Dear
Missionaries
We
will have the blessing of Elder and Sister Kopischke coming to our Mission Tour
this week. We will have Zone Conference on Wednesday and Thursday (12th
and 13th of February) from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM (time has changed).
We will be at the Miami Lakes Chapel for the South four Zones on Wednesday and
at the Boynton Beach Chapel for the North four Zones on Thursday. Come early
for pictures and prepare yourselves to be taught by an amazing teacher.
When
I account to General Authorities concerning answers to the question, "What
are the strengths in your mission that helps you in your success",
one of the answers I give them (along with obedience, accountability, and the
greatest missionaries in the world) is that we work hard to hear the voice of
The Lord and follow it's promptings. Sometimes I know that it is not easy and
that we learn by experience, worthiness, and knowledge to hear and feel the
Lord's promptings through the power of The Holy Ghost. I think many times we
have to keep trying over and over again with new approaches and understanding
(introspection) so that the Spirit can use us as the Lord's instruments. Many
times it takes a few attempts to get it right; for example Nephi took 3 times
to get the Plates of Laban (1 Nephi: 3 & 4); or when it took 3 times for
the Lamanites to understand the voice when Nephi and Lehi were in prison,
(Helaman 5); or when it took three time for the people to hear the Father
introduce His Son, The Savior of the World (3 Nephi 11). They finally heard and
understood because they opened their ears and hearts "And again the third
time they did hear the voice, and did open their ears to hear it;... And
they did understand the voice that which they heard" (3 Nephi
11:5-6).
We
have been promised that all of us can have the blessings to hear the “Voice of
The Lord":
“Hearken,
O ye people of my Church, saith the voice of him who dwells on high,... listen
together. For verily the voice of the Lord is unto all men.” (D&C 1:1-2)
And our
investigators will have that same opportunity to feel and hear it as well:
“The
voice of the Lord is unto the ends of the earth, that all that will hear may
hear” (D&C 1:11)
“Mine
elect hear my voice and harden not their hearts” (D&C 29:7)
“I
[will] gather mine elect from the four quarters of the earth, even as many as
will believe in me, and hearken unto my voice” (D&C 33:6)
Though
we speak about the concept of revelation frequently as part of the gospel, it
is important to understand its origins and literal meaning. The English word
“revelation” comes from the Latin word revalatus. This word is formed from the
prefix re-, which means ‘to draw back” or “to remove”, and the noun velum,
which is “a covering” or “a veil”. In other words, revelation in its more
generic sense means to make something previously hidden visible to the eye or
clear to the understanding. We cannot be saved without it:
“Divine
revelation is one of the grandest concepts and principles of the gospel of
Jesus Christ, for without it, man could not know of the things of God and could
not be saved with any degree of salvation in the eternities.” (Bible
Dictionary, Revelation)
Elder
McConkie taught the process of revelation:
“Revelation
comes from God to man in various appointed ways, according to the laws ordained
by the Almighty. The Lord appears personally to certain spiritually receptive
persons; he speaks audibly by his own voice, on occasions, to those whose ears
are attuned to the divine wave length, angels are sent from his presence to
minister to deserving individuals; dreams and visions come from him to the
faithful; he often speaks by the still small voice, the voice of the Spirit,
the voice of prophecy and revelation; he reveals truth by means of the Urim Thummim;
and he gives his mind and will to receptive mortals in whatever ways
appropriate as circumstances require.” (Elder Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon
Doctrine)
We
are taught how God’s “Voice” is felt:
“Yea,
thus saith the still small voice, which whispereth through and pierceth all
things, and often times it maketh my bones to quake while it maketh manifest”
(D&C 85:6)
This
tells us that the voice of the Lord is still, small, whispers, and has a
powerful impact on our hearts. Don't look for lightning or visions, but the
subtle feelings will create powerful results as we follow those promptings.
President
Packer has taught us to pay attention, and follow the Spirit’s promptings or we
will lose out on future opportunities to be instruments in God's hands:
“The
Spirit does not get our attention by shouting or shaking us with a heavy hand.
Rather it whispers. It caresses so gently that if we are preoccupied we may not
feel it at all... Occasionally it will press just firmly enough for us to pay
heed. But most of the time, if we do not heed the gentle feeling, the Spirit
will withdraw and wait until we come seeking and listening.” (Elder Boyd K.
Packer, “The Candle of the Lord”)
Revelation
will give you boldness with love and they will feel it’s power:
“This
week has truly been a miracle transfer week. The day I came to this area we
went to see an amazing woman who was preparing for baptism. We taught her
the word of wisdom, and asked if we could help remove temptation by taking her
cigarettes. She was reluctant at first because she said she would just go out
and buy some more. She wanted to quit but didn't think she could. A scripture
came to mind and we had her read Ether 12:27. She reread it a few times so she
could understand it and then she said. ‘so basically God is more powerful than
anything. He can help me to overcome this.’ She sat for a moment. We had
testified of the divinity and ability from God, and now those words were
becoming real because of this scripture, but now it was time for silence. She
gave us her cigarettes... She gave us everything and told us she wouldn't have
given us them if she wasn't done. It was a transfer miracle!”
Revelation
will help you know what to teach and inspire all within the sound of your
voice:
“We
were walking from the sign we'd locked our bikes to, to the building where [we]
felt inspired to harvest. We both abruptly turned from our destination
without a word and walked to a nearby door and knocked. The woman knew us
and let us in. We found out she had been told she needed to be married
and baptized by previous missionaries, and she loved the missionaries but not
the commitments. She wanted to be taught, and we were ready to teach true
Doctrine and help her out. Then her friend came over and she invited her
to sit with us. They talked and talked until they arrived at the
topic of why there are so many churches. We cut in and said, ‘If we tell
you the answer to that question, will you listen to what we have to say.’
They both quieted down and leaned in. We taught them about the
restoration of the Gospel and they soaked it up, but did not yet recognize its
truth. Then our attention shifted to the friend who had come in. We
invited her to pray to know of the truth of our message and she knelt down with
all of us, but she could not pray - even after we had instructed her a few
times. The original woman we met urged us to just say the prayer
ourselves - which we knew wasn't an option - when a voice came from the corner
of the room. It was her husband. ‘You pray and have her follow
you,’ he said. It was inspiration. We led her in the prayer
as we would a child and after the prayer she was beaming and knew Joseph Smith
was a prophet. Also she wanted to be baptized.”
Joseph
Smith taught the importance of revelation being “pure intelligence flowing into
you”:
“A
person may profit by noticing the first intimation of the spirit of revelation;
for instance, when you feel pure intelligence flowing into you, it may give you
sudden strokes of ideas, so that by noticing it, you may find it fulfilled the
same day or soon; (i.e.) those things that were presented unto your minds by
the Spirit of God, will come to pass.” (Joseph Smith, Teachings of the Prophet
Joseph Smith, 151)
President
Kimball taught that doing our duty and being obedient will help us receive
revelation:
“The
Almighty is with this people. We shall have all the revelations that we shall
need if we will do our duty and keep the commandments of God... Remember: If
there be eyes to see, there will be vision to inspire. If there be ears to
hear, there will be revelations to experience. If there be hearts which can
understand, know this: that the exalting truths of Christ’s Gospel will no
longer be hidden and mysterious, and all earnest seekers may know God and his
program. (President Spencer W. Kimball, General Conference, October 1966)
As
we seek righteously, God will unfold the mysteries through revelation:
“ If
thou shalt ask, thou shalt receive revelation upon revelation, knowledge upon
knowledge, that thou mayest know the mysteries and peaceable things—that which
bringeth joy, that which bringeth life eternal.” (D&C 42:61)
President
Monson teaches that as we are worthy and obedient, inspiration (revelation)
will bring miracles:
“When
we qualify ourselves by our worthiness, when we strive with faith nothing
wavering to fulfill the duties appointed to us, when we seek the inspiration of
the Almighty in the performance of our responsibilities, we can achieve the
miraculous.” ( Thomas S. Monson, Ensign, May 1988)
Our resolution is to achieve 175 Baptisms !!! February can be our miracle month!!!
You
are Amazing!!! You are Incredible!!! You are Wonderful!!! And you are in the
“Exciting Mission”!!! Remember our promise and that our names will be sealed
in the Temple!!!
We
Love you, We Pray For You, We can do this,
We have work to do!!! God will bless you
with revelation!!!
President Don E. Anderson
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