Oi! todo o mundo!
This week was wonderful! This week we
made a specific effort to be more focused on our goals and to set
goals we sincerely believed we could achieve with the Lord. As a
result the Lord has blessed us and we have seen miracles!
Here are some wise words from President
S, our mission president, that I wanted to share:
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Today (yesterday, by the time you read
this) we recognize our 184th anniversary as a Church. We
began officially on 6 April 1830 in Fayette, New York. Although
approximately 30-50 people crowded into the small living room of the
Whitmer home that historic day, there were only six official members.
These were Joseph Smith Jr., Oliver Cowdery, Hyrum Smith, Peter
Whitmer Jr., Samuel H. Smith, and David Whitmer.
Since that day, the Church has grown
exponentially. We are not just six anymore! We number more than 15
million living members, but that does not include the innumerable
host of saints that have accepted the gospel and have been confirmed
vicariously into the restored church. Hurrah for Israel!
Now that we have had the privilege of
participating in the 184th Annual General Conference and
to have heard counsel from the Lord’s Prophets, Seers, and
Revelators, we have a choice to make. We can either be "quick to
observe," or we can be "quick to forget" (Mormon 1:2;
Alma 46:8). Let us choose wisely that we may receive the blessings
that are held in reserve for the true followers of Christ.
...The most miraculous evidence of
faith found in holy writ was when the brother of Jared "COULD
NOT BE KEPT from beholding within the veil" (Ether 3:19). He
broke the veil. Please note that the veil was not parted by the Lord,
nor opened simply because the brother of Jared asked on bended knee;
rather, it was "broken by faith"–"for so great was
his faith in God, that when God put forth his finger HE COULD NOT
HIDE IT from the brother of Jared" (Ether 12:20).
The citizens of Enoch’s City had a
similar level of faith. It did not come all at once, but "in
process of time" they became a perfectly unified people and were
taken into heaven (Moses 7:21). Some blessings are meant to be
received on an individual basis; some are to be received as we become
a unified people. (For example, conversion is an individual
experience, but exaltation is a family affair.) Enoch’s people
experienced unspeakable miracles, not because a few individuals
attained an elevated level of faith and righteousness, rather because
the entire city "were of one heart and one mind" and they
all "dwelt in righteousness" (Moses 7:18).
In fact, long after Enoch’s City was
taken, there arose holy men of like faith who also desired to attain
the blessings of Zion, but could not because their fellow citizens
were not ready for such blessings (D&C 45:12-13).
If we are to attain new heights in this
mission, then we must, we ALL must, be of one heart and one mind and
dwell in righteousness. The Prophet Joseph wisely taught: "The
greatest temporal and spiritual blessings, which always come from
faithfulness and concerted effort, never attended individual exertion
or enterprise."
This requirement of being a unified
body of servants, instead of a select-heroic few, is a foundational
principle of your patriarchal blessing. Many search within their
patriarchal blessing for the things that make them particularly
special; they look for unique blessings that others might not have;
or they seek to know if they will play a significant individual role
in the church or in life. These things may be mentioned in your
patriarchal blessing; however, they are secondary. The greatest of
blessings bestowed upon you through your patriarch has less to do
with your individual foreordination and more to do with your
collective foreordination. A declaration of your Abrahamic lineage is
a declaration that you were foreordained "as a people" (as
a tribe) to bless the nations of the earth (Abraham 2:9-11). You have
received the promise, long before you were born, to be part of the
team, to be God’s angelic mortal messengers.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I love that in order to attain new
heights and witness further miracles, we must become united! I love
the principle that exaltation is a family matter. The reason we
strengthen ourselves individually is so that we can help our families
and all of God's children to return to His presence. Like Sister T
always says, when we return to God, we want "no empty seats!!"
B and S's hearts and minds are changing
as we have dedicated time several times this past week to prayerfully
studying the Book of Mormon. We are working on shortening our lessons
and doing more frequent visits and the results have been incredible!
B has changed his prayers from phrases like "help us all to find
truth" with an attitude of not wanting to be deceived, to "help
us to learn from this book of scripture, like the Bible. We didn't
know about it before, but we are grateful you sent these people to
teach us about Thy word." Isn't that a miracle?? Sometimes we
can't get B to peel his eyes away from the Book of Mormon long enough
to discuss the things we have read up to that point!
Brother M is in contact with us, but
going through trying times. While out of the city for medical tests,
he fell and injured his neck. A miracle though, is that when we
extended the invitation via phone for him to watch general conference
- to hear the words of living apostles and prophets, even though he
was in a lot of pain, he said he was honored to be invited to attend
such an event and would listen to the talks even though he wouldn't
be able to watch with us because of his neck injury.
We got to watch the first session of
conference with recent convert, Ni! What an incredible experience!
She had come with a question, like we asked her to. And by the time
Elder Holland spoke (first or second talk of the entire conference??)
she was looking at us asking "Is this really happening???"
He answered her question!
We watched the second session on
Saturday with the So family!
On Sunday we watched the first session
with recent convert J, and his cousin Fe! Who really enjoyed it! Fo,
Fe's husband who is Muslim sent us home with lunch afterward! Such a
kind family!
Sunday evening we went to the church to
watch the last session.
I loved Elder Bednar's talk! The load
is what gave them the traction to get unstuck! I know that this life
truly is about progression, learning, and repentance. We can find
purpose, meaning, and joy as we are able to learn and become more
like our Father. I am grateful that He allows us to experience loads,
so that we can have enough traction to keep moving forward.
A's baptism is coming up next Saturday!
She watched conference in members' homes both days! I can't wait to
hear what she thought of it!
We met with the H Family! We hadn't had
contact with Ti in months! On Wednesday we decided to stop by her
house. She was out on the porch with little K (almost 2 year old)!
She was happy to see us! She happily set up a return appointment with
us! And she told us that she was getting a better position in her job
and would have weekends of off work starting in a couple of weeks.
She said she wants to start coming to church again! The Lord is
working miracles!
I find so much joy in being a member of
this church. I find joy in serving my Heavenly Father's children
here!
"I know that which the Lord hath
commanded me, and I glory in it. I do not glory of myself, but I
glory in that which the Lord hath commanded me; yea, and this is my
glory, that perhaps I may be an instrument in the hands of God to
bring some soul to repentance; and this is my joy." -Alma 28:9
Our God is truly a God of miracles!
"Thou hast had signs enough... The
scriptures are laid before thee, yea, and all things denote there is
a God; yea, even the earth, and all things that are upon the face of
it, yea, and its motion, yea, and also all the planets which move in
their regular form do witness that there is a Supreme Creator."
-Alma 30:44
I find it very interesting that the
first "sign" Alma testifies of is the scriptures. I know
that the scriptures are powerful, more powerful than the signs of the
planets or earth or the creatures on the earth. There is converting
power in the Book of Mormon, and in hearing from living prophets
today! The Book of Mormon and the Holy Ghost that bears witness of
its words are the most powerful missionary tools we have, along with
our testimonies. It is so important that we constantly and
consistently fortify ourselves, our testimonies, and our families by
filling our lives with the words of Christ!
I testified once to Brother M that the
conversion he is experiencing is a greater miracle to me than seeing
the planets align, and I firmly believe that. Of all of God's
creations, the greatest miracle is the conversion of His children to
Christ. His work and glory is to bring to pass the immortality and
eternal life of His family.
I hope you all have a wonderful week!
I love yall!
-Sister Greenall
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