Sunday, March 8, 2009

NEW news from the Elders!!!

Elder Blue Star:

"We had a great week! We had the family Benitez go to Church and love it. The daughter who is 13 years old went for the first time, and then went and told all of her friends (she has many) about how awesome it was. She wants to share it with everyone. She already read from the Book of Mormon and got her answer. She wants to be baptized and so does her mom"

Look at the simplicity of missionary work. This 13-year old girl just opens her mouth and shares the joy and happiness she finds with her friends. It is like the cake demonstration we saw in Relief Society today. If you have a delicious cake, why not share it with a friend? "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind" 2 Tim 1:7 

Elder Wigginton:

"Since being away from my family for so long with limited contact, I have begun to understand the significance of the family unit and its importance in the plan of our Heavenly Father. We teach that the family was organized by and ordained of God; that it is in the family, where if the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the center, that we can experience some of the greatest feelings of joy, security, and satisfaction. It is, after all, in the family where we learn the basic principles we will use to govern the rest of our lives. That is a pretty intense reality. Reflect on it. I know you will see that your family experience has directly influenced your life. Clearly, the nuclear family is not something that all, or even most of us, experience. We all face different struggles within this realm, perhaps tension, divorce, deceased parents, or any from the long list of elements that disrupt this natural and divine unit. Regardless of these difficulties, we have a knowledge of the importance of family and its role in this existence: to produce upstanding, just, and righteous human beings that will seek to acquire the attributes of Christ. In our families and lives, we are always examples and teachers to somebody. I find myself awestruck and incredibly grateful for the parents of these families who are choosing to leave behind their weaknesses and temporal desires in their search to become something better for themselves and their families. Repentance is a real and beautiful thing. It truly is a change of heart that improves our attitude towards life, ourselves, and our Father in Heaven"

I love what Elder Wigginton says. No matter what kind of family we come from, we take lessons from those circumstances. We can learn from both the good and the bad. We we strive to live the gospel and repent and forgive, we are helping one another grow closer to Christ. What better missionary opportunity is there than within the family?

Elder Packer:

"I've been working with Ralph for a while now. In the last two weeks he's seen his life get better as he's been taking the lessons and coming to church. He was always willing to listen, but not very interested. In the last 2 weeks he has made more of a commitment to trying the church. He's a lot happier and random things have lined up lately so he realized he's doing a good thing. It's been neat watching him see the blessings and his countenance change.  The blessings from living the Gospel have been so apparent to him, and the best part is that he was baptized and confirmed!! He's happier and much more driven than when I first met him.

Missionary work has blossomed my testimony. I've seen the powers of Satan every day working on those we're teaching and on me, but the things I've seen the Lord do have been incomparable. Nothing that I'll ever do will be as meaningful and impacting as missionary work. It's the best. The more I lose myself in the service, the more I grow and learn. The message of the Restored Gospel is so important. If we aren't sharing it, we're doing those around us a disservice whom the Lord has placed on our path."

I love hearing his pure testimony. It is clear he loves what he is doing and knows it to be true. Look at the changes the gospel brings! We live in a filthy world, and the powers of Satan ARE at work, but as Elder Packer says, what the Lord can do is incomparable! TRUST in Him. Live the gospel. And help others to learn and feel of the joy it brings!