• This zone conference, I took away that it is extremely important to stay grateful, that the places where things happened are important, and that we need to be more passionate and direct in our teaching. I really liked the break off lesson that spoke about the sacred grove, and a sign that was there which simply said " God the Father, and Jesus Christ appeared to Joseph Smith in this grove." We were taught the significance of what they chose not to include on that sign. It is an amazing event regardless of whatever other details.
• What I learned in the Zone conference was amazing the importance of the sharing the First Vision and testifyng about it, every time I heard the First Vision that day I felt the spirit so strong and keep testifiyng to me that this is true. What I will do is that I will testify of it more boldy not arrogantly but bold to have the spirit and tell people why that moment was so importance because some do know what happen in that moment but they dont know the why which is what is most important why did god and his son Jesus Christ appear to Joseph.
• Reading the Book of Mormon in 90 days has renewed my resolve to share the message it contains with all I see. And the assignment to write 10 reasons why we know Joseph was a prophet of God caused me to sincerely consider my feelings on the subject. What I learned from this previous Zone Conference was just how glorious it is to have a prophet on the earth. As I ponder on what the meaning of a prophet is, I marvel at the fact that Joseph Smith was a literal mouthpiece of the Eternal Father. To me, the fact that Christ would call another prophet to lead and guide us is yet another witness of his boundless love. My renewed conviction I have received from this Conference is to put myself to more sincere study and more frequent prayer about these matters. I've reached the conclusion that if I am going to challenge my investigators to read and pray to discover the reality of our message...I need to have an unshakable, unchangeable testimony of these things.
• Zone cnoference was great. I love going to zone conference and coming out totally pumped to work. I know that as we use the Lord's plan (The Perry Plan) our correlation between us and the wards will increase, and that's how we'll find more. I loved learning more about the prophet. the Spirit has always born strong testimony of him to me. Your example inspires me to learn more about him and his life.
• I really liked zone conference this week. Leading up to it, I prayed and studied all of the material I had on Joseph Smith in PMG and read multiple times JSH. I really prayed to increase my testimony of him. During the guest speaker, I felt a constant burning in my chest. I know that the prophet is true. I knew it before, but I have a firmer conviction when I now bear testimony of him. I learned a lot more about the towns and places that certain events happened. I have never studied or been interested much as to where exactly Alvin died or where the monument to Joseph Smith is. Now that I am more familiar with his history, I want to study more and know exactly what events happened where. I am going to go through the list of scriptures this week that were given to us in order to more fully develop my testimony and knowledge of Joseph Smith.
Monday, January 18, 2010
• Zone Conference was the highlight of the week. My testimony of Joseph Smith was strengthened last Wednesday. I've always realized the importance of the prophet and the Book of Mormon in missionary work, and my companion and I testify of them frequently. I'm thoroughly convinced that anyone who prayerfully reads the Book of Mormon will find an answer that it is true. During the conference, I felt the spirit testify to me again that the Book of Mormon is a true book.
• I know that the Lord blesses us for our obedience and dilligence. Again I prayed to have the investigators show up to church and yesterday we received a referral of someone that has been coming to church and 20 mins ago the relief society pres. called us and gaves another referral that also has been coming to church. Dilligence and Obedience are the keys to Finding.
• Zone Conference was great this week. I really enjoyed hearing about Joseph Smith. I needed it to help me build my knowledge of the prophet. I learned that there's a lot about the prophet that I don't know. I felt the power of Joseph Smith's personality that was given to him through the Holy Ghost. I'm going to be more bold in professing that Joseph Smith was the man Heavenly Father chose to bring the true church to the earth in these days. I plan on stressing Joseph Smith's importance in oym's and door approaches.
• Zone conference was great. I think that it was my favorite thus far. As always when we talk about Joseph Smith, I am renewed with a desire to study more about church history so I can better understand the Doctrine and Covenants. That will have to come later though. I am almost finished with the Book of Mormon challenge. I love it. I understand it more every time I read it, which helps me to be able to apply it more to myself and to my investigators. Treasure up!
• We had an interesting thing happen this week. There is a woman who we have been teaching for the past couple months, who shared a story with us that we didn't realize at the time we met. She said that the night we knocked on her door, she had already made preparations to end her life and her son's. She was so depressed from her divorce and financial situation that she was at her very end. As we taught, she felt the spirit, and she felt a hope that she hadn't had in a long time. She had been baptized about four years before, but had fallen away from the church because her work prevented her from going, then she had stopped reading the scriptures, and even stopped praying. Elder Sirmans and I were holding back tears as she told us this story, and how the day before we met, she had been praying on her knees for help. She gave us each a tie pin with a stripling warrior on it that I will cherish for the rest of my life. Her 12 year old son Angel is planning to be baptized this Saturday!
• I loved Zone Conference. What I learned most was actually in regards to that map that you printed out for us, and the significant events at those locations. What I felt was that I don't testify of Joseph Smith boldly enough, and what I am going to do is make sure that when I do testify of him, I am going to do it boldly with all the sincerity that I can
• We had a really good week. We have been focusing on trying to teach lessons to active members for practice and feedback. We have been getting names of members to teach from our ward mission leaders. I really felt that this would be important for us because my companion is still learning English and it would help to give her confidence, and I am still a new missionary and could use the practice as well. We will also be using this as a finding tool, when as ask members for referals after we teach them. So far this tactic has been working really well. We also had good visits with our investigators this week. The best news is that our eternal investigator is on date for baptism for this Saturday, and it looks like it is really going to happen!! I can't tell you how excited I am about that. His baptism would truely be a miracle. It was the bishop who FINALLY got him on date. I have really learned this week that it is important to keep the bishops involved in missionary work. They hold keys to the work in their wards.
• I have a testimony of sacrifice. Months ago I promised to sacrifice something, and I am still upholding that promise, and the blessings are still coming. Oddly enough, however, I have struggled with fasting. I know it is a true principle, however I have a hard time detecting specific blessings that come from it, and I have my whole mission. This past fast sunday I prayed and conversed with God about the matter. I mentioned the struggle my companion and I are having with our health and how going out and working is getting difficult, especially when we have very few referals to check, and very few people have been home over the holidays. I pleaded to see the blessings of fasting. Over the past 2 days, we have received 3 referals. 1 for a family in the only ward we have no work in, 1 for an unbaptized child who randomly showed up to church, and 1 for 2 eternal investigators who gave themselves a baptismal date for this month.God hears our prayers, and answers them. I have always been aware of the Justice of God, but I am more and more experiencing His Mercy.
• I am still doing the book of Mormon challenge, I am focusing more on studying for my investigators, I feel great everytime I do that.
• I got a calender so i can keep track of myself. Like an obedience calender, can keep track of the days i did everything i was supposed to, the days i didn't, ect. Its working out good, it puts life in perspective. You can see the days i worked hard, stuff happened. I write down how many lessons we had planned and how many actuals that day... so its good.
• to top it off I was biking and slipped on ice. I am grateful for helmets. Nothing bad happened but I realized how much we are looked after for our service. I'm glad to be a deciple of Christ. Being obedient isn't hard it just takes faith and love for our Father in Heaven.
• D&C 41:5 In this scripture, the Lord is speaking to the Church about obedience. It is one thing to say that we believe in Christ but it is another to actually follow His teachings in our thoughts and actions. Applying this to our missionary lives, we need to receive the law that is given us to live by, and we need to live it. This is how we can have the Spirit with us more because we will be true disciples of Jesus Christ.
• We found this Mexican family last week when we were knocking doors. We taught a restoration and we asked them to be baptized when they know this is true and they said yes!!!!They are awesome.
• We were able to teach more this week than we did last week which was a blessing. We went into Saturday with only 16 lessons, and Heavenly Father really helped us Saturday and Sunday to get lessons that we needed (28 Total).
• Zone conference was amazing. It strengthened my testimony of the restoration more and i learned that we need to testify even stronger of it in our teaching and I also learned some about prayer and getting answers. We have to be willing to act as Joseph was on those answers in order to recieve them. I also loved the stories related about President Hinkley. They both were such incredible men. I was just humbled and amazed hearing about them and thier lives. I cant wait to visit those historical church sites when i return home from my mission. Thank you for all that you do, I know we dont see the smallest part of it.
• When we recieve his law and follow it we will be his diciples and recieve all the blessings that come with this dicipleship. I want this in my mission. I have seen that you can still baptize when you don't follow the white handbook but what missionaries who do this don't realize is that they would baptize 10 times more people if they were obedient.
• We had a family who had absolutely no food in the house on new years eve and they were calling food banks to get food. Apparently they usually in the past go to the stores and steal their food when this happens but they said that since they have met with us they feel like they are not able to think of doing it. As missionaries I am truly amazed at the effect we have on people as we are obedient and follow the promtings of the spirit. Once i heard what they needed, I called the WML of the Ward who you have met multiple times, Clark Bullen, he sent out a massive text message to everyone in the ward he could to see if anyone could spare food. Within an hour, people began showing up and dropping off food to the extent that their cupboards were filled and they had to make shelves for everything they were not able to fit in the cupboards. They truly were overwhlmed and grateful for all that they recieved. This gospel helps those who are in need and sometimes, i have realized, someo
ne else needs to ask or initiate the aid.
• One of the wards told us that through the ward mission process that they found someone else for us to teach! We need to find more people to teach, and I honestly believe that we are doing all that we can to make sure that happens. We are exercising faith, working hard and being obedient. how could we not be successful??
• As for D&C 41:5; it teaches us to have integrity when we say we will do something. When we say that we will be at an appointment, we should be there on time. We should carry out assignments from Bishops promptly and report to the WML soon after. As we do what we say we'll do the wards will trust us, our investigators will trust us, and more importantly the Lord will trust us.
• When I read the scripture it reminded me of something that I heard in zone conference once, someone said every kind of missionary will baptize but only those missionaries that are obidient with exactness because they love the savior will become His disciples, also I remember that my trainer taught me once that my succes as a missionary wont be meassured for how many baptisms i had but how obedient i was on my mission.
• I know that the Lord blesses us for our obedience and dilligence. Again I prayed to have the investigators show up to church and yesterday we received a referral of someone that has been coming to church and 20 mins ago the relief society pres. called us and gaves another referral that also has been coming to church. Dilligence and Obedience are the keys to Finding.
• Zone Conference was great this week. I really enjoyed hearing about Joseph Smith. I needed it to help me build my knowledge of the prophet. I learned that there's a lot about the prophet that I don't know. I felt the power of Joseph Smith's personality that was given to him through the Holy Ghost. I'm going to be more bold in professing that Joseph Smith was the man Heavenly Father chose to bring the true church to the earth in these days. I plan on stressing Joseph Smith's importance in oym's and door approaches.
• Zone conference was great. I think that it was my favorite thus far. As always when we talk about Joseph Smith, I am renewed with a desire to study more about church history so I can better understand the Doctrine and Covenants. That will have to come later though. I am almost finished with the Book of Mormon challenge. I love it. I understand it more every time I read it, which helps me to be able to apply it more to myself and to my investigators. Treasure up!
• We had an interesting thing happen this week. There is a woman who we have been teaching for the past couple months, who shared a story with us that we didn't realize at the time we met. She said that the night we knocked on her door, she had already made preparations to end her life and her son's. She was so depressed from her divorce and financial situation that she was at her very end. As we taught, she felt the spirit, and she felt a hope that she hadn't had in a long time. She had been baptized about four years before, but had fallen away from the church because her work prevented her from going, then she had stopped reading the scriptures, and even stopped praying. Elder Sirmans and I were holding back tears as she told us this story, and how the day before we met, she had been praying on her knees for help. She gave us each a tie pin with a stripling warrior on it that I will cherish for the rest of my life. Her 12 year old son Angel is planning to be baptized this Saturday!
• I loved Zone Conference. What I learned most was actually in regards to that map that you printed out for us, and the significant events at those locations. What I felt was that I don't testify of Joseph Smith boldly enough, and what I am going to do is make sure that when I do testify of him, I am going to do it boldly with all the sincerity that I can
• We had a really good week. We have been focusing on trying to teach lessons to active members for practice and feedback. We have been getting names of members to teach from our ward mission leaders. I really felt that this would be important for us because my companion is still learning English and it would help to give her confidence, and I am still a new missionary and could use the practice as well. We will also be using this as a finding tool, when as ask members for referals after we teach them. So far this tactic has been working really well. We also had good visits with our investigators this week. The best news is that our eternal investigator is on date for baptism for this Saturday, and it looks like it is really going to happen!! I can't tell you how excited I am about that. His baptism would truely be a miracle. It was the bishop who FINALLY got him on date. I have really learned this week that it is important to keep the bishops involved in missionary work. They hold keys to the work in their wards.
• I have a testimony of sacrifice. Months ago I promised to sacrifice something, and I am still upholding that promise, and the blessings are still coming. Oddly enough, however, I have struggled with fasting. I know it is a true principle, however I have a hard time detecting specific blessings that come from it, and I have my whole mission. This past fast sunday I prayed and conversed with God about the matter. I mentioned the struggle my companion and I are having with our health and how going out and working is getting difficult, especially when we have very few referals to check, and very few people have been home over the holidays. I pleaded to see the blessings of fasting. Over the past 2 days, we have received 3 referals. 1 for a family in the only ward we have no work in, 1 for an unbaptized child who randomly showed up to church, and 1 for 2 eternal investigators who gave themselves a baptismal date for this month.God hears our prayers, and answers them. I have always been aware of the Justice of God, but I am more and more experiencing His Mercy.
• I am still doing the book of Mormon challenge, I am focusing more on studying for my investigators, I feel great everytime I do that.
• I got a calender so i can keep track of myself. Like an obedience calender, can keep track of the days i did everything i was supposed to, the days i didn't, ect. Its working out good, it puts life in perspective. You can see the days i worked hard, stuff happened. I write down how many lessons we had planned and how many actuals that day... so its good.
• to top it off I was biking and slipped on ice. I am grateful for helmets. Nothing bad happened but I realized how much we are looked after for our service. I'm glad to be a deciple of Christ. Being obedient isn't hard it just takes faith and love for our Father in Heaven.
• D&C 41:5 In this scripture, the Lord is speaking to the Church about obedience. It is one thing to say that we believe in Christ but it is another to actually follow His teachings in our thoughts and actions. Applying this to our missionary lives, we need to receive the law that is given us to live by, and we need to live it. This is how we can have the Spirit with us more because we will be true disciples of Jesus Christ.
• We found this Mexican family last week when we were knocking doors. We taught a restoration and we asked them to be baptized when they know this is true and they said yes!!!!They are awesome.
• We were able to teach more this week than we did last week which was a blessing. We went into Saturday with only 16 lessons, and Heavenly Father really helped us Saturday and Sunday to get lessons that we needed (28 Total).
• Zone conference was amazing. It strengthened my testimony of the restoration more and i learned that we need to testify even stronger of it in our teaching and I also learned some about prayer and getting answers. We have to be willing to act as Joseph was on those answers in order to recieve them. I also loved the stories related about President Hinkley. They both were such incredible men. I was just humbled and amazed hearing about them and thier lives. I cant wait to visit those historical church sites when i return home from my mission. Thank you for all that you do, I know we dont see the smallest part of it.
• When we recieve his law and follow it we will be his diciples and recieve all the blessings that come with this dicipleship. I want this in my mission. I have seen that you can still baptize when you don't follow the white handbook but what missionaries who do this don't realize is that they would baptize 10 times more people if they were obedient.
• We had a family who had absolutely no food in the house on new years eve and they were calling food banks to get food. Apparently they usually in the past go to the stores and steal their food when this happens but they said that since they have met with us they feel like they are not able to think of doing it. As missionaries I am truly amazed at the effect we have on people as we are obedient and follow the promtings of the spirit. Once i heard what they needed, I called the WML of the Ward who you have met multiple times, Clark Bullen, he sent out a massive text message to everyone in the ward he could to see if anyone could spare food. Within an hour, people began showing up and dropping off food to the extent that their cupboards were filled and they had to make shelves for everything they were not able to fit in the cupboards. They truly were overwhlmed and grateful for all that they recieved. This gospel helps those who are in need and sometimes, i have realized, someo
ne else needs to ask or initiate the aid.
• One of the wards told us that through the ward mission process that they found someone else for us to teach! We need to find more people to teach, and I honestly believe that we are doing all that we can to make sure that happens. We are exercising faith, working hard and being obedient. how could we not be successful??
• As for D&C 41:5; it teaches us to have integrity when we say we will do something. When we say that we will be at an appointment, we should be there on time. We should carry out assignments from Bishops promptly and report to the WML soon after. As we do what we say we'll do the wards will trust us, our investigators will trust us, and more importantly the Lord will trust us.
• When I read the scripture it reminded me of something that I heard in zone conference once, someone said every kind of missionary will baptize but only those missionaries that are obidient with exactness because they love the savior will become His disciples, also I remember that my trainer taught me once that my succes as a missionary wont be meassured for how many baptisms i had but how obedient i was on my mission.
Monday, January 11, 2010
• We decided that it might be a good jump start to go out and do some work the old fashioned way. It was the day that it started snowing a lot, so we picked an area and went out on foot and tracted most of one ward boundary. On two streets in particular, we would talk with every member we contacted about missionary work and ask if they knew anyone who could benefit from the message. We received 23 referrals this week. And if it was a nonmember who opened the door, we would share the message of the restoration and try to secure a time when we could come back and share more. And a small handful of them invited us to come back another time. We didn't get as many new investigators as we had hoped for. (We had a goal of at LEAST 3 for the effort,) but it really helped me to feel more excited. Because we were actually going out and trying, and bearing heartfelt and powerful testimony. If the people closed the door on us after that, I couldn't get as upset, because at least I had sincerely tried to reach out and touch that person's heart. And if they weren't receptive now, maybe a seed was planted. On one circle, we know the name of every single family living on the block. And when we came home I recorded it and a little story about each of them. It's a lot more organized, so that we can see where the potential investigators are. We were able to photocopy some of those forms so we have a lot more, now. And they're really useful. But today was a good week. But we've committed to try twice as hard to improve again next week.
• Me and my companion have fasted and we pray all the time to find people, I have been studying chapter 9 like it’s the only chapter in PMG, I am always looking for things to sacrifice, and in which I have sacrificed something I never thought I would have and I sacrificed talking to someone back home that I care about and the amazing thing is I feel so happy right now! I have no idea why! But I guess I am happy because I know I am doing all the right things!
• This week was yet another great week. Not only did we have a baptism but it was Christmas day. It was great the young man that got baptized is named Rene and his family was all baptized about two years ago. That had been waiting for that long for their son to make the same decision. Rene would attend church weekly with his family and most people thought he was already a member. Despite that little misunderstanding there was a lot of support from the ward. The best part of the whole thing for me was after his dad performed that the baptism they took a minute and hugged one another in the font. That right there to me is a sign that this family is now just one step closer to living together forever, and it makes me happy to know that I had just a hand helping them closer to that goal. It is days like that that makes me happy I served a mission.
• Like we've said before, obedience is the first law of heaven. We cannot pretend to be Disciples of Christ if we are unwilling to obey his law. And then we cannot qualify for the blessing of the Spirit as strongly as we should, especially when we teach people that THEY need to obey God's laws. If we cannot accept and comply with these laws, which we already agreed to obey, we will not be able to magnify our calling.
• What I liked about D&C 41:5 are that it equates discipleship to obedience. When we hear the Lord's voice through the Spirit we need to do it to be considered his disciple. It further describes the price that must be paid to be considered the Lord's disciple. I also liked your thought of the week. My obedience needs to free me not bind me.
• One day we decided to go about doing well and shoveling people’s driveways. So we started on the Kuhn’s block and shoveled away. An Indian lady came home and thanked us for doing it. We had a chat about India and about you and Dad... She thanked us again and went inside. About 5 minutes later she came back and asked us to stop. A lady came home and thanked me so much. I talked to her about the church and she mentioned she was less active and thanked me again before going inside. Soon after her husband came home and I think that he must have had a phone call from his wife who told him what we were doing. He thanked us as well and we had a chat about his hobbies and a bit about Canada and I asked him if he knew who we were as missionaries... he replied that his last name was Sunderland and that he was a member but hadn't gone for a while. I said we would love to talk to them about getting back to church to receive those blessings that our Father in Heaven has in store for us all. He asked for my number and said he would call. After we finished we went to return the shovels we borrowed from the Kuhn’s and I felt that we should return with a Book of Mormon. We went back to the house and we returned with a Book of Mormon. We rang his doorbell and told him that we finished. We were about to offer him a Book of Mormon when he invited us. We began talking and the subject came to religion. He told us of his concerns coming back to church. I told him that my life was a one point very similar and although I had grown up into the church, that my true conversion and gaining of sincere testimony came only two years ago. I shared with him how the gospel changed my life and he and his wife invited us back next week to talk to them and we invited them to come to church and read the Book of Mormon and Pray. It also turns out that they have a son who is 10 and was never baptized. It never showed up on our records because they had been less active when they moved here. Later in the week the Kuhn’s were having friends over to watch a UFC fight on TV. Brother Sunderland had mentioned how he loves watching UFC and is really into it. I asked the Kuhn’s who live two doors down to invite them so that they could start getting to know them and fellowship them. The Kuhn’s agreed and invited them over. Sure enough everybody hit it off and they have become great friends.
• Me and my companion have fasted and we pray all the time to find people, I have been studying chapter 9 like it’s the only chapter in PMG, I am always looking for things to sacrifice, and in which I have sacrificed something I never thought I would have and I sacrificed talking to someone back home that I care about and the amazing thing is I feel so happy right now! I have no idea why! But I guess I am happy because I know I am doing all the right things!
• This week was yet another great week. Not only did we have a baptism but it was Christmas day. It was great the young man that got baptized is named Rene and his family was all baptized about two years ago. That had been waiting for that long for their son to make the same decision. Rene would attend church weekly with his family and most people thought he was already a member. Despite that little misunderstanding there was a lot of support from the ward. The best part of the whole thing for me was after his dad performed that the baptism they took a minute and hugged one another in the font. That right there to me is a sign that this family is now just one step closer to living together forever, and it makes me happy to know that I had just a hand helping them closer to that goal. It is days like that that makes me happy I served a mission.
• Like we've said before, obedience is the first law of heaven. We cannot pretend to be Disciples of Christ if we are unwilling to obey his law. And then we cannot qualify for the blessing of the Spirit as strongly as we should, especially when we teach people that THEY need to obey God's laws. If we cannot accept and comply with these laws, which we already agreed to obey, we will not be able to magnify our calling.
• What I liked about D&C 41:5 are that it equates discipleship to obedience. When we hear the Lord's voice through the Spirit we need to do it to be considered his disciple. It further describes the price that must be paid to be considered the Lord's disciple. I also liked your thought of the week. My obedience needs to free me not bind me.
• One day we decided to go about doing well and shoveling people’s driveways. So we started on the Kuhn’s block and shoveled away. An Indian lady came home and thanked us for doing it. We had a chat about India and about you and Dad... She thanked us again and went inside. About 5 minutes later she came back and asked us to stop. A lady came home and thanked me so much. I talked to her about the church and she mentioned she was less active and thanked me again before going inside. Soon after her husband came home and I think that he must have had a phone call from his wife who told him what we were doing. He thanked us as well and we had a chat about his hobbies and a bit about Canada and I asked him if he knew who we were as missionaries... he replied that his last name was Sunderland and that he was a member but hadn't gone for a while. I said we would love to talk to them about getting back to church to receive those blessings that our Father in Heaven has in store for us all. He asked for my number and said he would call. After we finished we went to return the shovels we borrowed from the Kuhn’s and I felt that we should return with a Book of Mormon. We went back to the house and we returned with a Book of Mormon. We rang his doorbell and told him that we finished. We were about to offer him a Book of Mormon when he invited us. We began talking and the subject came to religion. He told us of his concerns coming back to church. I told him that my life was a one point very similar and although I had grown up into the church, that my true conversion and gaining of sincere testimony came only two years ago. I shared with him how the gospel changed my life and he and his wife invited us back next week to talk to them and we invited them to come to church and read the Book of Mormon and Pray. It also turns out that they have a son who is 10 and was never baptized. It never showed up on our records because they had been less active when they moved here. Later in the week the Kuhn’s were having friends over to watch a UFC fight on TV. Brother Sunderland had mentioned how he loves watching UFC and is really into it. I asked the Kuhn’s who live two doors down to invite them so that they could start getting to know them and fellowship them. The Kuhn’s agreed and invited them over. Sure enough everybody hit it off and they have become great friends.
Monday, January 4, 2010
• All we need to do is be obedient, work hard, and sacrifice, and the Lord will make up the difference.
• So after having only 2 people to teach the lord blessed us with some more people and now we have 6 people getting baptized on the 24th and one in January.
I have such a strong testimony of diligence. Even when it seems that you have knocked every door and talked to everyone, the lord wants to test you to see how you work and then He will bless you with the people He has prepared to hear the gospel.
• I have been obedient president and have noticed an increase in my faith; and it shows in the work and in my spirituality. We just FORGET sometimes, but I am grateful for the reminders we get from others. We should all be constantly reminding each other of our main goal which is eternal.
• Hey, we're getting a lot closer to meeting or exceeding all of our goals! We're going to be doing it very soon; it won't take long until this area is one of the most successful in the mission. We have the people, we have the members and ward, and now we have the missionaries. Now we just need to do our part.
• D&C 6:20 to me means that if we keep the commandments of God, (including mission rules) are faithful in that the Lord has work for us in our areas and are diligent everyday in trying to find new investigators, the Lord will bless us with investigators and will make us feel love and happiness.
• D&C 6:20 I love the promise that the Lord gives to Oliver and to all of us that as we faithfully and diligently keep the commandments the Lord will love us. This is one of the greatest desires of my heart. I want to feel his love I want the Lord to be pleased with my life and with the person I am. I will strive to be more faithful and diligent so that I can feel His love more abundantly.
• Doctrine & Covenants 6:20 means that we should follow the answers to our prayers and the promptings we receive, and if we do so and follow the commandments of God we will receive help in all that we do and will be able to feel His love for us and bring that feeling to others.
• The scripture of the week, D&C6:20. When you are diligent and faithful in keeping the commandments, you not only get blessings, but are filled with God's love. Mosiah 4:11-12 talks about this also. It talks about keeping the commandments among other things and you will always be filled with the love of God and always retain a remission of your sins. So what do we learn from this? We learn that if we don't keep the commandments, we are only cheating ourselves out of the full blessings of the gospel. So, be diligent in keeping the commandments. The rewards are more than any of us can comprehend.
• 20 Behold, thou art Oliver, and I have spoken unto thee because of thy desires; therefore treasure up these words in thy heart. Be faithful and diligent in keeping the commandments of God, and I will encircle thee in the arms of my love. I guess everything falls in being more obedient. I know that we should be more obedient, and there is always a way to be more obedient, I guess we are good at it but we need to be perfect on it to receive the ultimate blessing.
• D&C 6:20- Be faithful and do what the Lord wants you to do and the Lord will continually bless you.
• I love this time of year that we get to think of all the things the savior has done for us. Christ has been a huge role in my life. Just this week I was thinking of a scripture. The Scripture is Alma 37:7 which in summary says that by small and simple means are great things brought to pass. The reason why this scripture came up was because I got thinking of all the small things that have impacted my life greatly. One huge thing that has and will forever was my decision to serve a mission. I am so grateful for my family and for them serving to set that example for me. Other great things that have influenced me are my companions, friends, amazing friends and the list goes on and on.
• I think that the scripture means that as long we are faithful and diligent meaning finding joy where there is none, the Lord will have us in his arms of love, I especially like where it says "thou art Oliver", it teaches me that the Lord is caring about each one of us personally, He knows us by name, He knows that we can do it. It was amazing receive good news as Christmas present one of the families that I went back to, to visit, they told me that they are getting sealed on January 9th. and it was so amazing to see this miracles, and it brought me back to the beginning of my mission when I told you, that instead of having a goal of baptisms I wanted a goal for sealings, because I really know that is what is all about seal families and this is getting me closer to that goal because it helped focus more on families.
• We had a great and a slow week. Great because I had a family gets sealed in the temple and we had a baptism. Slow because we didn't teaching very much. Our teaching pool is very low and so we are working with the bishops to find more people. I am doing great. I loved Christmas. I love this work. Thanks for everything!
• This is a great week and I’m happy we will have a baptism tomorrow the recent converts are sharing the gospel with friends. My study this week helps me to be more diligent and understand more how to pray with my heart. No concerns.
• I have been doing the 7 page a day challenge for the Book of Mormon and it’s really amazing how many different attributes and names refer to Jesus Christ. I really enjoy reading that every day.
• Something that I learn this week is that Obedience to the authorities of the church is important because if we refuse to obey them we are refusing to obey God. I never thought them that way before, but I can see that God really show us our weaknesses.
• I want to thank you for the BOM challenge. While I am behind a little, I am still learning a lot. I think the biggest impact it has had on me is what happens when I really truly eliminate all the distractions, invite the spirit to be with me, and sit down and actively and seriously read the BOM. I have found, more so than really ever before in my life, that the BOM comes alive. It’s like I really can see and feel what is happening in the scriptures. Like Nephi says in 2 Nephi 26, I have felt the power that the Lord gives to the book of Mormon to really have the effect of "whispering out of the dust" and into my ear. I feel the enlightening that Alma talks about in Alma 32:28.
We told a dinner appt about the challenge we had been given, and he asked us why? Why would you ask us to do this? We said maybe you just want us to know the BOM inside and out. He said he thought it was more than that. He told us that he had worked with mission Presidents before, and he had gone to seminars and stuff. He said at one he learned that the minority of people baptize the majority of converts. He said they have found that there are two things that separate the minority missionaries from the majority missionaries. key #1) becoming more like Christ key#2)learning certain skills, one of the most important of which is how to follow up. So any who he suggested that maybe you are doing this so that we can become more Christ like missionaries. That got me thinking about how I have heard from you that you are here to save us and as we are saved the saving others part will come. Also, I have heard Elder Holland has said that the most important convert on our mission is our self. I have thought about that a lot and want to convert myself more fully and become a more Christ like missionary. So that was my "why we are doing the BOM challenge" epiphany.
• Also we had 2 Japanese investigators this month. They are getting baptized next month!!!!! One is from Saitama exchange student from Japan. Her name is Hazumi and she is getting baptized this Sunday. We only visited her 3 times and she decided to get baptized. We are so excited for her. Her parents are interested too so we are going to send missionaries in Japan for her parents too. When she met me she cried because she didn’t have any Japanese friends in Utah and she was really homesick. When we taught her atonement, she cried again because she knew that was something she needed to hear. I am so grateful to meet her and teach the gospel.
Also another Japanese lady Yumiko is getting baptized on 17th of January. Her husband is less active but since we came to teach Yumiko, they both decided to go to church. He never had testimony but it was right time for him to really think about it again. So they are both excited for the baptism and learn the gospel as a family. So yea Lord really knows who we suppose to meet and where to go. I am so amazed. I am amazed with investigators too. When we met her 3 weeks ago, she didn't believe in God at all. Now she believes in God and Jesus Christ. I truly know that Faith is everything. If you have a tiny seed of faith, it will grow like crazy. It becomes something BIG. I am so happy to serve mission.
• This week we went to one of our investigator homes and when she opened the door her eyes became moist and she told us that we always seem to come at the perfect time. She asked for a blessing of comfort. So we gave her one. Her husband had got really sick and she was about to take him to the hospital when we came over. We offered a blessing to him but he rejected it. Later the next day they called bishop and he asked for a priesthood blessing. The spirit was strong while we were at her house. It was a very special moment.
We also had a baptism on Christmas. It went great. There was still a good turnout despite the holiday.
The rest of the week was rough but we still were successful. We are still pushing toward 21 lessons a week and know that we can through our faith.
• So after having only 2 people to teach the lord blessed us with some more people and now we have 6 people getting baptized on the 24th and one in January.
I have such a strong testimony of diligence. Even when it seems that you have knocked every door and talked to everyone, the lord wants to test you to see how you work and then He will bless you with the people He has prepared to hear the gospel.
• I have been obedient president and have noticed an increase in my faith; and it shows in the work and in my spirituality. We just FORGET sometimes, but I am grateful for the reminders we get from others. We should all be constantly reminding each other of our main goal which is eternal.
• Hey, we're getting a lot closer to meeting or exceeding all of our goals! We're going to be doing it very soon; it won't take long until this area is one of the most successful in the mission. We have the people, we have the members and ward, and now we have the missionaries. Now we just need to do our part.
• D&C 6:20 to me means that if we keep the commandments of God, (including mission rules) are faithful in that the Lord has work for us in our areas and are diligent everyday in trying to find new investigators, the Lord will bless us with investigators and will make us feel love and happiness.
• D&C 6:20 I love the promise that the Lord gives to Oliver and to all of us that as we faithfully and diligently keep the commandments the Lord will love us. This is one of the greatest desires of my heart. I want to feel his love I want the Lord to be pleased with my life and with the person I am. I will strive to be more faithful and diligent so that I can feel His love more abundantly.
• Doctrine & Covenants 6:20 means that we should follow the answers to our prayers and the promptings we receive, and if we do so and follow the commandments of God we will receive help in all that we do and will be able to feel His love for us and bring that feeling to others.
• The scripture of the week, D&C6:20. When you are diligent and faithful in keeping the commandments, you not only get blessings, but are filled with God's love. Mosiah 4:11-12 talks about this also. It talks about keeping the commandments among other things and you will always be filled with the love of God and always retain a remission of your sins. So what do we learn from this? We learn that if we don't keep the commandments, we are only cheating ourselves out of the full blessings of the gospel. So, be diligent in keeping the commandments. The rewards are more than any of us can comprehend.
• 20 Behold, thou art Oliver, and I have spoken unto thee because of thy desires; therefore treasure up these words in thy heart. Be faithful and diligent in keeping the commandments of God, and I will encircle thee in the arms of my love. I guess everything falls in being more obedient. I know that we should be more obedient, and there is always a way to be more obedient, I guess we are good at it but we need to be perfect on it to receive the ultimate blessing.
• D&C 6:20- Be faithful and do what the Lord wants you to do and the Lord will continually bless you.
• I love this time of year that we get to think of all the things the savior has done for us. Christ has been a huge role in my life. Just this week I was thinking of a scripture. The Scripture is Alma 37:7 which in summary says that by small and simple means are great things brought to pass. The reason why this scripture came up was because I got thinking of all the small things that have impacted my life greatly. One huge thing that has and will forever was my decision to serve a mission. I am so grateful for my family and for them serving to set that example for me. Other great things that have influenced me are my companions, friends, amazing friends and the list goes on and on.
• I think that the scripture means that as long we are faithful and diligent meaning finding joy where there is none, the Lord will have us in his arms of love, I especially like where it says "thou art Oliver", it teaches me that the Lord is caring about each one of us personally, He knows us by name, He knows that we can do it. It was amazing receive good news as Christmas present one of the families that I went back to, to visit, they told me that they are getting sealed on January 9th. and it was so amazing to see this miracles, and it brought me back to the beginning of my mission when I told you, that instead of having a goal of baptisms I wanted a goal for sealings, because I really know that is what is all about seal families and this is getting me closer to that goal because it helped focus more on families.
• We had a great and a slow week. Great because I had a family gets sealed in the temple and we had a baptism. Slow because we didn't teaching very much. Our teaching pool is very low and so we are working with the bishops to find more people. I am doing great. I loved Christmas. I love this work. Thanks for everything!
• This is a great week and I’m happy we will have a baptism tomorrow the recent converts are sharing the gospel with friends. My study this week helps me to be more diligent and understand more how to pray with my heart. No concerns.
• I have been doing the 7 page a day challenge for the Book of Mormon and it’s really amazing how many different attributes and names refer to Jesus Christ. I really enjoy reading that every day.
• Something that I learn this week is that Obedience to the authorities of the church is important because if we refuse to obey them we are refusing to obey God. I never thought them that way before, but I can see that God really show us our weaknesses.
• I want to thank you for the BOM challenge. While I am behind a little, I am still learning a lot. I think the biggest impact it has had on me is what happens when I really truly eliminate all the distractions, invite the spirit to be with me, and sit down and actively and seriously read the BOM. I have found, more so than really ever before in my life, that the BOM comes alive. It’s like I really can see and feel what is happening in the scriptures. Like Nephi says in 2 Nephi 26, I have felt the power that the Lord gives to the book of Mormon to really have the effect of "whispering out of the dust" and into my ear. I feel the enlightening that Alma talks about in Alma 32:28.
We told a dinner appt about the challenge we had been given, and he asked us why? Why would you ask us to do this? We said maybe you just want us to know the BOM inside and out. He said he thought it was more than that. He told us that he had worked with mission Presidents before, and he had gone to seminars and stuff. He said at one he learned that the minority of people baptize the majority of converts. He said they have found that there are two things that separate the minority missionaries from the majority missionaries. key #1) becoming more like Christ key#2)learning certain skills, one of the most important of which is how to follow up. So any who he suggested that maybe you are doing this so that we can become more Christ like missionaries. That got me thinking about how I have heard from you that you are here to save us and as we are saved the saving others part will come. Also, I have heard Elder Holland has said that the most important convert on our mission is our self. I have thought about that a lot and want to convert myself more fully and become a more Christ like missionary. So that was my "why we are doing the BOM challenge" epiphany.
• Also we had 2 Japanese investigators this month. They are getting baptized next month!!!!! One is from Saitama exchange student from Japan. Her name is Hazumi and she is getting baptized this Sunday. We only visited her 3 times and she decided to get baptized. We are so excited for her. Her parents are interested too so we are going to send missionaries in Japan for her parents too. When she met me she cried because she didn’t have any Japanese friends in Utah and she was really homesick. When we taught her atonement, she cried again because she knew that was something she needed to hear. I am so grateful to meet her and teach the gospel.
Also another Japanese lady Yumiko is getting baptized on 17th of January. Her husband is less active but since we came to teach Yumiko, they both decided to go to church. He never had testimony but it was right time for him to really think about it again. So they are both excited for the baptism and learn the gospel as a family. So yea Lord really knows who we suppose to meet and where to go. I am so amazed. I am amazed with investigators too. When we met her 3 weeks ago, she didn't believe in God at all. Now she believes in God and Jesus Christ. I truly know that Faith is everything. If you have a tiny seed of faith, it will grow like crazy. It becomes something BIG. I am so happy to serve mission.
• This week we went to one of our investigator homes and when she opened the door her eyes became moist and she told us that we always seem to come at the perfect time. She asked for a blessing of comfort. So we gave her one. Her husband had got really sick and she was about to take him to the hospital when we came over. We offered a blessing to him but he rejected it. Later the next day they called bishop and he asked for a priesthood blessing. The spirit was strong while we were at her house. It was a very special moment.
We also had a baptism on Christmas. It went great. There was still a good turnout despite the holiday.
The rest of the week was rough but we still were successful. We are still pushing toward 21 lessons a week and know that we can through our faith.
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