Hola familia y amigos!!!
I'm soo glad that we got to watch the broadcast this Sunday. I felt like it came at the right time for me. I needed something of a reminder of the vision we have as missionaries and the guidance of the prophets/apostles and the Spirit. I felt like one of the main messages that I got out of the broadcast was that they expect everybody to have experiences like the ones they shared in all of the videos and interviews, the ideal situations and miracles. And that the way that we'll have these experiences, as Moroni taught and Elder Anderson reminded us, is through our faith that they will come to pass. And as we know "faith without works is dead"; thus we must continue to be obedient, follow our instruction, make and accomplish goals and plans, and do all that we have been asked to do, and then come miracles, and the miracles become regular occurrences. But as Moroni warned, if these things aren't happening, "wo be unto the children of men, for it is because of unbelief and all is vain." I have been lacking in faith lately I think, and I have decided to work to develop my faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement. Faith is the first principle of the Gospel, or in other words one of the most basic and essential attributes that we must develop and oftentimes the one that we forget to strengthen because of it's seeming simplicity. I will work to develop my faith and thus will make miracles be a part of my regular life.
Speaking of miracles, we've had a few miracles in the area lately. Things can always be going better in areas, and definitely in ours, but I feel like, at least in this e-mail, I should focus on our miracles. On Monday we had a lesson with an investigator, Marcela. The miracle that happened was that during the lesson in walks another of our investigators, Antonio, who's the brother-in-law of Marcela and had a baptismal date a few weeks ago, but we hadn't been able to get in contact with. We still have had trouble with contacting him, but the fact that we got to see him, and hopefully remind him of the Spirit he has felt will help him in the future. We also picked up a former investigator, Rosemary, who lives in a gated apartment complex. We had an appointment with her and stopped by, but couldn't get in, but went to visit someone else and felt like we should go back and arrived just as a van was driving in to the complex, so we could get in. We also picked up another two investigators, Nancy and her mom Leticia, who have been going through struggles lately and are very open and willing to follow Christ and his teachings. And we also had a few less-active members come to church this Sunday that we've been trying hard these past few weeks to come back. Overall I feel blessed to have been a part of these miracles.
Another thing I'd like to do is just echo another theme of the broadcast: The work of Salvation is all-inclusive and all-important. We should always be working for the Salvation of some soul or another. Oftentimes that soul is ours, but as our salvation fills our soul with "exceedingly great joy" we begin to be desirous that our "family should partake of it also" for we know "that it [is] desirable above all other fruit" just as with Lehi in his dream (1 Nephi 8:12). And our family includes all of our brothers and sisters that surround us in this world. We should not share this Gospel because we've been told to in church, or because it's "what we're supposed to do", but instead because we are desirous that our family and friends, who we love, partake of the joy we feel as well.
Work to develop faith in Christ and His ability to show forth miracles in your life as you work for the Salvation of Souls as I do the same. Love you all and hope to hear from you soon.
-Elder Whitaker
I'm soo glad that we got to watch the broadcast this Sunday. I felt like it came at the right time for me. I needed something of a reminder of the vision we have as missionaries and the guidance of the prophets/apostles and the Spirit. I felt like one of the main messages that I got out of the broadcast was that they expect everybody to have experiences like the ones they shared in all of the videos and interviews, the ideal situations and miracles. And that the way that we'll have these experiences, as Moroni taught and Elder Anderson reminded us, is through our faith that they will come to pass. And as we know "faith without works is dead"; thus we must continue to be obedient, follow our instruction, make and accomplish goals and plans, and do all that we have been asked to do, and then come miracles, and the miracles become regular occurrences. But as Moroni warned, if these things aren't happening, "wo be unto the children of men, for it is because of unbelief and all is vain." I have been lacking in faith lately I think, and I have decided to work to develop my faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement. Faith is the first principle of the Gospel, or in other words one of the most basic and essential attributes that we must develop and oftentimes the one that we forget to strengthen because of it's seeming simplicity. I will work to develop my faith and thus will make miracles be a part of my regular life.
Speaking of miracles, we've had a few miracles in the area lately. Things can always be going better in areas, and definitely in ours, but I feel like, at least in this e-mail, I should focus on our miracles. On Monday we had a lesson with an investigator, Marcela. The miracle that happened was that during the lesson in walks another of our investigators, Antonio, who's the brother-in-law of Marcela and had a baptismal date a few weeks ago, but we hadn't been able to get in contact with. We still have had trouble with contacting him, but the fact that we got to see him, and hopefully remind him of the Spirit he has felt will help him in the future. We also picked up a former investigator, Rosemary, who lives in a gated apartment complex. We had an appointment with her and stopped by, but couldn't get in, but went to visit someone else and felt like we should go back and arrived just as a van was driving in to the complex, so we could get in. We also picked up another two investigators, Nancy and her mom Leticia, who have been going through struggles lately and are very open and willing to follow Christ and his teachings. And we also had a few less-active members come to church this Sunday that we've been trying hard these past few weeks to come back. Overall I feel blessed to have been a part of these miracles.
Another thing I'd like to do is just echo another theme of the broadcast: The work of Salvation is all-inclusive and all-important. We should always be working for the Salvation of some soul or another. Oftentimes that soul is ours, but as our salvation fills our soul with "exceedingly great joy" we begin to be desirous that our "family should partake of it also" for we know "that it [is] desirable above all other fruit" just as with Lehi in his dream (1 Nephi 8:12). And our family includes all of our brothers and sisters that surround us in this world. We should not share this Gospel because we've been told to in church, or because it's "what we're supposed to do", but instead because we are desirous that our family and friends, who we love, partake of the joy we feel as well.
Work to develop faith in Christ and His ability to show forth miracles in your life as you work for the Salvation of Souls as I do the same. Love you all and hope to hear from you soon.
-Elder Whitaker