May 27, 2019

Week 72: Una Semana de Milagros

This week we were able to see many miracles. We had a super cool experience in our area after leaving an appointment. We left and a lady in the house in front of the house we were in said hi to us and said "Hola Elderes" and we turned to each other and said "She knows us or what?" We decided to go back and the sister let us in. Her name is Dina. She told us that she had been baptized with her family and they were inactive. We walked in to her house and we sang her favorite hymn. After the hymn, we asked her how she felt and she burst in to tears. She told us that she wanted to come back to church and that she missed it. We comforted her and talked for a little bit and we asked her when her husband would be there and she told us the next day. We went back the next day, sang a hymn, said a prayer and after, the spirit was very, very strong. We could all realize without saying anything that the spirit was strong. I asked "Sister Dina, can you feel something special in this moment?" we all agreed that we felt the spirit. We then explained that in John 16:13 it says:

Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

I love that phrase. That the Spirit never speaks for himself. The Spirit is only a messenger from God.

Everything he tells us is exactly what God wants us to know. So we explained that to her and then we asked "What is God trying to tell you through his Holy Spirit?" She said "That I should go to church" and we were able to teach a powerful, beautiful lesson by the Spirit. The Spirit is the most important element in this work. The prophets and apostles have taught, that if you dont have the Spirit, you will never have success no matter the talent you have. That is why Pablo said that his "speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power. That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God." (1 Corinthians 2:4-5)

The role of the Holy Spirit in this work is essencial. I know this work to be true. When people become to understand this things in their heart is when people change. I am grateful for the spirit. Plead for the spirit in your lives because he will let you know exactly what God wants you to do and will guide you to be able to do it "for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them." (1 Nephi 3:7)

I love you all.

Giddy Up.

Elder Smith

May 20, 2019

Week 71: Caborca

This week I had a great experience with my companion. We have an investigator named Lulu. She was a reference from a Sister from the branch and we are teaching her. We were able to teach her the message of the Restoration. She has problems with her son and we talked to her a lot and tried to comfort her. We taught her and beared our testimonies and the very end, Sister Chita (the member) gave her testimony. She said "I dont know much but I know its true. As soon as I met Lulu, I knew this is what would help her. From the first day I said, I knew that she would be baptized. I know she will be baptized and I feel like that day isn't very far away." It was such a cool experience that we had together. It was super cool to hear the testimony of that Sister, her friend. Even if we dont know much, if we offer ourselves to God, He can use us in His work. When an investigator is taught with a member is present, the chance of them being baptized is greater. I would invite you all to invite the missionaries to your home so you can participate in Missionary Work. I promise that something amazing will happen as you do. The scriptures say:

"Yea, open your mouths and they shall be filled, saying: Repent, repent, and prepare ye the way of the Lord, and make his paths straight; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand"
This is one of my favorite promises from the scriptures. Many times I love to think in the phrases in the scriptures. One day I thought of a question and I would like to share it with you all. Have you ever thought: What is the difference between having faith and exercising faith? I realized that as a missionary I say A LOT that we to "follow" the Gospel of Jesus Christ we need to have faith, repent, be baptized to recieve the Holy Ghost to endure to the end. Lately I have changed it. Faith like Joseph Smith says in his Lectures on Faith that

"faith is not only the principle of action, but of power also, in all intelligent beings"

Faith is a principle of action that requires us to act and power is given to us. The scripture does not say "Sit in your chair and your mouth we be filled so that you can open it." We need to act in faith and the power follows. Many times when we walk up to a person I have no idea want I am going to say. But, If I open my mouth, it will be filled. I promise you that as you open your mouth it will be filled. Invite the missionaries to your home and participate in their lessons! I know this work is true and you will feel more joy that you have experienced in your life you do it.


Giddy Up

Elder Smith

May 13, 2019

Week 70: A Fantastic Week

This week was very special. One of the most amazing things that happened this week was our zone conference. My companion and I had been praying for a long time to know what to teach our missionaries about and how we could help them. Many have expressed to us that as Zone Leaders, we are able to help and recieve revelation for our zone. We started a couple weeks before and decided to start thinking about what we could teach them. We came to the conclusion to teach them about Zions Camp. "From May to June 1834, approximately 230 men, women, and children marched to Missouri to help the Saints who had been expelled from Jackson County, Missouri, the previous year. This expedition, known today as Zion’s Camp, was initially called the Camp of Israel. It was formed after Joseph Smith received a revelation in February 1834 commanding him to call up the strength of the Lord’s house to redeem Zion from its enemies. The revelation instructed Church leaders to recruit at least 100, and preferably 500, men to travel to Missouri. In March, Joseph Smith and others traveled through New York to obtain volunteers and funding for the expedition." Zions Camp turned out not being a success (according to many but others disagreeded). Many arrived back in Kirtland and many made fun of them and asked them why they went and that they wasted time. A brother in Kirtland—one who lacked the faith to volunteer to go with the camp—met Brigham Young on his return from Missouri and asked, “‘Well, what did you gain on this useless journey to Missouri with Joseph Smith?’ ‘All we went for,’ promptly replied Brigham Young. ‘I would not exchange the experience I gained in that expedition for all the wealth of Geauga County,’” the county in which Kirtland was then located. We explained tot he missionaries that the mission is like that. The Lord sees who is obedient in his work and blesses me for their effort. The people that went on Zions Camp became great leaders in the church. We told them that many may tell them "Why did you go on a mission? That was a waste of time" The truth is like Brigham Young said "We wouldnt change it for anything." Many commented after that it was what everyone hoped for and many recieved revelation. We were so grateful to be instruments in the Lords hands.

 

April 29, 2019

Week 68: Mario

Hey everyone! I dont have a lot to share this week but I do want to share an experience that I had that was really special. We have an investigator named Mario and his story is pretty amazing. Mario is from a part of Mexico called Sinaloa. He has had a pretty difficult life. One day when we were at church, we left the chapel to lock up and Mario was outside sitting. From that moment we met him and we started to teach him. The amazing thing about Mario is that he doesnt have a home and sadly he lives in the street. He doesnt have a watch, nothing. But, he allows arrives on time and keeps his committments. Mario had some problems that he had to fix and President came to interview him and he is going to be baptized the 4th of May! I want to share an experience that we had with him. We decided to teach him the lesson of the Restoration. My companion and I have put a goal to only use the Book of Mormon in our lessons and we taught it. We were in the room where the bautismal font is and we had it open when we were teaching. We taught and after I recited the first vision of Joseph Smith, we could feel the spirit very strong. It was as if a giant barrier of peace came over us. I asked Mario if he could feel the spirit and we all realized that we could. He said that he felt peace and as if everything was ok in the world. It was a small experience but for me it meant everything for me. I love when we are in a lesson and we are able to help others feel the spirit. I think that is so important. Mario is truly an answer to our prayers. It is interesting how God mends the lives of his children. I know he loves us and that this is his work.


Giddy Up

Elder Smith