Week 37 In Fort Lauderdale....

Man this place is different I have been working my BUTT off and not a lot is happening. We spend a lot more time traveling because we have one on the Largest areas, and it is more spread out than normal. Driving down here is definitely different because you have people from different countries with different driving habits as well as people that are ALWAYS in a hurry. One important technique that I have learned is known as a "Cuban Finger". It works similar to a blinker when it is bumper to bumper traffic. You stick your finger out the window and point where you want to go and when the car moves you take the spot. It's kinda like saying "I ama coming over whether you like it or not". VERY USEFUL down here. And Dad, managing less than a 1000 miles is looking to be WAY more difficult than I thought... last week we averaged 35 miles a day, and once this month we have to go up to Ft. Laud... There will be a little biking, we plan to use the car to get us far places and then use the bike to get around from there.
This apartment has NO BED BUGS!!!! YEAH! I burned the previous sheets so that I didn't bring them and bought new ones. I still run the diffuser every now and then to ward them off and I like the smell too.
Another thing that I thought that I would mention is that I think when you updated the GPS some things got changed... Because the words on the screen are in English, but the voice wasn't, it was in Japanese... So I went to change it and guess what languages were available? Cantonese, Japanese, Korean, Mongolian, Tagalog, and a few others I cannot pronounce... No English, No Spanish, No Portuguese, No French, which are all languages that I could have understood... HAHA I thought it was funny!!! So I decided that we would listen to Korean so that I could get back to my roots! ;) (Inside joke, Park is a Korean name also.)

This week we had an exciting thing happen... We were driving home from a meal appointment that turned out to be a pick up and we passed a Krispy Kreme, we decided to buy a box. After we checked out the lady asked if we would like some extra glaze, we thought as a dipping sauce, so we said "sure". She handed us 2 boxes of glazed donuts for free! How crazy right? 24 free donuts! But it doesn't end there, a couple days later was free donut day... so we stopped in to get a donut, we didn't even buy a donut, we still had donuts at the house. WE JUST GOT OUR FREE DONUT for Donut day, but we walked out with...2 dozen more FREE donuts! That means this wee we got 5 dozen donuts for $10.    60 donuts, 10 dollars!!! 6 per dollar!! We were amazed!! (I am so glad that donuts can make him so happy!)

That was one of the highlights this week not much actually happened... We worked HARD with little success and nobody at church! But we aren't giving up we still know that we can help get baptized this month!

It's like Alma the younger he got discouraged as he tried to teach the Nephite dissenters, but the Lord told him "No this is were you must be!" So he stayed and MANY people then received the Gospel!

We are going to keep on working hard and looking for the repentant people! "And the voice of warning shall be unto all people, by the mouths of my disciples, whom I have chosen in these last days."(D&C 1:4) that's our duty, it's what we will do!

Stay Strong, Push ON!

ELDER PARK 

Letter From The President, June 9, 2014....

Dear Missionaries,

I know all of you are excited for the opportunity to go to the Temple this month. 

We will have Temple clothes at the Temple. Please come 40 minutes early to get the correct size and to prepare to start on time (don’t come earlier). Elders, please wear your long sleeve white shirt and bring your white pants, tie and socks. We will meet after with President Boggess (Temple President) and take a photo in front of the Temple after each session. Because of time and efficiency, we need all missionaries to speedy depart after the pictures.

We have enjoyed the interviews with all of you and are excited to reunite at the Temple. Some of you have asked me “how can I best prepare for the Temple?” There are processes throughout our existence on earth that take time to prepare so that we can achieve the goal and desire through progression in our lives. This can come with years of education and preparation for a degree; years of preparation for a career; years of preparation for an eternal family. Throughout the scriptures, God has prepared His people through a process of refinement. Sometimes that refinement takes years. It took Moses 40 years to prepare his people for the promised land of Israel. It took 10 years for Lehi to prepare his family to arrive in the promised land of the Americas. It took Joseph Smith 9 years after the First Vision to prepare to fully translate the Book of Mormon (which took only about 2 months). 

I believe we can prepare ourselves for the Temple in a short period of time (weeks and even days), to enjoy the rewards of miracles and revelation from God. This will allow us to not only have a revelatory experience, but as we rededicate ourselves, it can springboard us to greater things after the Temple. If we unite in our cause to prepare, I know we will amplify our blessings beyond our comprehension. We must be exact in our obedience in every moment of every day. We must be diligent in our efforts to find, teach and invite. And we must infuse both of these with faith that God will bring the miracle as he pierces the hearts of those we invoke the Spirit with. These things will give us power.

I know you understand that being obedient brings so many blessings into the work. President Boyd K. Packard said regarding obedience and the Priesthood (Power and Authority):

“It is now our responsibility to activate the power of the Priesthood in the Church. Authority comes by way of ordination; power in the priesthood comes through faithful and obedient living in honoring covenants.  It is increased by exercising and using [it] in righteousness…Your authority comes through ordination; your power comes through obedience and worthiness…” (Boyd K. Packer, Ensign May 2010)

This mirrors so well the power and authority, which requires obedience, we have been given as missionaries. All of you have been given authority when you were set apart:

“As you prayerfully and worthily exercise that authority, you will receive spiritual power, which is evidence of the reality of your call… Along with your authority comes a responsibility to live worthy of your calling… In addition to authority, you are also to exercise power in your work. The authority that you have received can lead to power. Indeed, spiritual power is one evidence that your authority is real. Spiritual power is a gift that makes it possible for you to do your work more effectively.” (PMG P.4)

Obedience will keep your authority active and current. Obedience will also give you power as a missionary. The more obedient you are, the more power you will receive to perform miracles for the Lord. We see the great examples of obedience resulting in power and authority from the examples of great missionaries from The Book Of Mormon:

Abinadi: “And he spake with power and authority from God…” (Mosiah 13:6)

Sons of Mosiah: “But this is not all; they had given themselves to much prayer, and fasting; therefore they had the spirit of prophecy, and the spirit of revelation, and when they taught, they taught with power and authority of God.” (Alma 17:3)

Nephi and Lehi: “And it came to pass that Nephi and Lehi did preach unto the Lamanites with such great power and authority, for they had power and authority given unto them that they might speak, and they also had what they should speak given unto them—“ (Helaman 5:18)

You are touching the heart of everyone that you declare with power and authority that we “represent Jesus Christ” and even when they don’t embrace it now, be optimistic that they will reflect and embrace it later:

“I got a call at the very end of personal study from a random number. I picked up and a lady in Spanish told me ‘Hi, you gave me a card to come to your church, but I don't have a ride’. I told her we'd help her get there and asked if we could stop by to pray and share a scripture with her. She agreed and we went over later that day. Well when we got there, she opened up her purse to show us the card she had, and it was a chapel card, nicely folded with our number on it, but the names [missionaries from two years ago] were written on it! My companion and I were astounded that she'd been hanging onto the card for what must be almost 2 years now! The spirit finally prompted her to call, what a miracle! Turns out she used to go to church when she lived in Missouri... we will be teaching her and her 2 kids this week.”

Your power and authority will draw to the Church, and because of the kind of missionaries you are, you will continue to invite even after your release:

“Our most solid investigator came with his member friend, and then someone that we had harvested earlier that week walked into the chapel for Sacrament Meeting! We went up and started talking to him, and we asked him what made him come to church, and he said ‘Well, I told you guys I would come, didn't I?’ It was awesome! And then the Sisters came to get us during Sunday School and said ‘There is an investigator who lives in your area who showed up to church today because a member invited her. She wants to be a member of the church.’ She attended the Ward yesterday, and we assigned her with a member friend. (Sister Jasmine Brown recent released FFLM). We were not able to stick with her during the Service, so we asked Sister Brown if she would invite our investigator to be baptized during church that day. She did, and our investigator accepted!!! Sister Brown told us over the phone that she had invited her to be baptized, and that she had already arranged to go and pick up our investigator for church the following Sunday. It sure is nice to have a Returned Missionary from your own mission to help you out. God truly blessed us yesterday.”

As we prepare diligently for the Temple, God will bless us tremendously:

“So after church and our miracle baptism, we went out to find our investigators who didn’t come to church and reset them with baptismal dates.... no one was home or picked up the phone. So it is 8:30 and we're exhausted, but we know we have to give all of our diligence to the Lord to qualify for miracles and our revelatory temple experience on the 20th. So we pray and follow the feelings to an area we've never knocked. After getting rejected at a few doors, we knock into a man. He asks us if we can just pray outside because his little dog is inside. I'm not going to take that excuse, so I asked if he'd put the dog away and we could step in and bless his home. I'm so glad we were bold because it was one of the most powerful harvest blessings I've left in a long time! The spirit was so present and when we invited him to be baptized and he said  ‘I think so. Yes, I need to make that commitment to the Lord, because he's changed my heart’. I was so glad that we chose to be diligent and that God answered our prayer that we said earlier that we would be blessed and be able to bless someone else's life. I'm so excited to go teach him!”

I know we can prepare well for this amazing opportunity and our power and authority that comes from our calling, obedience, diligence and faith will help us reach our goals, as I have before quoted President Packard concerning our urgency:

“Since baptism is essential there must be an urgent concern to carry the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people … We accept the responsibility to preach the gospel to every person on earth. And if the question is asked... You mean you are out to convert the entire world?’ the answer is, ‘Yes. We will try to reach every living soul.’ Some who measure that challenge quickly say, ‘Why that’s impossible! It cannot be done!’ To that we simply say, ‘Perhaps, but we shall do it anyway.’” (Boyd K. Packer Ensign, November 1975, p. 97)

Remember as Elder Holland tells us, we need the unity of all of us as a mission:

“It is when an entire mission is united by the strength of every missionary’s integrity, every missionary’s personal covenant keeping, that we move mountains. When there is such unity and power, an endowment from heaven, coming to every individual in the mission, nothing can ‘stop the work from progressing.’ It is in this way that the ‘truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent.’ (Jeffery Holland, Jan.2012, Liahona)

Missionaries, “God will give us power and authority as we are obedient, diligent, and faithful!”

Let us be resolute to achieve 175 Baptisms !!! June is now our Vision month! We need 200 dates and 200 I@S. All must contribute! You are Amazing!!! You are Incredible!!! You are Wonderful!!! And you are in the “Exciting Legendary Mission”!!! Remember our promise and that our names have been sealed in the Temple!!!

We Love you, We Pray For You, Elders and Sisters, We can do this!!! We have work to do!!! “They spoke and taught with power and authority!!!”

President Don E. Anderson

Week 36 In Fort Lauderdale....

New Area: Homestead East

• Same Zone different district
• Same Stake
• 1 ward south
• Covers a HUGE area including the first 5 keys
• The town is similar to Herriman, in that there are a lot of neighborhoods and farmland side-by-side, kinda quiet and there are still a few dirt roads
• We have a car, and 1000 miles a month.

New Companion: Elder B****(ito)

• Small
• Quiet
• Navajo
• 20 months in the mission
• needs help with spanish and taking to people
• Can't drive (blind in one eye) so I do

New roommates: Elder B****(isimo) 23 months and Elder J***** 7 months

• kinda trunky district-leader
• newer kid "raised" with minorly disobedient trainers

What a week! I got to Homestead and there were NO key investigators... none, no lessons taught, no new investigators and no blessings given. We had to WORK to make things happen. This Area has had a bit of a history lately of health problems and losing proselyting time because of it. As well the last missionaries in the area had been working with the same 5 people for about 3 months and so the area needed a HUGE jumpstart. And so that is what Elder Brown and I did we just got to it and WORKED. We left 19 blessings with people and the first 4 new gators this area has seen in quite some time. And there is some super potential for progress here. We have 3 people lined up for baptism on the 15th. I am super excited for the chance to remodel an area. The members here need to be worked with to build their excitement for the area and the missionaries need to build their diligence.

I was trying to think of a story to tell you and all I could think of is the story of Kristina and Robin who we found this week through a media referral. She is a DoTerra lady... yup! and so two weeks ago there was a big convention in... UTAH!!!! and they flew her out. Through the DoTerra people she met a lady in Heber that let her stay with her. Well Kristina was incredibly impressed with the way that the family acted and how neighbor kids walked in and out of their house. and she realized it was because they were living the christian life, not just say that's what they were. I just found it incredible that just living in HEBER for a couple of days was enough to change her life and make her want to be a part of it. When we went over all she wanted was for us to explain and help her prepare! That was incredible to me.

Other wise missionary life is missionary life, sometime people love you then sometimes they call you false prophet and try to spit on you. But that's how it works its hot, muggy and sweaty, but that's what I imagined about missionary work I am glad to be here where I am!

LOVE YOU stay strong, push on.

ELDER PARK

Letter From The President, June 2, 2014....

Dear Missionaries,

I recall as a young missionary years ago, a moving declaration made by President Spencer W. Kimball. This pronouncement was made while I was serving as a missionary and I remember it well. President Kimball was a Prophet who coined the phrases, "Do It", "Do It Now", and "Lengthen your Stride", and was a true example of a modern day Job with all the adversities he experienced and overcame in his lifetime. In the October 1979 General Conference, President Kimball related the story of Caleb who was a trusted disciple and servant of the Prophets Moses then Joshua. At the age of 40 he was given the assignment by Moses to spy on the enemies who inhabited the "promised land". Forty five years later, at the age of 85, Caleb declares to Joshua "As yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me [at least in the spirit of the gospel and its call and needs]: as my strength was then, even so is my strength now, ... both to go out, and to come in" (Joshua 14:7-11)

President Kimball continued:

"From Caleb's example we learn very important lessons. Just as Caleb had to struggle and remain true and faithful to gain his inheritance, so we must remember that, while the Lord has promised us a place in his kingdom, we must ever strive constantly and faithfully so as to be worthy to receive the reward... Caleb concluded his moving declaration with a request and a challenge with which my heart finds full sympathy. The Anakims, the giants, were still inhabiting the promised land, and they had to be overcome. Said Caleb, now at 85 years, 'Give me this mountain' (Josh 14:12)."  

Then President Kimball made his own declaration, almost at the same age as Caleb:

"This is my feeling for the work at this moment. There are great challenges ahead of us, giant opportunities to be met. I welcome that exciting prospect and feel to say to the Lord, humbly, 'Give me this mountain,' give me these challenges. Humbly, I give this pledge to the Lord and to you, my beloved brothers and sisters, fellow workers in this sacred cause of Christ: I will go forward, with faith in the God of Israel, knowing that he will guide and direct us, and lead us, finally, to the accomplishment of his purposes and to our promised land and our promised blessings...  I will 'wholly follow the Lord my God' to the fullest extent of my energy and my ability. Earnestly and fervently I urge that each of you make this same pledge and effort..." (Spencer W. Kimball, Ensign Nov. 1979)

The inspiration of this statement is one that I extend to all of you, with the same pledge and effort, "Give us this Mountain, Give us these Challenges". Accomplishing the purposes God has put us here to achieve, will bring about "promised blessings" that God has pledged to give. God is blessing you for the "Mountains" you are climbing and the people He trusts you with because of your obedience and diligence in opening your mouth:

“My companion saw a girl across the street that was sitting on the front porch of an apartment building. We went over to her and left a Harvest Blessing, and by the end she was crying. She said she had been going through a really rough time. She had just moved here from New York, got scammed out of a lot of money, is going through identity theft...and etc. Basically we were a huge answer to the prayers of her heart. After we invited her to be baptized, and before we committed her to a date she said, ‘so when is the soonest we can do the baptism?’ We told her June 1st and she was so excited. She came to church this past Sunday and basically became best friends with the whole branch. We found out that she smokes, but throughout all of the service she was expressing that she knew she needed to quit. Our member told her ‘I hope you know that you're gonna be my new best friend?’ She agreed and then apologized for her bad habit of smoking that the member was going to have to deal with. Our member was baptized in January and told her ‘"Don't worry,  I'm gonna help you quit! I used to have that same problem too.’ She was so happy and she was simply glowing all of Sunday and making friends left and right. A few minutes ago she called us and told us she is now planning to move out of her boyfriend’s house. We haven't even taught her the law of chastity! She just wants to be right by God. I am so grateful for the blessings that are being rained down.”

Because of the "Mountains" you are climbing, you, as representatives of Christ, are bringing Salvation to many by the Spirit and Testimony you express. You are escalating their interests and desires, building up their hopes and faith; then inviting them to act:

“After teaching an investigator this week, we were heading back to our car when one of his neighbors that was out watering his lawn yells from a little bit of a distance ‘what do you have for me?’ We were a little confused and thought he was mad and he yells again ‘what are you selling?’  We answered ‘salvation’. We walked over to him with our member and we introduce ourselves as representatives of Jesus Christ and offered to share a harvest blessing with him. He accepts and we ask him what it is that he needs. He says that all he needs is to stop drinking. He told us how his marriage of 30 years had just ended not too long ago because of his drinking problem and you could tell it was very hard for him... He goes and turns off the water and then invites us to come inside. We went in with him knelt down and offered the blessing. The spirit filled the room and after the prayer we all stayed on our knees for a minute, through his tears he says I knew you would come. I felt it as you walked down the street something told me I needed to talk to you guys and I knew I had to bring you over. We testified that God loves him and that he could be healed through the atonement. We invited him to be baptized and he said yes.”

We are helping others to climb their mountains:

“We had met her about two or so weeks ago at a Burger King. We gave her a card and invited her to church. We didn't have church that week due to the dedication so she was standing outside the building and called us asking for an explanation. We were able to tell her that we didn't have normal church that week and she was ok with it...  She had come to church before and said that she liked it...  on Wednesday we met with her and she explained to us that she had read over half way through in the Book of Mormon. We were shocked and praised her for it. We didn't see her for some time then on Saturday night she called and said ‘What do I need to wear to my baptism tomorrow?’ She remembered the date we had set her with and was determined to be baptized. With the help of our wonderful Branch she was able to get into the font on Sunday. She is an example to me that the spirit speaks to all of us.”

President Eyring shared:

“My heart was stirred, knowing, as I did, some of the challenges and adversity he [President Kimball] had already faced. I felt a desire to be more like him, a valiant servant of God. So one night I prayed for a test to prove my courage. I can remember it vividly. In the evening I knelt in my bedroom with a faith that seemed almost to fill my heart to bursting. Within a day or two my prayer was answered. The hardest trial of my life surprised and humbled me. It provided me a twofold lesson. First, I had clear proof that God heard and answered my prayer of faith. But second, I began a tutorial that still goes on to learn about why I felt with such confidence that night that a great blessing could come from adversity to more than compensate for any cost. The adversity that hit me in that faraway day now seems tiny compared to what has come since—to me and to those I love.” ( President Henry B. Eyring, General Conference April 2011)

I know Missionaries that South Florida has no mountains at sea level, but we have many "Spiritual Mountains" to climb as we are "Exactly Obedient" and "Diligent" to what God has called us here to do. We can get 175!!! We have shown God already that we can get 168!!  Every companionship needs to contribute (Baptize) early this month for us to accomplish this.

Set your goals now on who and how many you will baptize this week, this month. Then set goals (specific) to achieve this goal. Then take it to the Lord "if we do this (specific) will thou bless us for our very best effort with these (specific) baptisms?" I know the Lord will bless you as you conquer your mountain!!!

What will we do to prepare for our opportunity to attend the Temple on the 20th of June? What are you prepared to do to have the greatest revelatory experience at the "House of The Lord"?

Missionaries, “God will give us this mountain, God will help us conquer this mountain!”

Let us be resolute to achieve 175 Baptisms !!! June is now our Vision month! We need 200 dates and 200 I@S. All must contribute! You are Amazing!!! You are Incredible!!! You are Wonderful!!! And you are in the “Exciting Legendary Mission”!!! Remember our promise and that our names have been sealed in the Temple!!!

We Love you, We Pray For You, Elders and Sisters, We can do this!!! We have work to do!!! ...  I will 'wholly follow the Lord my God'. “Give me this mountain,' give me these challenges!!!”

President Don E. Anderson

Week 35 In Fort Lauderdale....

This was a really interesting week, because we were fried... We could not find places to knock, to OYM, to meet people that we hadn't been. We were desperate, frazzled and distraught! We would look at our map and pray and pick a spot get there and realize we had already knock, taught and committed the homes in this area. And not only did we remember but the people did as well, one guy asked Elder Taylor why he was still in the state. (This guy wasn't very polite to us the first time.) NOTHING WAS HELPING... DT was about boosting your faith we tried, but it just wasn't working we searched for new ways to be obedient that didn't work! We were making our beds, polishing our shoes everyday, role playing, mopping everything 110% obedience. THIS IS SUPPOSED TO ALWAYS WORK!!! but then we realized that maybe we needed to search for revelation through different means, because the Lord isn't going to make it easy to find where we need to go. People's salvation isn't simple and cheap. So we were looking for signs in everything, the wind, the birds, funny signs, where the last media referral lived and then we found something... our dreams... Elder Taylor was the first to experience this unusual way of harvest area finding, he had a dream one night of working in a specific area... so we went there... we were desperate... BUT IT WORKED!!! We found some of the most incredible people and we were finding success!

So from that day on we were looking for places inside our area in our dreams, I now write down dreams because they could be revelation from God! I mean look at Lehi  "And it came to pass that while my father tarried in the wilderness he spake unto us, saying: Behold, I have dreamed a dream; or, in other words, I have seen a vision." (1 Nephi 8:2) But that lead to my search to really understand how revelation works. And to really search for it in the scriptures. And I realized that the best way to find meaning in the scriptures is not just to understand the stories but to see how they apply to your life! And so that is what I have been doing in my QUEST: To become one with the scriptures. I have not only been searching and trying to memorize important scriptures but I have been trying to create a system of memorizing and finding new scriptures that apply to my life and others (investigators). So my study journal has been rapidly expanding, and is nearly to a max.

This week we had an amazing miracle. During our struggles to find solid investigators we needed something to do to fill the time that we weren't teaching, so we made and effort to visit our less active miembros. And in doing so we found 2 great part-member families that are going to be a great addition to the teaching pool for whoever is going to fill my spot here tomorrow (a greenie). That's right last night I found out that I will be transferring and Elder Taylor will be staying AND training that means 2 more transfers here! He will be here for 6! That's FOREVER we all thought he was leaving and I was going to be in charge! But NOPE God still needs him here! So I am off to where ever the Lord sees fit with no idea where, what or who I will be with! PRAY FOR ME Y'ALL! I really love this ward they are super excited about the gospel and they LOVE to baptize! This ward is all up in that work! The ward wants more. SO I am going to miss this area! And all the members and my recent convert friends!

Well I want you all to know that I love you and care for you STAY STRONG AND PUSH ON!!!

ELDER PARK!!

Letter From The President, May 26, 2014....

Dear Missionaries,

 Friday before the dedication of the Temple, Sister Anderson and I, along with the Temple Open House/Dedication Committee, Stake Presidents, and dignitaries from Salt Lake, went inside the temple to observe the insertion of items that would go into the Corner Stone Box of the Temple. We were able to witness the names and signatures of all of you missionaries, along with our promise, placed in the Corner Stone Box. That promise being the personalization of D&C Section 4:

“Now behold, a marvelous work is about to come forth among the children of men.

Therefore, [We will] embark in the service of God, [We will] serve him with all [our] heart, might, mind and strength, that [we] may stand blameless before God at the last day.

Therefore, [we] have desires to serve God [and we] are called to the work;

For behold the field is white already to harvest; and lo, [we will] thrusteth in [our] sickle with [our] might, the same layeth up in store that [we] perisheth not, but bringeth salvation to [our] soul;

And faith, hope, charity and love, with an eye single to the glory of God, qualify [us] for the work.

[We will] Remember faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, brotherly kindness, godliness, charity, humility, diligence.

[We will] Ask, [so we may] receive; [We will] knock, [that it may] be opened unto [us]. Amen.” (D&C 4)

And the blessing from it as pronounced by King Benjamin to his people after all we can do:

“Therefore, I would that ye should be steadfast and immovable, always abounding in good works, that Christ, the Lord God Omnipotent, may seal you his, that you may be brought to heaven, that ye may have everlasting salvation and eternal life, through the wisdom, and power, and justice, and mercy of him who created all things, in heaven and in earth, who is God above all. Amen.” (Mosiah 5:15)

Sister Anderson and I were very humbled as we were able to help carry the Corner Stone Box to the Corner Stone, place it into the cavity, and help seal it up (see enclosed pictures). Our names will be in that Corner Stone as long as this Temple stands. 

President Hinckley describes well the importance of the tradition of the Corner Stone:

“In each new temple we have had a cornerstone ceremony in harmony with a tradition that goes back to ancient times. Before the general use of concrete, the foundation walls of the building were laid with large stones. A trench would be dug, and stones would be placed as footings. Starting at a point of beginning, the foundation wall would be run in one direction to a cornerstone; then the corner would be turned and the wall run to the next corner, where another stone was placed, from which the wall would be run to the next corner, and from there to the point of beginning. In many instances, including the construction of early temples in the Church, cornerstones were used at each junction point of the walls and put in place with ceremony. The final stone was spoken of as the chief cornerstone, and its placement became the reason for much celebration. With this cornerstone in position, the foundation was ready for the superstructure. Hence the analogy that Paul used in describing the true Church:

“Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;

“And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;

“In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord” (Ephesians 2:19-20). ( President Gordon B. Hinckley, Ensign February 2004)

Christ is our Chief Cornerstone and others recognize it immediately:

“We were harvesting and her answer [questions] to the approach [was] ‘Do you have a place I can go to pray? How did you know I needed a prayer? Where is the church? Can I come? Can my kids come?...’ We slip in a card between her words [and she says]... ‘Tomorrow at nine?  I will be there.’ [We then say]: ‘awesome!! Can we say a prayer here?’ her reply ‘yes! ...[we invite] will you be baptized?’ her answer: ‘yes, yes, Yes!’"  

Christ is our Chief Cornerstone and they will do all they can to keep commitments as they recognize Christ in you:

“We have an investigator who found a ‘Finding Faith in Christ’ card on the ground, picked it up, and called the number on the back. Over the past couple of weeks we have been working with him, he has become so happy! We taught him the Word of Wisdom so that he can start making the steps to living that commandment. He sold his cigars and used the money to take the bus to church yesterday. He loved church and is being baptized on Sunday!”

Christ is our Chief Cornerstone and the influence of His Spirit and Atonement will bring them to Him:

“It started last Friday... , we had talked about following promptings of the Spirit, especially with OYM'ing.  We were towards the end of the day and we had met a lot of people through our efforts, we had just locked up our bikes to go and see a scheduled appointment that we had, we were running a little late, and so we were hurrying.  A few doors down from our investigators house there was a couple outside on the front porch, we both felt like we should keep up with our OYMing and we both felt the Spirit telling us that we needed to contact them... we knew we couldn't deny the Spirit.  We approached them and told them that we were representatives of Jesus Christ that we were there to say a prayer with them.  They accepted, and we prayed.  After the prayer they both were quiet and peaceful, we explained to them the Holy Ghost and that those good feelings were from the Spirit; we then challenged them to be baptized.  They at first weren't sure, and started to back down, but we testified and used doctrine to help overcome their concerns.  After that, the husband said, ‘If you get me a ride, I will be ready at 9:30’.  We got him a ride and he came to church, we continued to teach them, and the husband was baptized yesterday, and he was so happy.  I was very grateful that I took that opportunity to open my mouth, when I could have just passed it by, and said that we were late to our appointment.  It was a miracle.”

President Hinckley goes on to describe the importance of Christ being the Chief Corner Stone and the other three essential cornerstones of the Gospel that we testify of every day:

“We have basic cornerstones on which this great latter-day Church has been established by the Lord and built, “fitly framed together.”

They are absolutely fundamental to this work—the very foundation, anchors on which it stands. I should like to speak briefly of these four essential cornerstones which anchor The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I mention first the chief cornerstone, whom we recognize and honor as the Lord Jesus Christ. The second is the vision given the Prophet Joseph Smith when the Father and the Son appeared to him. The third is the Book of Mormon, which speaks as a voice from the dust with the words of ancient prophets declaring the divinity and reality of the Savior of mankind. The fourth is the priesthood with all of its powers and authority, whereby men act in the name of God in administering the affairs of His kingdom. “(President Gordon B. Hinckley, Ensign February 2004)

The power of these Cornerstones with Jesus Christ being chief among them is a tremendous foundation of this Glorious Gospel that we have to share and declare to the entire world. Christ lives and loves us. As we access His Atonement, we will also live again with God, Him and our families. God has spoken to us today and has revealed His Gospel to the Prophet Joseph Smith. The Book of Mormon is truly another Testament of Jesus Christ and another witness of His divine purpose. The authority of God has been restored so that we may know of His love as we are able to receive and participate in his holy ordinances such as baptism and Temple blessings. 

Every time you missionaries see this Temple, I pray you will remember that your names are sealed in the Corner Stone similitude of the Chief Corner Stone of Christ, and reflect on your promise and the great blessings that God has and will give you. This also signifies our calling as “Representatives of Jesus Christ” and no one in the world knows that better than all of you missionaries in this mission. Let us show Christ that we know how to keep a promise by proclaiming his Word with all our “heart, might, mind and strength”.

Missionaries, “Jesus Christ is the chief corner stone!!”

Let us be resolute to achieve 175 Baptisms !!! June is now our Vision month! We need 200 dates and 200 I@S. All must contribute! You are Amazing!!! You are Incredible!!! You are Wonderful!!! And you are in the “Exciting Legendary Mission”!!! Remember our promise and that our names have been sealed in the Temple!!!

We Love you, We Pray For You, Elders and Sisters, We can do this!!! We have work to do!!! “[We will] embark in the service of God, [We will] serve him with all [our] heart, might, mind and strength!!!”

President Don E. Anderson

Week 34 In Fort Lauderdale....

This was an interesting week... 

As I told the family already, I got my front wheel stolen this week. I had bought a new tire for that wheel not 3 weeks before and what a beautiful tire that was, the wheel was really nice, too. We had gotten to know each other very well. I learned how to true her and she had learned how to drive in a straight line. We really bonded... sob... I will miss her. Lucky I had the extra tire and tube Dad had sent me so I didn't need to buy those, but I did need to buy a new wheel. I went to 2 shops and the best one I could find was $45! She darn well better be worth it! But, I have faith that if I really try to love her that I will learn to like her! I definitely learned my lesson that cables are worthless and U-locks are the only way. Luckily 1 of the elders in the apartment had an extra lock I can borrow until I get myself another one.

And then another tredgedy happend this week... I stepped in a hole and sprained my ankle. This was a major testimony builder because we had just received a training from a doctor who told us that Satan is real, and he will try to stop us in many different ways both physical and mental. So that means that Satan is scared of me! (This is new to him? Does he not remember all the injuries he had just before he left on his mission?)

So this week my studies have really taken me to hit to scriptures hard. I have been tearing them apart and really trying to understand them. And I started my search with the "scripture mastery" scripture's. I found one of my favorites,

  Ether 12:27 "And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them."

This scripture really reminded me also of Paul in the New Testament and the many times he attributes having weakness to having strength in the Lord. Ammon in Alma 26 when he "boast of his God" and his own nothingness, and I realized that truly we should be grateful every time we see our own weakness. Truly that is the LORD showing us our weakness and he does so to help us be humble and ultimately to strengthen us "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." (Philippians 4:13) And that was what happened this week the Lord really showed me my weaknesses, in Spanish, Scripture knowledge and Diligence (and in my ankle). It really helped me see that this work is important, that I am in the Lord's work because he is showing me where he can strengthen me and improve me. That's my commitment this week, to look for a weakness and ask the Lord to help me strengthen it.

This week we didn't get any gators to church. Just a few less-active people and some visitors, that was discouraging. We had a Zone conference this week that reminded me that discouragement is a choice. So, I chose to never be discouraged at church again and to ALWAYS bring a non-member friend, to worry about and fret over! That's what makes Church a growing and learning opportunity!

I don't know what else to share other than a quote from Elder Niel L. Andersen "The world will not glide calmly toward the Second Coming of the Savior" (General Conference May 2014) remember that, when rough times come and when you watch the news. The world is preparing to be cleansed.

ANY WAY, OVER AND OUT

Stay Strong, Push ON!!

ELDER PARK

FFLM