YOU CAN DO IT NOW!-Uchtdorf

We had one of our Returned Missionaries, Tony Pollmeier stay for a few days, mostly to sleep, and he studied with me one morning.  After our Book of Mormon study, we listened to this talk from the Priesthood Session.
Go to this link to view it: http://bcove.me/6ofo6p6c

It was the first time I had heard it and I really loved how it applied NOT just to the Priesthood holders, but universally to all of us.

COUNSEL:

• Be aware of your feelings of discouragement and inadequacy
• Don't let past experiences of "perceived failure" define you
• GET BACK UP AND TRY AGAIN
• don't die with your music in you
• Put forth the effort
• Follow the words of the prophet
• When you stumble, ponder on true repentance, repent, RISE UP get back on the path- have "Godly Sorrow"
• Take Christ's name on us and walk the path of discipleship
• Turn your heart and will to God- TRUST HIM & HIS LOVE
• See the commandments as part of "who we are and who we want to become"
• Do what you do with PASSION
• Keep your eyes on eternal goals. higher goals!

PROMISED BLESSINGS:

• We were created to succeed.  We have within us the power of our thoughts, which is huge!
• It is our birthright to have the potential of God
• We can become champions
• We can change
• We can hate sin and love goodness
• We can walk tall in the light of God's/Christ's love
• Christ loves us.  He gave himself for our sins
• Happiness and peace in this life
• Happiness and peace in the world to come
• We will recognize opportunities the Lord places before us
• We will be able to "stay the course."
• We will be better sons and daughters. brothers and sisters
• We will be kinder fathers and mothers
• We will be more loving husbands and wives
• We may stumble, but will will not be defeated
• We can become better and happier
• We will look back and be filled with eternal gratitude that we chose to trust the Atonement of Jesus Christ
• WE CAN DO IT NOW!  We will KNOW that we can do it now!

We enjoyed listening to this talk together.  It was jam packed with encouragement and LOTS of advice and LOTS of promised blessings.  I loved how "REAL" he was about our feelings of inadequacy.

"Men experience feelings of guilt, depression, and failure. We might pretend these feelings don’t bother us, but they do. We can feel so burdened by our failures and shortcomings that we begin to think we will never be able to succeed. We might even assume that because we have fallen before, falling is our destiny."

I also loved his advice about how Satan confuses us and tries to make us feel like we are being "forced" to do things or that we become confused as to who we really are.

"One of the adversary’s methods to prevent us from progressing is to confuse us about who we really are and what we really desire.

We want to spend time with our children, but we also want to engage in our favorite manly hobbies. We want to lose weight, but we also want to enjoy the foods we crave. We want to become Christlike, but we also want to give the guy who cuts us off in traffic a piece of our mind.

Satan’s purpose is to tempt us to exchange the priceless pearls of true happiness and eternal values for a fake plastic trinket that is merely an illusion and counterfeit of happiness and joy.

Another method the adversary uses to discourage us from rising up is to make us see the commandments as things that have been forced upon us. I suppose it is human nature to resist anything that does not appear to be our own idea in the first place.

If we see healthy eating and exercise as something only our doctor expects of us, we will likely fail. If we see these choices as who we are and who we want to become, we have a greater chance of staying the course and succeeding."

LOVE the perspective of the power of our own thoughts.  I know that is so real. We have a saying in our mission IF IT IS TO BE, IT IS UP TO ME!  The power of positive thinking is huge and based on our knowing WHO WE ARE...CHILDREN OF GOD.

WE LOVE YOU!  We want you to be happy and promise that as you follow Jesus Christ, the simplicity of his Gospel, you will be truly, deeply and eternally happy.  Love, Mom

TRUE SHEPHERDS- Monson (Priesthood Session)

Rather fitting that there be a talk about "Shepherds" during the month of December.
Scott talked to our missionaries this month in our Christmas Conferences about the flocks of sheep near Bethlehem that were used to produce the sacrificial lambs without blemish before the law of Moses was fulfilled.

So, the link for this talk is: http://bcove.me/ym6abang

He started with the comparison of seeing a flock of sheep being herded by a sheepherder and dogs yapping at their heels, and the other being LED by a true shepherd in Germany.
Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep.”2 He provides for us the perfect example of what a true shepherd should be. He relates this to HOME TEACHING

COUNSEL:

• First: BE A FRIEND!
• It is our responsibility to watch out for one another; to teach to inspire and motivate others
• Serve, Teach and Testify to families we serve
• It is our duty to carry the Spirit into every home and heart
• We are to teach all to pray daily and to live the Gospel
• Watch over your HT families
• Make appointments in advance
• Allow sufficient time for the visit and be sincere in your counsel
• Go about doing good

PROMISED BLESSINGS:

• Unbounded peace, joy and satisfaction 
• YM will be prepared to serve missions and a lifetime of service
• You will be able to answer the prayers of those that you serve, to bless their lives
• You will be able to see the changes that take places in people's lives
• If you are persistent, you will succeed

We all have opportunities to be TRUE SHEPHERDS whether is be Home or Visiting Teaching, or any time we have stewardship over others (parents, siblings, missionaries, teachers etc.)  As we are true friends and teach what is true, bringing peace to those we associate with, we will be able to be those that LEAD and not those that PROD to try to return/lead toward our Heavenly Father.  I like the idea of "unbounded peace, joy and satisfaction" and hope I can be a better friend/teacher to those that I have stewardship over.

PERSONAL STRENGTH THROUGH THE ATONEMENT-Scott

I am still catching up on my conference study for December, but have been enjoying carrying through with noticing the counsel and promised blessings in my scripture study and meetings.
This talk is fitting for the time of year when we celebrate Christ's birth, which made possible his life on earth and eventually, his Atonement.
"Personal Strength Through the Atonement of Jesus Christ"
by Elder Richard D. Scott
To view this talk go to : http://bcove.me/w1in5tc0

I love how Elder Scott used the story of the people of Ammon and the covenant they made not to raise weapons ever again.  It helps me to understand why the sons were able to do what they needed to do to help their fathers stay true to a covenant.
COUNSEL:

• Be a righteous example
• Breaking a covenant is never justified
• Sincerely repent for mistakes
• Make covenants for ourselves and then for our ancestors
• share the Gospel with non-member or less active family or friends
• Serve faithfully in all Church callings
• Be a REAL friend
• Serve members of your own family. Make this a priority!
• Give freely of your time and attention to family
• Fill your life in service to others

PROMISED BLESSINGS:

• Righteous examples can help other people be converted 
• Through the Atonement we can be cleansed, virtuous and pure
• Our burdens can be lifted
• The Lord will look on our "weaknesses" with mercy
• We can become strong enough to not fall back into same sins
• Renewed enthusiasm for life
• Satans temptations will lose power over your life
• Our families can receive blessings by our good choices
• By keeping our covenants, the Lord will protect us even when it is really hard
• You will feel the elevating power of the Lords forgiveness, mercy and strength

Here are some thoughts from this talk that stood out to me:
"It is a fundamental truth that through the Atonement of Jesus Christ we can be cleansed. We can become virtuous and pure. However, sometimes our poor choices leave us with long-term consequences. One of the vital steps to complete repentance is to bear the short- and long-term consequences of our past sins...
Satan will try to use our memory of any previous guilt to lure us back into his influence. We must be ever vigilant to avoid his enticements...
Their (the converted Lamanites) sons, who were blessed with righteous traditions, were not as vulnerable to the same temptations...
Their humble, lifelong commitment to forsaking their sins did more to protect their families than anything they could have done on the battlefield."

And I loved the explanation of the difference between weaknesses and rebellion.  This rang true in my heart!  I know that the Lord loves all his brothers and sisters, knows their weaknesses and knows their hearts to have mercy on what is really hard for them opposed to those that openly choose to rebel against their Father in Heaven and his laws.
"The joyful news for anyone who desires to be rid of the consequences of past poor choices is that the Lord sees weaknesses differently than He does rebellion. Whereas the Lord warns that unrepented rebellion will bring punishment,16 when the Lord speaks of weaknesses, it is always with mercy.17"
I also love the reminder that repentance is not a bad thing!  It is moving towards God, so it is GOOD!
"Remember, repentance is not punishment. It is the hope-filled path to a more glorious future."

I am personally grateful for the power and strength we receive through the Atonement of Jesus Christ.  A loving Father in Heaven planned for Christ to come, to perform the Atonement and to provide the means that we can return back to his presence.  It means everything to me to know that we are working towards the end goal of eternal family.

MERRY CHRISTMAS MISSION STYLE 2013

 Thought you might enjoy seeing what our Christmas was like here in the Arizona Phoenix Mission.

It began well before Christmas as you can imagine, and this is what the Mission Home looked like as we made preparations to take some Christmas cheer to some of our missionaries...
 ...bags and bags and bags everywhere!  We have a couple of stakes who put together donated items and gift cards so that we can make sure everyone has something for Christmas!

 The Kings stopped by and we got to share some cheer with them too.  We have one question for them..."What does the fox say?"

They showed us that music video a while back so we could not resist the hat and gloves!

We love them so much and appreciate all they do to make our jobs possible!  They are part of the behind the scene support that are pillars of strength to us!!


On CHRISTMAS EVE, well on the eve of Christmas Eve, we loaded up the transfer van and trailer so it would be ready for us to leave early on the morning of Christmas Eve to take all the packages that had arrived in the Mission Office, along with the gift bags, out to each set of Zone Leaders so they could distribute them to their zone.

 First Stop was Flagstaff where I did not take a photo...then on to COTTONWOOD where we met Elders Barlow and Zayas.

 Next stop was PRESCOTT where we met up with Elders Wrigley and O'Neal.  We lent them some hats to use in making their deliveries.

 From here we headed on south back to the valley and met up with SURPRISE and Elders Parsons and E Jones.  President Taylor shows off his cheery striped tie (thanks to his sister Lori or my sister Jennifer?) and we shared more hats with them.

 Next stop was in GOODYEAR with Elders Knabe and W Larsen who took Santa and a reindeer hat for when they made deliveries.

Our next stop had two zones. Elders Baker and Livingston in GLENDALE and Elders Wade and Barley in PHOENIX NORTH!

 After that we drove to meet two more zones; Elders Wardle and Weiler from DEER VALLEY and Elders Leonhardt and Ure from GLENDALE NORTH.

 Our last stop was for PEORIA and WEST MARICOPA with Elders Andrus and Hughes and Elders Q Wilson and Lower.

They were all so excited to go share some Christmas love with their zones!
And at this point...
THE TRAILER WAS EMPTY!!!







You have to know just how much Scott loves me...that he would let me put antlers and a nose on the van, and wear a hat and spend the day in the van with me talking his ear off.  It was a GREAT DAY!
We love the spirit of giving and the example of our Savior Jesus Christ in that!

Back at the Mission Home, we barely had time to unload when we were joined by Sisters Gacutan and Jensen so Sister Gacutan could call her family in Philippines.  After a few calls to arrange things, she was then able to SKYPE her family there!  How happy they were to get to see each other!

 Then we ended our CHRISTMAS EVE by inviting over the Peoria North District to share the NATIVITY with us since we had no children here with us this year.  This was a first for us.

This is an old family tradition we love, and we had the best missionary sheep, shepherds, angels, wise men and narrator ever!

(Scott and I were Mary and Joseph so it would not be awkward for the missionaries.)

 And we had our babe (a towel) wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger.


It was a sweet experience.
We all shared a favorite Christmas memory or tradition with each other before it was time to send them all home.

Their Zone Leaders stopped by to deliver mail and gifts so they joined us for the nativity as our audience.

They could both fit into the Santa coat at once!

 Elders Q Wilson and Lower as Santa part I and II.

 And Elders Zaugg and Syndergaard just enjoyed that there was actually a fire in a fireplace in Arizona!  PERFECT!

Scott and I designed this fireplace this year after the old black tile one stopped working...it turned out really nice!

 CHRISTMAS MORNING we invited our ASSISTANTS to join us for morning exercise hiking up at Thunderbird Conservation Area...it was dark when we started, but the sun rose and we met a family group at the top with a lit tree and got a photo there!

One tradition that I will really miss next year is the decorated cactus and trees at this hiking area...I will really miss hiking all year round as well!




Our Christmas Day we skyped with our kids on both coasts, spoke for about 40 minutes with Braden on a phone call from his mission in Auckland New Zealand (he's doing great!) and had about 2 sets of foreign missionaries come to make landline calls home, and a couple other groups just come over to visit for a while!  Elders Schull and Hicks came and played Carcassonne with us and made us feel like parents for a while.

 And we had about 8 come from the Surprise Zone to visit and share Christmas memories with us as well.  It was a full and busy day for us associating with both our natural and mission family!
The Gospel of Jesus Christ is our most precious gift!  It grows more precious the more experience we have in life, and grows in our hearts the more we give it away.  I promise blessings to all who will live the counsel that our Savior gives us through the scriptures and living prophets.  We are so blessed to serve Him daily and pray that we will all remember that the magic of Christmas is not in the PRESENTS but in His PRESENCE!!
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL!  Cheryl & Scott

Be Ye Converted- Oscarson

This is the second talk for December:  Bonnie Oscarson talked about true conversion by doing the little things day after day.  She is the General Young Women President for the Church.
Below is the direct link to her talk. "BE YE CONVERTED"

http://bcove.me/kjr21p06

“Choose you this day whom ye will serve; … but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

She tells the story of her great grandmother who was almost adopted by a non-LDS family and taken from her heritage. Even though it was hard, the blessings came because her Mother said "No."

She tells the simple truth that "The decisions you make in your daily life will determine what happens to you later."

Here are some of the counsel and promised blessings that she shared.
COUNSEL:

• Do what it takes to gain the conviction that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is true.
• Act upon what you believe.
• Don't expect the reward without having to work for it.
• Be diligent about saying our prayers, studying our scriptures, attending church, and being worthy to participate in temple ordinances.
• Understand the Atonement and allow it to work in our lives.

PROMISED BLESSINGS:

• You will have a mighty change in your heart.
• The spirit of the Holy Ghost will confirm it is true.
• You will have a desire to share with others what you have learned.
• You will have confidence to testify boldly.
• You will be able to make a difference for good in your family and in the world.

I really liked her example on how we need to LIVE THE PRINCIPLES before we can know that they are true.  Too often we think that we are not getting the answer to our prayers about whether a principle is correct, without taking the effort to act in faith.
"For example, we may take this approach: I will be happy to live the law of tithing, but first I need to know that it’s true. Maybe we even pray to gain a testimony of the law of tithing and hope the Lord will bless us with that testimony before we have ever filled out a tithing slip. It just doesn’t work that way. The Lord expects us to exercise faith. We have to consistently pay a full and honest tithe in order to gain a testimony of tithing. This same pattern applies to all the principles of the gospel, whether it is the law of chastity, the principle of modesty, the Word of Wisdom, or the law of the fast."

I add my conviction to Sister Oscarson.  I know that the principles of the Gospel are correct.  I know because I have practiced them in my life and I have seen the promised blessings come to fulfillment.  It does not mean I have not had hard times in life...but when I am LIVING BASED ON PRINCIPLES, I can not only feel the blessings in my own life, but I am able to be there for others, (sometimes many of them) and really make a difference for good.
Faith, Repentance, Covenants, the Gift of the Holy Ghost, using the Atonement...these things are worth the effort to practice.  And I can do that by three simple things: Daily prayer/ Attending Church weekly/ Study of the Scriptures including the counsel of latter-day Prophets.
I am grateful to my parents for teaching me solid principles based on the Gospel.  I have self worth because I know who I am.  I know the joy of serving others because I was served and taught that example from the time I was small.  I know the joy of repentance and how the Atonement works to heal because I have practiced it and continue to practice it.
I value the guidance of the Holy Ghost who directs my decisions daily and for my good as well as those I have impact on.
I know we have a loving Heavenly Father who desires us to be all that we are capable of becoming. There is so much to look forward to and to enjoy in the journey!

Wilt Thou Be Made Whole?

I am behind in my study of the General Conference Talks.
The first for December was this one from Timothy Dyches entitled "Wilt Thou Be Made Whole?"
Copy this link to view it:
http://bcove.me/9f6lbh4j

I think I have mentioned that I am reading the entire Book of Mormon highlighting the counsel or commandments and the promised blessings.  This is my study and I am really enjoying it.
The following are things that I noticed were counsel and promised blessings from this talk:
COUNSEL:
Have mercy on those less fortunate
Go in FAITH
Be thankful for even small blessings
Leave behind worldly cares and follow Christ
Forgive others- story of Corrie Ten Boom
Pray, Repent, Forgive, Forget
Love God, Serve others

PROMISED BLESSINGS:
The healing of body mind and spirit
Miracles
You can feel WHOLE
Guilt is swept away
You will not walk alone
You will be loved for WHO YOU ARE AND WHO YOU ARE BECOMING

"If you feel unclean, unloved, unhappy, unworthy, or unwhole, remember “all that is unfair about life can be made right through the Atonement of Jesus Christ.”3 Have faith and patience in the Savior’s timing and purposes for you. “Be not afraid, only believe” (Mark 5:36).

Be assured the Savior still seeks to mend our souls and heal our hearts. He waits at the door and knocks. Let us answer by beginning again to pray, repent, forgive, and forget. Let us love God and serve our neighbor and stand in holy places with a life made clean. The impotent man at the pool of Bethesda, the leper along the journey to Jerusalem, and Corrie ten Boom were made whole. “Wilt thou be made whole?” Rise and walk. His “grace is sufficient” (2 Corinthians 12:9), and you will not walk alone.

I have come to know that God lives. I know that we are all His children and that He loves us for who we are and for who we can become. I know that He sent His Son to the world to be the atoning sacrifice for all mankind and that those who embrace His gospel and follow Him will be made whole and complete—“in his own time, and in his own way, and according to his own will” (D&C 88:68), by His tender mercies. This is my witness to you in the name of Jesus Christ, amen."

JUMP DOWN, TURN AROUND, PICK A BALE OF COTTON!

 PLEASE CLICK ON THIS LINE FOR ALL PHOTOS OF THIS EVENT

I fulfilled one of my ARIZONA BUCKET LIST items last Saturday!  I got to see and ride in a cotton picking machine!!!  It was beyond my dream.

We went with Brother Scow from Buckeye at the invitation of the Sisters who live at their home.

He took us in his truck to show us all about cotton farming and the equipment it takes to do it.
One of the newer machines is one that makes round modules, wraps them and then is able to pick them up and move them, all on one tractor.
It was pretty cool to watch!

 Brother Scow then took us out to watch a traditional cotton picker that dumps to make compressed rectangle bales.

There was a broken bale and we had a mini snowball fight!  Sisters Barnett and Ratto were dressed in their scarves and ready for fake snow.

 Don't you love how Google plus thought this photo was of snow and added the falling snow feature?  Pretty perfect I think!

 Our daughter Breanna was out for a visit and we enjoyed some photos together as well in the soft pile.

I really like this one of the Sisters and President...looks really classy!  I think we will be seeing this one in an upcoming transfer video or something!

OK, here is the tractor dumping the cotton that it has picked so far.

 And here I am after my ride with Jose on the cotton picker.  It was so cool!  Jose was very gracious, and my Spanish came in handy!

Our daughter got a ride as well, but her German didn't work. ")

And here are the reason we love FIELDS WHITE AND READY TO HARVEST!

I am sure I will be using these photos in an upcoming training for missionaries.  The harvest is good, and it is now!

So, thrust in your sickle with all of your might, labor to do your part!

Jump Down...Turn Around...Pick a Bale of Cotton!

SMALL AND SIMPLE THINGS

Arnulfo Valenzuela gave a humble talk about Small and Simple things and the difference they make.  It is always good to recognize the difference we can make in just small changes, or small things we do that can make the difference for someone else.

http://bcove.me/aoalptnt

“Now ye may suppose that this is foolishness in me; but behold I say unto you, that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise.

“And the Lord God doth work by means to bring about his great and eternal purposes; and by very small means the Lord doth confound the wise and bringeth about the salvation of many souls” (Alma 37:6–7).

COUNSEL:

• Be humble
• Love people for who they are- show that love!
• Do simple things like sing a hymn with someone
• Don't be too proud to do just a small thing/small calling
• Reach out and invite someone

PROMISED BLESSINGS:

• Happiness
• You can invite others to come unto Christ
• You will feel the Spirit
• People will respond to your love and return to Church/the Lord
• You will have joy with them now and in the kingdom of God

We watched this with a young couple we know. (The wife is one of our Returned Missionaries.)  We then showed them the Mormon Message "By Small and Simple Things" about another of our RMs and his story of conversion due to a small and simple invitation.  During watching it, I got a text from that RM...it was pretty sweet!
I have always liked the story of Naaman, the leper, who thought it was too small a thing to be asked, not by the prophet, but by his servant, to go wash in Jordan.  We listen to the story and think, "I would not be like him."  And then, as we are told things to do by servants of the Lord AND EVEN BY HIS SERVANTS, THE PROPHETS, we ignore them and want to find our own way...looking for something more dramatic and seemingly purposeful than what the Lord really wants us to do.  We seek for the praise of men, or women instead of humbly just doing what we have been asked to do.
The Gospel is simple.  We do not need to make it more complicated than it is.  There is order in the Lord's Church.  That makes perfect sense, because it follows the patterns of God and how he created Everything with perfect order...its simple.

MEEKNESS DOES NOT EQUAL WEAKNESS!

I am a little behind in my updates on our Conference Talk project, so you get another this week.  This is Elder Ulysses Soares.  I love his accent and his message! He lives what he teaches...super humble guy!

http://bcove.me/guvrfpcg

COUNCIL:

• Be willing to follow Jesus Christ- try to be like him
• Have a calm, meek temperament
• Be willing and anxious to improve
• Show strength, serenity, self-worth and self control
• Improve day by day--a little at a time
• Control your temper/convey your feelings with patience and gentle persuasion
• Become humble

PROMISED BLESSINGS:

• Attributes will come as we use our agency righteously
• As we try to improve, the Lord will give us that which we are not able to attain due to our own imperfections and weaknesses
• The Holy Ghost will give His approval and sacred promises and covenants will become sure
• The Lord will lead us by the hand and give us answers to our prayers- we will recognize those answers as we are humble
• You can make the difference for good in other people's lives

We really loved this talk.  With what we do with missionaries, it is hard many times to be patient with them and their issues...we needed this reminder on how we can treat people (even when we know what they should be doing.  Remember my little plaque that says "I'm not bossy...I just know what you should be doing!")

2 TIMOTHY 2:24-26

 24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,

 25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;

 26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

I loved this scripture.  It told me that we are not to react with defiance or unkindness...even though this is REALLY HARD.  We need to be "apt to teach, gentle..."  We can give instruction and then allow God to give others repentance as THEY acknowledge the truth.  THEY recover themselves.  In other words, we help them learn for themselves.  We kindly teach and let them come to knowledge themselves.  This has been my philosophy as a teacher and hopefully as a parent.  HANDS-ON LEARNING  It just makes sense.  It goes along with being taught correct principles and then letting us govern ourselves.  It works.
MEEKNESS DOES NOT EQUAL WEAKNESS!!  That is my new catch-phrase!
Next time you are feeling defensive and angry...think of our new catch-phrase!  LOVE YOU ALL!

Some Random Events Last Week

OK, this is me setting up the camera and trying to get it to automatically take a photo of our dinner group with Elder Teh of the First Quorum of the Seventy at the Mission Home...you would think I would have it down by now...but I could not remember how to do it for the life of me!
















Obviously I figured it out.  This is our Office Staff and Mission Presidency along with Elder Teh in our living room turned Dining Room.  Worked really well for a nice dinner and I have a good recipe for Thai Sweet Chili Meatballs that is super easy for a crowd if you want it!

 We took Elder Teh to visit three of the AZ temples.  First to Mesa where the Recorder took us on a LONG tour all over in the temple...into the workrooms and laundry and everything!  It was more than we bargained for, but we were gracious and enjoyed it.

 Then we went to the new Gilbert Temple that will be an open house in mid Jan-Feb...that would be a good time to come and see us and take a tour.  It is gorgeous!

 Then back to our Phoenix Temple which does not look like much is happening, but they are working like crazy inside and doing landscaping outside.

On our way back down from Sedona and the long week, we stopped for dinner in OLD TOWN COTTONWOOD and could not resist a photo with this sign.

LOVE YOU ALL!  Looking forward to a visit from Susan for Thanksgiving...and Austin and family for New Years.  Schedule your last AZ Mission Home visit soon!  

M RUSSELL BALLARD- PUT YOUR TRUST IN THE LORD

The talk for LAST WEEK was Elder Ballards talk "PUT YOUR TRUST IN THE LORD"

http://bcove.me/34xm8m2q

I don't know about you, but I am really enjoying looking for the counsel and the promised blessings.  As a matter of fact, I think I am going to get a paper copy of the Book of Mormon and read it through marking these two things in 2 colors...what do you think?

COUNSEL:

• It is a commandment to do Missionary Work!
• We are to work as members and missionaries TOGETHER
• Make the decision to do what we have been asked to do
• Kneel in prayer personally and as a family to ask for missionary opportunities
• Demonstrate faith and watch for opportunities
• Just be positive, trust in the Lord and you will know what to say
• Ask for inspiration and then go and do as the Spirit directs
• REACH OUT TO JUST ONE BETWEEN NOW AND CHRISTMAS!
• Reach out in "normal, pleasant ways"

PROMISED BLESSINGS:

• We will be assisted in our labors if we act in faith
• We will be given the "gifts" that we need as we ask (Matthew 7:7-11)
• Fear will be replaced with confidence and faith
• Opportunities will come; they will flow naturally
• People will feel your love- they will not forget that feeling
• It is impossible to fail when we are on the Lord's errand
• Millions will feel the love of the Lord Jesus Christ
• You will find joy and witness miracles
• The Lord will hear your prayers and you will have many opportunities now and for years to come

You know, we are serving a full-time mission, but this advice is some we plan to take ourselves.  We do try to talk with people when we are out and about in public.  We need to pray for more missionary experiences too!  We get a lot with members, but we meet people all over that we get to interact with in small ways that can help with understanding that members of the Church believe simply in following Jesus Christ.  

Share with us if you have simple ideas on how to share the Gospel in your everyday life!  

WE LOVE MISSIONARY WORK!

TEACHING WITH POWER AND AUTHORITY

Teaching with Power and Authority:  Brother David McConkie   

http://bcove.me/gce621uc

I did not expect myself to love this talk when it started, but found myself really relating to it and loving the counsel.  I have been a teacher in many settings over the years, and have often felt uncomfortable...still do all the time!  It makes me nervous to speak to people when I feel unprepared.  So I really liked the simple ideas in his talk and how well put together they were...he practiced what he was preaching.

I also feel that this counsel applies to being a parent or partner...we are all teachers in our homes, workplaces, anywhere that we are talking with others.  

Counsel:

• Teach based on correct principles and you cannot go wrong- “God Speaks”
• Rely on priesthood authority; you are set apart
• Remember that you must teach what the Savior would teach if He were there, not your own philosophy
• Live so you can have the Holy Spirit as your companion: Keep commandments/Pray daily/ Study scriptures
• Prepare lesson after you prepare yourself
• Learn to listen
• Stand as an independent witness

Promised Blessings:

• You are entitled to help when you are called to teach
• You will be saved through the power of the Gospel
• You will have the power of God unto the convincing of men
• You will have sound understanding- a testimony of the truth of what you teach
• The Holy Ghost will help you to know what to do. Your own testimony will grow, your conversion will be deepened, and you will be strengthened to meet the challenges of life.”
• The Holy Ghost will testify of truthfulness and the words you read will become your words
• You will learn something from what you teach 

I know I will use this talk with missionaries to help them in their teaching.  That is one of our focuses this month.  I plan on using the advice myself!  I get to teach all the time, and need to do a better job of being in the scriptures as a background to everything that I teach.  I know I can find something that relates to every topic that I could teach, even if it seems not-Gospel related. (exercise, health, finances etc. they are all there!)

My own advice would be to:

•  LOVE both who you teach and what you teach.  It helps to have passion.  
• You don't need to know everything, you just need to know the basics.  
• When possible, find something in your own life that is relatable.

THE LORD'S GAME PLAN

HASTENING THE LORDS GAME PLAN : Elder Gifford Nielsen
http://bcove.me/pn7eajr7

I remember the enthusiasm of Elder Nielsen giving his talk.  Of course, as fulltime missionaries, it was even more exciting for me to think that he was giving this advice to every member of the Church.
What we have found to be true is that the Gospel is shared from heart to heart, most effectively by friends or family. Knocking on doors is the least effective method of sharing the Gospel.
Even when we find someone that is prepared to understand the Gospel, they need a friend to help them through the journey of joining the Church and becoming involved in a ward/branch family.
We have enjoyed watching our ward pray for the missionaries by name in Sacrament meeting...at first they would pray that Elders Dunn and Madsen would "find people to teach."  But by about the second week, they had caught on to pray that "we can find people for Elders Dunn and Madsen to teach."
I had forgotten to ask the missionaries each week who we should be praying for.  I plan on doing that this Sunday if we are not speaking in a Stake Conference.  If we are...I may remind the members to do the same!

COUNSEL:

• We have all been called on missions by the Lord through his prophet
• Have a “Game Plan” for missionary service
• Pray to bring someone closer to the Savior
• Pray for the missionaries in your area by name
• Pray for those they are teaching by name
• Invite someone to an activity in or out of your home

PROMISED BLESSINGS:

• Great joy! (Exclamation point)
• You can know the hearts of people
• You will make new friends
• You will know the missionaries better and be able to help them more
• You will be directed by the Spirit

I spoke on the phone this week with our dear friends, the Ellsworths, (whose daughter is renting our Provo home) and asked how it was being home from the mission.  She said that the only way they have been able to survive is to be busy doing missionary work at home, they are both ward missionaries!  I bet we are not far behind!

The principles of the Gospel are true.  The doctrine is sound. The greatest joys in our lives come because of the impact these truths have on our eternal family.  We feel compelled to share that same potential for happiness with our brothers and sisters.

What have you thought of that you could invite someone to that would help them feel the love of God in their life?

COME JOIN WITH US

The talk we studied this week was by President Uchtdorf from the Saturday morning session of Conference.  COME JOIN WITH US

Click on the line below to go to the talk.  Please let me know if this is a better way for me to imbed the code for the talks rather than the way I have been putting the video right into the blog post.  Let me know what you prefer.

http://bcove.me/fqj362il

Here are my takes on the counsel and the promised blessings from this talk.  What do you see??

Counsel:

• Do not be afraid to consecrate ALL to the Lord.
• Participate actively in your faith. DO GOOD!
• Put your faith into practice by serving others.
• Respect all those who honestly seek for truth.
• Don't stumble because of the mistakes of men in a   perfect Gospel.
• Do not allow your doubts to keep you from the love, peace and gifts that come through faith in Jesus Christ.
• Do not judge members of the Church who are not perfect. We are all hypocrites if you judge that way.

Promised blessings:

• "Our daily walk with Jesus Christ leads to peace and purpose in this life and profound joy and eternal salvation in the world to come."
• "Those who follow this path faithfully avoid many of the pitfalls, sorrows, and regrets of life."
• "The poor in spirit and honest of heart find great treasures of knowledge here."
• "Those who suffer or grieve find healing here."
• Those burdened with sin find forgiveness, liberty, and rest.
• "God will not allow His Church to drift from its appointed course or fail to fulfill its divine destiny."
• "Here you will find the words of eternal life, the promise of blessed redemption, and the pathway to peace and happiness."

I loved this talk.  It spoke peace to my heart.  I have had enough experience in life to recognize the truths taught in this talk.  

I am never happier than when I am serving others.  

I know I have been blessed by making promises to God.  

I have learned that people are not perfect, but the Gospel is.  

Having a principle guided life makes all the difference in the world as to what some may see as "restrictions" that are embraced in the LDS faith.  I see the principles behind commandments and it makes so much more sense.  

I also know that I do not need to have the answers for everything right now. 

I know enough.  

I know God created this earth and each of us.  This earth was designed as a place for us to gain experience.  

I know we knew God and Christ and each other before we came here.  We are re-discovering things we knew before, but with a body.  

I know that we have infinite potential to learn and grow through this plan and the Atonement.  

It is all about family.  We are grateful that YOU are part of our eternal family.

WHAT DID YOU LEARN???

NEXT WEEK: Read Elder Gifford Nielsen's talk and Brother McConkie's talk.

HAVE A GREAT WEEK!  WE LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!!