Week 30 In Fort Lauderdale....

This week has been a week of miracles and disappointments, but that is the life of a missionary and I am learning to deal with that and to accept it. This week Frank and Giselle (solid progressing gators for this week) went to the temple with us for a tour together, they loved it1 we taught them again Thursday and they sucked up the doctrine we gave them and then we set them up with a baptismal interview for Friday. Elder Taylor and I could not make it to the interview because we were going up to the temple with another investigator, but we arranged for the district leader to go and do it. Unfortunately, even after all of the positivity and happiness they had felt, Frank, in his interview shut down and decided that this is not what he wanted to do. I really felt disappointed because he and his wife had been one of the coolest miracles of my mission, the fact that they were willing to take time off work and drive us all up to the temple, and the fact that they kept EVERY commitment that we left them, and now wants nothing to do with it. But, like Elder Kopishke said 2 months ago, "you can't take the blame for failure, nor the credit for success" and that has been a source of strength for me these last couple of days. I know that the Lord does things in his own way and time that we just need to accept it and do our best and move forward.

Speaking of Elder Kopishke, this week he, Elder Quintin L. Cook, the Presiding Bishop, and Elder Thompson all came and we had a mission conference that was amazing! We talked not only on the importance of the Easter season but also on the importance of the First Vision and the Plan of Salvation. A great part of this conference was seeing the miracle of seeing the spirit answer every bodies questions. It was a huge builder of my testimony to see how perfect the Spirit is at planning and coordination, EVERYONE can come to a meeting like that or any church meeting with a heart felt question and the Spirit will answer it as you seek for your answer! whether it be by the words that are said, a different interpretation of a story or just he feelings that you feel as you listen. I saw my question answered right before my eyes in a combination of all three of those things and even more. It was a truly inspired event. And then we had a special Stake Conference because while all that Priesthood authority and leadership was down here in the FFLM why not? And so that's what they did and guess who spoke to the Miami South Stake that I am in? Elder Kopishke. I truly think that this man is amazing. He speaks in such a way that the scriptures and words of the prophet fall open in front of your eyes making clear perfect sense leaving you empowered and excited! I truly recommend not only  finding and reading something of his on the internet but trying to find him speaking, he has changed the way that I read the scriptures. But while he was at the stake conference he spoke about obviously the Easter holiday, but he spoke about the tasks that Christ gave as part of his Resurrection.

1. Being the command to preach the gospel, he gave this task the DAY OF HIS RESURRECTION and Elder Kopishke talked about how important that event was to the spreading of the Gospel, with out the resurrection there would be no reason to preach the gospel because there would be the lack of hope and the promise of a new life.
2. Feed my sheep or retention work. What point is there to spread the gospel if you can't help people continue and stay strong to the promises that they made.
3. Baptisms for the dead and other proxy work. through revelation in the Doctrine and Covenants we know that during Christ's time in the Spirit World he was teaching those that needed the Gospel in that life. And we need to give them the opportunity to accept that and move forward in the gospel

After the Stake conference we went to a member's house for dinner... it was a "Passover meal" she is a converted Jew and as a way of remembering their families heritage they have a Passover meal that includes, unleavened bread, bitter herbs, salt water, Wine (grape juice) and other things all of which have symbolic meaning and whatnot and there were a lot of rituals, but it was interesting to see the symbolism that even that ancient and long since fulfilled ritual had that pointed to the Savior, but the Jewish people can't see that!

1. How are you doing?

I am fine I have NEVER before felt that I have been a bigger part of anything, I am learning a lot about who I really am and more importantly who I want to become. I suffer from disappointments, but that is expected in a work that involves other people's agency and I am learning to accept that in my life. I have become a new person. I am not the same, I will not be the same tomorrow, and I will NEVER go back this life is for my progression and to prepare me for the next life. I WANT YOU ALL TO KNOW THAT I AM HAPPY! I love this place and the people I really do!

2. Will you do me a big favor. I want you to walk around your house, inside and out and take some pictures of it for me. Even some from inside looking out your window. It would be nice if you were in some of them, too. I just would like to see where and what you are living in.

This is just silly, I will do it but I want you to know that it is FINE. I am going to send you a few pictures next week and I will send you the thumb drive soon too. There will be plenty of pictures, the ones that matter are the pictures of recent converts dressed in white, The real memories that matter on a mission are the ones that get written in the Journal, or the spiritual experienced that get engraved on your heart. BUT there will be plenty of other pictures that add icing on the cake!

3. What is your favorite food that you have found you like down there, that you didn’t know about at home?

Baleadas, Maduros, tostones, Ropa Vieja, Curry Goat, TRES LECHES, ros con gris, and much much more. everytime there tends to be another

4. What do you love about the area that you are in? What is different than here at home?
 The people, specifically I love my Richmond Heights peeps and the comfortableness they have in who they are, you ride your bike through a neighborhood and the kids be axin (ask) "wanna trade rides?" they are the best! I also love the fact that there are 3 distinct people in my area that live in 3 different areas.
5. How far away from the beach are you? Do you ever get to see the water? Ocean? Waterways? Canals?
Yes and there will be pictures! I have seen all three in this area!

LOVE YOU ALL
STAY STRONG PUSH ON

ELDER PARK

Letter From The President, April 21, 2014....

Dear Missionaries,

We have been blessed with more revelatory events in our mission as we conclude the Temple Open House with many miracles. Almost 44,000 people visited the Open House, and felt the amazing Spirit that only comes from “The House of the Lord”. I will be in contact with you in delivering the Temple Dedication tickets and additional information on the “Cultural Celebration” shortly (make sure you have the songs memorized). We had the extraordinary privilege and blessing to have Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles teach and train us this last week. I know that all of you learned things specific to your needs, a few I noted was as follows:

·         Elder Stephen Thompson: Vertical information (revelation from God) is better than horizontal information (from the world).
·         Bishop Gary Stevens: This is your “4 minutes” as a missionary, (referring to his General Conference talk that it takes an athlete his whole life to prepare to compete for just 4 minutes in the Olympics); we can’t let Satan gain traction to distract us. Extend commitments “a lesson without commitments is a waste of time” (President Faust).
·         Elder Erich Kopischke: What have we learned? It was wonderful  (and rare) to have a General Authority follow up on the things he taught us just 2 months ago.
·         Elder Quentin L. Cook:

1.      We are in one of the most historic times of the Church since the Restoration of the Gospel. One million missionaries every 20 years; 143 Temples with 17 under constructed ( 85% of all members within 200 miles of a Temple);

2.      How a prophet, seer, and revelator assigns a missionary by the inspiration of God.

3.      Most important to teach the First Vision (that Joseph Smith is a Prophet of God) and Plan of Salvation early in the teaching process.

4.      People will feel how you are (example) as much as feel what you say (teaching).

5.      Invite everyone (PMG chapter 11) and get commitments.

6.      “I haven’t felt capable as an Apostle, but I feel capable in my testimony and witness of Jesus Christ”

7.      Apostolic Blessing on all of you including everyone you love; everyone that you want to surround you in the Celestial Kingdom.

Missionaries, please study and embrace the great counsel we received by these men of God. I know God sent them to us at this time for reasons that will become apparent to your heart and soul. I know that they answered questions that you came to the conference with.

Last week I reminded you of the importance to “act” and to not wait to be “acted upon”. In the past I have shared how it took Nephi 3 times before he finally got the plates. He never quit or waited to be “acted upon”. He was diligent, prayed and was even given counsel from God through an Angel. His older brothers complained again:

“How is it possible that the Lord will deliver Laban into our hands? Behold, he is a mighty man, and he can command fifty, yea, even he can slay fifty; then why not us?” (1 Nephi 2:31) 

Then Nephi teaches the great principle to “act ”:

“And it came to pass that I spake unto my brethren, saying: Let us go up again unto Jerusalem, and let us be faithful in keeping the commandments of the Lord; for behold he is mightier than all the earth, then why not mightier than Laban and his fifty, yea, or even than his tens of thousands?

Nephi says “Let us go up again”. He was going to keep trying until he had success because he knew the Lord is “mightier than all the earth”, and then asks “Why not”?

Elders and Sisters, why not? We need to be representatives of Christ that can ask this question of why not, and then to “act”.

“Why not” open your mouths to everyone:

“I'm really excited!  In about 2 hours we are going to be having 3 baptisms!  ...  We found him the very first day of the transfer.  He was the first person that we contacted when we stepped out of the car.  He was walking his dog and we gave him a picture of Jesus.  We asked to pray with him and his family and he took us up stairs to pray.  It was him and his grandma and we said the blessing,...  and we decided to come back.  Since then we have been teaching him his mom and his sister.  Now on the last day of the transfer they're going to be baptized!  His faith has grown from having little to no belief in God, to a firm testimony of the Restoration.”

“Why not” use the Temple to help bring them closer to God:  

“There was a family of four (a mom and three daughters). They walked up to me and said, ‘What happens if we want to convert?’ Oh my, it was SO hard to turn off proselyting mode... but as I told them to check the box on the comment card, I was able to learn a little more about them. Obviously they loved the temple! They are Roman Catholic, and the mom is involved in the youth ministry at their church. The eleven year old daughter however told her mom, ‘When I ask a question at our church there is always a general answer, but here there is always an answer.’ They asked for material that they could read until missionaries could visit them and so I was able to give them all a Book of Mormon. It was a miracle!”

“Why not” have faith to “help” them all the way to Christ’s Church by witnessing the ordinances:

“He approached us one day with a big smile on his face and asked us if we were Jehovah's Witnesses. We told him no and that we were representatives of Jesus Christ. We were happy to see the smile stay on his face, even though he looked a little confused. We asked him if we could come to his house in an hour and pray with him and he readily accepted. So, an hour later we passed by his house and prayed with him and invited him to be baptized and come to church. He accepted! We taught him twice before Sunday and even when we weren't with him, he would text us scriptures that he would find at random times in the day and we would text him one back about the Savior or baptism. We were a little nervous because he would be taking the bus to church and we weren't sure he understood what to do to get there. We were praying for him all day. Fifteen minutes before Church started he called us and told us the bus just dropped him off in front of the Church. We met him outside and he loved church! He picked up a temple flyer and couldn't stop looking at it through all of the meetings. He wanted to know everything about the temple, so we scheduled with him a time when we could go see the temple with him.  He told us that he knew Christ wanted him to be there and to be baptized next Sunday. He even stayed to watch a baptism after church. When he saw the man that was being baptized come out in all white, he looked at me and asked if he could go put one on and be baptized right then! He had the most sincere look in his eyes. It was so incredible!”

When we first hit our first milestone of 100 baptisms two years ago, Elder Walter Gonzalez (Presidency of the Seventy at the time) called me a couple of days later very excited and happy. He wanted to congratulate us on attaining beyond our goal of 100 baptisms and that we are being watched by the brethren. He said, “President, do you remember what I told you when I was there?” I then said “Yes, you asked us ‘Why not’?” Elders and Sisters, great miracles and experiences have and are about to happen. A missionary wrote me:

“We were trying to get some blessings and see some of the potentials we had in an area. We didn't have much success and my companion said to me ‘what is happening Elder.’ I replied, ‘Something great is stirring,’”

“Something great is stirring” Missionaries. It is happening in this Mission and all of us need to be a part of it. With the Temple being dedicated and the potential of faith that is flooding our area, God will give us the strength, courage, and faith to find, teach, and invite our friends to the ordinances, including the Temple. I know we will encounter trials as we “act”, but I also know that we will have the success God wants us to have as we are diligent, resolute, obedient, and faithful.

Our resolution is to achieve 175 Baptisms !!! April is now our Vision month! Prepare for the dedication of the Temple! We need 200 dates and 200 I@S this week. All must contribute! 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, Elders and Sisters, We can do this!!! We have work to do!!! “Something great is stirring; Why Not!!!”

President Don E. Anderson

Week 29 In Fort Lauderdale....

Hello!

House Keeping stuff:

So I did get your packages. They were great! I really appreciated them.

I will not be transferring, neither will Elder T*****. Every one is scratching their heads normally you don't do three together, but then again we aren't normal. But this is good, we work really well together and get along. We also have a lot of goodthings happening in the next little while, so that's good too!

Puedo hablar en espanol sufficiente para ensenar y comunicar. No tengo control perfecto de la idioma. pero esta bien. Falta tres meses de mi companero, el habla mas que yo y puede auydarme cuando tengo un desafio.

Thats not perfect spanish but I feel I can get my opinion across, my language studies have improved recently and I feel that I am making good progress, I don't know if I could teach or help someone learn Spanish right now, but I do feel confident ordering lunch or taking about the gospel.

I wasn't really worried about getting around, I was just stating that if Elder T***** left and I needed to show my knew companion a round it would take us a bit longer than with him. Everything down here is on a grid system so it's easier to get around than some other places.

The Good Stuff:

This week we... MADE IT TO THE TEMPLE!!!! YEAH!!! it was amazing! It feels like Florida in side, or what Florida will feel like in the millennium. Remember how there was circles and leaves all over the the temples in Oquirrh Mountain and Draper temples? Well here its grass. Everything looks like its growing and its beautiful! There was a TON of paintings all over the temple as well as 4 brand new ones that were commissioned just for this temple. One of them by a Russian recent convert!! It's BEAUTIFUL and peaceful and amazing! I can't wait for it to be dedicated!

So this week was a great week we met and taught some really elect people and they have really changed the way I look at things. One family (Frank and Giselle 60s) have really just absorbed the gospel they feel like this is exactly what they have been looking for, they said they have seen us around for years and finally we knocked on their door. They are awesome, and they are SUPER excited to be baptized on Easter at stake conference at a different chaple that's at a different time farther from thier home! We invited them up to the Temple as well and they said they will go on Wednesday, Elder T***** and I thought we were going to have to go to Transfer meeting and that we wouldn't be able to go with them, and they said no problem they will go up on their own! They went from never hearing about the Church to going to a temple open house! Now seeing that Elder T***** and I are not leaving we can go to the temple with them! That will be our second time!

This week we were able to get 8 investigators to sacrament none of them were the same ones that came to conference but they are all really cool and they all loved it and are excited for nest week as well. We made a real push on helping people get to church, because our purpose is to "Invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored Gospel through Faith in Jesus Christ and his Atonement, Repentance, Baptism, Receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost, and Enduring to the End"  the 2 verbs that the missionary is supposed to do is INVITE and HELP that is our purpose that is what we do. And often we do the inviting but sometimes we forget to do the helping this week we HELPED people get to church, arranging rides, talking a guy through an oil change and more to HELP them be ready to go to church! And it really paid off! And now these people have a better understanding of the importance of going to church!

As we applied a Zone-training about effective Round-up and helping people get to church we saw miracles. One of our investigators actually told us 3 days in advance that he had already tied his tie so that he would be ready, because he knew how important it was to be ready to go to church. When we followed up with his wife yesterday, she said that Sunday was a wonderful day and that she couldn't wait to have more!

President Anderson is as Garret would say, a BOSS. The man is incredible, everytime you are around him he inspires you to do better. Last week he took a group of Jews through the temple and they invited him back to their synagogue to talk, when he went back he explained what the Book of Mormon is and who it came from he talked to them a lot about genealogy and turning the hearts of the children to the fathers and why that was the reason the Book of Mormon was written, he talked to them about what tribe of Israel Lehi was from and similar things and in the end about half of them picked up copies of the Book of Mormon after! I can't express how great he is, he is strict but he is so out of love, and he will call us to repentance when he needs to.

PMG:

As I studied in Preach My Gosple I learned alot about the importance of the Book of Mormon.

• As we read daily we recieve 1. an increase of faith 2. strength against temptation 3. we draw nearer to God 4. and receive revelation
• The Book of Mormon was written to be a daily reminder to put the Lord in our life
• It has the pure simple points of the doctrine and helps us know the system of salvation 1 faith 2 repentance 3 baptism 4 Gift of the Holy Ghost 5 endure to the end.
• As we read we tune ourselves to the spirit and can receive answers for ALL of our problems spiritual and temporal

This led me to wishing I had been reading even a little every night and how much peace that would bring to my life so this week I have a challenge for you all to read 1 small scripture from this list each night in preparation for Easter just to see the difference daily scripture study will make to your lives

1. 2 Nephi 2:6-8
2. Alma 7:11-13
3. alma 34;8-10
4. 3 Nephi 11;31-41
5. 2 Nephi 9:6-7
6. Helaman 14;15-19
7. Alma 11:42-45

I know that as you do this that stress and contention will go down. Temptations will lacken in strength and answers to ALL your problems can be found!

Will you read these scriptures? (That is a missionary "will you" statement that can only receive a Yes or a No, we use them all the time)

Anyway I love you all and appreciate all that you do to help me! Thank the ward for me to they send little things all the time and I really appreciate it!

STAY STRONG, PUSH ON!!!

Elder Park

Letter From The President, April 15, 2014....

Dear Missionaries,

Remember I said we need to keep preparing for the Prophets! We will have the blessing of a Missionary Conference on Saturday, April 19^th at the Coral Springs Chapel at 2:30 to 4:30. We will be taught by Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Council of the Twelve Apostles. We will also have Bishop Gary E. Stevens of the Presiding Bishopric, Elder Erich W. Kopischke of the First Quorum of the Seventy and Elder Stephen E. Thompson of the Seventy attending as well. Prepare diligently for this blessing and I will give you additional details later this week.   

A new video on Mormon.org/BecauseofHim is now available for this Easter week. This will be a wonderful opportunity to share with investigators, less actives, and new converts a short Easter testimony of Jesus Christ. It is only 2 minutes, 45 seconds in length but very powerful to the purpose of our Savior. This Easter week is the last week of the Temple Open House, let’s all get someone there. Amazing miracles have occurred because of it, and what a wonderful opportunity for our non-members to feel the love of our Savior this sacred time of the year. Let us also plan to have a record number of people to Church this Easter Sunday as well as they can experience the celebration of the Resurrection of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

A missionary once asked me about being diligent with something in a certain area of missionary work and said “I’m not finding much success with it”. I then asked “what is it you are doing wrong?” He was a little surprised at the question and I then asked, “Have you prayed and evaluated what you need to improve? What do you think you need to change to have success?” Many times we get caught in the “Missionary”(pride) cycle waiting for something to happen and fail to initiate, through inspiration, the “change of our circumstance”.

Elder Bednar taught us how the Atonement will give us that enabling power:

“As you and I come to understand and employ the enabling power of the Atonement in our personal lives, we will pray and seek for strength to change our circumstances rather than praying for our circumstances to be changed. We will become agents who act rather than objects that are acted upon.” (Elder David A. Bednar, Ensign April, 2012)

Too many of us are constantly looking for things to miraculously happen or work, instead of prayerfully and faithfully evaluating with ourselves as to what is it we could do better. We go through the mechanics of “harvesting”, inviting to be baptized, round-up, teaching, or making and keeping commitments with our nonmember friends. When it doesn’t seem to work, we then pray for something to change instead of praying to change how (application) we do it.  The Lord has promised that He will give us the answers. Lehi also taught us that this ability comes from the enabling power of the Atonement as we act:

“And now, my sons, I speak unto you these things for your profit and learning; for there is a God, and he hath created all things, both the heavens and the earth, and all things that in them are, both things to act and things to be acted upon.” (2 Nephi 2:14)

“And the Messiah cometh in the fulness of time, that he may redeem the children of men from the fall. And because that they are redeemed from the fall they have become free forever, knowing good from evil; to act for themselves and not to be acted upon, save it be by the punishment of the law at the great and last day, according to the commandments which God hath given.” (2 Nephi 2:26)

We must be agents who “act” in what we are doing and not to wait to be “acted upon”. We must seek the Lord’s help to be a “creator of circumstance” rather than “praying for our circumstance to change”. Everything we do in this Mission and in the Gospel has been inspired of God. We must now learn to “act” on these inspired principles until we see and find the success for us. I know God has given us many tools to “change circumstances” for the benefit of us and others. The miracles we have received in “Harvesting”, “Round-up”, being more “Accountable” just to name a few, have brought amazing blessings to the baptisms of thousands since we have been here. A missionary shared this with me:

“Thank you so much for initiating harvesting in our mission! It has changed my life and taught me that I can call down the blessings of heaven on others. In my setting apart my stake president blessed me that ‘you will become a great prayer; many will [come to the Gospel] and come back to the gospel because of your prayers’. If that isn't a reference to harvesting I don't know what is!”

This is someone who, with faith, has created circumstances with the wonderful tools and resources we have been trained on, and have access to. The Temple currently has been an amazing tool to increase desires and solidify conversion, and so many of you have “created circumstances” with it to progress those you teach:

“This past week we had the opportunity to go through the temple with 2 of our progressing investigators. First, we took one last Saturday, His reaction to the temple was unforgettable he said ‘it’s like a castle’ and "I want to come back as soon as possible". After, we went to the welcome tent and invited Him to be baptized the following day. The temple completely solidified His baptism and He was baptized and confirmed the following day. His mom came to his baptism and I remember Him telling us ‘we need to get her to go see the temple’. The following Tuesday, we had the opportunity to take her through as well. When we asked her ‘what room was your favorite room?’ She said ‘the celestial one, I want to go back there someday!!’ as we all then felt the spirit of her response, we invited her to be baptized the following Sunday. SHE WAS BAPTIZED in between conference sessions! The temple has been such a blessing and the most amazing tool to have a 100% baptismal rate for all we take. Everyone we take to the temple, we will baptize!”

Help others “act upon their circumstances” and answer their own questions of truth:

“We had the opportunity to go to the temple this past week with one of our investigators. He had read a whole lot of Anti-LDS literature throughout his life and has had some serious trouble accepting truth now because of it.  We had him pray about the Book of Mormon earlier in the week and the next day he, indirectly, said it was true.  This wasn't enough, so we had him pray about a question we wrote: ‘Should I be baptized this Sunday?’ and write out his feelings on the paper when he prayed.  The next day we stopped by and we asked how his prayer went.  He said it went ‘Okay’ and we asked him to bring the paper where he wrote his feelings.  He had only written one word to answer the question; ‘Yes’.  It was a miracle.  A member drove us up to the temple shortly after that day ...  We were able to have a tour of just our group and it was amazing.  The spirit was so strong.  The spiritual impressions he received directly from God and from visiting his holy house sealed his conversion.  He was baptized yesterday President.”

Help others “act upon their circumstances” and experience the power of the Gospel:

“He came to church 3 weeks ago ...  After church we tried committing him to a baptismal date for the following Sunday but he still felt as though he wasn't ready. So that week we continued working with him... we were able to help him leave behind smoking, drinking, drugs, etc... He was amazing. He was such a repentant guy! The next Sunday ... he came to church again. He loved it. We tried committing him to another baptismal date for the following Sunday but guess what.... ‘I’m not ready!’ is what he told us. Sad but even more motivated to help him at this point we pondered and thought on what was next. What could we do as the Lord’s representatives to help him get baptized this weekend? We decided... Well he's living the commandments, he's repented, he's coming to church, what more does he need? He needs to have a spiritual experience at the Temple of God. This was on Wednesday  ... we traveled with him over to the temple open house. Oh how beautiful it was. The spirit that connected ... connected him with his Heavenly Father! ... One stop on the tour of the temple was at the recommend desk. There the tour guide explained that after the dedication each person that enters will need a recommend. Well long story short we went through the entire temple feeling of the Spirit of God. That special connection that each of us has. Afterwards we encountered something that I will NEVER EVER forget. As we were looking back at the temple, this time from the outside in, we asked him a question, ‘how did you feel inside God’s house?’ his response was simply ‘I felt good. I need to prepare to get my little paper thingy (recommend) so I can come back!’  It was at that moment we told him that the first step of preparation that he was talking about was his baptism this Sunday ... he looked at us with a smile on his face and he said ‘I know, I'm ready!’ He was baptized yesterday and what an experience it was! ... Now he is currently working on getting his family there to the temple this week.”

God will give us strength, confidence, assurance, and inspiration as we become his agents and act upon our circumstances, as Elder Bednar teaches:

“In many of the uncertainties and challenges we encounter in our lives, God requires us to do our best, to act and not be acted upon, and to trust in Him. We may not see angels, hear heavenly voices, or receive overwhelming spiritual impressions. We frequently may press forward hoping and praying—but without absolute assurance—that we are acting in accordance with God’s will. But as we honor our covenants and keep the commandments, as we strive ever more consistently to do good and to become better, we can walk with the confidence that God will guide our steps. And we can speak with the assurance that God will inspire our utterances. This is in part the meaning of the scripture that declares, ‘Then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God’ (D&C 121:45)”. (Elder David A. Bednar, General Conference April 2011)

Our resolution is to achieve 175 Baptisms !!! April is now our Vision month! Prepare for the Prophets this week! We need 200 dates and 200 I@S this Easter week. All must contribute! All need to bring someone to the Temple!!!

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, Elders and Sisters, We can do this!!! We have work to do!!! “Walk with the confidence that God will guide our steps... speak with the assurance that God will inspire our utterances!!!”

President Don E. Anderson

Week 28 In Fort Lauderdale....

Well I got the rest of the patches this week Dad and they are plenty I don't think that I will need any for a LONG, LONG time. I did think it was interesting that last week Dad you called the package of goodies that was sent "Mom and Leah's". I thought what difference would there be in a package that Dad and Garret put together, then I realized it would be sunflower seeds and Gatorade. That's probably the only thing the two of them have time to buy together, with how busy they must be with Baseball. Its great to hear that things are going so well at home with all of you. I can tell you that things are amazing here with the excitement of the temple and Conference this week it was hard to sleep. ( No I have NOT been to the temple yet, we haven't been able to arrange members and investigators to work together! ) This week I realized that I need to really begin to figure out how to get around on my own in this area my companion and I often get lost and turned around, and he knows this area like the back of his hand! I realized this yes because transfers are coming and there is a 50-50 chance that I am staying or leaving and if I stay my companion and I will be lost HOPELESSLY! I might need to ask you if I can borrow Falula (our GPS) if I can't get this figured out.

So, I told you that I got the bike computer thing figured out. Well, this week I really got it dialed in and I was going to start sending you my stats, well, I crashed while biking and it reset it! So I have no stats! But I did learn how to true a wheel because of it! It's super easy. But it got me thinking Dad, on spoked bike wheels am I hanging from the top spoke or sitting on top of the bottom? I can't Google it so I was hoping you would know.

So I am going to follow up on a conference commitment. Do you all have plans to get Preach My Gospel? We are supposed to talk about that in our emails! I want to hear what you are learning!

What a great Conference we were a part of, I want to tell you a story about the power conference has. We invited a family to come and visit and see what conference is like, to expiriment on the words, and they came to the last session, At first they were looked bored and sat as if it were un-interesting, but then as the speakers spoke their interests rose, they began to quote bible scripture along side the prophets and their eyes widened as profound doctrine was unfolded before them, after conference Jeanette shared that she was touched by Elder Corbidge's statements that opposition will surround truth. She said, "Your Church is nothing like they told me, it's just like the one man said bad comes around good." This dear old Jamaican lady is now set with a baptismal date, even for this coming Sunday. It's amazing to see how the spirit teaches so clearly to each persons needs.I can honestly say that there was something in every talk that struck a cord with me. I never realized how truly lucky we are to have this opportunity. As I have studied in Preach My Gospel I have been understanding alot more about the Apostasy and the Restoration so it was wonderful to hear those topics also addressed in the sessions. But often I read the words of Paul about the "grevous wolves" and the "falling away" that must happen before the coming of Christ and I wonder why the people didn't understand the clarity of those words that after the Apostle's passed that the Gospel would be distorted and lost. As you look at the saddness and darkness that that entails it makes the beauty of the Restoration that we are living in more brilliant. I cannot wait until the Gospel is spread to every nation, and language. How glorious will it be when there is no more spiritual darkness on this earth that everyone who desires to know and hear the truth can access it and receive the blessings of eternity and family.

 We invited a family to come and visit and see what conference is like, to expiriment on the words, and they came to the last session, At first they were looked bored and sat as if it were un-interesting, but then as the speakers spoke their interests rose, they began to quote bible scripture along side the prophets and thier eyes widened as profound doctrine was unfolded before them, after conference Jeanette shared that she was touched by Elder Corbidge's statements that opposition will surround truth. She said, "Your Church is nothing like they told me, it's just like the one man said bad comes around good." This dear old Jamaican lady is now set with a baptismal date, even for this coming Sunday. It's amazing to see how the spirit teaches so clearly to each persons needs. 

Also I realized that I don't think I ever really explained what "Harvesting" is so I am including what I wrote to a member (Bro. Beck) about it. Harvesting is a tracting method that we use here that attributes to 75% of our finding, we instead of offering a lesson or a message offer a simple prayer or blessing for the home, people are a lot more willing to accept a prayer and then after the prayer accept return visits because of the spirit. That is the main purpose of harvesting to invite the Spirit into the homes and lives of these people. We spend alot of time trying to learn how to find desires and ask questions that we can learn what matters most to theses people so that the prayer is powerful and impactful, each time making it specific and individual to the person. This helps us know what to teach them and how was can connect their desires to the gospel, after each blessing we invite the person to be baptized right then and there while the spirit is the highest. 

This week has been a good week and we ate plenty I love you and can't wait to hear what you are learning as you use Preach My Gospel! it will help me 5X what I am getting out of it because I will be able to get 5X the amount of studying it done!

STAY STRONG, PUSH ON

ELDER PARK

Letter From The President, April 6, 2014....

Dear Missionaries,

Missionaries, what a wonderful weekend to listen to the words of our “Prophets” and to feast on the instructions to get closer to our Savior. To reflect on His great sacrifice and to celebrate His resurrection; to know that He lives, and that we represent Him is truly an honor and a privilege. Now we have the obligation to live and apply what was taught. Elder Hales has taught us:

“The greatest blessings of general conference come to us after the conference is over. Remember the pattern recorded frequently in scripture: we gather to hear the words of the Lord, and we return to our homes to live them. We accept the Savior’s invitation when we ponder and pray to understand what we have been taught and then go forward and do His will.” (Elder Robert D. Hales, General Conference October 2013)

President Kimball couldn’t wait to start applying the principles of General Conference:

“I have made up my mind that when I go home from this [general] conference … there are many, many areas in my life that I can perfect. I have made a mental list of them, and I expect to go to work as soon as we get through.” (President Spencer W. Kimball, General Conference ,October 1975)

President Monson’s reiterated the importance of studying the talks:

“I encourage you to read the talks … and to ponder the messages contained therein. I have found in my own life that I gain even more from these inspired sermons when I study them in greater depth." (President Thomas S. Monson, General Conference, October 2012)

We had a revelatory meeting with the leaders of the mission last Friday and I am excited for them to share the amazing things we counseled on, in particular, bringing our investigators to Church and to the Temple Open House.

We saw so many miracles this week with the Mission and the Temple and we are anxious to watch for continued miracles in your areas. Every missionary needs to get someone to the Temple. If you have been, then go again with a different investigator. If you can’t get a reservation, come anyway; you won’t need a reservation because the flow is working so efficiently. This will require that you plan well so that your areas don’t suffer. It will also require that we coordinate extremely well with investigators and members to get to the Temple. Some of the comments of the missionaries have been amazing:

“I knew the temple would be such a miracle for missionary work but just having the opportunity to serve at the temple open house, especially in the reception tent after everyone has gone through the tour, I never could've imagined everything that I've experienced or heard. People literally come up to us and ask ‘how can i become a member?’ Every single person I talked to felt the spirit in the temple and they cannot deny that. I approached these two ladies and asked how they liked the temple. One was a less active member and the other was a non-member. The non-member told me it was a miracle in itself that she was even here. She said she would never come and that every time the Elders came to her house to see her Sister, she would run them off and slam the door in their face; or if they were there she would never sit in the same room as them. Then she looked at me and said ‘After today, that will never happen again’. When she said that, the spirit was so strong and she went on about how she was going to always let them in and be a part of their lessons and then she added ‘I’m not a member now, but that will change.’ And I knew those words were true. The Temple is speaking for itself and I know that we will reach our goal ... The Temple is the key!”  

The Temple is solidifying our investigators baptisms:

“... we had the unique opportunity to take her to the temple on Saturday.  It was so amazing to see the affect on her.  Once she had gone through, nothing (and I mean nothing) could have stopped her from being baptized the following day. She was even handed anti-material as we were leaving the temple, and when we told her that it was other people, speaking badly about the church, she folded it up (in a bit of an offended manner) and handed it to us saying she didn't want it.”

People are pleading for more information:

“It was amazing to see people’s hearts so touched by the spirit. I am sure many of them did not plan on feeling that way, or expected to love it so much. The Lord truly softened so many hearts through the temple. Two women came up to me and began asking me questions, all sorts of questions. I answered everything the best I could. They were loving every minute of it. Then they asked about the Book of Mormon. So I told them about that; then one of the women revealed to me that she had three friends who were Mormons. I told her ‘Well if you would like to see the book you should ask your friends to show you.’ She said okay, but then she said ‘can’t you give me one?’ I told them I really can’t give them materials unless they ask for it. In unison they said ‘Can we have one?’ They were so excited.”

The Spirit of the Temple is piercing their hearts:  

“We had so many people come up to us at the end of the tour and ask us, ‘What do we need to do to become members of your church?’ and ‘Can I have a Mormon Bible?’ The power of the temple is REAL. Everyone is feeling it and it's so cool to see them at the end of the tour converted through the Spirit of the Temple. There was this man  who was one of these miracles. His really good friend woke him up Saturday morning, ‘Get up, We're going to see the Mormon Temple.’ He hadn't heard anything about Mormons or the temple at all before his friend invited him. He hadn't even seen the temple before this time and at first he didn't want to go but then decided to in the end. For the past couple of years he told me that he felt very lost, like he didn't have a purpose in life. He'd been praying to God every single day to help him know where he needed to go, but he didn't feel like God was leading him anywhere. As he went into the temple, he said that he felt like God was calling him to come to Him through this church. He told me, ‘I want to be baptized. What do I have to do?’ It was such an incredible testimony to me that the Temple is God's House on earth and that he will call on His elect to receive His blessings.”

I have had the opportunity and privilege to go through with ministers from other religions and the positive feedback has been amazing. In fact, a Rabbi went through a few days ago and sent this message: “Thank you so much for hosting us earlier this week at the Temple. We are interested in learning more about the Mormon teachings.” I will be visiting with them this week.

Those that are going through the Temple are feeling the Spirit of Elijah, perhaps the influence of their own ancestors:

“Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord: And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.”(Malachi 4:5-6)

They are being pulled towards the ordinance of baptism as they view the magnificent baptistery and feel the Lords command:

“Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.”(John 3:5)

They are feeling the power of binding families together for eternity as they enter the Celestial room and the sealing room:

“And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” (Matthew 16:19)

The Spirit is at the Temple, what an amazing opportunity to help our investigators to feel it’s tremendous power and influence. The Temple is a beacon to the world, and a beacon to South Florida. Have the faith to bring your investigators to the Temple Open House; organize with your members, and I know you will share in these miracles!!!

 Our resolution is to achieve 175 Baptisms !!! April is now our Vision month! Prepare for the Prophets this week! We need 200 dates and 200 I@S this week. All must contribute!

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, Elders and Sisters, We can do this!!! We have work to do!!! “Armed with the Power of the Temple, Let’s Do It!!!”

President Don E. Anderson

Week 27 In Fort Lauderdale....

Sorry Dad, I haven't seen ANY gators, other than investi-GATORS. The animals I deal with on an every day are worse, much worse. They have a close association with the devil in his efforts to thwart salvation and the spirit. They are the creatures much worse, they roam free here, their names are many mutt, Chihuahua, and more. They come from NO where and then there they are trying to bite your tires! Chasing you multiple blocks, barking every time you begin to pray and man! I am beginning to really not like dogs. Like Mom always says "I love them I just don't like them right now". (I haven't ever said that about dogs, just kids! hehehe!) Another animal I have already talked about that is a real problem in my life at 5:30 in the morning, every morning is THE STUPID CHICKENS! They laid eggs in our yard this week... They rotted before my companion could collect them and he cracked one outside to make sure there wasn't a chicken inside... It exploded on him! It was awful, my companion doesn't always think things through, jajaja. (Really?!? His companion? That comment could totally be said about the Elder Park that I know!) AND FROGS They are in the weirdest places and they get in the way and never move. Last week we were walking and not looking down and I STEPPED on one! (Ewwww!) They are all over the road!

Well it is a disappointment that *** & ***are going through this, but something that you said Mom, struck me. "The medical advancements give more and better opportunities than before." How amazing is that? I have recently in my studies been coming across repeatedly how amazing it is that by "small and simple things" great things can come to pass. This might be a delay or a bump in the road, and even when it comes to little things. Great things are coming to pass every day according to our individual and simple actions. I know that what ever the reason is that these difficulties are in our path, is for our betterment and improvement. I know that the Lord is there and is listening to our prayers! I can witness to The Refiners Fire, God puts difficulties in our life to burn out the imperfections to purify and strengthen us. Everyday we should strive to become more and with each hill in our road we should be strengthened and up lifted.

That has been my motto this week that the Lord is preparing me. We have experienced this week some success and some trials. At the beginning of the week we received a media referral, someone that gave their information on Mormon.org or some other method. This referral wanted a Book of Mormon. On our way to visit this person, we Opened Our Mouths and spoke to some ladies on the street. They invited us to say a prayer at their home after they had finished their walk. They gave us their address, it is right across the street from the Media Referral. So off we went to the Referral, they said they we searching for the truth and had heard from a relative that was getting baptized about this "new scripture" and how it changed lives and they wanted a copy to study and read. WHAT A MIRACLE! That doesn't happen very often! So we gladly got them a copy and started teaching them. After that appointment we went over to the 3 ladies across the street and said a prayer with them and their whole family, all 10 of them, all with those cool fun names like Shantefana and Latisha. And they all wanted specific and different things. That was a difficult one. But after we said the prayer we invited them to be baptized and the kid in the corner just said, "I am ready, I been in da skareet for to long." and sat down... All I could think was "Yes you have, yes you have, let's get you baptized." And these miracles were so exciting and we went in there for the return appointments ready to help all these people receive salvation.... And we have not been able to contact any of them since! WHAT A BUMMER!! BAH!!! Often we can tell they are home, but just aren't answering the stinking door! In those moments when steam fills your ears, your knuckles are numb and disappointment begins to have a taste (metallic with a hint of garlic and Windex) is when you realize that God is testing you and making you stronger. And what must you do? STAY STRONG and PUSH ON! As a missionary I have begun to feel the pain I imagine my parents (and all parents) felt when I didn't listen to them or follow their council. When you knock for 4 hours and repeatedly hear, I'm catholic, not right now, I am cooking, the babies in the bath, DO YOU KNOW THE NAME OF GOD?, and many other replies repeated and doors shut. Or when an investigator doesn't come to church, read or pray, there is a sadness and a disappointment. But that can't be what we focus on. We must focus on the joy of seeing them in white, entering the water's of baptism. The joy that's felt as you watch them make those covenants with our Father in Heaven and they are confirmed. The peace that enters the room, those are the really important parts.

We had some amazing and inspiring miracles as we continued to work with recent converts and new investigators we were able to establish strong member friends and lasting relationships, the members provide such a strength as they help these individuals understand the culture of being a member. Which is something I imagine to be frightening. New members don't understand; to always pray before meals, what a testimony meeting is, or even what a talk is. Member's with more experience can help them feel comfortable at church and answer their questions. I re-read a lot of talks from last conference and it was expressed repeatedly that members can help people enter and come back to the church and actually they said it was their duty. The members here are beginning to really step up to this call as the Temple draws nearer.

Anyway wish I could say more bye!\
STAY STRONG, PUSH ON!
Elder Park

Letter From The President, March 31, 2014....

The missionaries on the corner that the President is talking about, are us! That was Sister Klien bragging about us to our President! (Love that!)

 Dear Missionaries,

The Temple Open House has kicked off in miraculous ways here in the mission. Experiences, miracles and stories are flying everywhere. Some of them are:

“We had an Awesome Wonderful 1^st day at our Ft Lauderdale Temple Open House.   The spirit was there in abundance.  People were in awe and tears were flowing.”

 “Missionaries were requested to come and teach.  Others asked where do you meet on Sunday and at what time?”

“Children asked ‘Mommy when do I get baptized?’  Another ‘Mom when I get married, I want to get married here’.  The Mother said ‘We would need to join this church’.  Others said ‘It is so beautiful!!!’”

 A non-member wrote “This was very beautiful.  It was wonderful learning more about the Mormon faith and I'd love to learn more.” Another non-member “A little bit of heaven! Absolutely beautiful. Our Father is well pleased.”

We even saw miracles through the internet. I received an email from the Florida Fort Lauderdale Temple website:

“Hello... My name is ________ and I would like to join/become a member of Jesus Christ of LDS. I am relocating to Florida In a week and your assistance would be greatly appreciated. I can be reach at ____. Thank you and I look forward to hearing from you. Have a great day!!”

The Spirit and power that is flowing here is absolutely amazing. I know many of you are part of this great surge of excitement and inspiration. While at the Temple a member came up to me and said, “I have to brag to you about your missionaries. I was driving down the road when I saw at the intersection two of your Elders. They weren’t just standing there or trying to cross the street, but they were talking to three different people at the same time, one missionary faced one way and the other faced another. As I looked at them in amazement, I became so proud of what they were doing in sharing the Gospel and I couldn’t help myself and began to cry. Your missionaries are incredible.”

The power that comes from Temples is becoming evident with all of the great blessings we are experiencing.  Last week I spoke concerning this power, the power of the temple that all of you have brought with you to this mission to “bear exceedingly great and glorious tidings, in truth, unto the ends of the earth”(D&C 109:22-23). That power also has a source here, right here in the middle of our mission. Elder Hales teaches us the Temple gives us power of protection, fortification and preparation:

“For believing and faithful Latter Day saints, the endowment means being endowed with power, the power of godliness, the power that prepares us to live in the presence of God. That same power prepares us and fortifies us for our journey through life. Just as the early pioneer Saints were protected by the endowments they received in the Nauvoo Temple before a long and difficult journey across the plains, we through our endowments, are protected in any trial and tribulations on the long journey back into the presence of our Heavenly Father. In some ways, temples are the armory of the armor of God – they are an essential part of that whole armor of God meant to protect us in this last dispensation when we know that Satan has been loosed upon the earth.” (Elder Robert D. Hales, “Return”, page 251-252)

President Packard teaches us how the Temple endowment will enrich our lives in three ways:

“To endow is to enrich, to give to another something long lasting and of much worth. The temple endowment ordinances enrich us in three ways: (a) The one receiving the ordinance is given power from God. Recipients are endowed with power from on high. (b) A recipient is also endowed with information and knowledge. They receive an education relative to the Lords purposes and plans. (c) When sealed at the alter a person is the recipient of glorious blessings. Powers, and honors as part of his endowment” (President Boyd K. Packard, “Mine Errand from the Lord”, page 491)

President Monson teaches why people desire to come to the Temple:

“Why are so many willing to give so much in order to receive the blessings of the temple? Those who understand the eternal blessings which come from the temple know that no sacrifice is too great, no price too heavy, no struggle too difficult in order to receive those blessings. There are never too many miles to travel, too many obstacles to overcome, or too much discomfort to endure. They understand that the saving ordinances received in the temple that permit us to someday return to our Heavenly Father in an eternal family relationship and to be endowed with blessings and power from on high are worth every sacrifice and every effort.” (President Thomas S. Monson, General Conference, April 2011)

The power of the Temple will help us invoke the Spirit:

“He answered his door with his I-pad in one hand, and a study book in the other. He told us how he was too busy for us to pray. He said he was studying for a big exam coming up and needed as much study time as possible. We of course testified using 3 Nephi 13:33 ‘...seek ye first the kingdom of God..., and all these things shall be added unto you.’ He couldn't reject the spirit when he heard the doctrine, so we prayed with him. He accepted baptism, church, and a return appointment. He told us that when he answered the door, he knew God had sent us and he really needed prayer. However, he rejected us to see if we truly did care and if we were going to walk away or not. It was a good reminder to my companion and I that we need to testify NO MATTER WHAT!”

The Power of the Temple will help us open our mouths:

“My companion felt really strongly that we should go talk to him even though he was talking to someone in a car. We went and prayed with him and invited him to be baptized but he didn't seem very elect. We gave him a chapel card and invited him to church and he said he would be there. We were outside our chapel Sunday morning waiting for our investigators to show up and he comes up to me and says ‘remember me from 3rd Street?’ It took me a minute after talking to him to remember who he was but then I remembered he was the one that didn't seem too interested. We took him inside and gave him a chapel tour before the meeting started and he talked about how much peace he felt. He talked to the bishop a good 10 min before sacrament meeting and then took a seat next to our ward mission leader. After church we went to teach him and before teaching anything he said ‘I know that your church is a true church, I felt it as I walked in today and I know that God sent you to me.’ He accepted an invite to the temple open house and even more importantly he accepted baptism for this Sunday!”

The Power of the Temple will help us follow promptings and know where God’s elect are:

“We got out to harvesting after setting a vision and the 2nd door we knocked on was a nice older woman. After the prayer she said, ‘you will not believe what I have to tell you... I am going to tell you, but you really just won't believe it... truly you are not going to believe what just happened to me...’ well, this built up our desires, ‘what?!’ we asked. She said that just before we came to her she was on the computer and a screen popped up that said, ‘close your eyes and pay attention, because your guardian angels are near...’  then we knocked on the door just a few seconds later. It shocked her, she was in tears after the prayer and after testifying she accepted everything.”

I’m so excited to see the Power that comes from each of your areas because of the Temple. The miracles are already everywhere and I’m anxiously anticipating hearing your miracle. As

President Monson teaches, this Temple miracle is a “beacon to the world”:

“I express my undying gratitude to my Heavenly Father for the temple now being built... and for all of our temples, wherever they are. Each one stands as a beacon to the world, an expression of our testimony that God, our Eternal Father, lives, that He desires to bless us and, indeed, to bless His sons and daughters of all generations. Each of our temples is an expression of our testimony that life beyond the grave is as real and as certain as is our life here on earth. I so testify.” (President Thomas S. Monson, General Conference, April 2011)

A beacon to the world, and a beacon to South Florida. Have the faith to bring your investigators to the Temple Open House; organize with your members, and I know you will share in these miracles. Let us Prepare this week for the Prophets!!!

 Our resolution is to achieve 175 Baptisms !!! April is now our Vision month! Prepare for the Prophets this week! We need 200 dates and 200 I@S this week. All must contribute!

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, Elders and Sisters, We can do this!!! We have work to do!!! “Armed with the Power of the Temple, Let’s Do It!!!”

 

President Don E. Anderson