All dressed up and ready to go and listen to our Prophet. We are excited to see President ans Sister Nelson along with Elder and Sister Holland!
Warning: This entry may be long for some.
Missionaries waiting for our first meeting with our Mission President and Sister Mortensen.
Sister Mortensen making sure the room is already to go.
Walking into the hotel where we are meeting.
View of the Conrad Hotel
What it looks like around the hotel.
Sign inside announcing the special devotional.
Elder and Sister Lathen (who fly home right after the devotional).
Elder and Sister Lee (who leave on May 15)
Us, Elder and Sister Luke (who get to stay another year)
Here are a few of my notes from the morning meeting.
President and Sister Mortensen spoke to us about opening up our hearts and mind and let the spirit teach us.
This will be the largest LDS meeting in history in India.
Sister Mortensen:
Mosiah 2 (atonement, service, Christlike attributes) He was out among the people and took charge. Wants people to come unto Christ. Mosiah 5 - We can have a mighty change today by listening to the Prophet. Teach correct principles and then members will change their hearts and do good.
Quote from Sister Kraven : when you know who you are you act differently. It's how we dress, how we speak and the activities we attend.
President Mortensen: (handout from Elder Holland)
The Zode
By Dr. Seuss
Did I ever tell you about the young Zode
Who came to two signs at the fork of a road?
One said: TO PLACE ONE. And the other: PLACE TWO.
So the Zode had to make up his mind what to do.
Well . . . the Zode scratched his head. And his chin.
And his pants.
And he said to himself. "I'll be taking a chance
"If I go to Place One. Now, that place may be hot!
"And, so, how do I know if I'll like it or not?
"If I go to Place Two and I find it too cool.
"In that case I may catch a chill and turn blue!
"So, maybe, Place One is the best. Not Place Two.
"I may catch a terrible earache and die!
"So Place Two may be best!
On the other hand, though . . .
"What might happen to me if Place Two is two low . . .?
"I might get some very strange pain in my toe!
"So Place One may be best." And he started to go.
Then he stopped. And he said, "On the OTHER hand, though . . .
"On the other hand . . . Other hand
. . . Other hand though . . !
And for 36 hours and 1/2, that poor Zode
Made starts and made stops at that fork in the road,
Saying, "Don't take a chance. No! You may be right."
Then he got an idea that was wonderfully bright!
"Play safe!" cried the Zode. "I'll play safe! I'm no dunce!
"I'll simply start off for both places at once!"
And that is how the Zode, who would not take a chance,
Got to NO PLACE AT ALL, with a split in his pants.
Satan is a liar. He tells us that commandments are restrictive.
Moses 7:26-29, 32-33
3 Nephi 12:48 Be perfect, submit our will to the Father. It is only hard if you are like the Zode.
2 Nephi 4:17 Life long battle. We are going to get wounded.
The war in heaven never ended. The battlefield has just changed. Satan attacks us everyday. As we get older we know his tactics. As young missionaries, this is the time to learn how to defend yourself while on your mission.
If struggling with the handbook, have someone teach them that is doing it right. Lift everyone to a higher level.
After our morning meeting we headed to lunch. Walking through lots of traffic.
Here's a sign along the way.
Mix up with the caterer so no lunch. President Mortensen said we can fast and be in better tune to hear the Prophet.
Sister Mortensen arranging all the missionaries for the picture.
She made sure every face could be seen. Sister Mortensen even had hand sanitizer for everyone to use before shaking hands.
Here we are with Elder and Sister Williams (Area 70), Elder and Sister Evans (Asia Area President), President and Sister Nelson, Elder and Sister Holland, and President and Sister Mortensen (Mission President).
We are standing on the front row, left side, 4th couple in.
After the picture we were able to go out and shake their hands. What a neat experience for us and the missionaries!
Here are a few notes from their talks.
Sister Funk:
Jacob 5:72 When there are few missionaries, labor with all your might. Give your best and He will bless you.
Elder Funk:
3 Nephi 11:10 Introduce self and confirm what the Prophets said. Listen today and act with greater understanding and power.
Sister Holland:
Represent as a grandma. Talk about fear. Isaiah 46:4 and Jeremiah 29:11. She has had health issues. She submitted to what Heavenly Father wanted if she was to die or live. Have to be taken to the end of your faith before you see miracles. Shared poem,
Come to the Edge
By Guillaume Apollinaire
"Come to the edge," he said.
"We can't, we're afraid!" they responded.
"COME to the edge," he said.
"We can't, we will fall!" they responded.
"COME to the edge," he said.
And so they came.
And he pushed them.
And they flew.
Elder Holland:
Faith really isn't faith until you don't have anything else to hang onto, quoted from Sister Holland. Talked about President and Sister Mortensen when their daughter passed away. God has provided. 3 Nephi 11:5, 10-11. Had to speak 3 times, don't give up. Told story of Missionaries when they first were out in Mongolia. Sister wanted to read about Jesus Christ but Book of Mormon wasn't translated wrote verse 3 Nephi 11:5. The power of the Book of Mormon she was baptised. Can't imagine what is going to happen in India. Persist in small things.
Sister Nelson:
Story about Benjamin, he was going to the temple to do baptism for the dead. What do we know that others don't know. Responsibility to teach the people.
A-atonement, 1 in bible, book of Mormon 39 times. Make a plan to increase knowledge will change your life.
B-baptism, immersed in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
C-charity, pure love of Christ. Covenants are powerful if we keep them.
D-doctrine, Need to study the doctrine so you can teach the doctrine. DEATH,
F-FORGIVENESS, we can't be forgiven unless we forgive other.
J-JESUS CHRIST, He Lives and is guiding us today.
P-PRIESTHOOD, His authority on earth.
T-TEMPLES, house of the Lord. Put blinders on and don't think about anything else. Will be a preacher for God.
President Nelson:
Brother and Sister Williams shared their testimonies. Explicit obedience will bring you blessings.
Brother Turley with the media - shared his testimony. Historian of the Church.
Priesthood - church growing
1852 after Joseph Smith's death. Missionaries were called to serve. Missionaries in Honk Kong and India. Saints will gather all around the world.
Bringing the saints together to get all the blessings.
How the Lord uses the unlikely to accomplish the impossible. Judges 7:2-7 150,000 Midianites.
1:500 now between members and nonmembers. Lord acquires effort. Example of Moses crossing the Red Sea. Crossing the Jordan River. Only when feet of them touched the water before they parted. Abraham and Sarah having a child at 90. Birth of Christ. Joseph Smith and the restoration. President Kimball's surgery. Revelation of Blacks holding the Priesthood. Gathering of Israel is underway and we get to participate. Just the eve of conference President Nelson was told to announce the temple in India. Look at our own lives and how we are here.
D&C 31:1-8, write to our children and grandchildren about our spiritual experiences. Have Faith and trust Him. Write how many stakes where we are serving. Build the people while others build the temple.
Hebrews 13:7, 17, follow manner of living after the Mission President and his wife. They place God first. Make sure you find a companion that loves the Lord first. Please be the solution of the problem, not the problem. Feast on the words of Jesus Christ, safety in travels, return home and be a valiant and model missionary, healing, bear testimony of Christ.
Wonderful meeting and felt spiritually fed.
After our Missionary meeting we left to go eat dinner. We had to go to the church house where we would see the member meeting by satellite .
Here are the people waiting in line to go hear the Prophet.
There were about 1500 members attending the Devotional with the Prophet.
Member Devotional had a special visitor, Sherri Dew.
Here are my notes from that session.
Sherri Dew:
Jesus is the Christ - power will heal us (sadness, illness, sin, etc)
Joseph Smith is a Prophet
Book of Mormon is the word of God and is filled with power
We have a living Prophet.
We are so thankful for a Prophet!
Sister Holland:
President Nelson is a Prophet.
Blessed us to love India
Love how they serve one another
Told story of her India friend from London
Record stories of your people
Taking ancestors themselves to the temple
Testimony of temples
Elder Holland:
Testifying that President Nelson is a Prophet
He was called and prepared before he came to earth
Ultimate message is Jesus is the Christ
Have to have that knowledge that we receive revelation through our Prophets
Everything is created spiritually before coming to the earth
Personal Revelation - increase our own spirituality
Sister Nelson:
We can remove contention in our lives.
Zero fatalities - She drives a little slower. Like contention need to have zero contention.
Can't come close to our Savior if we have contention.
Things we can do to avoid contention
Never asks us to do something unless he provides a way
Commend someone
Express love in the morning - being positive (first 4 minutes)
How can I advoid contention (ask then seek)
President Nelson:
Take a while for the people to get ready for the temple
Understand the antiquity of the temple
Exodus 28 and 29 talks about the temple
D&C 124 and D&C 129
Temple building people
Be honest
Get rid of contention
Focus on family, families are central to the Gospel
Learn about your ancestors, learn their names, prepare them to go to the temple
Be worthy - keep His commandments
A-antiquity
B-Be worthy
C-Children
Blessing-Feast on the words of Jesus Christ, Be good neighbors, we live around danger, safety in travel, healing, testimony that God lives, speaks through His prophets, this is the Gospel of Jesus Christ, gathering His saints, you can receive revelation for your own families.
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