Hey guys! We are now in the Christmas season! It definitely is a special time to remember the Savior and we are very excited. Just yesterday, we saw a devotional with President Russell M Nelson and about the new Light the World program. I am very excited that knocking doors will be easier too because we can go caroling now hahaha. This week we have baptisms planned. Hermana Mayra and and an Hermano named Jesus Paredes is going to baptized. I love seeing baptisms and they are pretty special. We are trying harder to work with members so we had una noche de hoger (A family home evening) with Hermana Mayra so that she could meet more people. It was a success and we talked about conversion. Conversion is something that has become a reality on my mission. My desires have changed and I want to do better in my life. I want to live the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I want to fulfill my Priesthood duties. I want to be a servant of our Lord Jesus Christ. I want to keep making covenants with him and being true to them. I want to keep learning and changing. I love what it says in Mosiah 2:21 I say unto you that if ye should serve him who has created you from the beginning, and is preserving you from day to day, by lending you breath, that ye may live and move and do according to your own will, and even supporting you from one moment to another—I say, if ye should serve him with all your whole souls yet ye would be unprofitable servants. Sometimes we have our own will and we want to do our own things but he is still willing to love us and bless us. He even blesses and helps others that dont want his help. That is pretty amazing. Conversion comes from a sincere heart. It comes from a real desire. Even though I did all the important things before like reading scriptures and praying maybe I didnt do it with a full purpose of heart. I now understand when Moroni says in chapter 7 "if he shall pray and not with real intent of heart; yea, and it profiteth him nothing, for God receiveth none such." God knows our desires and thoughts. Thats why if we do something and we dont have a real intent it doesnt count. Elder Bednar said "The purpose and purification, the happiness and joy, and the continuing conversion and protection that come from “yielding [our] hearts unto God” and “[receiving] his image in [our] countenances” cannot be obtained merely by performing and checking off all the spiritual things we are supposed to do. Rather, the power of the Savior’s gospel to transform and bless us flows from discerning and applying the interrelatedness of its doctrine, principles, and practices. Only as we gather together in one all things in Christ, with firm focus upon Him, can gospel truths synergistically enable us to become what God desires us to become and endure valiantly to the end." This quote struck me hard. It is true. I would plead that we would have a pure heart and desire to do the right thing and not only because we "have to." I have seen the difference between the two. When we are truly doing it, we change. That is the only way to experience the true happiness of the Gospel. I love you all.
Giddy up!
Elder Smith
1. Navidad thanks mom for the package
2. La familia de oro (Golden family)
3. Juego del Plan de Salvacion en la calle (Plan of salvation game in the street)
4. Un snack antes de la comida me veo bien gordo en esta foto
5. Jesus Manuel
2. La familia de oro (Golden family)
3. Juego del Plan de Salvacion en la calle (Plan of salvation game in the street)
4. Un snack antes de la comida me veo bien gordo en esta foto
5. Jesus Manuel
