through which the trapped miners would be hauled back to the surface. This rig would be a rotary-type drill, meaning its drill rotates with several diamond-tipped, teeth-like "bits" that chew up the rock underneath. The mine's veins of gold and copper ran through quartzite with a high level of abrasive silica, rock so tough that it took all their expertise to keep the drill's hammers from curving off in unwanted directions. At one point, the drill struck a metal support beam in the poorly mapped mine, shattering its hammers. Fresh equipment had to be flown in from the United States and progress was delayed for days as powerful magnets were lowered to pull out the pieces.
On day 26, a team from the US space agency, NASA arrived at the mine to offer their advice on keeping the miners healthy. Previously the miners had been surviving on water, cans of tuna, and then after they were discovered, began to receive only glucose tablets and high-protein milk. Finally they were able to have Meatballs, chicken and rice piped through a tube, which changed their attitudes. They were told that it might be 4 months to get the escape tunnel drilled through the massive rock mountain, but now those above had goals and made plans. The workers above began to monitor each individual miner and follow his health and well-being to ensure the safety for the men. They began to have communication with their families who were all waiting anxiously, in the impromptu tent city dubbed affectionately, “Campamento Esperanza—Camp Hope.” After a total of 69 days underground, they had a new perspective on their future, as the miners really had hope to be rescued.
As we began to see the results of the rescue come to pass, we observed different actions, comments, comparisons that reminded us of the Savior and His way of rescuing us in this life. We might be listing these ideas in future blog entries, but
we continue to see sybolism in this rescue and how the Savior rescues each one of us
in our lives here on earth.
This whole miner experience was compared to the spectacular world wide phenomenon that occurred 41 yrs ago, on 21 July 1969, when mankind left the safety of the earth and took their first step to walk on the moon. Now here we were trying to send people from the safety of the world as we know it, to enter deep into the earth and help bring people from the dark, into the light.
What we learned from Gordon B. Hinckley is true, more so now than ever before, (“The Faith to Move Mountains,” Liahona, Nov 2006, 82–85,) “Increased faith is what we most need. Without it, the work would stagnate. With it, no one can stop its progress.” We know that faith can move mountains!
In this recent Oct 2010 session of General Conference, Bishop Edgely said, “When the disciples asked Jesus why the could not cast a devil out as they had just witnessed the Savior do, Jesus answered, “If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove. (Matthew 17:20) I have never witnessed the removal of an actual mountain. But because of faith I have seen a mountain of doubt and despair removed and replaced with hope and optimism. Because of faith I have personally witnessed a mountain of sin replaced with repentance and forgiveness. And because of faith I have personally witnessed a mountain of pain replaced with peace, hope, and gratitude. Yes, I have seen mountains removed.”
Read more!
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Faith to Move Mountains....
In light of the Chilean mining rescue, we would like to include some information regarding the details we learned about the rescue. One impressive thought we felt so apropos was heard in this recent Oct 2010 session of General Conference, when Bishop Edgely said, “When the disciples asked Jesus why the could not cast a devil out as they had just witnessed the Savior do, Jesus answered, “If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove. (Matthew 17:20) I have never witnessed the removal of an actual mountain. But because of faith I have seen a mountain of doubt and despair removed and replaced with hope and optimism. Because of faith I have personally witnessed a mountain of sin replaced with repentance and forgiveness. And because of faith I have personally witnessed a mountain of pain replaced with peace, hope, and gratitude. Yes, I have seen mountains removed.”
More to be added soon.
Read more!
More to be added soon.
Read more!
Great thoughts written to Pdte. May from Missionaries/Anonymously....
A quote from a trainer:
“I am trying to get out of her way a lot, but sometime I have to let her fall and I have to say that sometimes that is hard. I have learned that sometimes that is charity. If she falls, so do I. So to really love her enough to help her learn, I have to be willing to look silly too.”
Letter to Pdte. May (anonymous)
“The only real solid investigator that we have right now is a 48 year old man named victor. Wow the lord has definitely worked a miracle in his life so far... one month ago this man was in the streets selling and doing drugs and believed in being possessed by demons and it was a big mess in this mans life. We started working with him and helping him out and wow has he changed! It has been a dramatic change in the period of a couple weeks and truly I think it has been from his assistance in the church. He has 3 assistance in church (times he has attended) and came to one session of conference which he loved. This man has completely changed and although he still has a ways to go with the word of wisdom he is progressing dramatically and the lord is working a miracle in front of us here in _______! The coolest part was yesterday at church Victors prima came up to me and told me thank you for the work you are doing with my cousin, no one believed in him and he has no support at home but you believed in him and now he is changing. It was such a great experience for me for her to tell me that and it gave me that purpose of why I'm here in the mission. He even came to church sporting one of my white shirts and a tie! He was looking good and definitely felt the spirit in the church.”
Read more!
“I am trying to get out of her way a lot, but sometime I have to let her fall and I have to say that sometimes that is hard. I have learned that sometimes that is charity. If she falls, so do I. So to really love her enough to help her learn, I have to be willing to look silly too.”
Letter to Pdte. May (anonymous)
“The only real solid investigator that we have right now is a 48 year old man named victor. Wow the lord has definitely worked a miracle in his life so far... one month ago this man was in the streets selling and doing drugs and believed in being possessed by demons and it was a big mess in this mans life. We started working with him and helping him out and wow has he changed! It has been a dramatic change in the period of a couple weeks and truly I think it has been from his assistance in the church. He has 3 assistance in church (times he has attended) and came to one session of conference which he loved. This man has completely changed and although he still has a ways to go with the word of wisdom he is progressing dramatically and the lord is working a miracle in front of us here in _______! The coolest part was yesterday at church Victors prima came up to me and told me thank you for the work you are doing with my cousin, no one believed in him and he has no support at home but you believed in him and now he is changing. It was such a great experience for me for her to tell me that and it gave me that purpose of why I'm here in the mission. He even came to church sporting one of my white shirts and a tie! He was looking good and definitely felt the spirit in the church.”
Read more!
Monday, October 18, 2010
The worth of souls is Great in the sight of God, DyC 18:10
What great news this past week that all thirty three trapped miners were rescued from some 2,300 meters below the surface.There are many lessons that can be applied from this rescue effort. I would like to share one that stands out to me.
When the mine collapsed, the status of the thirty three miners was unknown. The first step in rescuing them was to find out where they were and whether they had survived or not. With use of maps, rescue worker had a general idea of where they could be. They began boring exploratory holes in the vicinity of where they thought they may be. They drilled seven holes with no success. On the eight attempt, they located them.
The size of the hole was just large enough to send a long cable through in which a written note could be attached. One of the miners wrote a note that said, “We are all alive” and attached it to the cable. When the note was received by rescue workers, they immediately went to work to create a plan how to bring the trapped miners to the service.
They created the plan and informed the miners that it would take many months to rescue them, possibly as late as Christmas. Meanwhile, through this small hole in which they had establish communication with the miners they began to send food and medicine to help the miners survive. The plan was to drill another hole large enough to send a rescue capsule big enough in which one person could fit in to be brought to the surface. The rescue workers accomplished their plan earlier than expected and were able to rescue all thirty three miners.
The influence of the Holy Ghost acts as a life line to those whom are trapped by the burden of sin. As a person feels just enough of the influence of the Holy Ghost to learn that there is One who can rescue us all and brings peace and happiness into our lives, it brings hope. As the miners were sent nourishment to stay alive through a small hole until a big enough hole could be completed to bring them to the surface, the Holy Ghost brings spiritual nourishment as a person begins to pray, study the Book of Mormon and attend Church. The life line increases in size sufficient for a person to develope faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement and a desire to conform his or her will to the will of the Lord through repentance. Faith in Christ and repentance prepare a person to allow the Savior to rescue them through the sacred ordinance of baptism by water and the Spirit.
As those miners came to the surface, what joy was felt by family, love ones and the rescue workers. What joy is feltas a person comes to the surface of the waters of baptism, rescued from the bondage of sin to a new life.
15 And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father!
16 And now, if your joy will be great with one soul that you have brought unto me into the kingdom of my Father, how great will be your joy if you should bring many souls unto me! (D&C 18:15-16)
May we continue to work with all of our heart, might, mind and strength to rescue souls is my prayer in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
We love you all,
President May
Read more!
When the mine collapsed, the status of the thirty three miners was unknown. The first step in rescuing them was to find out where they were and whether they had survived or not. With use of maps, rescue worker had a general idea of where they could be. They began boring exploratory holes in the vicinity of where they thought they may be. They drilled seven holes with no success. On the eight attempt, they located them.
The size of the hole was just large enough to send a long cable through in which a written note could be attached. One of the miners wrote a note that said, “We are all alive” and attached it to the cable. When the note was received by rescue workers, they immediately went to work to create a plan how to bring the trapped miners to the service.
They created the plan and informed the miners that it would take many months to rescue them, possibly as late as Christmas. Meanwhile, through this small hole in which they had establish communication with the miners they began to send food and medicine to help the miners survive. The plan was to drill another hole large enough to send a rescue capsule big enough in which one person could fit in to be brought to the surface. The rescue workers accomplished their plan earlier than expected and were able to rescue all thirty three miners.
The influence of the Holy Ghost acts as a life line to those whom are trapped by the burden of sin. As a person feels just enough of the influence of the Holy Ghost to learn that there is One who can rescue us all and brings peace and happiness into our lives, it brings hope. As the miners were sent nourishment to stay alive through a small hole until a big enough hole could be completed to bring them to the surface, the Holy Ghost brings spiritual nourishment as a person begins to pray, study the Book of Mormon and attend Church. The life line increases in size sufficient for a person to develope faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement and a desire to conform his or her will to the will of the Lord through repentance. Faith in Christ and repentance prepare a person to allow the Savior to rescue them through the sacred ordinance of baptism by water and the Spirit.
As those miners came to the surface, what joy was felt by family, love ones and the rescue workers. What joy is feltas a person comes to the surface of the waters of baptism, rescued from the bondage of sin to a new life.
15 And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father!
16 And now, if your joy will be great with one soul that you have brought unto me into the kingdom of my Father, how great will be your joy if you should bring many souls unto me! (D&C 18:15-16)
May we continue to work with all of our heart, might, mind and strength to rescue souls is my prayer in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
We love you all,
President May
Read more!
Monday, October 11, 2010
Instruction from Elder Zeballos
Yesterday I had the rare opportunity to attend Church in the ward where Sister May and our daughter Sarah attend. It is also the ward that Elder Zeballos attends with his family. What a blessing to have the opportunity to be taught by him. I testify that he is called of the Lord as one of His chosen servants to teach and instruct us in the ways of the Lord.
In Sunday school class, we talked about the importance of having a living prophet to guide and direct us in these latter days. Elder Zeballos shared with us some wonderful insights regarding the importance of following the prophet. He explained that during the week before conference, he has the opportunity attend with other members of the Seventy a training meeting with First Presidency and another meeting with the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. In the meeting with the First Presidency, President Monson introduces a key point of emphasis or theme as a focus for the Church. In 2009 it was rescuing our less active members by visiting them to invite them to come back. Elder Zeballos said this year´s focus from President Monson was just three words, “Obey the commandments.”
Elder Zeballos went on to share some powerful counsel given by President Spencer W. Kimball in regards to obedience. President Kimball stated that they are three basic things that keep us from progressing in this life:
1. Sin.
2. Lack of faith.
3. Lack of desire to serve.
In Preach My Gospel, it defines sin as disobedience to God’s commandments and results in becoming separated from God (Preach My Gospel pg. 61). We are disobedient because we lack faith in Jesus Christ and when we lack faith in Christ, we have less of a desire to serve Him.
Why do we sin, lack faith, and have a lack of desire to serve? If we put this question in the positive, it would be, “Why are we obedient, have faith in Jesus Christ, and desire to serve Him? Elder Zeballos shared with us the following scriptures found in Moroni 7:42-44 that provides the answer:
42 Wherefore, if a man have faith he must needs have hope; for without faith there cannot be any hope.
43 And again, behold I say unto you that he cannot have faith and hope, save he shall be meek, and lowly of heart.
If so, his faith and hope is vain, for none is acceptable before God, save the meek and lowly in heart; and if a man be meek and lowly in heart, and confesses by the power of the Holy Ghost that Jesus is the Christ, he must needs have charity; for if he have not charity he is nothing; wherefore he must needs have charity.
In other words, it all goes back to the two basic commandments to love God and love our fellowmen. Was not love the motivating factor for Heavenly Father to create the plan of happiness He did so that we could progress by coming to earth to learn and progress and someday become like Him and return to His presence? Was not love the motivating factor that Heavenly Father sent His only begotten Son to atone for our sins so that we could be saved and return to His presence?
We love him, because he first loved us (1 John 4:19).
So as we can see, it all began with Heavenly Father´s profound love for us, His children. So much that He sent His only begotten Son to the world to stand in our place to satisfy the demands of justice for all those who repent and strive to keep all of His commandments by suffering for our sins.
Our Christ like attribute that we are focusing on for the month of October is charity. What greater thing can we do to show our love for God and others than by being obedient with exactness to the commandments and to help our companions, fellow missionaries, members, and investigators do the same?
We love you and pray that each of us can develop greater love of God and others,
President May
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In Sunday school class, we talked about the importance of having a living prophet to guide and direct us in these latter days. Elder Zeballos shared with us some wonderful insights regarding the importance of following the prophet. He explained that during the week before conference, he has the opportunity attend with other members of the Seventy a training meeting with First Presidency and another meeting with the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. In the meeting with the First Presidency, President Monson introduces a key point of emphasis or theme as a focus for the Church. In 2009 it was rescuing our less active members by visiting them to invite them to come back. Elder Zeballos said this year´s focus from President Monson was just three words, “Obey the commandments.”
Elder Zeballos went on to share some powerful counsel given by President Spencer W. Kimball in regards to obedience. President Kimball stated that they are three basic things that keep us from progressing in this life:
1. Sin.
2. Lack of faith.
3. Lack of desire to serve.
In Preach My Gospel, it defines sin as disobedience to God’s commandments and results in becoming separated from God (Preach My Gospel pg. 61). We are disobedient because we lack faith in Jesus Christ and when we lack faith in Christ, we have less of a desire to serve Him.
Why do we sin, lack faith, and have a lack of desire to serve? If we put this question in the positive, it would be, “Why are we obedient, have faith in Jesus Christ, and desire to serve Him? Elder Zeballos shared with us the following scriptures found in Moroni 7:42-44 that provides the answer:
42 Wherefore, if a man have faith he must needs have hope; for without faith there cannot be any hope.
43 And again, behold I say unto you that he cannot have faith and hope, save he shall be meek, and lowly of heart.
If so, his faith and hope is vain, for none is acceptable before God, save the meek and lowly in heart; and if a man be meek and lowly in heart, and confesses by the power of the Holy Ghost that Jesus is the Christ, he must needs have charity; for if he have not charity he is nothing; wherefore he must needs have charity.
In other words, it all goes back to the two basic commandments to love God and love our fellowmen. Was not love the motivating factor for Heavenly Father to create the plan of happiness He did so that we could progress by coming to earth to learn and progress and someday become like Him and return to His presence? Was not love the motivating factor that Heavenly Father sent His only begotten Son to atone for our sins so that we could be saved and return to His presence?
We love him, because he first loved us (1 John 4:19).
So as we can see, it all began with Heavenly Father´s profound love for us, His children. So much that He sent His only begotten Son to the world to stand in our place to satisfy the demands of justice for all those who repent and strive to keep all of His commandments by suffering for our sins.
Our Christ like attribute that we are focusing on for the month of October is charity. What greater thing can we do to show our love for God and others than by being obedient with exactness to the commandments and to help our companions, fellow missionaries, members, and investigators do the same?
We love you and pray that each of us can develop greater love of God and others,
President May
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Friday, October 8, 2010
New missionaries are learning so quickly!
What wonderful new missionaries have arrived here recently. We had our training with those who just arrived on Oct 8th. Here are some of their comments and observations in just a short time/one week:
"We walk alot. I have blisters already, but it is worth it. We are teaching so many great people. We already have 3 with baptismal dates! We met a woman with cancer. We gave her a blessing, and the pain left. I have a great companion."
"I'm learning about humility here. Wow, this is the first time I haven't been home for General Conference but I had a great view right from here!"
"I'm already going through so many large changes. Some I never thought I would. Really"
"This is really cold here. So different from my country. I'm learning that the Lord loves us, even the good and the bad. My companion is so patient!"
- Read more!
"We walk alot. I have blisters already, but it is worth it. We are teaching so many great people. We already have 3 with baptismal dates! We met a woman with cancer. We gave her a blessing, and the pain left. I have a great companion."
"I'm learning about humility here. Wow, this is the first time I haven't been home for General Conference but I had a great view right from here!"
"I'm already going through so many large changes. Some I never thought I would. Really"
"This is really cold here. So different from my country. I'm learning that the Lord loves us, even the good and the bad. My companion is so patient!"
- Read more!
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