1. This week we did something that is super rare in this mission because we are so darn big! We had a mission conference! But we are still so big it was only half our mission! But still, it was so great seeing old friends and catching up, and then we had a General authority come speak to us! Elder Pino he was a great guy from Venezuela and spoke 90% of the time through a translator because he wanted us to have the experience. We also have a mission song, that's where the subject comes from, and man it is such a great song! I wish you all could have been in the room with 150 or so of us singing, the spirit was there and man it was strong! Most of my count down has to do with that day but thats alright, it was an awesome day and I learned so much from it!
2. Sister Smith started the meeting with a beautiful talk on King Benjamin's address from the Book of Mosiah in the Book of Mormon. She told us of the how King Benjamin prepared everyone temporally and spiritually. They were all in the right place and he had prepared himself. It goes on that they listened to what he had to say, they did more than hear what was said but they felt it because of the spirit! Then they were changed and desired to act because of what they had felt! That is what we all need to do, we need to prepare ourself for revelation to listen with our ears and hearts and once we do that and recieve we have to go and do! So we have to follow through! I had an experience in following the spirit. I didn't want to follow the prompting and I kept putting it off but I finally did what i was supposed to and felt so much better about this hard thing I had to do! The spirit will never lead you astray.
3. President Smith then talked to us all about goals. This year our mission goal is 450 baptisms. that is a lot for missions in this neck of the woods, but that is totally fine. We have to have 213 baptisms to meet that goal, which is a lot it the 3 months we have left. But that is alright! He told us about the assistant to the president who had been with president Jensen when they had set that goal. Elder Norton, who was that assistant, said "President Smith you should have been there and felt what I felt. You would know the Lord has 450 people for us to baptize" President Smith then went on to say the word "can't" will not be used in this mission, and that the goal is totally obtainable if every missionary is obedient and has all their heart, might, mind and strength on the work! I know its true so here it goes 3 months and 200 souls that need to come to Christ!
4. Sister Pino then spoke about humility! That we should not boast in our ability, but in God! She read us Alma 26:11-12 "11 But Ammon said unto him: I do not boast in my own strength, nor in my own wisdom; but behold, my joy is full, yea, my heart is brim with joy, and I will rejoice in my God.
12 Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things; yea, behold, many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise his name forever." All our confidence should be in God because we can do all things through Christ, who gives us strength! I know this is true. We are just grateful to be worthy to be tools in the hands of the Lord (number 9 goes really well with this).
5. Elder Pino then spoke about a lot of stuff but i will focus on two main points! The first thing he talked about is becoming a missionary, not just being one. He said you will truly know if you became a missionary when your mission ends! That will be the true test if you still wake up on time and study the scriptures and do all the important things missionaries do, without the rule book or a companion telling you to do it! That made me think a lot about motives. Why do i study, why do i wake up at 630 every morning? Is it because I have to or I get to do this while i am serving a mission? It really got me thinking a lot!
6. Elder Pino then talked about our mission call letters! How they are so unique but they say the same thing! they all have different dates and names and for other people different missions! But the rest means so much also! How we need to devote all our time to the Lord leaving behind all other personal affairs! That we are one recommended worthy to be an official representative of Jesus Christ! Man that is a huge deal right there! As a 19 year old being able to represent Jesus Christ, kind of huge shoes to fill! But very important shoes to fill! I now cherish my call letter and i think every missionary should have a copy of his/hers so they can remember the promises that are in those letters
7. Mark and Brenda. I have talked a lot about them but they are just awesome progressing slowly but surely! we watched the movie The Restoration with them and had some technical difficulty and then their 7 year old, Tyler, said why don't we pray and then it will work! So we did and it worked! That was great! During the movie their 4 year old even kept saying "i really like this movie", I thought it was very funny! But at the end Brenda the non-member said she would start to read the Book of Mormon from the start to the end! So that is very good! I hope the best for them!
8. Rachelle is an investigator and was at church on Sunday! She made it and loved it! The members treated her so nicely even though she had a very rough past. She was bombarded with hugs and smiles so that was great, she said she really enjoyed it and was looking forward to the next sunday! So ill let you know how it goes with her!
9. During church we watched a talk from President Uchtdorf from April of 2010 titled "you are my hands". It was such a great talk telling us that we are the way the Christ has to do his work. He probably doesn't need us but we are the way he has chosen to do his work! How great is that responsibility that we are chosen to be a tool which is his hand! We are so blessed with that! Here is the link if anyone wants to watch/read it! http://www.lds.org/
10. Bishop Sims gave such a great thought on how much easier our callings and everything would be if we had a clear picture of eternal life. How it much harder we would look if we could see the end of the road. how full the temples and chapels would be if we could all see the end. i challenge you all to think about that question, are you doing enough? Are you going to have to worry at the judgement bar about the things you didn't do but should have, your sins of ommision. I hope not! I hope I hear "well done, my good and faithful servant"
Love you all Elder Taylor
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