Letter From The President, November 5,m 2013....

Dear Missionaries,

I love the great promise that Moroni gives when he testifies of how we can know "the truth of all things". President Hinckley teaches:

"The Holy Ghost is the Testifier of Truth, who can teach men things they cannot teach one another. In those great and challenging words of Moroni, a knowledge of the truth of the Book of Mormon is promised ‘by the power of the Holy Ghost.’ Moroni then declares, ‘And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things’ ( Moro. 10:4-5). I believe this power, this gift, is available to us today.” (Gordon B. Hinckley, October 1986, General Conference)

The "Testifier of Truth", the Holy Ghost, is a tremendous resource for us today to strengthen our knowledge and understanding of truth, as well as to invoke its power for others to understand and recognize truth. One of the important ways to feel that truth is reading and studying the scriptures, as Elder Hales teaches:

"The scriptures which we have, give prophecies and promises, and they have been fulfilled in our day. What a glorious blessing! For when we want to speak to God, we pray. And when we want Him to speak to us, we search the scriptures; for His words are spoken through His prophets. He will then teach us as we listen to the promptings of the Holy Spirit. If you have not heard His voice speaking to you lately, return with new eyes and new ears to the scriptures. They are our spiritual lifeline.” (Elder Robert D. Hales, October General Conference, 2006)

Another conduit of the Holy Ghost testifying of God's truth is through the power of prayer, for us and for those we teach. We receive the promptings of the Spirit every day as we pray and plead to God for His promptings and direction. President Eyring teaches:

"Just as pondering the scriptures invites the Holy Ghost, so does daily pleading in prayer. If we do not ask in prayer, He will rarely come, and without our petition He is not likely to linger. ‘And the Spirit shall be given unto you by the prayer of faith; and if ye receive not the Spirit ye shall not teach’ ( D&C 42:14). Heartfelt, constant pleading for the companionship of the Holy Ghost, with the pure intent to nourish our Father’s children, will surely bring blessings to us and to those we love and serve." (President Henry B. Eyring, October 1997, General Conference)

Teaching our investigators to "feel" the truth and not try to reason with their own limited knowledge will cause them to embrace the Gospel and be converted to our message of Jesus Christ. As President Packer teaches us:

“But if you learn by reason only, you will never understand the Spirit and how it works—regardless of how much you learn about other things... Your spirit learns in a different way than does your intellect... For ‘there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding,’[ Job 32:8.] and the Spirit of Christ “giveth light to every man that cometh into the world.”[D&C 84:46.] ... We are told that ‘angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost.’[2 Ne. 32:3.] We are even told that when we speak by the power of the Holy Ghost, we ‘speak with the tongue [or in the same language] of angels.’[ 2 Ne. 31:13;  2 Ne. 32:2.].   The Holy Ghost speaks with a voice that you feel more than you hear. It is described as a ‘still small voice.’[D&C 85:6.] And while we speak of ‘listening’ to the whisperings of the Spirit, most often one describes a spiritual prompting by saying, ‘I had a feeling …’ Revelation comes as words we feel more than hear. Nephi told his wayward brothers, who were visited by an angel, ‘Ye were past feeling, that ye could not feel his words.’ [ 1 Ne. 17:45] (President Boyd K. Packer, October 1994, General Conference)

As we follow the Spirit, God will put us in the path of those who need his Gospel:

“On our way out the door we prayed that the Lord would show us miracles and use us for His work. The miracles started 2 minutes after leaving our house. We bumped into one of our potential investigators that had been hesitant about giving us the address to his apartment. When he saw us, his face split with a smile, and he slammed on his brakes. We talked to him for a couple minutes about his day and where he works, and then scheduled an appointment with him for the next day after getting his address. 200 yards up the street we stopped and contacted a lady in front of an apartment complex. After sharing a powerful harvest blessing she explained to us that she had just barely left a friend’s house because she had felt prompted to walk towards home, and that she believed that this was why. We testified of our callings as representatives of Christ and our purpose to help everyone to come closer to Christ, and then invited her to be baptized. She said yes i have never been baptized because I came form Cuba just one month ago.”

As we follow the Spirit, God will connect us with those searching for truth:

“We had been harvesting and weren't seeing too much success. We stopped and we prayed to ask God where he would have us go and we both got the distinct impression that we needed to go to the street just over from where we were. We walked through an ally to get there and when we came out the other side we saw a house right in front of us. We looked at each other and without even saying anything both made our way to the house. We knocked the door and out came a woman! She was excited to see us and felt the spirit so strongly during the blessing. We invited her to be baptized and she accepted. As we began to teach her, throughout the next few weeks, she was so accepting of everything! She already knew most of the things we talked to her about!! She told us that the day that we knocked her house that she wasn't going to open the door because she never opens the door for people like us, but when she saw us she said that something tugged at her soul, telling her she had to open the door! I will never forget the smile that was on her face as she came out of the waters of baptism yesterday, clean and on her path to living with God again.”

When we follow the promptings of the Spirit, God is prompting others to receive us:

“We blessed a family, a single mother, and then people down the street began to be rude. But we didn't let that stop us, we continued to stay steadfast and then as we were wrapping up our harvest, I felt a prompting to go one house more. We knocked, a woman opens the door and we introduce ourselves and then she stated she was busy cooking. We testified... and she accepted and gladly invited us into her home. We left a powerful blessing and she then told us ‘I told my husband after I was done cooking that I was going to go upstairs to pray, and then you both come knocking on the door’, She was just beyond amazed how God sent us to her at the specific time and day she needed us! The experience was so amazing to me because these past few weeks I’ve been praying specifically to know how to follow the spirit and as I did this woman’s experience became reality!”

We invoke the Spirit when we testify who we are and who we represent. The Spirit then takes charge. If we allow it to, it will reveal truths to those we testify of Christ as Elder McConkie teaches:

“When men are quickened by the power of the Spirit, then the Lord can reveal his truths to them in whatever way he chooses.” (Elder Bruce R. McConkie, October 1978, General Conference)

And that quickening power will give them a conviction of all truth as Elder Bednar shares:

“The Holy Ghost is manifested to men and women on the earth both as the power and as the gift of the Holy Ghost. The power can come upon a person before baptism; it is the convincing witness that Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer. Through the power of the Holy Ghost, sincere investigators can acquire a conviction of the truthfulness of the Savior’s gospel, of the Book of Mormon, of the reality of the Restoration, and of the prophetic calling of Joseph Smith.” (Elder David A. Bernard, October 2010, General Conference).

Elder McConkie teaches the importance of speaking and being directed by the Spirit:

“I desire very much to be directed by the Spirit, because I know that when a man speaks by the power of the Holy Ghost ( 2 Ne. 33:1), that holy being carries the word of truth into the heart of every receptive soul.” (Bruce R. McConkie, October 1970, General Conference)

Missionaries, let’s connect with the wonderful Spirit, the Power of the Holy Ghost to the convincing of all that Jesus is the Christ and that we represent Him. I know God will bless our efforts.

Let us get 175 Baptisms !!! November will 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!!! Let us follow and invoke the power of the Holy Ghost!!!

President Don E. Anderson

Week 5 In Ft Lauderdale...

Hola!

 

Ok! This was the  most amazing week of my life! We baptized Dioscorides and I did it IN Spanish! I can't remember if I told you how everything happend with him.

We met him on Tuesday 2 weeks ago and he flagged us down while we were riding our bikes and asked us if we could visit his friend that lived in a home. He said she was a Mormon and it would mean the most to her if Mormons came and visited her. He talked about how amazing she was and what a good example she was. We said we would love to meet with him and schedule an appoinmet to meet her, he said he would love to find out more about the Mormons but we couldn't visit his house because he lived with JWs and that they wouldn't appreciate us coming over. So he said, why don't you teach me at your chapel? So thats what we did! And he just continually absorbed everything that we taught him and told him. He gave up coffee and smoking in one day and he just really wanted to be baptized. This man is amazing all he focuses on is helping others. Right after his baptism he told us that we need to get more people to come and do it! He already wants to start bringing more people to the gospel! I am just continually amazed at how the SPIRIT teaches because it was DEFINATELY not me. I could barely bare simple testimony to him. But he is now a Recent Convert! How Cool!

This week started and we only had 1 investigator and no potential, nothing. I was worried if we were going to actually have any success this week and I was really doubting if we had done anything effective by refusing to work with the un-elect. It seemed that there really wasn't anyone that was as elect as we were looking for. But we had Dioscorides and he was solid, he was going to be baptized, and we decided to focus on him and let the Lord take care of the rest. It was grim, we were harvesting extra and there seem to be nobody that would even let us bless them, and definately nobody that wanted a return visit. Then on Thursday we decided after our lesson with our only investagator to go visit an old dropped file and harvest around that area. Our lesson was so powerful and so spiritual that we left with highhopes for the Area-book person. When we got there we knocked her door with big smiles and she answered and was nice to us, but said she didn't need us, she was happy just reading the Book of Mormon to her Daughter and she didn't really want us to visit again and boom, there went all the hope I had. We went over to the next apartment and the going was just as tough, but then at the last moment we decided we had time for one more harvest. We turned around and there was a door wide open and it felt like a sign, so we went up and what did we find? A family! and they welcomed us with open arms accepted baptism and set a return appointment before we could even suggest it. He said he felt so good after it and he wanted us to come back and we did! We shared with him the Restoration and he immediately connected to Joseph Smith and with out us even explaining, understood the implications of the First Visit. It restored my faith that there really are elect people in my little B*** L***** Area.

This has all started a chain reaction, we now have so many people that are preparing to be baptised this week and next. This is HUGE!

But every thing is great here and I am loving it!  I hope to write you more in my Letters but I love you!!

ELDER PARK

Oh, and I have a want that I would like your help getting,  I want a voice recorder. Elder L*** and Elder W***** use them to journal and to record testimonies of their recent converts and I really want to start doing that. I have fallen behind in writing because I just don't have enough time to write everything I want to write and I feel that way I could send them back to you as well and it would be a little more! So I would like you to find one that allows for a memory card and then use my money and grab it! and have you found a good binder?

I love you all SO MUCH stay strong push on!

ELDER PARK

Snail Mail Letter October 21, 2013...

Hello~

Well, this week has been interesting! We had Elder Dallin H. Oaks come to our mission conference! That was SO cool! He talked on the importance of exercise both physical and spiritual. He talked on the importance of marriage and the Temple. Committed us all to wait no more than a year and a half to get married (Are you FREAKIN' kidding me?!?!? I already made him promise to wait until age 25!) and to continue to write letters to our recent converts to encourage them to go to the Temple!

But I think I am becoming a girl, too, Mom!(I told him that I have become such a girl since he left, I am crying all the time!) We sang at the closing of the conference "The Armies Of Helaman" and the spirit was SO strong! I got super emotional and it made me just really think about what I was doing! I have definitely been taught in my youth and by 2 loving parents and a whole gaggle of others! And I want to thank you! Dad, I now know why Bishop Workman thinks so highly of you! The more I think back, the more I recognize how guided you are. I keep thinking of that time we were at a Reams and this old guy asked you for directions and you gave them to him, then we left, but when we got to the car you said "I should have drawn him a map" and then you did! You acted on  it and went back. I want to thank you for that! And Mom, you have always got a way to make whoever you are talking to feel like the most important person in the world! That amazes me! I want to be like that! And that was probably the most spiritual moment/epiphany I have ever had!

After the song Elder L*** leaned over and told me we had to go out in the hall as soon as the prayer was over, but Pres Anderson told us to stay in our seats so they could have a speedy exit with Elder Oaks. I figured he must have a good reason, so I followed him out. He told me once we were outside that while we were in line to shake Elder Oaks hand, he had the impression to hug him, but decided  it was inappropriate in front of all the missionaries. Se he decided now was the best time to do it! So we waited and gave Elder Oaks a HUG! Only later did Elder L*** tell me about how much he had struggled to make that decision. He had prayed about it while we were in the meeting and decided it was the best thing to do. So I got to hug Elder Oaks is really the moral of the story! Which was great! Definitely a highlight of the "mish" so far! There is something really amazing about his eyes. They seem to both tell you how much he loves you and admonish you to do better. Really though, there's a depth and a spirit that is truly amazing there, that is quite the opposite of the Santeros/Santaria Practicing people that we meet from Cuba that get frightened when we show them a picture of Christ! Their eyes are all grey and sunken, Elder Oaks eyes shine with a brightness and a knowledge. When you look in to them, you can feel that he knows Heavenly Father and knows Christ is our Savior. His testimony is evident in them. That was truly AMAZING!

On Sunday we had A LOT of visitors, about 22 people from Utah. A big family reunion, they had planned a Disney Cruise that got cancelled and decided they ought to come to church. And I knew one of the kids! He went to Herriman with me! What a funny small world, right!?!? That my first thought, but them it got stranger! In walked this man that looked SUPER familiar with 2 young daughters that also looked way familiar. We said "hi" and asked if he was with the big group and he said no. So we asked where he was from, he said "Riverton, Utah". So, I then knew where I knew him from, he is M**** B****** DAD from NorthStar!! How strange is that!?!? And he had her 2 younger sisters with him. I couldn't believe it. His wife is the lady that drove me from Seminary to School all of 9th grade. In my little chapel in B*** L******, W*** M****, 2 people from Utah that I knew and with a connection to NorthStar! That was really cool!

Also, this week I had a companion study with Elder R*** one of my Zone Leaders. He is going home at the end of this transfer and wanted to give us all the knowledge he could and I am so excited to grow and become as connected and guided as him. He simplified the teaching pattern and our purpose and how to really work with the elect! He reminded us that because we are all children of God, we all have a little electness in us and that was the problem I had. I could see electness in all of my investigators, but he told us, actually showed us, that it is our teaching skill that chooses what kind of person we should teach. A bad teacher can only teach a good and SUPER elect person. A GREAT Teacher can teach anyone. Right now I'm in the lower middle section, I need to work with more elect people than we were.

But I am definitely enjoying life here! Especially when we are given food with cheese in it because Elder L*** won't eat it so I can get double! He doesn't even like cheesecake (Can you believe that?!?! I didn't know people like this existed.) But the people are just amazing here as long as they are Latin, Black (politically correct?) or from Utah, most of the white people are kinda jerks. I've realized I'm beginning to not like them. hahaha. The other funny thing is that people really think I'm Latin for some reason. I've been asked if I am from Cuba, Argentina or Mexico. Then I try to speak Spanish to them and they realize I am not any of those! hahaha. I think it's just my dark hair.

Anyway, I love it here and am working my hardest! I pray for you all always and miss you a little. I'm busy and I love it!

Stay Strong, Push On!
Love you all,
Elder Park

P.S. Mesh Garments DO NOT work in Florida!!!! I would appreciate some DriLux, please.

LOVE YOU!

Snail Mail Letter October 7, 2013...

OK, I am sorry for the short emails this last week. I only have an hour to send emails to you, the President and one other person. So I rotate the last spot, if I am really quick I can squeeze a couple other short ones in.
Man, do I love you guys! I can't tell you how happy those packages made me! I needed those little treats and stuff. It's so busy here that you forget about those things and how they make you smile!
Transfers are every 6 weeks, but since this is my 12 week training period, I will be here with Elder **** for the whole 12 weeks. They give us about $130 a month on our MSF debit cards.
Elder **** does not have a blog and I really haven't met many of the Senior Couples, but those I have met are so sweet and kind. I cannot believe that you called (yes, I called the mission home....) You are CRAZY! But I still love you!
We have met all kinds of people, one of the elect that I am working with at the moment is a lady named ******, she was raised in the church. When she was like 12, she decided she didn't want anything to do with it, but she was never baptised. So, she decided to start coming to church and reading the Book Of Mormon. Yesterday, at Conference she said "I just know this is true! I just want my husband to kjnow it also!" WE DIDN'T KNOW SHE HAD A HUSBAND! We never got to teach her at her home, just at the chapel and I had never noticed the ring. (boys) She just talked and acted like a single lady and had never mentioned it before. So, this week we are hoping to teach both of them and get them both baptised on Sunday.
We are super lucky to have a Rec Room downstairs in our apartment. It has 2 computers and a gym, so that's where we to in the mornings for workout timeand to email on P-days.
So our schedule goes like this:
6:30 Wake up, run downstairs and workout a little
7:00 Back in the apt and rush rush rush to eat a little breakfast, shower and get ready... Shave, shower, iron, come hair, brush teeth, whiten and so on (Ask Kim for good gel.I have to have a good part and my hair isn't cooperating well. It needs to be a part that I can see skin).
8:00 Personal Study hour - Read the BOM for 30 min Preach My Gospel for 30 min
9:00 MIGHTY PRAYER. Which is a mission wide thing where we pray together and for each other, our investigators, their needs and more.
9:15 - 10:15 1st hour of Comp Study. we make lesson plans and practice how we will teach them.
10:15 - 11:15 Language Study
11:15 - 12:30 2nd hour of Comp Study specifically for trainers & trainees. We study from a special 12 week manual called.....dun dun dun "The First 12 Weeks". The church is SUPER creative when it come to naming manuals.
12:30 - 1:00 Eat something light and get out the door!
1:00 - 1:30 Biking, biking, biking and biking and biking and BIKING.
1:30 - 2:30 Hopefully someones feeding us and we teach them a special lesson
2:30 - 3:00 Teach a Lesson
3:00 - 4:00 Our hour dedicated to the Harvest. Which is our special way of finding people where we go and invite others to let us bless their families and selves. We don't dedicate the home, but we bless them with a special blessing of Christs peace and love. People Love Christ here. All we say most of the time is "We are representatives of Jesus Christ" and they invite us in!
4:00 - 8:20 Meet with referrals and Investigators and Less Actives and so on...
8:20 - 9:00 RACE HOME!
9:00 - 9:30 Plan for tomorrow
9:30 - 10:30 Prepare for bed, eat something, write letters and journal.
10:30 BED!!!
Yes, I have seen the new Temple. We were able to see it on our way to the Zone/District apartment. It is gorgeous!
Our area is the largest one and it's about 2 miles from the apartment. So thats exciting! LOTS of Biking, but the bike is great! Maybe a little too great. It looks better than all the other bikes. I'm going to slap some stickers and tape on it, so if anyone has some sweet stickers send them to me!
The weather is just great! Its not too crazy hot. But I keep forgetting when I see rain outside that it is not going to be cold. I like, brace for it and get blasted with hot mugginess. So there's almost no way to stay dry, you sweat so much you'll be soaked anyway. But they have told me that now is the coolest its been in a long time, so I expect it to get ridiculous in the summers. Because I'm on a bike I haven't really been able to use any umbrella's not even the cheap one I bought in Mexico. I'm trying to find a good rain poncho, but haven't found one yet. My biggest dilema is really trying to keep the stuff inside my bag dry. Luckily I kept the plastic case that my sheets came in and it is working as a decent liner.At the moment I am try to figure out if I need to find a bigger shoulder bag or if I really need a smaller one.... I never seem to be able to bring all that I want to bring, but if I pack my bag full it seems to be too heavy. I just want to make room for my umbrella, a poncho, 4 BOM's and some pamphlets. It's also nice to stash a few granola bars and sandwiches in there as well. I think what I have it perfect, I just need to figure out how to use it the most wise.
The time that I have spent in Florida so far has been amazing. I have learned so much about myself, other and the Gospel. My testimony has grown so much. I know that there are small miracles everywhere tha remind us of him. I wish I could tell you all of them. And they testify of His love for us and how incredibly merciful he is. I know that this Church is true and have seen how just a little contact has blessed all kinds of peoples lives. I know that Thomas S. Monson is a Prophet of God and every word he tells us is direct guidance from above. I know that his Council and the Quorum of the 12 have Priesthood keys that allow them to receive revelation for us. And most of all I KNOW that my Redeemer lives. I KNOW that Christ atoned for our sins and that is the only way the Plan is possible. And through the Atonement all of the other blessings can be fulfilled. And I know that Heavenly Father loves me and listens to my prayers.
I love you and miss you, but I am busy and keeping that way. Theres not a lot of time to even think about home, but I do notice the absense of your smiles and faces, all of you. I love you all so very, very much.
Stay Strong, Push On
Elder Park

Garret's 16th Birthday Letter...

Boomer!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

FELIZ CUMPLEANOS!!!

It feels good to be 16 doesn't it?

You feel that power arise? hahaha You don't feel much different, do ya?

It's ok, once you get behind the wheel and start driving alone or when Mom and Dad start needing you to help them out and run to the store for them, THAT's when you feel the Power!

Have you already got a date lined up? Ya ought to get one fast. Only the cute little Mormon girls though! And remember what I told you, It's Cheaper To Take The Government Girls! (SBO)

Let me give you a couple pointers on the JellyBean/Fesitva.

1. Make some Shop friends, FAST! I should have made some friends with the Juniors and Sophs last year that could have helped you, but I didn't. So make some fast, maybe find a girl named ***** ***** and ask her to help you find someone. Tell her you're my brother and she will do anything you want. If she ever wants to go get Slurpees, go with her!

2. I never got the engine mounts fixed but it should still be in the back. The kid told me that I needed the back ones too. They were like $15 a pop and I think ya need 2. Hopefully you can get #1 done soon so you can get some one to help you do this.

3. The front dust guard falls and gets loose sometimes. You just need to take the wheel off and wedge it on again.

4. She is fun. Talk to Brock and make friends with *****, they can show you some way. I'll write Brock and tell him he needs to take you for a ride.

5. She gets hot fast so go easy on her, but she isn't fragil either. Ask Brock again.

6. Don't over do it. There's some things she does well and others she doesn't.

7. WATCH OUT in the school parking lots, they get SUPER ICEY and that little bit of a hill coming in and out is way hard to stop on. Take it slow I don't want you to get hurt, but I really don't want you to be known as the kid that hit C***** L******** or the kid that can't drive! You should be the kid that can.

Tips on dates:

1. Cheaper the better, often the dates that were the cheapest were the most fun!

2. If you don't know how to dance, make it obvious! Just go crazy, jumping, bouncing, spinning. Just make a fool of yourself and make it fun for your date!

3. Pick a good date!

4. Go out WAY more than I did. Do some more dance dates.

Anyway, Dude, I love you, I love the car, but I love you more. I am so excited for you to start driving! And dating! And to become a real highschooler. Keep me updated on basball.

Love you!

Stay Strong, Push On

Elder Park

Week 4 In Fort Lauderdale...

This has been an interesting week... The lady that we thought we were going to baptise turned out to be a former member that had her records removed, so she was going to have a reinition baptism that wouldn't count, but she decided that she is going to wait until her husband decides to be baptized as well. So there was nothing this week! But we did meet the coolest guy named D***********, the literal translation of his name is like God's Corridors... weird but he is amazing and progressing BEAUTIFULLY and has commited to being baptized next week! Thats what what I find so crazy here! The mission is dedicated to working with the elect and about 84 percent of the baptisms happen withing 2 weeks! Thats FAST! But I love it!

I wasn't super sick so I never went to the doctor, but I did go this week to get my hand checked by the mission nurse. I crashed on my bike trying to shoot some of the narrow spots on the sidewalk! It's intense here, the sidewalks are all 4 feet wide, but they don't get wider when there's a telephone pole that is 2 1/2 feet of side walk in between that and the edge, but then in most places there's a wall on that side, my handle bars are about 2 feet, then on garbage day theres cans in the side walk, and theres always a fire hydrant or bustop sign right near the pole on the other side. None the less just driving on the side walk is more like a video game with the consequences being actually messing up! Most of the time I have been able to ride out of it or not really fall, but this time it was unusually difficult and I was going a little faster than normal and BAM! My handle bars caught and I flipped over the top and landed on my right hand, the same way I broke it a few months ago... so I went to walgreens and bought a brace like the doc told me to wear last time and I hope it will heal, it doesn't hurt nearly as bad as last time, so it might not be broken. (hopefully)

Elder L*** has been out here for 10 months, Elder W****** 22 months and Elder U******** 9 and I don't know much about their families other than Elder W******* family is more trunky than he is, Elder L*** as 2 sisters and a brother and Elder U********* sister is on a mission too.

Ask grandpa if he knows a fireman name J**** U*********.

Anyway I love you and think you're all great. Tell EVERYBODY I love them.

PUSH ON STAY STRONG

ELDER PARK

Letter From The President October 21, 2013

Dear Missionaries,

What a tremendous opportunity to hear and experience the testimony of an Apostle of God. Elder Oaks was very impressed with all of you and the amazing things we have accomplished in this Mission. I bragged about what wonderful, diligent, obedient, and hard working missionaries you all are. Some of the things he taught us:

·         Hardest thing to do is to meet the expectation of the members

·         Man is nothing unless we have the Lord to guide us

·         We can answer questions others cannot

·         No better remedy to emotional issues and depression than consistent physical exercise

·         The Temple and Eternity with our families is the ultimate goal

·         The Temple is where we are taught, we make covenants, and are promised blessings

·         Challenge and commit, if not, we are not keeping our covenants

·         The importance of our testimony

Elder Oaks also taught us that the Book of Mormon is the converting agent in bringing people to Christ. The best way to get others to read it is when we read it and increase our testimony of it. We can then testify and explain its precious teachings in a better and more prepared way.

I love the Book of Mormon!!! From the first time I read it as a young man, to recently it continues to change my life. I have increased my love, testimony, faith, knowledge, and relationship with God and our Savior from this wonderful volume of scripture. It gives me peace, comfort, inspiration, and direction as I consume the words of these amazing inspired prophets of God. It is so true what Joseph Smith said in the introduction to the Book of Mormon:

“I told the brethren that the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book.”

Then the invitation to the World is given:

“We invite all men everywhere to read the Book of Mormon, to ponder in their hearts the message it contains, and then to ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ if the book is true. Those who pursue this course and ask in faith will gain a testimony of its truth and divinity by the power of the Holy Ghost. (See Moroni 10:3–5.) Those who gain this divine witness from the Holy Spirit will also come to know by the same power that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world, that Joseph Smith is His revelator and prophet in these last days, and that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the Lord’s kingdom once again established on the earth, preparatory to the Second Coming of the Messiah.” (Book of Mormon: Introduction)

The Book of Mormon references Jesus Christ 3,925 times. On average it mentions Jesus Christ every 1.7 verses. This focus on Jesus Christ is substantial in helping others to get close to Him and to come unto Him: 

“The Book of Mormon is powerful evidence of the divinity of Christ. It is also proof of the Restoration through the Prophet Joseph Smith. An essential part of conversion is receiving a witness from the Holy Ghost that the Book of Mormon is true. As a missionary, you must first have a personal testimony that the Book of Mormon is true. This testimony can lead to a deep and abiding faith in the power of the Book of Mormon during the conversion process. Have confidence that the Holy Ghost will testify to anyone who reads and ponders the Book of Mormon and asks God if it is true with a sincere heart, real intent, and faith in Christ. This witness of the Holy Ghost should be a central focus of your teaching... The Book of Mormon, combined with the Spirit, is your most powerful resource in conversion. It is the most correct of any book on the earth. It teaches the doctrine of Christ plainly, especially in the lessons you teach investigators. Use it as your main source for teaching the restored gospel... A central purpose of the Book of Mormon is to convince all people that Jesus is the Christ. It testifies of Christ by affirming the reality of His life, mission, and power. It teaches true doctrine concerning the Atonement—the foundation for the plan of salvation... Those who know little or nothing about the Savior will come to know Him by reading, pondering, and praying about the Book of Mormon.” (PMG p. 103-105)

The Book of Mormon will solidify our investigators stronger in the Gospel as they prepare for baptism:

“One great experience happened with our investigator...  He had been really nervous about his baptism that was supposed to be this past Sunday. He kept asking questions about sinning after his baptism, and things like that. We have answered that question in many different ways before, but mainly from our own words. We took out a member that day who started teaching him the plan of salvation...  So our investigator kept asking questions about where we go after we die. We told him we'd answer all his questions next time because we had to go. We decided to give him Alma 40 to read. We came back later and asked him how his reading went. We were happy that he read. He taught back to us everything about the resurrection and spirit world. We asked him if he had any questions and he said they were all answered, and that he was ready to be baptized! I learned from that experience the importance of teaching doctrine especially from the Book of Mormon.”

The Book of Mormon is the very next “spiritual experience” after your blessing that will help them come to Christ:

“There was a car running on the side of the road, as ... we got closer the driver jumps out and says, ‘You came by the other day and I said I was too busy, but now I'm not too busy for the prayer.’ I remembered this man and he wasn't exactly the nicest when we stopped by before, so I was a little skeptical.  I see some more people get out of the car... it was his son and wife... he asks if we are just going to say it there in the parking lot... ‘No, we want to go to your house.’ So he runs and turns the car off and we go inside his home.  We leave the blessing and the spirit was so strong. They mention that their son was baptized last Sunday in their church, so we, naturally, invite them to do it again.  They accept and want us to come back.  The father of the family was even trying to persuade his wife to let them go to church the next day! Just as we are leaving the Dad surprises us again by asking if we have any special books... ‘Why yes we do!’ They loved the Book of Mormon. It was fantastic!”

Our investigators are looking for the truths that the Book of Mormon teaches. It is the one thing that no other religion can explain where it comes from. They are praying for it and even dreaming about it:

“We taught a family the restoration on our next visit and they ate it up as if they were starving for the truth. The husband was asking us during the lesson the same question that Joseph Smith had. We excitedly taught them and introduced the Book of Mormon to them, and the wife, who had been pretty quiet yet receptive, opened up to us and told us about a dream she had a few nights ago. It was about her neighbor, the one who referred the family, and she had offered her a bible but this one was different. She said she didn't recognize the book until we pulled it out and gave it to her. She quickly said ‘that’s the book!!’”

President Benson taught the importance of this great Book:

“Perhaps there is nothing that testifies more clearly of the importance of this modern book of scripture than what the Lord Himself has said about it. By His own mouth He has borne witness (1) that it is true (D&C 17:6), (2) that it contains the truth and His words (D&C 19:26), (3) that it was translated by power from on high (D&C 20:8), (4) that it contains the fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ (D&C 20:9, D&C 42:12), (5) that it was given by inspiration and confirmed by the ministering of angels (D&C 20:10), (6) that it gives evidence that the holy scriptures are true (D&C 20:11), and (7) that those who receive it in faith shall receive eternal life (D&C 20:14). A second powerful testimony to the importance of the Book of Mormon is to note where the Lord placed its coming forth in the timetable of the unfolding Restoration. The only thing that preceded it was the First Vision. In that marvelous manifestation, the Prophet Joseph Smith learned the true nature of God and that God had a work for him to do. The coming forth of the Book of Mormon was the next thing to follow. Think of that in terms of what it implies. The coming forth of the Book of Mormon preceded the restoration of the priesthood. It was published just a few days before the Church was organized. The Saints were given the Book of Mormon to read before they were given the revelations outlining such great doctrines as the three degrees of glory, celestial marriage, or work for the dead. It came before priesthood quorums and Church organization. Doesn’t this tell us something about how the Lord views this sacred work?” (President Ezra Taft Benson, October, 1986, General Conference)

Teaching and committing others to read and pray about the Book of Mormon will enhance our teaching and commitments to all those we invite to “Come unto Christ”. Let us strengthen our testimonies of this amazing Book. Let us help others to love and live it like we do.

Let us get 1500+, 8 by Wednesday, 5 dates, 5 to Church,  500 N.I., 400 MPL, 250 to Church. 200 Dates & 175 Baptisms !!!

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!!! Let us help more “come to Christ” with the Book of Mormon.

President Don E. Anderson