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

April 22, 2019

Week 67: Photos de Caborca

April 15, 2019

Week 66: Una Semana de Gratitude


This week was very interesting. We had ups and downs but I can truly say that Heavenly Father has been on our side the entire way. To start of, I turned 20 this week! It was very special to be able to spend my birthday here in Caborca and it was pretty rad. In the morning on my birthday, my converts from Obregon gave me a call to wish me a Happy Birthday. It made my day! It was so cool that they remembered! It was the best gift I could have recieved that day. We had a really cool District Meeting with the other missionaries and they brought me a cake! I didn't see but as soon as they finished singing, they pulled out noise makers out of their pockets and surprised me! It was super rad.

One of the funniest things that happened this week was a person named Francisco. We contacted him and started to teach him. He was saying some things that were so funny that I was crying laughing. We taught about baptism and how it is the only way to return to live with God. After teaching him we asked him the same question multiple times .... "what do we need to go to heaven?" He would say.. "behave ourselves". And we would say "Yes, we need to keep the commandments and also get baptized. Baptism is a commandment." Then we asked "what is the commandment that we are supposed to follow?" and he kept saying "behave ourselves". This happened like 3 times. Then my companion read 3 Nephi 27:20 and its says: "Now this is the commandment: Repent, all ye ends of the earth, and come unto me and be baptized in my name, that ye may be sanctified by the reception of the Holy Ghost, that ye may stand spotless before me at the last day." and then we asked, "What is the commandment?" and he sighs and yells "WELL BAPTISM" I was crying laughing. We spent like an hour trying to help this guy to understand the purpose of baptism. It was so funny. We should've just read the scripture in the first place.

Something difficult that happened this week was the baptism we were going to have. We were going to baptize a man named Manuel but seriously a half an hour before the baptism, he decided that he didnt want to be baptized. We had already had everything ready. We filled the font and made the program and he decided not too. We are still working with him but I would ask you all to pray for him so that one day (maybe this transfer) he will be baptized. That day was extremely tough for me. For a couple hours, I can honestly say that I was over it. I was super tired of the mission and all the problems that happened. But, the next day, we had a fantastic day. I know the Lord blesses us in our times of need. When we think that we don't have the strength to go on and move on, that is when the power of the Atonement gives us power beyond our own.

The next day, we as missionaries gave talks in sacrament meeting. It was a great experience. I talked about what I wrote in my last letter. I talked about Knowledge, Understanding, and Intelligence. Even though we felt good about speaking, no one had arrived to church and we were bummed out because we thought that no one was going to come. As my companion was talking, we saw the door open and.... in walked MIRIAM and her AUNT that has not been to church for awhile. We were freaking. After church, they told us that they really enjoyed everything. We weren't there but we were told that Miriam said that she loved church and wants to be baptized. What a cool experience. We are going to baptize her this transfer! I am very grateful for the week we had and I hope that you can join us in our prayer so that Miriam can get baptized and that all will turn out well. Thanks so much and I love you alll!

Giddy up,

Elder Smith

1. Con Miriam

2. Si me vieran ahora

3. Mi Pastel

4. Asco

5. Un cantante famoso de Carborca