tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39673075097980188962024-02-07T12:34:56.076-08:00Elder Michael A. CaseAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03019079097075377402noreply@blogger.comBlogger107125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3967307509798018896.post-42662720727778832802014-05-29T15:50:00.006-07:002014-05-29T15:50:49.063-07:00As I Have Loved YouEditors Note. This will be the last post for Elder Case's mission as he comes home next week.<br />
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Dear Family,<o:p></o:p></div>
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This is the last email. We will not email next week. Please
pray for me this week. I will need all help from heaven I can get.<o:p></o:p></div>
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On Saturday night, la familia Navarro had invited me over
for a "little" goodbye party. It turned out that Michelle (the Young
Women's President) had printed invitations and passed them out to the ward. It
was special to feel the love of these people that I have served and loved so
much. They had a time where they opened it up for anyone to speak about how I
blessed their lives. Words can't describe the emotions that came. Then, Blanca
Ortega was going to try and say something but couldn't because she was sobbing
so hard.<o:p></o:p></div>
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On Saturday, we stopped by and had a very intense lesson
with la familia Castillo. We shared the Road to Emmaus with them and promised
them that in the breaking of the bread, Christ (or His church and truth) would
be made manifest to them just like in the story. They came to church but got
there right after the Sacrament. We will keep working with them.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Elder Johnson and I spoke in church yesterday. We had half
an hour. He spoke about taking upon ourselves the name of Christ, covenants,
and being an eternal family. It was so powerful. I can feel the Spirit now as I
remember it. In between our talks, we sang, "Families Can Be Together
Forever". I about lost it. The Spirit testified to every person in the
audience that families can be eternal.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I then stood up and told of the experience I had in the
temple doing sealings with y'all right before I came out. I said that my family
is the number one way I have been able to feel of the Lord's love in my life
and said that after that experience I left my family and felt alone but then
the Lord blessed me with a new family. I talked about the commandment to
"love one another as I have loved you" and then told stories about
different members of the ward and how through them I have felt the love of God
and how I have seen them feel the love of God. After both of those talks, about
half the congregation was in tears and afterwards, Sharon (she is going to be
baptized by her father Gerardo this weekend) walked up and amidst her
uncontrolled sobbing said, "Thank you for fixing our family". <o:p></o:p></div>
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I know that we do have an eternal family. The Holy Ghost
continues to witness that to me.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Saturday morning we went to the temple to do baptisms for
the dead. It was quite a special experience. There were ten recent converts
there with their own family names. Gerardo and Giselle Matamoros on the way
home and in a very reverent manner told of how they felt. They performed the
work for their parents and some grandparents. Gerardo said that when he heard
his mom's name for the baptism that he felt something powerful enter his heart.
Giselle said that when she was confirmed for Gerardo's mother that she felt
that she was present in the room. <o:p></o:p></div>
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These are experiences to never be forgotten. I can't imagine
not being a missionary. Sharon is getting baptized on Saturday by her dad. She
is so excited. Then on Sunday, Ovy and Nia are getting baptized. Elder Tittle
will baptize Nia (his first) and I will baptize Ovy (my last). Please pray for
them. They are so prepared and wonderful to teach.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I wish I could convey the feelings of the Holy Ghost as I
write this email. God is kind. He is merciful. He lives and loves us. Each of
you know how true the Gospel is and have set the example for me throughout my
whole life. I will be eternally grateful for that and for this experience. I
have come to know the Savior during these two sacred years and have felt of the
abundance of His grace. I know that families can be together forever because I
know that the sealing power has been restored to the earth. I know that Joseph
Smith was the instrument that God used to restore His Church to the earth. I
know that the Book of Mormon is indeed Another Testament of Jesus Christ. And
above all, I know that I am a child of my Heavenly Father who loved me enough
to give His Only Begotten Son.<o:p></o:p></div>
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1. I am a child of God,<br />
And he has sent me here,<br />
Has given me an earthly home<br />
With parents kind and dear.<o:p></o:p><br />
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2. I am a child of God,<br />
And so my needs are great;<br />
Help me to understand his words<br />
Before it grows too late.<o:p></o:p><br />
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3. I am a child of God.<br />
Rich blessings are in store;<br />
If I but learn to do his will<br />
I'll live with him once more.<o:p></o:p><br />
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As I now return to my earthly home and family, I know of the love that
awaits me. I know of the happiness and joy and loving embraces that will
accompany returning home. I can only imagine how it will be when we return to
our heavenly home and parents. <o:p></o:p><br />
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I love you. The Gospel is true.<o:p></o:p><br />
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Love,<o:p></o:p><br />
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Elder Case<o:p></o:p><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03019079097075377402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3967307509798018896.post-52770745972171497002014-05-21T10:50:00.002-07:002014-05-21T10:50:32.051-07:00The Rights of the Priesthood
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Dear Family,<o:p></o:p></div>
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Thank you for your continued prayers and faith on my behalf.
This has been a wonderful week. It has been tough since we haven't seen the
Castillo family since mutual on Tuesday but we have an appointment with them
tonight and we are bringing their fellowshippers. Please pray that it goes
well.<o:p></o:p></div>
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If y'all remember from the Mother's Day call, I talked about
Gerardo Matamoros. He is the one that was just barely baptized and then
received the Aaronic Priesthood the day of his confirmation. He is doing so
wonderful. On Friday we taught his daughter (who is also his next-door
neighbor) and walked out and saw him. He spoke with us for a few minutes and we
told him we were about to go visit a lady from Costa Rica. He thought that was
great. We went to the appointment and didn't have a man so we called him and he
came right away. He was so awesome in the lesson. He said the word that has become
my absolute favorite on my mission when said by recent converts or returning
less-actives. He said, "testifico". He bore his testimony so many
times in the lesson and just tried so hard to help la Hermana Ovy understand
how much the Gospel has blessed him and his family. It was a precious memory.
We left and went to a different lesson after which we went to teach Gerardo and
his wife Giselle about Family History. When we showed up they had the Gospel
Principles manual, the Book of Mormon, and the Bible all open and were in the
middle of trying to figure out what his duties were as a Priest. He had spent
the two hours in between the lesson with Ovy and the Family History lesson
studying the scriptures so that he could "respect his Priesthood". We
had much success with family history and are going to do baptisms this
Saturday. They are so excited. After we left their home, he spent two hours and
went through 500 records looking for an ancestor. Then at 9:30 that night
he called and said he had been studying trying to figure out what scriptures we
could share with Ovy the next day. He told us that he had found a chapter about
baptism in the Book of Mormon and asked if it would be good to share. He
literally spent his whole day either with the missionaries, studying the
scriptures, or doing Family History. The Gospel sure does change our hearts. He
has learned how to cast Satan out of his life and loves how he feels.<o:p></o:p></div>
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My favorite experience with his this week though came on
Saturday night. We taught Ovy with him Saturday afternoon and he gave her and
her daughter a ride to the activity. It was a Mother's Day activity and
the youth and men served and the mothers enjoyed themselves. Gerardo put
himself of collecting trash the whole night and at one point I went up to him
and told him the story that is in the Joseph Smith movie when Joseph is outside
beating the rug and the other man asks him why he (the prophet) is doing such a
homely task. I told Gerardo that it was so interesting that he had just
received the Priesthood of God and that according to the world he should be
above simple tasks and yet here he was pushing around a trashcan. He looked at
me and said, "You know what, before I had the Priesthood I never would
have done this". It was so interesting to me that he in such little time
has been able to in some way grasp the following verses from D&C 121:<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span class="chunk">36 That the rights of the priesthood
are inseparably connected with the powers of heaven, and that the powers of
heaven cannot be controlled nor handled only upon the principles of
righteousness.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="37"> </a><span class="chunk">37 That they may
be conferred upon us, it is true; but when we undertake to cover our sins, or
to gratify our pride, our vain ambition, or to exercise control or dominion or
compulsion upon the souls of the children of men, in any degree of
unrighteousness, behold, the heavens withdraw themselves; the Spirit of the
Lord is grieved; and when it is withdrawn, Amen to the priesthood or the
authority of that man.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="41"> </a><span class="chunk">41 No
power or influence can or ought to be maintained by virtue of the priesthood,
only by persuasion, by long-suffering, by gentleness and meekness, and by love
unfeigned;</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="42"> </a><span class="chunk">42 By
kindness, and pure knowledge, which shall greatly enlarge the soul without
hypocrisy, and without guile—</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="43"> </a><span class="chunk">43 Reproving
betimes with sharpness, when moved upon by the Holy Ghost; and then showing
forth afterwards an increase of love toward him whom thou hast reproved, lest
he esteem thee to be his enemy;</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="44"> </a><span class="chunk">44 That
he may know that thy faithfulness is stronger than the cords of death.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="45"> </a><span class="chunk">45 Let
thy bowels also be full of charity towards all men, and to the household of
faith, and let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy
confidence wax strong in the presence of God; and the doctrine of the
priesthood shall distil upon thy soul as the dews from heaven.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="46"> </a><span class="chunk">46 The
Holy Ghost shall be thy constant companion, and thy scepter an unchanging
scepter of righteousness and truth; and thy dominion shall be an everlasting
dominion, and without compulsory means it shall flow unto thee forever and
ever.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span class="chunk">The ward loves him and is amazed at his
desire to serve. He also went to the Bishop's Storehouse on Thursday and plans
on doing that weekly and he brought some investigators to the baptismal service
last night. Talk about conversion. It has been such a blessing and joy to see
the change in him and to feel of his love for the Lord and the Gospel.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span class="chunk">Ovy and her daughter Nia are new
investigators. They are friends with a lady in the English ward. Ovy is great.
She has never been baptized and didn't feel a need to. During the Restoration
lesson while talking about prophets, I felt to do something that I have never
done before. I quoted John 3:5 "Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say
unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter
into the kingdom of God" and then said that we have to be baptized by the
authority that prophets hold to enter into the kingdom of God. She said she
didn't believe that because there are so many people that die without ever even
hearing about Jesus Christ or having the chance to be baptized. We finished
teaching the Restoration and then taught baptisms for the dead. It clicked. She
then said, "Ok now I believe for the first time that I too need to be
baptized." She came to the activity, church, and the baptism last night
and loved all of them. Her daughter is best friends with Sandy Ortega and
Madison Matamoros (both recent converts in the area) and she thought it was the
best thing in the whole world. The interesting and miraculous part about teaching
Ovy about baptisms for the dead during the first lesson (something else I have
never done) is that since zone conference a few weeks ago we have been praying
that we can find those who have ancestors waiting and praying for them to
accept the Gospel and then do the work for them. Ovy was a very direct
answer to those prayers.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span class="chunk">We have spent almost the whole week teaching
Family History and helping people prepare names to go to the temple. I have
been working on the Case line a little bit and had a big breakthrough this
week. One of the people that was put in was incorrect and when I put the
correct person in, the line continued on another 150 years rather than ending
as it previously had. It was pretty exciting and allowed me to find people to
take to the temple to do baptisms for.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span class="chunk">This work is an absolute joy. I couldn't be
happier. I am so grateful that the Lord has allowed me to serve Him these two
years and come to know of His mercy and love and longsuffering towards me. My
mission has been for me. I know that the Lord lives. I love Him. I also love
reading the words of His chosen servants. This week as I read "The
Witness" by Elder Packer, the Spirit enveloped me. His testimony of the
Savior is so real, so personal, and so sure. I want to have that kind of
testimony of Jesus Christ and I will strive to live worthy to receive it.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span class="chunk">I love you. The Gospel is true, what else
matters?</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span class="chunk">Love,</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span class="chunk">Elder Case</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span class="chunk">P.S. Sharon, Gerardo's daughter, is
progressing a lot and is super excited for her baptism on May 31st! Please keep
praying for her, especially that she can change her work schedule.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03019079097075377402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3967307509798018896.post-19407827082056583092014-05-13T14:06:00.004-07:002014-05-13T14:06:32.692-07:00Spiritual Whirlwinds
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Dear Family,<o:p></o:p></div>
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It was fun to see you all yesterday. Kind of crazy to have
so many people on the same call. I guess that is what happens with such a big
family.<o:p></o:p></div>
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In light of all of the joy of the day yesterday with the
confirmations of Madison and Gerardo and Gerardo's ordination to the Aaronic
Priesthood, we had some sad and hard news last night. After we finished talking
with y'all last night la familia Castillo (the family whose house we were at)
asked to speak with us. They didn't come to church yesterday and they explained
that it was because they had been up from 10PM Saturday night till 4AM Sunday
morning doing their "research" on the church. They explained that
they had watched a one hour long video that didn't paint the church in a very
good light. We talked about what Satan's purpose is and decided that he wants
to confuse us, destroy the plan of salvation, and ensure that no one receives
salvation. We then explained that from his perspective if there were only one
church in the whole world that could bring salvation to the children of God
that he would do all in his power to fight against that church. We spoke with
them for about an hour and learned about their doubts and concerns. Beranice,
the mom, on Friday had told us that she was 100% sure that she wanted to get
baptized and that the next time we came she would tell us if it would be this
weekend or next weekend. Now she is confused and unsure. Sounds like Satan's
influence.<o:p></o:p></div>
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We are going to teach them again tonight and plan on seeing
them every day this week to begin resolving doubts and helping to bring the
Spirit into their home as we read and pray with them. Please pray that they
will receive a witness that the Book of Mormon is true and that they will have
exceedingly great faith. I am beginning to understand what all the General
Conference talks were about. The theme seemed to be defending the faith in the
face of opposition<o:p></o:p></div>
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On a more positive note, we had Zone Conference this week
and it was wonderful. Elder Johnson did a training on opening your mouth that
was just terrific, Sister Ashton talked about how to handle persecution, and
President Ashton gave the best training of my mission. He talked about how this
is the Lord's work and how he goes with us. He read D&C 84:88<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="88"><span style="background: rgb(249, 246, 237); border: 1pt windowtext; color: #486fae; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.5pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;"> </span></a><span style="mso-bookmark: 88;"></span><span style="border: 1pt windowtext; color: #2f393a; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.5pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">88 <span style="background: rgb(249, 246, 237);">And whoso receiveth you, there I will be also, for I will go before your face. I will</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="border: 1pt windowtext; color: #2f393a; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.5pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;"><span style="background: rgb(249, 246, 237);"> be on your right hand and on your left,and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="border: 1pt windowtext; color: #2f393a; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.5pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;"><span style="background: rgb(249, 246, 237);"> angels round about you, to bear you up.</span></span> <o:p></o:p></div>
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Then he explained that this is literal. He said he had a
sure knowledge that the Savior Himself had recently come to a meeting in the
mission and that many of us were present in that meeting. That was pretty
powerful. I remember Bishop Jorgensen saying the same thing about a certain
Sacrament Meeting at one point. Two weeks ago I gave a training in a meeting
about the ministering of angels and since then I have been constantly
reflecting on the presence of angels in my life. I can say that I have a sure
knowledge that they accompany me, they minister to me, and they bless and
change the hearts of those we teach. I know that I have been born up by angels
many times on my mission.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p> </o:p>At the beginning of President Ashton's training, he read a
story in which a missionary's family shows up to the mission and follows their
missionary son around for the day. The family is all excited to watch the
missionary in action but as they follow him they continually become more discouraged
and saddened due to the lack of obedience of the missionary. At the end of the
trip the family writes a letter to the mission president and explains their
experience watching their missionary son and the letter is signed, "With
love from your Heavenly Home, Father, Mother, and Jesus Christ". President
Ashton asked us if we felt more uncomfortable thinking that it was our earthly
family watching us or our Heavenly Parents. I rose my hand and explained the
experience that I had with David in the driveway the morning I left for the
MTC. That experience had influenced every single day of my mission. He was
sobbing and then embraced me tightly and said through his tears, "I would
give anything to do what you are about to do. Don't waste a single minute."
President Ashton then asked all the missionaries if our younger siblings would
have the same experience that I had. If we, the older siblings, will be able to
say those same words with that same conviction when our younger siblings leave
for their missions. Elder William R. Walker in conference spoke of the coin
that says, "Standing on the Shoulders of Giants" and then said,
"I feel that we are all standing on the shoulders of giants". I feel
the same way. As I spoke with all of you last night and felt of your love and
support I realized that throughout my whole life each of you have been lifting
me up, reaching down and taking my hand until I was standing upon your
shoulders. I consider each of you to be spiritual giants in my life and could
not be more grateful for your example and love.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Tomorrow we will have a mission conference in the temple. It
will be half of the elders in the mission. We have a 6:30 AM session with just
missionaries. The temple president and his wife along with President and Sister
Ashton will then teach us in the training room for two and a half hours. The
topic is our true identity. I am pretty excited.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p> </o:p>Thank you for all that you do. Please pray for the
Castillos. <o:p></o:p></div>
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One final thought, last night while driving to the
Castillos, the hymn "Praise to the Man" came on in the car. I
mentioned to Elder Tittle that I received my testimony of Joseph Smith while
listening to that hymn. As I said those words, the Spirit came and testified to
me once again that Joseph Smith was a prophet. It was a tender mercy to have
that experience immediately before having that belief rejected and attacked by
those I have come to love so dearly. I have had that experience many times
during my mission - the witness coming in the moment that I will be called upon
to defend the truth. I know that as the persecution increases and the fiery
darts of the Adversary are ever thrown at our faith that we will be
strengthened through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. His grace is sufficient to
heal us, to help us, and to protect us from the spiritual whirlwinds that will
surely come.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I love you,<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
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Elder Case<o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03019079097075377402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3967307509798018896.post-54037633090995319802014-05-07T14:00:00.002-07:002014-05-07T14:00:30.746-07:00I Love Houston 4<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrWR_EfqDnbvEnWWUurEi0Oo4yP2gX1BXuXSc6Tf6P5EJt364og4cBCevc4H_naIGn_VM4dHesLYa2Ii9SBWAvZhy0Lb4WrTHQBVd04nqmSqhlqU9q8DX6eq5zuXaEEgQNllnrKRt5HBc/s1600/CIMG8450.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrWR_EfqDnbvEnWWUurEi0Oo4yP2gX1BXuXSc6Tf6P5EJt364og4cBCevc4H_naIGn_VM4dHesLYa2Ii9SBWAvZhy0Lb4WrTHQBVd04nqmSqhlqU9q8DX6eq5zuXaEEgQNllnrKRt5HBc/s1600/CIMG8450.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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I love this work. It was a really busy but blessed week as we
helped Madison and Gerardo prepare for their baptism. As you can see from the
photos, we had the service yesterday and it was wonderful. I baptized Gerardo
first and as we watched Madison be baptized, we were dripping wet and he began
to cry. It was a pretty touching moment. Later in the service during the hymns
and testimonies, Madison was sobbing, as was her mom. Hermano Perez (our Ward
Mission Leader) is all about making baptismal services as spiritual as
possible. He thinks that it is a unique opportunity to get non-member family
members to feel the Spirit and have a good experience with the church. I
couldn't agree with him more.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p> </o:p></div>
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I don't feel the need to be trunky because the ward is
trunky for me. I get asked everyday by a member or investigator how it feels to
have so little time left and what my plans are, if I am excited to see my
family, etc... Of course I am excited to see y'all and I am not necessarily
scared or even nervous about finishing the mission but what kills me is
thinking of leaving this ward. They have become my family in every sense of the
word. Many of my most spiritual experiences have been shared with these
wonderful people that I love so much. They consider me to be their son or older
brother and I wouldn't have it any other way. I just can't imagine leaving
them.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p> </o:p></div>
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La familia Castillo is doing so well. They came to church
again and loved it. We visit them almost day and she just always feeds us. We
taught them the first half of the Plan of Salvation and it ended with the
oldest girl crying and then we returned the next day and taught the second half
and it ended with the youngest girl crying. We aren't sure if that is a good
thing or bad thing but the Spirit was there.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p> </o:p></div>
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Jake Ashton came out with us from Friday night to Saturday
afternoon. It was fun to see him again. We had a fun time with him in the
apartment Friday night as you can see from the pictures.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
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<o:p> </o:p></div>
<br />
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We aren't sure where we are Skyping from yet on Sunday. We
will have the family contact y'all during the week and set up a time. Hopefully
we will do it at the Castillo's home so that you can meet them. I can't believe
I will be talking to everyone again. I feel like we just did this. Time passes
too quickly.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p> </o:p></div>
<br />
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Anyways, everything is going really well. I love the work
and am so grateful for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I will talk to you in a
week!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p> </o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Love,<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
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<o:p> </o:p></div>
<br />
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Elder Case<o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03019079097075377402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3967307509798018896.post-25497270844999249962014-04-29T16:42:00.003-07:002014-04-29T16:42:36.617-07:00Best Week Ever<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji9cpOyJZyNSSfVXQdCzXsx6XZjBP37pps7_-kYjt7P4p0LGh4ylUFgmUXVX0SP5YGKw-CG1nF-8nukAjpl61Qz7rRon6N6tJFCnxNvU9e7gFYZof0E1OZwe8FVc6M5lM4PJurTdCZHBE/s1600/CIMG8442.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji9cpOyJZyNSSfVXQdCzXsx6XZjBP37pps7_-kYjt7P4p0LGh4ylUFgmUXVX0SP5YGKw-CG1nF-8nukAjpl61Qz7rRon6N6tJFCnxNvU9e7gFYZof0E1OZwe8FVc6M5lM4PJurTdCZHBE/s1600/CIMG8442.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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Dear Family,<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
This has been the best week of my whole mission! I stand all
amazed at the love Jesus offers me...and the grace and the mercy and the
miracles. I know that this is the work of the Lord. I know that Jesus Christ
lives and loves us. The longer I have been out on my mission, the more I have
realized that I am not perfect and that I make mistakes all the time. The other
thing that I have learned though is that Heavenly Father wants to forgive us
and wants to bless us more than we can imagine. I love D&C 1:30-31<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div style="background: rgb(249, 246, 237); line-height: 16.5pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border: 1pt windowtext; color: #2f393a; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.5pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">31 </span><span style="color: #2f393a; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">For I the Lord cannot look upon </span><sup><span style="border: 1pt windowtext; color: #2f393a; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 7.5pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">a</span></sup><span style="color: #2f393a; font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><a href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/1?lang=eng" target="_blank"><span style="border: 1pt windowtext; color: #486fae; font-size: 12.5pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">sin</span></a> with
the least degree of allowance;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: rgb(249, 246, 237); line-height: 16.5pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border: 1pt windowtext; color: #2f393a; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.5pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">32 </span><span style="color: #2f393a; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Nevertheless, he that </span><sup><span style="border: 1pt windowtext; color: #2f393a; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 7.5pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">a</span></sup><span style="color: #2f393a; font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><a href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/1?lang=eng" target="_blank"><span style="border: 1pt windowtext; color: #486fae; font-size: 12.5pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">repents</span></a> and
does the </span><sup><span style="border: 1pt windowtext; color: #2f393a; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 7.5pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">b</span></sup><span style="color: #2f393a; font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><a href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/1?lang=eng" target="_blank"><span style="border: 1pt windowtext; color: #486fae; font-size: 12.5pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">commandments</span></a> of
the Lord shall be </span><sup><span style="border: 1pt windowtext; color: #2f393a; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 7.5pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">c</span></sup><span style="color: #2f393a; font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><a href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/1?lang=eng" target="_blank"><span style="border: 1pt windowtext; color: #486fae; font-size: 12.5pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">forgiven</span></a>;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
The "nevertheless" in these verses brings me so
much hope! I love being a missionary. I cannot imagine doing anything else. On
Wednesday we had Transfer Meeting. It was my last one. It was fun to be able to
sit in the audience and be stress free. I told all the Office Staff that this
was the easiest transfer of my whole mission. I don't think they found it
funny... I got to bear my testimony to the whole mission. It was a sweet experience
to be gathered together one last time with those that I have served with for so
long. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
My new companion is Elder Tittle. This is his second
transfer. He is from Orem, UT. He is a catcher for BYU's baseball team and his
dad works in BYU athletics. He is wonderful.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
On Wednesday we went and taught Gerardo about family
history. We made his FamilySeach account and got him started looking for his
ancestors. Then on Friday we went back and taught the Atonement to him and his
wife. It was so powerful. We showed up right after they had had a fight and the
Spirit was not there but we began to teach about the Fall, death, the
Resurrection, the suffering of Christ, mercy and justice, the Spirit came so
strongly and they completely changed. We read a bunch of scriptures in the Book
of Mormon and finished by explaining that the only way to not suffer justice is
to repent but that repentance doesn't actually clean and purify us unless we
make covenants. We read Moroni 8:25-26<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div style="background: rgb(249, 246, 237); line-height: 16.5pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="145a9ad0fedb47de_25"><span style="border: 1pt windowtext; color: #486fae; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.5pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;"> </span></a><span style="mso-bookmark: 145a9ad0fedb47de_25;"></span><span style="border: 1pt windowtext; color: #2f393a; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.5pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">25 </span><span style="color: #2f393a; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">And the first fruits
of </span><sup><span style="border: 1pt windowtext; color: #2f393a; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 7.5pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">a</span></sup><span style="color: #2f393a; font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><a href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/moro/8?lang=eng" target="_blank"><span style="border: 1pt windowtext; color: #486fae; font-size: 12.5pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">repentance</span></a> is </span><sup><span style="border: 1pt windowtext; color: #2f393a; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 7.5pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">b</span></sup><span style="color: #2f393a; font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><a href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/moro/8?lang=eng" target="_blank"><span style="border: 1pt windowtext; color: #486fae; font-size: 12.5pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">baptism</span></a>;
and baptism cometh by faith unto the fulfilling the commandments; and the
fulfilling the commandments bringeth </span><sup><span style="border: 1pt windowtext; color: #2f393a; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 7.5pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">c</span></sup><span style="color: #2f393a; font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><a href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/moro/8?lang=eng" target="_blank"><span style="border: 1pt windowtext; color: #486fae; font-size: 12.5pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">remission</span></a> of
sins;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: rgb(249, 246, 237); line-height: 16.5pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="145a9ad0fedb47de_26"><span style="border: 1pt windowtext; color: #486fae; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.5pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;"> </span></a><span style="mso-bookmark: 145a9ad0fedb47de_26;"></span><span style="border: 1pt windowtext; color: #2f393a; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.5pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">26 </span><span style="color: #2f393a; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">And the remission of sins
bringeth </span><sup><span style="border: 1pt windowtext; color: #2f393a; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 7.5pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">a</span></sup><span style="color: #2f393a; font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><a href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/moro/8?lang=eng" target="_blank"><span style="border: 1pt windowtext; color: #486fae; font-size: 12.5pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">meekness</span></a>, and lowliness of heart; and because of meekness and
lowliness of heart cometh the visitation of the </span><sup><span style="border: 1pt windowtext; color: #2f393a; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 7.5pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">b</span></sup><span style="color: #2f393a; font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><a href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/moro/8?lang=eng" target="_blank"><span style="border: 1pt windowtext; color: #486fae; font-size: 12.5pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Holy
Ghost</span></a>, which </span><sup><span style="border: 1pt windowtext; color: #2f393a; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 7.5pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">c</span></sup><span style="color: #2f393a; font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><a href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/moro/8?lang=eng" target="_blank"><span style="border: 1pt windowtext; color: #486fae; font-size: 12.5pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Comforter</span></a> </span><sup><span style="border: 1pt windowtext; color: #2f393a; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 7.5pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">d</span></sup><span style="color: #2f393a; font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><a href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/moro/8?lang=eng" target="_blank"><span style="border: 1pt windowtext; color: #486fae; font-size: 12.5pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">filleth</span></a> with
hope and perfect </span><sup><span style="border: 1pt windowtext; color: #2f393a; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 7.5pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">e</span></sup><span style="color: #2f393a; font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><a href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/moro/8?lang=eng" target="_blank"><span style="border: 1pt windowtext; color: #486fae; font-size: 12.5pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">love</span></a>, which love endureth by </span><sup><span style="border: 1pt windowtext; color: #2f393a; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 7.5pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">f</span></sup><span style="color: #2f393a; font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><a href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/moro/8?lang=eng" target="_blank"><span style="border: 1pt windowtext; color: #486fae; font-size: 12.5pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">diligence</span></a> unto</span><sup><span style="border: 1pt windowtext; color: #2f393a; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 7.5pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">g</span></sup><span style="color: #2f393a; font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><a href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/moro/8?lang=eng" target="_blank"><span style="border: 1pt windowtext; color: #486fae; font-size: 12.5pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">prayer</span></a>,
until the end shall come, when all the </span><sup><span style="border: 1pt windowtext; color: #2f393a; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 7.5pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">h</span></sup><span style="color: #2f393a; font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><a href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/moro/8?lang=eng" target="_blank"><span style="border: 1pt windowtext; color: #486fae; font-size: 12.5pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">saints</span></a> shall
dwell with God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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He looked at us and said, "Oh, I really need to get
baptized". Then just to put the last nail in the coffin, we turned to 2
Nephi 31:10-12<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="10"><span style="border: 1pt windowtext; color: #486fae; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.5pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;"> </span></a><span style="mso-bookmark: 10;"></span><span style="border: 1pt windowtext; color: #2f393a; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.5pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">10 </span><span style="color: #2f393a; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">And he said unto the
children of men: </span><sup><span style="border: 1pt windowtext; color: #2f393a; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 7.5pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">a</span></sup><span style="color: #2f393a; font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><a href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/2-ne/31?lang=eng" id="footnote16"><span style="border: 1pt windowtext; color: #486fae; font-size: 12.5pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Follow</span></a> thou me. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, can
we </span><sup><span style="border: 1pt windowtext; color: #2f393a; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 7.5pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">b</span></sup><span style="color: #2f393a; font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><a href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/2-ne/31?lang=eng" id="footnote17"><span style="border: 1pt windowtext; color: #486fae; font-size: 12.5pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">follow</span></a> Jesus save we shall be willing to keep the
commandments of the Father?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="11"><span style="border: 1pt windowtext; color: #486fae; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.5pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;"> </span></a><span style="mso-bookmark: 11;"></span><span style="border: 1pt windowtext; color: #2f393a; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.5pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">11 </span><span style="color: #2f393a; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">And the Father said: Repent
ye, repent ye, and be baptized in the name of my Beloved Son.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="12"><span style="border: 1pt windowtext; color: #486fae; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.5pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;"> </span></a><span style="mso-bookmark: 12;"></span><span style="border: 1pt windowtext; color: #2f393a; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.5pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">12 </span><span style="color: #2f393a; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">And also, the voice of the
Son came unto me, saying: He that is baptized in my name, to him will the
Father </span><sup><span style="border: 1pt windowtext; color: #2f393a; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 7.5pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">a</span></sup><span style="color: #2f393a; font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><a href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/2-ne/31?lang=eng" id="footnote18"><span style="border: 1pt windowtext; color: #486fae; font-size: 12.5pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">give</span></a> the Holy Ghost, like unto me; wherefore, </span><sup><span style="border: 1pt windowtext; color: #2f393a; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 7.5pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">b</span></sup><span style="color: #2f393a; font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><a href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/2-ne/31?lang=eng" id="footnote19"><span style="border: 1pt windowtext; color: #486fae; font-size: 12.5pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">follow</span></a> me,
and do the things which ye have seen me do.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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I looked him in the eye and said, "Gerardo, we
represent Jesus Christ and we invited you to follow him. Will you follow the
example of Jesus Christ and be baptized so that you can be clean?" He said
yes, Giselle said, "There is a baptismal service on Sunday!" He then
said, "How about next weekend?" So he is getting baptized. The
amazing thing is that he told his granddaughter Madison and unbeknownst to us
asked her to be baptized with him. She has been ready for two months but her
parents wouldn't let her. Madison and her mom came to church and after
Sacrament Meeting, Sharon (her mom) said she needed to speak to us. She said,
"Can Madison get baptized this weekend with her grandpa?" I didn't
know what to do. We are so blessed. Madison is so excited. They will both be
baptized this Sunday at 5:00PM. Please pray for them that all is go well and
that they will feel ready and they will be ready.<o:p></o:p></div>
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President Ashton recently had a Mission President's Seminar
with Elder Bednar where the question was asked, "What is the difference
between changing hearts and turning hearts?" The answer was explained that
Elijah is in the business of turning hearts and we are in the business of
changing hearts - it is the same business. Thus, it is interesting to me that
Gerardo after searching out his ancestors online then came to the conclusion
that he needed to be baptized. In other words, his heart changed. It turned.
Also, he really wants to go to the temple for his ancestors but knows that he
cannot go unless he is baptized. Now, baptize is not the end goal for him but
rather the means to obtaining the goal of the temple. What a glorious and
perfect plan. It is so simple and makes so much sense.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Also on Wednesday, we visited la Familia Castillo for the
first time. The English elders met them and set an appointment then passed them
off to us. Pedro (the father) is a member but hasn't been to church in 15
years. Him and his wife have four children. We taught them some of the
Restoration on Wednesday and finished teaching it after dinner on Thursday. We
invited them to be baptized and the three girls all said yes. The fourth child
is also named Pedro but is only seven. We then invited the mom and she said,
"Yes. I am completely ready. I really wanted to be baptized 15 years ago
but we weren't married then so I wasn't. Now we are married and have four kids
and I am ready." It was incredible. They are preparing to be baptized on
May 17th. We dropped off brownies to them on Friday and they gave us dinner in
return. Then we helped them move Pedro's sister all day Saturday. They all came
to church yesterday along with the sister and her family. They sat on the
second row and took up the whole bench! They loved church and are doing so
well. They have already watched "Finding Faith in Christ" and
"The Restoration". <o:p></o:p></div>
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What I understand now that I didn't understand at the
beginning of my mission is what Aaron taught King Lamoni's father in Alma 22.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="14"><span style="background: rgb(249, 246, 237); border: 1pt windowtext; color: #486fae; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.5pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;"> </span></a><span style="mso-bookmark: 14;"></span><span style="background: rgb(249, 246, 237); border: 1pt windowtext; color: #2f393a; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.5pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">14 </span><span style="background: rgb(249, 246, 237); color: #2f393a; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.5pt;">And since man
had </span><sup><span style="background: rgb(249, 246, 237); border: 1pt windowtext; color: #2f393a; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 7.5pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">a</span></sup><a href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/alma/22?lang=eng" id="footnote19"><span style="background: rgb(249, 246, 237); border: 1pt windowtext; color: #486fae; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.5pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">fallen</span></a><span style="background: rgb(249, 246, 237); color: #2f393a; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.5pt;"> he could not </span><sup><span style="background: rgb(249, 246, 237); border: 1pt windowtext; color: #2f393a; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 7.5pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">b</span></sup><a href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/alma/22?lang=eng" id="footnote20"><span style="background: rgb(249, 246, 237); border: 1pt windowtext; color: #486fae; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.5pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">merit</span></a><span style="background: rgb(249, 246, 237); color: #2f393a; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.5pt;"> anything of himself; but the sufferings and </span><sup><span style="background: rgb(249, 246, 237); border: 1pt windowtext; color: #2f393a; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 7.5pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">c</span></sup><a href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/alma/22?lang=eng" id="footnote21"><span style="background: rgb(249, 246, 237); border: 1pt windowtext; color: #486fae; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.5pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">death</span></a><span style="background: rgb(249, 246, 237); color: #2f393a; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.5pt;"> of Christ </span><sup><span style="background: rgb(249, 246, 237); border: 1pt windowtext; color: #2f393a; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 7.5pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">d</span></sup><a href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/alma/22?lang=eng" id="footnote22"><span style="background: rgb(249, 246, 237); border: 1pt windowtext; color: #486fae; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.5pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">atone</span></a><span style="background: rgb(249, 246, 237); color: #2f393a; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.5pt;"> for their sins, through faith and repentance, and so forth; and
that he breaketh the bands of death, that the </span><sup><span style="background: rgb(249, 246, 237); border: 1pt windowtext; color: #2f393a; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 7.5pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">e</span></sup><a href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/alma/22?lang=eng" id="footnote23"><span style="background: rgb(249, 246, 237); border: 1pt windowtext; color: #486fae; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.5pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">grave</span></a><span style="background: rgb(249, 246, 237); color: #2f393a; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.5pt;"> shall have no victory, and that the sting of death should be
swallowed up in the hopes of glory; and Aaron did expound all these things unto
the king.</span> <o:p></o:p></div>
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I know that I am fallen and cannot merit anything of myself
but I know that the grace of Christ is sufficient, in fact there is more than
enough, to save us and to make up the difference. I now that even with my
imperfections that as long as I do my best, Heavenly Father will place people
like the Castillo Family in my path, he will turn Gerardo's heart, and he will
allow Madison to get baptized with her grandpa.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Yesterday, Elder Cruz came back with his family for the
baptism of Aurora, Araceli, and Carina. It was a special service and the girls
loved it. The Spirit was manifest as it always is in the ordinances of the
Gospel.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I love this work. I know the Gospel is true. I know that we
can do all things in Christ.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p> </o:p>Love,<o:p></o:p></div>
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Elder Case<o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03019079097075377402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3967307509798018896.post-45911058848601819832014-04-16T10:23:00.005-07:002014-04-16T10:23:53.449-07:00The Resurrection<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKpy1PXb6RP5V1pVfrIKXadDr2QJHIWOeXQtqJVqX2OKvbcA1dIKAgtY4trmPeSbE0X5r7Fs3Xw2cHyfImZ_BNK_a5SyfhMZJzxB0wkBWVFGoanqek81BhqXrDHoS-VZOnh_NomHyQTKw/s1600/IMG_0143.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" closure_lm_127248="null" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKpy1PXb6RP5V1pVfrIKXadDr2QJHIWOeXQtqJVqX2OKvbcA1dIKAgtY4trmPeSbE0X5r7Fs3Xw2cHyfImZ_BNK_a5SyfhMZJzxB0wkBWVFGoanqek81BhqXrDHoS-VZOnh_NomHyQTKw/s1600/IMG_0143.JPG" height="240" uta="true" width="320" /></a></div>
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Dear Family,</div>
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<br /></div>
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This has been an interesting week but one full of blessings. Thank you for your prayers for la familia Perez. On Monday we showed up for our appointment and had not been able to contact the members that are friends with them. We were outside knocking on the door and Brother and Sister Martinez walked up with their dog! It was such a miracle. They said that they saw us and wanted to know if they could come to the appointment with us. I like the definition of "coincidence" that says a coincidence is merely a miracle in which God remains anonymous. Their testimonies brought the Spirit so strongly. They loved the Restoration and recognized the feelings of the Holy Ghost as we taught. They said that they wanted to be baptized but needed more time to consider and learn. Unfortunately, we haven't been able to see them since Monday but should see them tomorrow or Wednesday.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Last Wednesday, I went and studied with President Ashton and Elder Williams (my ZL companion). It was my last study with President Ashton of my mission but boy it was a good one. After the study I went to the dentist and had my crown/root canal. That lasted four hours. Elder Aiono came with me and was taking pictures on the phone and telling the doctor what to do the whole time. It was really funny. While that was happening, Elder Nielsen was packing because he was transferred to Brazos to be Elder Williams companion. There were two missionaries that went home mid-transfer because they extended and there was a need for a missionary. Since we had three, they took Elder Nielsen away. Now it is just Elder Cruz and I. He goes home on Tuesday (a week from tomorrow) and then I will get my 11th companion in this area. The ward thinks that I just send all my companions away and can't figure out how I am still here.</div>
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<br /></div>
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We studied the Resurrection with President Ashton. We had a question from 2 Nephi 9:8.</div>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="8"> </a>8 O the <sup>a</sup><a href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/2-ne/9?lang=eng" id="footnote23"><span style="color: #0066cc;">wisdom</span></a> of God, his <sup>b</sup><a href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/2-ne/9?lang=eng" id="footnote24"><span style="color: #0066cc;">mercy</span></a> and <sup>c</sup><a href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/2-ne/9?lang=eng" id="footnote25"><span style="color: #0066cc;">grace</span></a>! For behold, if the <sup>d</sup><a href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/2-ne/9?lang=eng" id="footnote26"><span style="color: #0066cc;">flesh</span></a> should rise no more our spirits must become subject to that angel who <sup>e</sup><a href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/2-ne/9?lang=eng" id="footnote27"><span style="color: #0066cc;">fell</span></a> from before the presence of the Eternal God, and became the <sup>f</sup><a href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/2-ne/9?lang=eng" id="footnote28"><span style="color: #0066cc;">devil</span></a>, to rise no more.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Our question was how come we become subject to the Devil if we rise no more or in other words, if there is no resurrection. President taught us that it is through the Resurrection that we become subject to Christ:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div id="para4">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="5"> </a>5 Yea, I know that ye know that in the body he shall show himself unto those at Jerusalem, from whence we came; for it is expedient that it should be among them; for it behooveth the great <sup>a</sup><a href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/2-ne/9?lang=eng" id="footnote7"><span style="color: #0066cc;">Creator</span></a> that he <sup>b</sup><a href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/2-ne/9?lang=eng" id="footnote8"><span style="color: #0066cc;">suffereth</span></a> himself to become <sup>c</sup><a href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/2-ne/9?lang=eng" id="footnote9"><span style="color: #0066cc;">subject</span></a> unto man in the flesh, and <sup>d</sup><a href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/2-ne/9?lang=eng" id="footnote10"><span style="color: #0066cc;">die</span></a> for <sup>e</sup><a href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/2-ne/9?lang=eng" id="footnote11"><span style="color: #0066cc;">all</span></a> men, that all men might become subject unto him.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div id="para5">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="6"> </a>6 For as <sup>a</sup><a href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/2-ne/9?lang=eng" id="footnote12"><span style="color: #0066cc;">death</span></a> hath passed upon all men, to fulfil the merciful <sup>b</sup><a href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/2-ne/9?lang=eng" id="footnote13"><span style="color: #0066cc;">plan</span></a> of the great Creator, there must needs be a power of <sup>c</sup><a href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/2-ne/9?lang=eng" id="footnote14"><span style="color: #0066cc;">resurrection</span></a>, and the resurrection must needs come unto man by reason of the <sup>d</sup><a href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/2-ne/9?lang=eng" id="footnote15"><span style="color: #0066cc;">fall</span></a>; and the fall came by reason of <sup>e</sup><a href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/2-ne/9?lang=eng" id="footnote16"><span style="color: #0066cc;">transgression</span></a>; and because man became fallen they were <sup>f</sup><a href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/2-ne/9?lang=eng" id="footnote17"><span style="color: #0066cc;">cut off</span></a> from the <sup>g</sup><a href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/2-ne/9?lang=eng" id="footnote18"><span style="color: #0066cc;">presence</span></a> of the Lord.</div>
<br />
Anyways, it was wonderful and I learned so much and gained a much deeper understanding and appreciation for the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is no wonder that the Bible Dictionary says, "To obtain a resurrection with a celestial, exalted body is the center point of hope in the gospel of Jesus Christ. The Resurrection of Jesus is the most glorious of all messages to mankind."<br />
How wonderful it is to know that we will see our loved ones again. I know that Jesus Christ lives. He is my Savior and King. I love the testimonies of the Apostles in this month's Ensign.<o:p></o:p><br />
<div id="para4">
“I am a witness of the Resurrection of the Lord as surely as if I had been there in the evening with the two disciples in the house on Emmaus road. I know that He lives as surely as did <a href="http://mormon.org/joseph-smith"><span style="color: #0066cc;">Joseph Smith</span></a> when he saw the Father and the Son in the light of a brilliant morning in a grove of trees in Palmyra. …<o:p></o:p></div>
<div id="para5">
“… I so testify as a witness of the risen Savior and our Redeemer.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div id="para6">
- President <a href="https://www.lds.org/church/leader/henry-b-eyring?lang=eng"><span style="color: #0066cc;">Henry B. Eyring</span></a></div>
<br />
“I know that God is our Father. He introduced His Son, Jesus Christ, to Joseph Smith. I declare to you that I know that Jesus is the Christ. I know that He lives. He was born in the meridian of time. He taught His gospel and was tried. He suffered and was crucified and resurrected on the third day. He, like His Father, has a body of flesh and bone. He made His Atonement. Of Him I bear witness. Of Him I am a witness.”<o:p></o:p><br />
<div id="para11">
- President <a href="https://www.lds.org/church/leader/boyd-k-packer?lang=eng"><span style="color: #0066cc;">Boyd K. Packer</span></a></div>
Though I have not seen the Resurrected Savior, I am grateful for the witness of the Holy Ghost that has confirmed to me that He does live. I am also grateful that I know that these men are special witnesses that He does live. And until that day "when he shall appear [and] we shall <sup>c</sup><a href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/moro/7?lang=eng" id="footnote84"><span style="color: #0066cc;">be</span></a> like him, for we shall see him as he is", I will continue to strive to become like the Savior and help all those around me to do the same.<br />
I love you,<br />
Elder Case<br />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03019079097075377402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3967307509798018896.post-68033938567780844002014-04-10T12:40:00.002-07:002014-04-10T12:40:02.831-07:00A Courageous DiscipleDear Family,
Didn't you just love conference? Maybe it is just because this was my last conference in the mission but I thought it was the best conference of my whole life. I loved every single talk. I hope that with the release of Elder Callister, he will still speak often in conference.
What struck me the most powerfully was the continual theme of a greater need to be courageous disciples of Jesus Christ. I feel like the Brethren were trying to say, "There are huge storms of adversity and trial coming. You will be backed up to the wall of faith and must decide if you will defend the truths that your parents have cherished or if you will falter and fall into the grasp of the Adversary and his evil forces."
I wrote in my journal Saturday night for quite some time and committed myself to be a defender of the faith. The words of Mormon in Moroni 8:16-17 repeatedly came to my mind:
...Behold, I speak with boldness, having authority from God; and I fear not what man can do; for perfect love casteth out all fear.
17 And I am filled with charity, which is everlasting love...
It is so interesting to me that our ability to be courageous (to not have fear) is directly proportional to the amount of charity we have. I love President Monson's admonition to be charitable. I feel that if the Savior came and spoke to our society today in a Sermon on the Mount type setting, that He would speak to us about charity. It is the greatest of all spiritual gifts and without it we are nothing.
We found six new investigators this week and we are pretty excited to start working with them. Last night we met a family that was referred to us by a member of the english ward. The member speaks Spanish and is a wonderful missionary. They recently moved in and within the first few weeks she brought baked goods to all of her neighbors, talked to them about the Gospel and invited them to her home for a family night. Her kindness had a softening effect on Guadalupe and they became friends. She has been teaching Guadalupe english by reading from the Book of Mormon and finally Guadalupe asked for her own copy in Spanish so she can better understand what she reads. We dropped off el Libro de Mormon last night and said a prayer with them. They are very humble people and have soft hearts. We are going by tonight to teach them the Restoration and invite them to be baptized. Please pray that they can feel the Holy Ghost testify of the truthfulness of the Gospel.
Please also continue to pray for Aurora (Katie's favorite princess), Araceli, and Carina. They are on schedule to be baptized next weekend (April 19th).
I love you and am grateful for your prayers!
Love,
Elder Case
P.S. We are going to NASA right now!
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03019079097075377402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3967307509798018896.post-34620316313222005132014-04-02T13:41:00.001-07:002014-04-02T13:41:53.505-07:00An Increase of LoveDear Family,
We went to the temple today and thus changed our P-Day this week. Thank you for your prayers and love and notes and birthday wishes.
I think the healthy arrival of Henley has to be the best birthday present I received. Now I have a niece to share April Fool's pranks with.
When I was at BYU, I remember Sister Davis (my Bishop's wife) talking in Sacrament Meeting at one point and talking about having kids born. She said she was always nervous that she would never be able to love the new baby quite as much as she loved her other children. She then explained that the moment that she held the newborn in her arms for the first time that she was filled with an overwhelming love for that child and that somehow her love had increased. She then explained that it had been the same with all of the university wards and students that they had been able to serve. Since we were their last ward before being released she explained that through the Atonement of Christ her love had been increased to hundreds of young BYU students. As I celebrated my birthday yesterday, I came to understand just a little bit better what she meant. It was by far the best birthday I have ever had.
On Saturday, the Colons had a birthday party complete with Mexican food (life mom always makes on my birthday), presents, cupcakes and candles. Then yesterday, Blanca Ortega (mom) returned home from El Salvador. She has been there for two weeks. We had another birthday party there with most of our recent converts in the area. Once again, cake, presents, and cards. Natalia wrote me a really funny letter that said, "You are one of the originals left, you can't forget about us". It made me think of the Updike "original" photo :) Blanca brought me an awesome hammock from El Salvador that I am now trying to figure out how to send home. Then we went to the church for mutual and English class and as I walked into the gym, all 30 young women from the ward sang me Happy Birthday. If you want to know how to make me blush, that is the trick. It was so awkward to have all those girls sing to me. They then brought me a gift bag with a bunch of paper towels and a note card that said, "April Fools!" after which they gave me a nice tie and a card.
I will hit my year mark in this ward and area in six days. I have come to love these people so much. Every time that I meet new investigators I always wonder if I will be able to love them as much as I love the Ortegas and Giselle and the other converts and then as I serve them and as they serve me, a bond is formed and the Savior bestows upon me a greater capacity to love. I am so grateful for the infinite of the Savior Jesus Christ and our Heavenly Father. I know that Their love really is endless and that They are always willing to give us a greater portion if we but seek for it.
Moroni 7:48 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen.
We continue to be blessed in the work and found a number of new investigators this week. On Sunday, since it was the fifth Sunday, during the third hour, Hermano Perez (our Ward Mission Leader) taught about members being missionaries. The ward is already on fire but he just got everyone even more excited. With a few more baptisms that will happen this weekend, I think it is the fifth Sunday in a row. In the whole year I think we have only had three weekends without a baptism in the ward. All the converts are still very active and progressing. It is such a blessing!
I have been reading one of the apostle's talks a day from the last conference in preparation for this weekend. I am so excited. I cannot believe that this is my last General Conference in the mission though. I still remember my first one when they announced the age change. What a fun time to be a missionary.
As I have thought about coming home and everyone being there, I have one request. The week of my farewell, we all went to the Mesa Temple and did sealings in the same sealing room where Mom and Dad and Elisabeth and Mike got sealed (Bex was doing baptisms for the dead). Can we do that again when I come home? That was one of the best things that could have happened to my mission because it gave me a vision of baptizing families and getting them to the temple to be sealed so that they can feel what I felt that day. I still have vivid memories of the outpouring of love that I experienced as I was in the temple with my whole family.
Thank you all for being who you are. I talk about you all the time and everyone out here wants to meet you.
I love you and want you to know that I know this Gospel is true. Jesus Christ lives and loves us. Through His Atonement all things can and will be made right and we can be made whole if we come unto Him.
Love,
Elder Case
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03019079097075377402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3967307509798018896.post-81947613750091055382014-03-31T14:42:00.002-07:002014-03-31T14:42:57.029-07:00 This Ain't My First Rodeo!Dear Family,
As you can see from the pictures we went to the rodeo last week. It was a blast! We watched Mutton Bustin' (little kids riding sheep and trying to stay on) saw the fat pigs (Penelope has nothing on them), ate deep fried oreos (I thought they were disgusting), and enjoyed the time together. It was fun because Elder Gray and Elder Evertsen were both there!
Our companionship is by far the oldest in the mission. Elder Cruz goes home in four weeks, I go home in 10 weeks, and Elder Nielsen goes home in 16 weeks. Together we have been out for 66 months or five and a half years. Our collective age is also 66 years old. Hence, this is not our first rodeo. We have a good time together.
We continue to be blessed by the Lord. Yesterday was Ward Conference and it was really neat to see all of the recent converts participating. La familia Ortega was in the choir. Norma offered the opening prayer and then the Stake President (Presidente Portillo) called her up to bear her testimony of how she has felt since joining the church. She talked about how she is the only member in her family and that her family doesn't really treat her like they love her but that God has given her a new family, a ward family that has embraced her and loved her. It was a very touching and powerful testimony. Then we sustained Eduardo Colon to receive the Melchizedek Priesthood and be ordained to the office of Elder!
After church we were in Missionary Coordination and Pedro Perez (a high councilor) called me out and asked me to go with him to ordain Eduardo. I have never conferred the Melchizedek Priesthood before so it was a little nerve-racking but as always the words came. In the blessing I told him to use his priesthood to bless his family and the Spirit came. I can feel it right now just thinking about it. As I said those words, the import of what was happening finally hit me. I remembered the dozens of fathers blessings I have received throughout my life and the comfort, the physical and spiritual healing, the power, and the change that those blessings have wrought in my life and realized that the Colon family would now be recipients of all such blessings. How grateful I am for the Gospel of Jesus Christ! I know that the Priesthood Authority has been restored and that today President Monson is the Lord's chosen prophet for these tumultuous times.
On Friday, we didn't have much planned so we dressed up in service clothes and went out to serve people. We stopped by a former investigator named Marta and she offered to have us back the next day. We stopped teaching her a number of months ago because she just refused to accept the apostasy and wanted to remain catholic. On Saturday, her neighbor (Hermana Cortez, the Stake Relief Society President) came with us and we found out that they have been getting together every Friday and reading the Book of Mormon. They are in 2 Nephi 7. Not surprisingly, reading the Book of Mormon has changed Marta. She was very receptive to us teaching the apostasy and understood it very well. She still didn't want to believe it just because it varied from her traditions but at the end of the lesson had the firm resolve to go to a private place and kneel down and pray and ask God if what we have shared is true and if she needs to be baptized. It was such a miracle! It was one of those miracles that just helps me remember how little I am and that fallen man cannot merit anything of himself (Alma 22:14). The fact that the last time I left her house I was upset and never wanted to come back because of how hardhearted she was to now how her be reading the Book of Mormon and committing to pray about its truthfulness is a change that only can come from the Lord. I know that there is nothing I can do of myself and that all of my strength and all of my blessings come through the Atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ.
We also stopped by Giselle's house. She and her husband Gerrardo were outside washing the dog. We asked what service we could do. Gerrardo (being the man) said there was nothing. Giselle said we could cut down a tree that had died since her husband hadn't gotten around to doing it. They didn't have a saw or axe so we climbed a ladder and tied a rope around the middle of it and then hacked away with a machete (Costa Rican style). It was really run. It was one of those tall skinny pine trees that are all over the Mesa Temple grounds.
I know that this is the Lord's work. I love the Gospel and am so grateful for the Atonement of Jesus Christ. What a blessing we have to be able to access the blessings of that infinite sacrifice.
I love you. Thank you for your prayers.
Love, Elder Case
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03019079097075377402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3967307509798018896.post-76372345977349466292014-03-18T08:30:00.002-07:002014-03-18T08:30:38.848-07:00This Do in Remembrance of MeDear Family,
We have finally settled in the new apartment. It is just across the parking lot from where I lived for the last year but it was really dirty and took lots of time to unpack. Elder Larson was transferred to Houston 8 (where I began my mission) and Elder Cruz is our new companion. Elder Cruz, Elder Nielsen and I have all served in Houston 8 before so we have fun stories to talk about and share. Houston 4th Ward is convinced that I am a member now and not a missionary. They all expect me to move back right after my mission and raise my family here with them.
This week we stopped by Giselle's home and taught her and her husband (Gerrardo). We taught the Word of Wisdom and he was the same as her. At the beginning of the lesson he said there was no way that he was going to stop drinking coffee and at the end, he looked us in the eyes and said, "I promise that I will never drink coffee again". It was a miracle to see the change of heart that happened in him in just a few minutes. He is preparing to be baptized on April 12th. Please pray for Gerrardo and also their granddaughter Madison that they can be baptized together on that date.
With all the changes this week things have been really different for me. It has been hard to keep my regular routine and schedule and thus I have felt like I slacked in some areas where I used to be diligent. I kept on trying my best but just didn't feel that it was quite good enough. As we went to Sacrament Meeting, I was reflecting on the week and all the times that I hadn't lived up to my baptismal covenant of promising to remember Him. What's more, I read a talk by Elder Holland at the beginning of the week entitled "This Do in Remembrance of Me" from the October 1995 General Conference. As I read that talk I committed myself to better remember the Savior throughout the week and as the time approached to renew the covenant and commitment I could only remember all the times I had not done so.
I sat down in front of Karla Ortega so that I could help her control her 5 and 6 year old boys. As I was sitting there, my failures to remember the Savior kept coming back to my mind. It was then that the Colons walked in. They saw the open bench next to me and came and sat down. It was such a tender mercy of the Lord to sit by them and draw with Esmeralda (3) and listen to Eduardo (7) ever so quietly sing "I Am a Child of God" to himself during the administration of the Sacrament. As the bread was being passed, I looked over at Hno Colon and he had his head bowed, eyes closed and his hands stretched out with his palms up. I knew that he was intently remembering the Savior and His atoning sacrifice for us. I knew that he was thinking of the hands of the Savior which were so horribly marred and marked for us.
As I observed this family that I love so very much, I felt my Savior's love. I knew with a surety that even though I hadn't remembered Him, that He had remembered me. I thought of the Sacrament prayer that I had just heard and my promise to "always remember him". I thought of my baptismal covenant in Mosiah 18 "to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that [I] may be in, even until death". And then I realized that even though I had not lived worthy and that I had not kept my covenant, that Christ promises "yet will I not forget thee" for "I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands" (1 Nephi 21:15-16).
I know that we are never forsaken nor forgotten by the one who loves us perfectly. I know that we have a Heavenly Father that is ever aware of us. I know Jesus Christ lives and though perfect has kept the imperfect marks of the Crucifixion that we might remember Him.
I am so grateful for this Gospel and for the experiences the Lord is blessing us with. I love you and am grateful for your prayers.
Love,
Elder Case
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03019079097075377402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3967307509798018896.post-29528474435585975092014-03-11T13:15:00.000-07:002014-03-11T13:15:01.590-07:00The Refiner's FireDear Family,
I love you and am grateful for your prayers. They are answered.
Last Monday we talked with Giselle's daughter about Madison (Giselle's granddaughter) getting baptized. She said that she wanted to wait at least a month so that Madison could prove that she would be faithful to the covenant that she will be making. With that news, Giselle decided she wasn't waiting any longer so we made the arrangements and she was baptized on Saturday night. She has some back problems and can't bend her knees very well so we were going to do the baptism in a chair. I baptized her and it was one of the most interesting and touching experiences of my life. The chair didn't work at all so we pulled it out for attempt #2. We then tried to have her stand and just go forwards in stead of backwards and that didn't work either. After that she looked at me and said, "Elder just push me down! Dios me va a ayudar." It was amazing to see how full of faith she was and how badly she wanted to make a covenant with the Lord and be clean. For the third and final attempt, I said the prayer, she grabbed my hand and then I put my hand on her shoulder and pushed straight down. She went all the way under and I went under up to my neck. I don't understand how it worked without her getting hurt but it did and during the closing song she just sobbed as she was overcome with the Spirit.
As a side note, I think I finally learned why Alma immersed himself in the water as he baptized Helam in Mosiah 18:
14 And after Alma had said these words, both Alma and Helam were aburied in the water; and they arose and came forth out of the water rejoicing, being filled with the Spirit.
I decided that Helam just had back problems and that the Waters of Mormon were not very deep.
Also, after the baptism we found out that the font didn't drain. I have some funny pictures in the font with a plunger. I will send them next week.
Sunday Giselle was confirmed and it was wonderful. She is so happy and wants more than anything for her family to join the church and receive of the same joy that has entered into her life.
Right before the baptism she mentioned that Saturday morning she had gotten mad at her grandson Lance and wasn't sure if she was worthy to get baptized. We talked about the baptismal interview and that she had had an authorized representative of Jesus Christ say she was worthy and that Satan just wanted her to feel that she was not. That experience along with many others this week, my studies, and hearing about the Robertsons and Aunt Janet have made me reflect on why we have trials.
This morning I was studying in 2 Nephi 3:1 which reads:
1 And now I speak unto you, Joseph, my alast-born. Thou wast born in the wilderness of mine afflictions; yea, in the days of my greatest sorrow did thy mother bear thee.
I thought about Lehi. He says that his days in the wilderness were the days of his greatest sorrow. That surprised me considering the fact that back in Jerusalem his people had tried to kill him, he had left his home, wealth, family and friends, and had assuredly passed through many other difficult trials. Yet the years in the wilderness were the most sorrowful. I realized that this was the case because he was about to receive his promised land and thus had to pass through the "trial of [his] faith" (Ether 12:6). I imagine that as he wandered through the "wilderness of [his] afflictions" for those many years, the only thought that kept him going was his "hope for a better world" (Ether 12:4).
In 1 Nephi 20:10 we read:
10 For, behold, I have refined thee, I have chosen thee in the furnace of aaffliction.
And so it is. We pass through hardships, trials, and afflictions so that we can be not only called but also chosen of the Lord. I testify of a Heavenly Father that loves us. Elder Scott said, "Your Father in Heaven and His Beloved Son love you perfectly. They would not require you to experience a moment more of difficulty than is absolutely needed for your personal benefit or for that of those you love." (October 1995 "Trust in the Lord")
In that same talk he also said, "Just when all seems to be going right, challenges often come in multiple doses applied simultaneously. When those trials are not consequences of your disobedience, they are evidence that the Lord feels you are prepared to grow more (see Prov. 3:11–12)". What a wonderful knowledge that is! Trials are evidence that the Lord trusts us.
I know that Jesus Christ lives. He is my Savior and my King. This is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We really can change as we repent and "meekly approach the mercyseat and plead for grace" (President Uchtdorf). I know that through the Atonement of Jesus Christ all things can and will be made right. I have felt of healing and enabling power of the Atonement many times and I know that in the very moment that the Master Healer is mending our broken hearts, He is also giving us the strength to endure, to press forward, to stay the course until one day we can rest from "all [our] troubles and from all care, and sorrow (Alma 40:12). I know that because Jesus Christ lives that we too shall live again and if we make and keep sacred covenants in this life, then we can receive a fullness of joy in the next as we reunite with our loved ones. What a glorious message this is.
4. He lives! All glory to his name!
He lives, my Savior, still the same.
Oh, sweet the joy this sentence gives:
"I know that my Redeemer lives!"
I know He lives. I love you.
Elder Case
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03019079097075377402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3967307509798018896.post-22876958201567477662014-03-04T12:51:00.001-08:002014-03-04T12:51:11.199-08:00Winning Their HeartsDear Family, Great news! I finally broke 200 lbs! On Wednesday, we had three meal appointments scheduled every two hours. Luckily the Lord is merciful and we changed the schedule just a little so that we had some more time. We weighed in before we left the apartment and when we got home I went from 193 to 201! It was a highlight for me. Anyways, we have had another wonderful week. People are becoming so converted. I spent the whole day Friday in the temple. We had the departing temple trip in the morning and that was an experience. It was a big group so instead of staying in the Celestial Room we went to the training room where President and Sister Crane (the Temple President and Matron) came in and spoke to us with the Ashtons and then did a question and answer session. It was very enlightening. On the way home from the temple, the Ashtons said they wanted to spend some with with Elder Johnson and I so we rode in their car (just us four). President used the time to talk with us about our future, tell us what he thinks are strengths and weaknesses are and give us advice about business. It was very kind of them. Just as a sidethought, I invited the Ashton kids to come spend a day at our house this summer and promised them a lake trip if they come. They generally pass through Arizona to stay with their grandparents for a couple weeks. Upon arrival at the Mission Office after the temple trip, la familia Ortega took us back to the temple to do baptisms for the dead. We have been helping them do their family history and so they were all set with both Blanca and Rene's fathers. I also brought William Case who was born in Kentucky in 1784. Rene Ortega was baptized for him. I love the temple and the many blessings we receive from being true and faithful and having a current temple recommend. Their are many less-active couples and families that are coming back right now and want to go to the temple. The Spirt of the Lord is being poured out upon this area and ward as it was poured out upon the Lamanites in Alma 19:14. It is incredible. The promise of the Lord in Jacob 5 is being fulfilled: 72 And it came to pass that the servants did go and labor withtheir mights; and the Lord of the vineyard labored also with them;and they did obey the commandments of the Lord of the vineyardin all things. I feel of the Lord laboring with us every single day. This is His work and it will go forward. Last night we were teaching la familia Martinez about tithing and it was going well until el hermano went off about how he didn't know where the funds went and how they were used and how we could just give them to the beggars on the street and how we don't need to build luxurious temples and so on. We testified to him that the temple is the House of the Lord. That he literally dwells there and that without the covenants that are made in the temple, we cannot be saved no matter how good of people we are or how much faith we have. Talking about and testifying of the temple changed his heart and at the end, they told us to tell the bishop to expect some letters with money (they still aren't coming back to church so we explained that they could mail their tithing in). It was special to see the change in his heart. We also taught Giselle and her husband yesterday. Giselle feels ready to be baptized and will either do it this weekend or next depending on whether or not her granddaughter receives permission to be baptized with her. We are talking to her granddaughter's (Madison) parents tonight. Please pray that it goes according to the Lord's will and that we say what we need to. Giselle's husband is named Gerrardo. He was an investigator about 8 months ago but after the second lesson he dropped us. We had been having a hard time reaching him so we decided to use a different approach. Last week we had Mission Leadership Council and received a training on winning over the hearts of the people. Ammon is a wonderful example of this when he cuts off the arms and saves the flocks. We had dinner with Giselle and Gerrardo on Saturday and spent the whole time talking to him about Costa Rica and his work and his interests. He had a change of heart and just loves us. He said he would join in the lessons whenever we come now and yesterday when we stopped by he said he was convinced and that he wanted to be baptized! It was amazing and the Spirit was so strong. The experiences that we are being blessed with are miraculous. I love this Gospel. I love the Lord. I know that Jesus Christ lives. I feel of His love every single day. As Oliver Cowdery wrote, "these were days never to be forgotten" (thanks Stevo for the email). I couldn't agree more. I fly home in exactly three months from today. I know that the Lord has a great work yet for me to accomplish. My only desire is to do His will and to please my Father. Love, Elder Case Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03019079097075377402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3967307509798018896.post-70468475653562456912014-02-24T11:42:00.002-08:002014-02-24T11:42:22.213-08:00ConversionDear Family, This is the best time of my life! I love being a missionary and teaching the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. On Tuesday we were on our way to English class and the Relief Society President called and told us that the Relief Society was doing a Book of Mormon kickoff that night and she wanted us to teach las hermanas how to study by reading 1 Nephi 1-3 with them. It was interesting but a wonderful experience. We made the comparison between Lehi and Joseph Smith and helped them realize how fascinating the scriptures are. We spent a lot of time on the last verse of 1 Nephi 1: 20 And when the Jews heard these things they were angry with him; yea, even as with the prophets of old, whom they had acast out, and stoned, and slain; and they also bsought his life, that they might take it away. But behold, I, Nephi, will show unto you that the tender cmercies of the Lord are over all those whom he hath chosen, because of their faith, to make them mighty even unto the power of ddeliverance. We told them that Nephi invites us to do something here and asked what that something was. They didn't get it so we explained that he says he will show unto us the tender mercies of the Lord. The question becomes, how does he show this to us? As we read through 1 and 2 Nephi, he shows us. We invited them to look for, write down and consider the tender mercies of the Lord that Nephi shows us and that we receive from the Lord in our own lives. I am pretty sure that whole conversation was something that dad asked about during family scripture study one night. It is amazing how often I reflect on family scripture study and how much I learned. At the very end of the class, I stood up and bore my testimony of the Book of Mormon. I then took the opportunity to speak to a group of mothers and future mothers. I explained to them that I have read the Book of Mormon almost every day of my life because each night my mother would gather us and we would read. I explained that if she had not done this my father would have but that it was because of the influence of my mother that I have come to know and love the Book of Mormon. I explained to them that the only reason that my mom would go through the trouble of gathering fighting children that often acted like Laman and Lemuel was because she read the Book of Mormon every day and she knew it was true. The Spirit came very strongly and they all realized the incredible responsibility they have as mothers and also the wonderful influence they can have on their children. Natalia Ulloa (the Ortega's granddaughter) finished the Book of Mormon this week. We think it took her about 7 weeks to read. She finished it at school and texted us. She said it was the most beautiful book she has ever read and that when she finished it she wanted to jump and cry and laugh and that she was filled with the Holy Ghost. The best part though is that after calming down, she turn back to the Title Page and started again. There is no better way to convert ourselves than using the tools the Lord has given us. Kimberly and Eduardo Colon started their temple prep classes yesterday. They are doing really well and are so excited to go to the temple to be sealed. We are going to do baptisms with the Ortegas and Norma on Friday and they will bring their own family names. Yesterday we had an extra half hour and we didn't know who to go visit. We talked about visiting a former and then going to visit Norma's family to try and teach them for the first time. We decided to visit Norma's family first but after praying changed the order. We visited hermana Acosta and caught them on their way out the door. She set an appointment and then committed to come to church next week. We then went to Norma's and we pulled up, said a prayer, and as we got out of the car they pulled up and her step-dad for the first time let us teach him. It was a miracle. If we had gone to Norma's first and then the Acostas we wouldn't have been able to find either at home and wouldn't have been able to help them come unto Christ. I am so grateful for the tender mercies of the Lord and for the guidance we receive each day from the Holy Ghost. Norma's step-dad said he would be baptized as he comes to know these things are true. It was a great blessing and an answer to prayer. We then taught Giselle Matamoros the Word of Wisdom. She is the Ortega's neighbor so they came. At the beginning she told us that God would just have to forgive her because she would not be able to give up coffee. At the end of the lesson she looked at us and said, "I promise that I will never drink coffee again. I know the Lord will strengthen me and bless me." The Gospel changes us. Also, Rodolfo is down to smoking 6 cigarettes a day. Two weeks ago he was smoking ten. Yesterday he only smoked three. It is special to see the change that has happened and the joy that has come into his life. There are other addictions that are even harder to overcome still but we are taking it one step at a time. I hope you are all well. Enjoy the Gilbert temple dedication! Thank you for your prayers and faith. Please pray that Madison (Giselle's granddaughter) will receive permission to be baptized from her parents. I love you. Elder Case P.S. That bird scares me to death. It is Giselle's. Every time we walk up to the door it screams "hola, hola, hola". The picture of the man with the deer skull is Fider Gonzalez. He is an insane Mexican and I love him to death. We showed up the other night and he was sticking metal through the skull so that he could hang it from the horn pull string in his 18 wheeler. It reminded me of Blake Smith (Is he the one that put the big horn in his truck?). I think I have explained this before but when we first stopped by the Ortegas in June, every time we knocked on the door, Blanca would answer and point to her Virgin Mary and say, "Soy Catolica". Well now when missionaries from other faiths come and knock on her door she points to the Plan of Salvation pamphlet and says, "Soy Mormona". I love this Gospel! <br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03019079097075377402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3967307509798018896.post-91990290054267963022014-02-18T07:52:00.003-08:002014-02-18T07:52:56.974-08:00Norma's Baptism<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03019079097075377402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3967307509798018896.post-90305978251651199962014-02-17T10:23:00.002-08:002014-02-17T10:23:19.455-08:00All Things What Ye Should Do<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Eduardo Colon and I. I love that man!</div>
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Dear Family,</div>
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This has been a wonderful week! Thank you for praying for Norma to be baptized. I told la familia Ortega about my email home last week and explained that I was so grateful that they prayed for my family. It was a tender moment as they expressed their love and gratitude towards you all. They are planning a trip to Arizona next summer. I told them they could stay at our house in the basement. They can't wait to meet y'all.</div>
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Since Monday, we kept on teaching Norma and she just wanted to be baptized. She spoke with her mom about it numerous times and her mom said no even though at one point Norma broke down in tears. On Wednesday we taught her about fasting and invited her to fast with us on Friday that her mom would give her permission. We began the fast and then on Friday while I was at Zone Conference and Norma was at school, my companions stopped by. We figured that it wasn't enough to just fast and that the Lord would require us to act. They had a pleasant visit explained that Norma was ready and had passed her baptismal interview and that we wouldn't baptized her if she wasn't ready. Her mom gave them written permission that moment. When we told Norma later that day, she was amazed. There was a hitch though. We still needed her mom's signature on the baptismal record. We left that with Norma on Friday night and gave her the challenge to get the signature. When we showed up Saturday afternoon she told us that she felt that God had slapped her for lack of faith. She said that she was so nervous to ask her mom and that she almost didn't ask for fear of being yelled at. But she said that she asked her mom and that she immediately said she would sign it. Norma was overcome by the experience and the fact that God would be so merciful and that faith was so powerful. </div>
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I had the privilege of baptizing Norma on Saturday night and it was so special. What made it even better is that Eduardo Colon (our convert from last May) baptized another hermana in the same service. It was incredible to be able to see the fruits of our labors in that way. Him and I had a very spiritual and memorable moment afterwards as we felt the Spirit and talked about the truthfulness of the Gospel. </div>
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As Norma came up out of the water she was crying. She told me later that she accidentally swallowed some water and that she was half crying because of that and really crying because she felt so clean. During the closing hymn, "Mas Cerca Dios de Ti", I looked at Norma as tears streamed down her face while she realized that she had just made a covenant with God to be closer to Him. The next day during the confirmation she just sobbed as well. When we asked her how she felt during the confirmation she said "worse than the baptism!" She then explained that she meant she was just so overcome with the Holy Ghost and God's love that she didn't know how to react other than crying. What a blessing to have the Gospel in our lives and help other people to find it. In three days she read all of 1 Nephi and wrote a one page summary that she turned in to us. Saturday around noon we gave her "For the Strength of Youth" and at her baptism she told us she had already finished reading it. We taught her about the temple last night and she cannot wait to enter. She now has an eternal vision.</div>
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Our other investigator, Darbelio, that we were trying to help get married and baptized last weekend is doing wonderful. We haven't been able to see him all week because he was working extra to be able to come to church. We taught him about the temple (during the lesson with Norma) and he just loved the idea of being able to be sealed to his family forever. After the lesson we asked how his reading in the Book of Mormon has been going and he opened it up and said, well I am right here. He opened to Mosiah 9! We were blown away. I really don't understand it. There people just read the Book of Mormon like crazy, they read every day and they read a lot and they understand, feel the Spirit, and are becoming converted. I have learned that those who read the Book of Mormon frequently become converted. It is as simple as that. In 1 Nephi 15:23-24 it says:</div>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="144410d07b9e5ce5_23"><span style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt; border-left: windowtext 1pt; border-right: windowtext 1pt; border-top: windowtext 1pt; color: #486fae; font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;"> </span></a><span style="mso-bookmark: 144410d07b9e5ce5_23;"></span><span style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt; border-left: windowtext 1pt; border-right: windowtext 1pt; border-top: windowtext 1pt; color: #2f393a; font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;">23 </span><span style="color: #2f393a; font-family: 'Georgia','serif';">And they said unto me: What meaneth the </span><sup><span style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt; border-left: windowtext 1pt; border-right: windowtext 1pt; border-top: windowtext 1pt; color: #2f393a; font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 7.5pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;">a</span></sup><span style="color: #2f393a; font-family: 'Georgia','serif';"><a href="http://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/1-ne/15?lang=eng" target="_blank"><span style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt; border-left: windowtext 1pt; border-right: windowtext 1pt; border-top: windowtext 1pt; color: #486fae; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">rod of iron</span></a> which our father saw, that led to the tree?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="144410d07b9e5ce5_24"><span style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt; border-left: windowtext 1pt; border-right: windowtext 1pt; border-top: windowtext 1pt; color: #486fae; font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;"> </span></a><span style="mso-bookmark: 144410d07b9e5ce5_24;"></span><span style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt; border-left: windowtext 1pt; border-right: windowtext 1pt; border-top: windowtext 1pt; color: #2f393a; font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;">24 </span><span style="color: #2f393a; font-family: 'Georgia','serif';">And I said unto them that it was the </span><sup><span style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt; border-left: windowtext 1pt; border-right: windowtext 1pt; border-top: windowtext 1pt; color: #2f393a; font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 7.5pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;">a</span></sup><span style="color: #2f393a; font-family: 'Georgia','serif';"><a href="http://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/1-ne/15?lang=eng" target="_blank"><span style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt; border-left: windowtext 1pt; border-right: windowtext 1pt; border-top: windowtext 1pt; color: #486fae; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">word</span></a> of God; and whoso would hearken unto the word of God, and would </span><sup><span style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt; border-left: windowtext 1pt; border-right: windowtext 1pt; border-top: windowtext 1pt; color: #2f393a; font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 7.5pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;">b</span></sup><span style="color: #2f393a; font-family: 'Georgia','serif';"><a href="http://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/1-ne/15?lang=eng" target="_blank"><span style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt; border-left: windowtext 1pt; border-right: windowtext 1pt; border-top: windowtext 1pt; color: #486fae; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">hold</span></a> fast unto it, they would never perish; neither could the </span><sup><span style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt; border-left: windowtext 1pt; border-right: windowtext 1pt; border-top: windowtext 1pt; color: #2f393a; font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 7.5pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;">c</span></sup><span style="color: #2f393a; font-family: 'Georgia','serif';"><a href="http://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/1-ne/15?lang=eng" target="_blank"><span style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt; border-left: windowtext 1pt; border-right: windowtext 1pt; border-top: windowtext 1pt; color: #486fae; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">temptations</span></a> and the fiery </span><sup><span style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt; border-left: windowtext 1pt; border-right: windowtext 1pt; border-top: windowtext 1pt; color: #2f393a; font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 7.5pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;">d</span></sup><span style="color: #2f393a; font-family: 'Georgia','serif';"><a href="http://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/1-ne/15?lang=eng" target="_blank"><span style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt; border-left: windowtext 1pt; border-right: windowtext 1pt; border-top: windowtext 1pt; color: #486fae; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">darts</span></a> of the </span><sup><span style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt; border-left: windowtext 1pt; border-right: windowtext 1pt; border-top: windowtext 1pt; color: #2f393a; font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 7.5pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;">e</span></sup><span style="color: #2f393a; font-family: 'Georgia','serif';"><a href="http://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/1-ne/15?lang=eng" target="_blank"><span style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt; border-left: windowtext 1pt; border-right: windowtext 1pt; border-top: windowtext 1pt; color: #486fae; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">adversary</span></a> overpower them unto blindness, to lead them away to destruction.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Thus, if we hold fast to the word of God (study the Book of Mormon every day) and hearken (obey and apply what we learn) to it, we will never perish (gain Eternal Life). Studying the scriptures every day is just so important!</div>
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We are being so blessed and I am so grateful. Every day we see incredible miracles and feel the Spirit of the Lord. Last night we didn't have a set lesson and didn't quite know where to go but as we prayed and thought about it and hearkened to the feelings and promptings that came, we had an investigator named Amanda come to mind. A number of weeks ago during Mission Leadership Council, President Ashton reminded us that when we enter lessons we should ask people what blessings they have received since our last visit so that they begin to think of the mercy of God rather than all their problems when we ask how they are doing. During the meeting the Spirit whispered that that was something I needed to do so I wrote it down on my "Change" card and committed myself to begin doing it. We walked into Amanda's house and sat down and asked, "Since we saw you two weeks ago, how have you seen the hand of the Lord in your life?" That lead to her testifying of prayer and receiving and answer to prayer and then explaining that her husband and her had just separated. It changed the course of the lesson and brought the Spirit so strongly. </div>
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That experience made me think about General Conference, the Ensign, and other opportunities that we have to listen to Priesthood leaders. Those who have Priesthood Keys have the right to receive revelation for us. D&C 84:19 says:</div>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="144410d07b9e5ce5_19"><span style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt; border-left: windowtext 1pt; border-right: windowtext 1pt; border-top: windowtext 1pt; color: #486fae; font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;"> </span></a><span style="mso-bookmark: 144410d07b9e5ce5_19;"></span><span style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt; border-left: windowtext 1pt; border-right: windowtext 1pt; border-top: windowtext 1pt; color: #2f393a; font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;">19 </span><span style="color: #2f393a; font-family: 'Georgia','serif';">And this greater </span><sup><span style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt; border-left: windowtext 1pt; border-right: windowtext 1pt; border-top: windowtext 1pt; color: #2f393a; font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 7.5pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;">a</span></sup><a href="http://www.lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/84?lang=eng" target="_blank"><span style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt; border-left: windowtext 1pt; border-right: windowtext 1pt; border-top: windowtext 1pt; color: #486fae; font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">priesthood</span></a><span style="color: #2f393a; font-family: 'Georgia','serif';"> administereth the gospel and holdeth the </span><sup><span style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt; border-left: windowtext 1pt; border-right: windowtext 1pt; border-top: windowtext 1pt; color: #2f393a; font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 7.5pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;">b</span></sup><a href="http://www.lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/84?lang=eng" target="_blank"><span style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt; border-left: windowtext 1pt; border-right: windowtext 1pt; border-top: windowtext 1pt; color: #486fae; font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">key</span></a><span style="color: #2f393a; font-family: 'Georgia','serif';"> of the </span><sup><span style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt; border-left: windowtext 1pt; border-right: windowtext 1pt; border-top: windowtext 1pt; color: #2f393a; font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 7.5pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;">c</span></sup><a href="http://www.lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/84?lang=eng" target="_blank"><span style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt; border-left: windowtext 1pt; border-right: windowtext 1pt; border-top: windowtext 1pt; color: #486fae; font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">mysteries</span></a><span style="color: #2f393a; font-family: 'Georgia','serif';"> of the kingdom, even the key of the </span><sup><span style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt; border-left: windowtext 1pt; border-right: windowtext 1pt; border-top: windowtext 1pt; color: #2f393a; font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 7.5pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;">d</span></sup><a href="http://www.lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/84?lang=eng" target="_blank"><span style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt; border-left: windowtext 1pt; border-right: windowtext 1pt; border-top: windowtext 1pt; color: #486fae; font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">knowledge</span></a><span style="color: #2f393a; font-family: 'Georgia','serif';"> of God.</span> </div>
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I just want to listen to Priesthood leaders, the Holy Ghost, and the scriptures and then obey and apply the direction that I receive because I know that it is what brings happiness and joy.</div>
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I know that this Gospel is true. It has to be. The Spirit witnesses every single day that Jesus Christ lives, that Joseph Smith was the Prophet of the Restoration, that he saw the Father and the Son, that the Book of Mormon is true and that this is the way to salvation. I love you all and could not be happier. </div>
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Love,</div>
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Elder Case</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03019079097075377402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3967307509798018896.post-60430629056522472872014-02-11T12:39:00.002-08:002014-02-11T12:39:20.095-08:00Testimonies of the Book of MormonDear Family,
Thank you for your faith and prayers this week. Darbelio (Pedro) did not end up getting baptized because he wants to wait for his "wife" to get divorced and do things right. He did not feel like moving out was the best option for the kids. But we found a divorce lawyer that is a member and it looks like it will be three months till they can get divorced, married, and he can get baptized. In the mean time, he is willing to live all the commandments and asked us to teach him about tithing so that he could begin to pay it. He is amazing.
Norma Mejia is all lined up for her baptism this weekend. She is incredible. She keeps on asking us for more pamphlets and conference talks and is reading a lot in the Book of Mormon. Please pray that her mom and step dad will allow her to get baptized on Saturday. She wants to so badly. On Saturday, we called the Ortegas (they are practically our second family since we are there every single day) and asked them to go pick Norma up for a lesson (Hermana Ortega has also adopted Norma) even though we didn't have a lesson set. We showed up and they were all there waiting for us with a full table of food set. We had a lesson about studying the Book of Mormon every single day and asked each of the Ortegas to share their testimonies of reading the Book of Mormon. All of them read daily and Natalia (17 year old) is already in 3 Nephi! She was baptized a month and a half ago and is about to finish the Book of Mormon. It was amazing to hear their testimonies but even better to feel the strength and validity of them. What a great blessing.
On Friday when we left the Ortegas, the neighbor across the street (Giselle) called us over and said that she wanted us to start teaching her 7 year old grandson. She said that he had some behavioral issues and we said we could help. Giselle is the wife of a former investigator named Geraldo who is the one that told us to knock on the Ortega's door in December. Giselle explained that she wanted her grandson Lance to go to church but that she was Baptist and hadn't gone to church in seven years and had no intentions of returning since she enjoyed communicating with God from her home. As we talked with her she said she would drop him off at church, drive around for the duration and then come and pick him up. She explained that he has ADHD and then asked, "Do you think it would be good if I came and sat with him at least during the first hour before he goes with the kids?" That was music to our ears. We had a lesson the next night and then played soccer and Lance loved it. He woke up Sunday morning sick and Giselle said they weren't going to go to church and he begged to be able to go. They all came (including her 13 year old granddaughter named Madison that lives next door) and loved it. Giselle stayed all three hours and Lance after church pleaded to go back the next week. I still do not fathom how God does it, I just know he does. Madison told Sandy (the Ortega's granddaughter) that she wants to get baptized. Now we just need to get her parents on board.
Please pray for la familia Del Castillo. They are struggling.
I had a really neat thought this week. Though I honestly try and pray for y'all, I just find my thoughts consumed by my investigators and their needs. I want to remember to pray for each of you and what you need but I often just don't think about anything other than the people here. Yesterday and Saturday in I think every appointment, the members, investigators, and recent converts prayed for you. In each pray they asked Heavenly Father to bless the missionaries and the families of the missionaries. They pray that you will be healthy, that you will prosper, and that you will be protected. It was a tender mercy for me to recognize that the Lord really does take care of us and our families even if it is in a different way than we would think. So each time you pray for me or my investigators, please know that those prayers are returned plentifully and faithfully.
We have Zone Conferences every day for the rest of the week. Should be fun. We don't really have to do much which is nice. We are studying repentance as a mission for the month of February. It has been wonderful. I am learning much.
Please continue to pray for Rodolfo so that he can quit smoking. We made a plan with him this week and he has cut back from 10 to 8 cigarettes a day. The night before we made the plan, he told us that he thought it was impossible to quit smoking and that he had tried many times. I looked him in the eyes and with all the faith I could muster testified that we represented the Savior Jesus Christ and that we had been commissioned and given authority to help people repent. The next day during the lesson we asked if he thought it was possible to quit and he said, "well, you represent Jesus and are the only ones that have the power to help me quit". I am grateful that the Spirit testified to him of the sacred calling that we have as missionaries.
I love you,
Elder Case
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03019079097075377402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3967307509798018896.post-91356551555566903262014-02-04T12:04:00.003-08:002014-02-04T12:04:29.407-08:00The Gospel Blesses FamiliesDear Family,
At the beginning of my mission, I didn't really understand why people would sometimes get so emotional about the Gospel. Of course there were times when I had felt the Spirit in a very overwhelming way that brought me to tears but I just didn't understand how that would happen so often to people. I am beginning to understand. In almost every lesson I have to fight back tears. These tears don't come because I am overcome with the power of the Spirit but rather they come because I am filled with gratitude and overcome by how blessed I am to have the Gospel in my life. I know that the Gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored in its fullness. I know that foundation of apostles and prophets is here again on the earth and that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is built above that foundation. I am beginning to understand the Holy Ghost. He is is guide, my teacher and my friend. I cannot imagine trying to do this work without His influence.
One of the things that I have learned this week that has helped me a lot is that I realized that one of the reasons that we are so blessed and so happy and filled with the Spirit as missionaries is that we pray all the time. We pray every time before we knock on a door and then we pray after even if no one answered. We pray to begin and end studies. We pray to begin and end lessons. We pray to express gratitude. We pray when we don't know where to go. We pray when we do know where to go. We just pray and God listens and blesses us. Elder Johnson and I had an office day this past Thursday and it was just terrible. When we left after a number of hours at the office, I just didn't feel happy. I thought about it and realized that during the whole time I was at the office I had never said a prayer because I thought I was capable of fulfilling all my assignments without praying. I learned that when I come home, I can never stop praying because it assumes that we are capable when we really are not. King Benjamin teaches that we are less than the dust of the earth and Nephi in his concluding remarks teaches us in 2 Nephi 32:9
9 But behold, I say unto you that ye must apray always, and not faint; that ye must not perform any thing unto the Lord save in the first place ye shall bpray unto the Father in the cname of Christ, that he will dconsecrate thy performance unto thee, that thy performance may be for the ewelfare of thy soul.
We found three new families this week and they are all wonderful. We are so excited to have them learn about, progress in, and become converted to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We have been so blessed I just can't believe it.
Norma (the 17 year old for El Salvador) is doing great! We didn't see her for a while and then we felt we should stop by and she was outside with some of her family. We taught her and her twin brother and her uncle the Restoration. At the beginning of the lesson we asked Norma if she had received her answer about the Book of Mormon and she said she had. She told us that as she read she was filled with a wonderful feeling and that God had told her it was true and that she had been surprised to find herself defending the Book of Mormon to her family and friends. Her uncle had a pretty skewed idea of Mormons but after the lesson walked into the house (we were teaching outside in the dark) where the rest of the family was gathered and then spent an hour telling them what we had taught and how Mormons were not that weird and that he felt so good as we taught him. The whole family wants to learn now and we taught the mom last night. Norma came to church (the Ortegas brought her) and just loved it. She said that the moment she entered the chapel, she felt the Spirit. After church she came up to us and said, "So far you have visited me a few times and given me a few pamphlets (Restoration and Gospel of Jesus Christ), do you have any more that I could study and learn from?" We gave her the Plan of Salvation and then stopped by Sunday night and she had read the whole pamphlet and loved it. She told us that she was excited for her baptism on February 15th and that she loves how she feels. Her sister Karen, while defending us to her parents, called us "los verdaderos".
Pedro, the son-in-law of the Ortegas wants to be baptized so badly this coming Sunday. His "wife" Carla needs to get divorced and then they need to get married this week so that can happen. There is a Plan B but we think the marriage would be best. Please pray that we can talk to the people and find the way that Carla can get divorced according to God's will. We have a lesson with them on Wednesday and Pedro is going to teach us how to grill fajitas. We are pretty excited about that.
Rodolfo (Mirna's husband) quit his job and now can come to church. He loved it yesterday. We are having a FHE tonight with their family at the home of la familia Perez. Please continue to pray for Mirna and Rodolfo that we can find the way for them to get married so they can be baptized.
There are so many miracles that I wish I could share them all but I just can't. This Gospel is true. It brings happiness. Heavenly Father wants to bless us far more than we want to be blessed. His love is infinite and perfect. I feel of that love each and every day.
Thank you for your prayers and your love. I hope you are all well and that you too might enjoy of the blessings of this Gospel. I love you.
Love,
Elder Case
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03019079097075377402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3967307509798018896.post-53276163588576955432014-02-03T07:59:00.002-08:002014-02-03T07:59:20.838-08:00The Peaceful ReassurancesDear Family, I love this work! Thank you for your continued prayers and faith on my behalf and for our investigators. They make the difference. On Saturday, we had the privilege of baptizing Erika, Kathryn, and Karla Del Castillo. The daughters of Mijail and Maria Del Castillo who were baptized two weeks ago. It was incredible. Hermano Melgar (an investigator of about 20 years and the only non-member in his family) was also baptized by the other elders. There were no less than 80 people at the service, which we did in the chapel, and the Spirit was so strong. During the opening hymn the Holy Ghost washed over me and then never left during the service. Once again, in the ordinances thereof, the power of Godliness is manifest. How true that is. In Sacrament Meeting on Sunday, the Del Castillo girls were confirmed along with Hermano Melgar and Julie! Thank you for praying that she would make it to church and be confirmed. When we walked into the chapel Sunday morning, la familia Ortega was there on the 5th row. They took up the entire row and as usual were the only ones in the chapel. There was someone new sitting with them that we had never met. It was Karla's huband, Pedro. Karla is the mom of the three girls that were baptized in December. We stopped by and visited them Sunday evening and asked how Pedro liked church. He said he loved it and felt really good. He told us that he really wanted to stay for the other classes but his two little boys were throwing a fit and he had to leave (next week we are going to go to Primary with them because they promised us that they would stay at church if we went with them). Pedro then told us that no one had invited him to church (we didn't even know he lived there since he works all the time) but that he just felt the desire to ask for work off and to go. We taught him the Restoration and after reciting the First Vision Elder Larson asked him how he felt. He said, "I feel just like I felt at church. Really good and peaceful." We testified that it was the Holy Ghost and that he already knew that what we shared is true. Elder Nielsen then invited him to be baptized and he said yes. Then Elder Nielsen invited him to be baptized on February 8th and he thought about it and said, "I will have my answer on Wednesday." What a miracle. He has already asked for a change in schedule so that he doesn't have to work on Sundays and can come to church every week with his family. He prayed at the end of the lesson and it was so sincere. On Friday we stopped by to try a media referral that we had received and realized that it was the same house as a lady that we had talked to outside the week prior. We knocked on the door and were immediately asked to come in. Only Karen (22) and Norma (17) were there. They are sisters and came here from El Salvador about two years ago. We taught them the Restoration and did the same procedure. Before the opening prayer we testify that we are representatives of Jesus Christ and that we were sent by a loving Heavenly Father to share the most special message in the whole world and that they will feel the Holy Ghost. We promise them that they will feel something very unique in their hearts and then we teach. When we asked them how they felt after listening to the First Vision, they said, "Strange and good". We invited them to explain how they felt. They said that they felt as if a weight had been lifted off their shoulders and they felt peace. We invited them to be baptized and they also accepted. They are preparing to be baptized on February 15th. On that same day, we taught Mirna and Julie. Mirna still hasn't resolved her marriage situation and thus cannot be baptized but as we taught about it and how "the first fruits of repentance is baptism; and baptism cometh by faith unto the fulfilling the commandments; and the fulfilling the commandments bringeth remission of sins" (Moroni 8:25), she expressed her earnest desire to be baptized. After that lesson we taught the Padilla children. Eva (15) and Ramon (11) practically begged us to be baptized. We taught with their dad and he still said no. Please continue to pray that Tony Padilla's heart will be softened. It is so hard to teach them and see their desire to follow the Savior and listen to their testimonies of the Restored Gospel and then have their hopes squandered by the pride of their father. It has been incredible to have so many people want to be baptized. We finally understand that we invite when we feel the Spirit. Dad has told me many times that Stephen started having a lot of success on his mission when we would just invite people to be baptized every time he felt the Spirit. That is what we do and the response is always yes. The Holy Ghost is so amazing. Two more stories, on Sunday night, we had enough time for one more appointment and Elder Larson felt that we needed to go visit la familia Del Castillo. I was hesitant because we hadn't called them to set an appointment but we knocked and they were thrilled to see us. As we walked in (it was only Mijail and Maria) it felt different than it had in the past. They were in the middle of an intense argument and both immediately said that God had sent us to them in that moment. They spent about 15 minutes accusing each other and going back and forth with faults and complaints and we finally stopped them and said a prayer. The whole atmosphere changed and the Spirit came but was short lived as they went back to arguing. They were asking us for help and marriage advice and we finally had the chance to explain that we would set up an appointment with Bishop and that we didn't know anything about being married and that we were just young men but that we represented the Savior and we knew the Gospel would help them more than anything. We explained that we wanted to read in the Book of Mormon with them and we opened to Mosiah 3 and read from verse 5-19. The peaceful reassurance came. The Spirit of love, peace, harmony, unity, and forgiveness entered and all the negative feelings left. We finished with verse 19 and read: 19 For the anatural bman is an cenemy to God, and has been from the dfall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he eyields to the enticings of the fHoly Spirit, and gputteth off the hnatural man and becometh a isaint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a jchild, ksubmissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father. Mijail then repeated the words submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things and looked at us and said thank you. This is what I needed. We had to leave to get home on time but committed them to kneel down as a couple and have Maria pray first and then Mijail. We texted them that night and they said that they prayed and then continued to read the Book of Mormon together and the next morning Mijail texted and said that he had read the Book of Mormon before going to work. They now know that it is a source of strength and that it contains peace and brings answers and understanding to our lives. I know that the Book of Mormon is true. The Lord answers my constant prayers about its truthfulness nearly every single day. One last story. We stopped by la familia Martinez (the less-actives that I love with my whole soul) after the baptism Saturday night. We watched the Mormon Message "None Were with Him" by Elder Holland and then asked them to share their feelings about the Savior. We had the most powerful and tender lesson on the Atonement that I have ever participated in during the which they explained that they don't have a single friend that loves them for who they are, Raul and Rosa, but that everyone only talks to them when they need help and want something. At the end of the last lesson with them we read 2 Nephi 2:30 where Lehi after teaching very powerful doctrine that condemns the wicked says, "I have none other object save it be the everlasting welfare of your souls". In this lesson though we read with them in 1 Nephi 21:15-16 15 For can a awoman forget her sucking child, that she should not have bcompassion on the son of her womb? Yea, they may cforget, yet will I not forget thee, O house of Israel. 16 Behold, I have graven thee upon the apalms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me. We then looked them in the eyes and said that the Savior of the world has not forgotten them. We testified that He walked "such a long, lonely path utterly alone, [so that] we do not have to do so" (Elder Holland "None Were with Him"). We testified that our Heavenly Father loves them and that He sent His representatives to them that night to manifest His love for Raul and Rosa and that He didn't expect anything in return. It was a sweet moment as the love of God abounded and tears were shed. I testify that this work is true. God loves us. We are His greatest creation. The Gospel has been restored to the earth and there is no greater joy than helping others to receive of blessings of the Atonement. I know that the peaceful assurances come each day so that we know that God loves us and is aware of us and will help us. What a glorious message. Love, Elder Case <br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03019079097075377402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3967307509798018896.post-28694503129698666912014-01-22T08:40:00.002-08:002014-01-22T08:40:03.082-08:00Whether the Book of Mormon is TrueDear Family,
Thank you so much for your prayers and your faith. I continue to feel them and see the needed blessings come to the lives of our investigators here. The Maria and Mijail Del Castillo were confirmed and received the gift of the Holy Ghost yesterday in Sacrament Meeting! It was a wonderful experience. We taught them Friday morning and followed up with them about the Word of Wisdom and some other commandments and they were completely ready to go. It was interesting though because Mijail said that throughout the week he had been tempted a lot and that he felt that Satan was trying extra hard to get him to sin. He said that when that happened he prayed and asked for strength and that he could feel of our prayers. I know that he felt of your prayers as well. Thank you.
Mijail didn't want to baptize his daughters despite our explaining to him that in a few years it will be the most special memory but the good news is that his three youngest daughters (Erika, Kathryn, and Karla) will all be baptized this coming Saturday. Please pray for each of them by name that they will be ready and have the desire to be baptized. Mijail and Maria want them to be baptized so badly. It is wonderful to see the Gospel being lived by a family in their home and to see all the blessings that have come as a result of it.
Julie Tovar was baptized on Saturday! She came out of the bathroom in her white jumpsuit and said she felt like a big fat marshmallow. I told her it wasn't that bad but that it was embarrassing to be wearing white after Labor Day. She said I need to be more original and not steal jokes from a 10 year-old. Pretty funny girl. She and her mom slept in yesterday and did not make it to church for the confirmation though, so please pray that they will be there this coming Sunday to be confirmed. We are still trying to work out the divorce for Mirna and Rodolfo so that Mirna can get baptized but haven't made much headway there.
We have been teaching the Tzoc family. An older couple from Guatemala that I think I mentioned last week. We stopped by this week and finally taught them both together for the first time. We asked Cristina to read the paragraph in the pamphlet about Joseph Smith and she was about to start reading and then said, "Is this just going to explain how he was a young boy and didn't know what church to go to and went to all sorts of churches and then read in the Bible and went to ask God and then Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ appeared to him and called him to be a prophet? I have seen the video." We were shocked. She has been prepared by angels. She wants to be baptized but said that the 15th of February was too quick. We are going to help her prepare for that date though still. Quick funny story, we were eating with the Tzoc family last week and in one of the dishes there was chicken feet that had been soaked and boiled in vinegar. Elder Nielsen when I wasn't looking put one of them onto my plate and then made a big deal about how I wanted to eat it. It was the most disgusting thing I have ever put into my body. I had to break the bones and then pull the skin off the tendons. I wanted to throw up. Elder Nielsen and Elder Larson thought it was the funniest thing that has ever happened.
Also, I used to write a lot about la familia Padilla. By a miracle we saw the kids outside their apartment on Saturday and invited them to the baptism because they are good friends with Julie. Eva and Ramon both want to be baptized as soon as they can and Tony wants to learn more first but there dad hasn't let them come to church or participate. They told us that if the Bishop invited their dad to the baptism that he would go. We talked to Obispo, and they all showed up. And what's more, Hermana Perez (WML's wife and my second mother) showed up at church with all the kids (the dad was working). They all loved it and one of the speakers talked about faith and bore his testimony that when we ask in faith that God answers our prayers. He said he had been praying for a long time with much faith that the Padilla's would come back to church and there they were. It was a special moment. On top of all that, we showed up at the investigator devotional last night and they were there walking inside. They felt the Spirit very strongly and afterwards Tony came up to me and said that he has never felt closed to making the decision to be baptized. He said he was almost convinced and that in just a little bit more time he will be ready. Please pray that the heart of el hermano will be softened and open to the blessings of the Restored Gospel.
On Saturday we found a new family that are former investigators. They are ready to be baptized really soon and are really good people. We walked out of the house and asked who they knew that we could teach and they pointed at a lady in their front yard and said, "her". We talked to the lady, Juana Mendez, and found out that she was baptized in 2000. She has been less-active for a number of years but is completely ready to come back. She came to the investigator devotional with us on Sunday night and when we walked in she was sitting with one of her old friends that she knew when she was baptized. What a tender mercy of the Lord.
Also, after the devotional, I was talking to Eduardo and Kimberly Colon and we set a temple date for their sealing! They will be sealed on May 17th! They are really excited and feel prepared. They are about to begin taking the temple prep classes.
We are being richly blessed and are able to see and recognize the hand of the Lord each day. The Spirit guides us so much. We are told where to go, what to do, who to talk to and then what to say and when to say it. This is God's work. It has to be.
A few weeks ago we found a man named Juan Cruz. We have tried getting in to teach him dozens of times because he is on our Ward List but they always tell us that they want to take their names off the records of the church. We talked with him and he explained that they were baptized about 17 years ago. They were extremely active for seven years and sealed in the temple but then Juan found a quote in Doctrine of Salvation that he disagreed with. He studied more got involved in anti material and eventually he and his wife walked into the Bishop's office and turned in their temple recommends. They haven't heard from or spoken about it with anyone for ten years. We finally taught them last night and it was quite the experience. He had lame doubts and strange questions that multiplied every time we answered one of his questions. He eventually told us that in his study he came to a point where their was two paths he could choose from, the Book of Mormon or the Bible. He said he chose the Bible. At that point, Elder Nielsen explained that all his doctrinal disagreements would be resolved if he knew that Joseph Smith was a Prophet. They tried to testify that Joseph Smith was not a Prophet of God. At that point I explained that the only thing we do as missionaries is invite all to come unto Christ and to pray and ask God and then believe the answer they receive. Then the inspiration came. The thought came to my mind to think about the baptismal interview and temple recommend questions, both of which ask if you believe Joseph Smith was a Prophet of God. I then testified to them that I had a sure knowledge that even if they didn't currently believe that Joseph was a Prophet that at least in two instances in their lives they had said and testified that they did. They were confounded. The hermana tried to lie and say that she couldn't ever remember saying that but the hermano was honest and said, "No, he is right. We both said that. We both testified of that." At that point we had to go but they said they would let us back. It was a powerful experience and made me think of two things.
The first is the quote from President Benson in Preach My Gospel:
“We are to use the Book of Mormon in handling objections to the Church. …
“… All objections, whether they be on abortion, plural marriage, seventh-day worship, etc., basically hinge on whether Joseph Smith and his successors were and are prophets of God receiving divine revelation. …
“… The only problem the objector has to resolve for himself is whether the Book of Mormon is true. For if the Book of Mormon is true, then Jesus is the Christ, Joseph Smith was his prophet, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is true, and it is being led today by a prophet receiving revelation.
“Our main task is to declare the gospel and do it effectively. We are not obligated to answer every objection. Every man eventually is backed up to the wall of faith, and there he must make his stand” (A Witness and a Warning, 4–5).
And the second is D&C 135:3 which says,
3 Joseph Smith, the aProphet and bSeer of the Lord, has done more, csave Jesus only, for the salvation of men in this world, than any other man that ever lived in it. In the short space of twenty years, he has brought forth the Book of Mormon, which he translated by the gift and power of God, and has been the means of publishing it on two continents; has sent the dfulness of the everlasting gospel, which it contained, to the four quarters of the earth; has brought forth the revelations and commandments which compose this book of Doctrine and Covenants, and many other wise documents and instructions for the benefit of the children of men; gathered many thousands of the Latter-day Saints, founded a great city, and left a fame and name that cannot be slain. He lived great, and he died great in the eyes of God and his people; and like most of the Lord’s anointed in ancient times, has sealed his mission and his works with his own eblood; and so has his brother Hyrum. In life they were not divided, and in death they were not fseparated!
As we left that lesson last night, I read D&C 135:3 out loud to my companions and the Holy Ghost witnessed to me so strongly that it is true. That Joseph was a Prophet, that he saw the Father and the Son, that They did in reality speak to him, that They through Joseph restored the Church of Jesus Christ to the earth in these last days and that Joseph Smith held all of the Priesthood Keys that have ever been given to man. I remember when I gained my first real testimony of Joseph Smith in the MTC. I wrote in my journal that I would waste and wear out my life testifying to the world that Joseph Smith was a Prophet and that he saw God. I have done so and I will continue to do so because I know that it is true.
I love you,
Elder Case
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03019079097075377402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3967307509798018896.post-62141154433331434052014-01-13T12:05:00.000-08:002014-01-13T12:05:01.531-08:00We Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Dear Family,</div>
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It is so good to hear that Gabe is doing better. Sounds like you all are now participants in the miracles and witnesses of God's power on a daily basis too.</div>
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Saturday night we went to the adult session of Stake Conference and listened to Elder Russel M. Nelson and Elder Hansen (of the Seventy). It was amazing. President and Sister Ashton spoke as well. The Spirit was so strong and the members of our ward brought our investigators! Everyone loved it. Then Sunday morning we had the general session. That was one of the most spiritual meetings I have ever gone to. About half an hour in we left to go rescue the Del Castillo's who had gotten lost but got back just in time for them to listen to Elder Hansen (he used to be the Texas Houston Mission President a few years ago) and of course, Elder Nelson. Elder Nelson stayed after both meetings long enough for everyone to line up and personally meet him. Watching it happen reminded me of the Savior amongst the Nephites. He was different for every person. For some, he held their hands, others just looked into his eyes, one lady kissed him on the cheek. Just another witness to me that he is an Apostle of Jesus Christ. He spoke of missionary work during the adult session and set some high expectations for the members. During the general session he spoke of the Plan of Salvation and repentance. He said that it was his mandate from God to declare repentance to all people. He quoted the Bible Dictionary about repentance ("The Greek word of which this is the translation denotes a change of mind, a fresh view about God, about oneself, and about the world.") and then said it also implies a change in the way we breathe because each breath is full of gratitude and knowledge that we only can do so because of the breath we are lended. He asked all of the Primary children to stand and sing, "I Am a Child of God". That brought the Spirit. It was in the middle of his talk and pretty cute. At the very end of his talk however, he looked at his translator and said in Spanish, "I don't know how long it has been since these good people have seen an apostle. I want this experience to be memorable for them. So I am going to need your prayers as I now speak to you in a language that is not my own." He then bore a testimony of the truthfulness of the Gospel that penetrated the soul. I can feel the Holy Ghost just thinking about the Spirit that was manifested through that great servant of the Lord. I know that God has called Prophets and Apostles again in our day, that they do in reality speak with our Heavenly Father face to face and that they hold every Priesthood Key on the earth. I know that his church is the church of Jesus Christ upon the earth and that through the saving ordinance of the Priesthood, we can return to live with our loving Father in Heaven. This work is true!</div>
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We finished teaching the Del Castillo's everything that they needed on Friday morning. Mijail, the dad, expressed to us that he had voices telling him to not be baptized. The miracle is that during studies that morning, as we thought about him and his wife, the Spirit revealed to us that that was happening and then taught us exactly what he needed to read in the Book of Mormon to overcome the temptations of the devil. We read those verses with him and he felt the Spirit and they were baptized. It was a miracle though. As we were filling out their baptismal records with them on Saturday (the baptism was Sunday after Stake Conference), Maria couldn't remember their marriage date. She knew the date they moved in together but not the date they got married. We told them that they needed the certificate in order to get baptized. When we saw them at conference Sunday morning we asked if they had found it yet and they still hadn't. We committed them to do everything possible to find it. We called a few hours later and still no luck. Then as we were leaving the apartment to go fill the font, we knelt down and pleaded with the Lord that they would find the certificate. In the exact moment that we said "amen", the phone was ringing and it was Maria telling us that they had found the certificate. I know that God loves His children and that He hears and answers our prayers. It was almost as if God was just letting us know once again that we are completely incapable of performing this work on our own and that we have to really fully on Him and on His merits and grace.</div>
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Another miracle was that as we waited in line with the Del Castillo's to meet Elder Nelson (how cool is it that they met an apostle on the day of their baptism?!) multiple people came up to Mijail that he knew from work but had no idea that they were Mormon. It strengthened him greatly and one of his best friends from a different ward came to his baptism. They were all so happy. In the picture that I sent of their baptism, all the girls but the one in blue are the Del Castillo's daughters. They are going to be baptized on January 25th and we spoke with the Bishop last night and he is going to interview Mijail so that he can baptize his daughters! I loving seeing the Gospel being lived. It makes people so happy. It makes me so happy.</div>
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This coming Saturday, Julie (the 10 year-old daughter of Mirna) will be baptized. We spoke with Mirna and asked if she wanted to wait to baptize Julie until Mirna and Rodolfo were married so that Mirna and Julie could be baptized together. She responded and said that Julie would cry if she had to wait any longer to be baptized. That girl is the best. Last night when I walked in to the Relief Society room in all white she looked at me and said, "Don't you know that it is after Labor Day?" (I think that Mary and Lizzy will appreciate that the most).</div>
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Another miracle that happened this week is that we tried a former that Elder Nielsen was teaching a year ago when he was in this area and la hermana (Cristina) let us right in. We taught the Restoration and that there was going to be an Apostle here this weekend. She loved it. All her daughters are members, sealed in the temple, and active. At the end of the lesson she brought out three copies of the Book of Mormon, two in Spanish and one in Quiche (spelling), which is a dialect in Guatemala where she is from. She also had her own Teachings of the Prophets book and showed us the plan for baptism that her daughter had made for her. We came back two days later and brought an hermana from Guatemala with us. They were the best of friends and kept on saying that they felt like they had known each other in a prior life. That family brought Cristina to conference Satuday night and she loved it!</div>
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The Lord is so kind. He is full of mercy and grace and truth. He wants to bless us more than we can imagine. My whole object is to be an instrument in His hands so that He can work through me to bring about His purposes. I feel the Holy Ghost every day testifying of the truthfulness of this work. There is nothing better than serving the Lord full time and feeling the Holy Ghost constantly throughout each day. It is what brings joy.</div>
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I love you. Please pray for Mirna and Rodolfo so that they can get married and please pray that the Del Castillos will continue to progress and have the strength to overcome the adversary this week especially as they wait to be confirmed on Sunday.</div>
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Love,</div>
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Elder Case</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03019079097075377402noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3967307509798018896.post-81298440368572588592014-01-07T10:27:00.002-08:002014-01-07T10:27:23.386-08:00Marriage is Like a Three Ring Circus...Dear Family,
The Lord is so kind. I received dad's letter today about Gabe and just couldn't believe it. I just sat there and didn't know what to do. I then read it again and just sat there feeling completely helpless. I was sitting at my desk at the office and must have not looked too goo because Elder Johnson looked over and said, "Hey will you come with me real quick?" He walked me to the bathroom and then said, I can wait here while you go and pray or think or something. It was really hard for me to read that and to think about it. I went and sat down and just cried as I was overcome with emotion. I then knelt down and told Heavenly Father how grateful I am for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I poured my soul out to Him and asked to be comforted and to feel peace and to be able to remember and feel all that I have learned about the Atonement. The answer to my prayer was immediate and the Holy Ghost comforted me. I imagine that angels came and ministered to me as well. I am so grateful for the love of the Savior and for His infinite love and eternal sacrifice. Please tell Gabe that I love him and need him to be at my homecoming. Please tell the Gomez family that I love them and will continue to pray for them, that they can have peace and feel of God's love for them.
We aside from that, this week has been incredible. We have been so blessed. On Friday, the entire Ortega family went to the temple and did baptisms for the dead! They loved it. They were baptized on Saturday, confirmed on Sunday, and in the temple the following Friday. It really solidified their desire to be sealed in one year. On Sunday Hermano Ortega said the closing prayer in Sacrament meeting. It was a sweet experience. And not only that, the whole Del Castillo family (8 in total) came to church. They didn't all come at the same time though. I was sitting with Hermano Del Castillo and stood up and bore my testimony and told the ward that I loved and appreciated them and that I was seriously considering just moving my records there since I have been in the ward for 9 months. When I sat down there was an hermana sharing her testimony about how the missionaries came to there home 15 years ago and how ever since they were baptized it has been the best experience and the best decision. I leaned over to Hermano Del Castillo and told him that I was looking forward to the day when he stood up and bore a similar testimony. He asked me if anyone could go up and bear testimony and I said yes. With just a few minutes left in the meeting he leaned over and asked, "Is there enough time for me to go?" I said of course and he stood up and bore his testimony! The best part is that right when he stood up, the Bishop got my attention and notioned towards the back of the chapel I looked back and in walked Hermano Del Castillo's older two children and his daughter-in-law. I stood up and sat by them and they were shocked to see there dad standing up in front talking to the congregation of this church he just barely started going to. It was there first time coming and it was hilarious! In his testimony he asked the missionaries that were teaching him to stand up so that everyone would know who we were. He then testified of the change that has happened in his life since we met him and how he knows that God loves him because he sent his angles (the missionaries) to come and teach him the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He ended his testimony by saying he knew that this was the true church of Jesus Christ on the earth. It was a pretty special experience and I know that his baptism next Sunday with his wife will be one of the most special experiences of my life.
We taught them about apostles and prophets this week and explained that this next Sunday they were going to be able to listen to an apostle of the Lord. If I didn't already tell you all this, Elder Russel M. Nelson is coming to our stake conference this Sunday. Hermana Del Castillo nearly started crying as she related to us her gratitude and that she never even hoped that she would have such an opportunity. She said that she thought that only those who lived anciently had such an opportunity. How blessed we are to have prophets and apostles that live and that teach us. How blessed we are to know they are special witnesses of Jesus Christ to all the world. Elder Nelson will have a Priesthood Meeting on Saturday and then a general session Saturday night and the general session Sunday morning. It has been fun to testify to everyone that I meet that a special witness of Jesus Christ and one of the twelve apostles will be here and that they can listen to someone that is like Peter of old. They get pretty excited about that and lots of people are coming.
So the Del Castillo's friend Mirna is probably the most prepared and faith filled investigator I have ever met. She fasted with us on Saturday night that here husband's heart would be soft and that they would both have the faith to get married on tomorrow! President Ashton joined us in the fast and we received and answer through him on Sunday morning. He suggested that they get married in the Honduranian Consulate here in Houston so that there is no legal problems. Mirna loved the idea and just wants to be baptized so badly. Her 10 year-old daughter is just so sweet. On Saturday after having the fasting/faith/miracles lesson we gave them a ring pop so that Mirna could propose to her husband Rodolfo. Sunday after church we taught them in Hermano Perez's home (our WML) and asked how the proposal went. Julie (the 10 year-old) pointed to her stomach and said that the ring had disappeared. We bought a really nice looking fake ring today and are going to bring it to our lesson tomorrow. Please pray really hard that Rodolfo will have a soft heart and that he will go with us to the Consulate tomorrow to get married. We will probably throw a party this weekend and Mirna will be baptized next Tuesday so that Rodolfo can be there as well.
Every single day, we get home and cannot believe the miracles that have happened. The Spirit comes so strongly to every single lesson. We are finding new people to teach and they all want to be baptized and keep their commitments. We really don't do anything to deserve such grace and mercy but we sure are grateful for the chance we have each day to see the hand of the Lord in our lives.
We don't spend any time in the office anymore and spend literally 100% of our time in our areas now. I have so many stories to share with you all but just don't have the time to do so. Just know that I know that God is a God of miracles. He lives. He loves us perfectly. He knows us and is so aware of us. He gives us commandments so that He can bless us. I know that Jesus Christ lives and that He suffered for each of us individually that we can be healed. I know that He wants to heal us, physically, emotionally, and most of all, spiritually. I know that He has the power to heal us.
Please pray for Mirna and Rodolfo, that they will be married tomorrow. Also, please pray for la familia Del Castillo that they will be baptized on Sunday and continue to feel the Spirit and learn what they need.
I love you,
Elder Case
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03019079097075377402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3967307509798018896.post-33901662507036325052014-01-03T09:18:00.002-08:002014-01-03T09:18:15.639-08:00The Enabling Power and Grace<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Dear Family,</div>
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Thank you for your prayers. It was good to see and talk with you last week and seemed that you were all enjoying yourselves. Dad, I know that I always say this, but this really was the best week of my mission. It was just full of miracles, blessings, tender mercies and baptisms!</div>
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When I talked with you all on Christmas, I was not feeling well. I had a really bad sore throat, a cough, lots of congestion and felt like I was going to throw up the whole day. After we finished Skyping we went back to the apartment and I was going to take a nap because I felt horrible. As I thought about it being Christmas though and how many families would be home and together I couldn't stand the thought of being inside. I said a prayer and asked for health and strength and energy and told Heavenly Father that I wanted to do His will but I just needed to know what it was. We had five appointments after that, found a new family, and felt the Lord using us as instruments in His hands to bless His children. There is nothing I would rather have done on Christmas than represent the Savior and testify of His birth and His sacred mission here on earth. I am so grateful for the Atonement of Jesus Christ and that it affords me the opportunity to not only repent and be made clean but to be strengthened and perfected. It was amazing to me that throughout the night on Christmas, I never really felt good, in fact I felt terrible the whole night, but the Lord strengthened me and allowed me accomplish His will and thus feel peace and joy. What a blessing.</div>
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When I say we are being blessed, I truly mean it. The Lord is so kind. This past week was Christmas Conference on Monday, P-Day on Tuesday, Christmas on Wednesday, and Weekly Planning on Thursday and yet we taught more investigator lessons than I have taught in my whole mission in a single week. We teach all the time from the time we leave the apartment from the time we return. It is wonderful.</div>
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La familia Ortega was baptized this Saturday and confirmed on Sunday! They were baptized exactly three weeks after the first day we knocked on their door. Their baptism was a fulfillment of a promise made through Priesthood Keys that there was one of our former investigators that would be baptized by the end of the year. We had a Family Home Evening with them last night with la familia Navarro (also from El Salvador) and Hermana Ortega told her whole conversion story and how she had tried to escape the missionaries the first night we stopped by and knocked and how since that day we have seen each other everyday except Christmas Eve. They are already planning on being sealed in one year from now and read the Book of Mormon every day. They had a very sweet experience during their confirmations and felt the Holy Ghost so strongly. Hermana Ortega said to tell you all hi and that she is my adopted mother. Mom, she told me to tell you that she will get me healthy and well in no time. She brought me lemon and honey tea to church on Sunday. All the Hispanic ladies in my area have been worried about my health and constantly make me lemon and honey tea and other sorts of concoctions. It is pretty funny.</div>
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So on Saturday, we had the baptismal service of the Ortegas and I baptized Natalia and Hermana Ortega (she asked me to because I weighed the most and she was worried about drowning) and then on Sunday, a member pulled me out of Priesthood and asked me to baptize her 8 year old son (named Ricardo) that night. That was a special privilege. The dad in that family is very inactive and he didn't even come to the baptism. So Saturday was four baptisms, then Sunday was four confirmations, then another baptism and then I also confirmed Ricardo. Right before Ricardo's baptism we had been with la familia Del Castillo giving them blessings because they were sick. It was all exhausting but amazing to be able to finally stop and think Sunday night about the miracle it is to have the Priesthood in our lives. To serve in the Priesthood in any capacity is the greatest thrill and most rewarding experience I have had in my life. I remember when President Lewis set me apart he said that if I would minister to the people I would have success. I have seen the fulfillment of that prophecy and promise in my life. I am so grateful for this opportunity that I have to represent the Savior. I know that I do not even come close but I do try my best to do what He would do and as I do so I feel His love, I know He is pleased, and I am blessed with His enabling grace. In Moroni 10:32 it says:</div>
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<a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="32"><span style="background: #f9f6ed; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt; border-left: windowtext 1pt; border-right: windowtext 1pt; border-top: windowtext 1pt; color: #486fae; font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;"> </span></a><span style="mso-bookmark: 32;"></span><span style="background: #f9f6ed; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt; border-left: windowtext 1pt; border-right: windowtext 1pt; border-top: windowtext 1pt; color: #2f393a; font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;">32 </span><span style="background: #f9f6ed; color: #2f393a; font-family: 'Georgia','serif';">Yea, </span><sup><span style="background: #f9f6ed; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt; border-left: windowtext 1pt; border-right: windowtext 1pt; border-top: windowtext 1pt; color: #2f393a; font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 7.5pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;">a</span></sup><a href="http://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/moro/10?lang=eng" id="footnote56"><span style="background: #f9f6ed; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt; border-left: windowtext 1pt; border-right: windowtext 1pt; border-top: windowtext 1pt; color: #486fae; font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">come</span></a><span style="background: #f9f6ed; color: #2f393a; font-family: 'Georgia','serif';"> unto Christ, and be </span><sup><span style="background: #f9f6ed; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt; border-left: windowtext 1pt; border-right: windowtext 1pt; border-top: windowtext 1pt; color: #2f393a; font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 7.5pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;">b</span></sup><a href="http://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/moro/10?lang=eng" id="footnote57"><span style="background: #f9f6ed; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt; border-left: windowtext 1pt; border-right: windowtext 1pt; border-top: windowtext 1pt; color: #486fae; font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">perfected</span></a><span style="background: #f9f6ed; color: #2f393a; font-family: 'Georgia','serif';"> in him, and </span><sup><span style="background: #f9f6ed; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt; border-left: windowtext 1pt; border-right: windowtext 1pt; border-top: windowtext 1pt; color: #2f393a; font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 7.5pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;">c</span></sup><a href="http://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/moro/10?lang=eng" id="footnote58"><span style="background: #f9f6ed; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt; border-left: windowtext 1pt; border-right: windowtext 1pt; border-top: windowtext 1pt; color: #486fae; font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">deny</span></a><span style="background: #f9f6ed; color: #2f393a; font-family: 'Georgia','serif';">yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and </span><sup><span style="background: #f9f6ed; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt; border-left: windowtext 1pt; border-right: windowtext 1pt; border-top: windowtext 1pt; color: #2f393a; font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 7.5pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;">d</span></sup><a href="http://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/moro/10?lang=eng" id="footnote59"><span style="background: #f9f6ed; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt; border-left: windowtext 1pt; border-right: windowtext 1pt; border-top: windowtext 1pt; color: #486fae; font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">love</span></a><span style="background: #f9f6ed; color: #2f393a; font-family: 'Georgia','serif';"> God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be</span><sup><span style="background: #f9f6ed; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt; border-left: windowtext 1pt; border-right: windowtext 1pt; border-top: windowtext 1pt; color: #2f393a; font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 7.5pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;">e</span></sup><a href="http://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/moro/10?lang=eng" id="footnote60"><span style="background: #f9f6ed; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt; border-left: windowtext 1pt; border-right: windowtext 1pt; border-top: windowtext 1pt; color: #486fae; font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">perfect</span></a><span style="background: #f9f6ed; color: #2f393a; font-family: 'Georgia','serif';"> in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God.</span> </div>
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I cannot deny the power of God. This is His very work. I am a witness of His power. He sends His angels to prepare the hearts of His children to receive this message. This week we taught la familia Del Castillo the Word of Wisdom and they thought it was the best thing in the whole world. I am fully convinced that angels (undoubtedly their ancestors that are waiting for their work to be done) first taught them all they needed to know because they were thrilled with the commandment and gave us all the coffee they had to throw away. They came to church again and every time we talk with them they say they are just so grateful that God sent us to them to teach them about His true church. They also keep telling us how grateful they are to be baptized on January 12th. They would be baptized on the 11th except that Elder Russel M. Nelson will be here at our Stake Conference that weekend so we moved their baptism to Sunday. They are a very special family. Please pray that they will continue to learn, understand, and progress to their baptism and their daughters will want to be baptized as well. We hope that Hermano Del Castillo will baptize them a week or two after his baptism.</div>
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Also, please pray for Mirna. She is doing really well. She is now living the Word of Wisdom and we also taught the Law of Chastity. She has been with her "husband" for 18 years and they have a daughter together but haven't ever been married. After we taught her she talked to her husband about getting married and he asked why she wanted to get married after so many years of just living together. She explained that she had to get married to be baptized and that she really wanted to be baptized. We are meeting with them both tonight to talk about it. Please pray that his (Rodolfo's) heart will be soft and open and that they will get married before January 12th. She and her daughter Julie are best friends with the Del Castillo's and they all want to be baptized the same day.</div>
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Anyways, I love this work! It is so fulfilling. It brings true peace and happiness. I love the Book of Mormon. Like mom has always said, it has the answers to all our questions. This whole week we have showed up to people's homes and opened the Book of Mormon and began to read and then the Spirit teaches what they need to know and all we do is extend a commitment of what they tell us they need to do or change in their life. It is incredible. I love you all and I love this Gospel!</div>
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Love,</div>
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Elder Case</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03019079097075377402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3967307509798018896.post-14334937926390583462013-12-20T10:05:00.001-08:002013-12-20T10:05:08.370-08:00Photos<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elder Dennis making pupusas at la casa de la famila Ortega</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I have a blue comb!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Welcome to Houston sign at the airport</td></tr>
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#1 Elder Johnson being cold since it has been freezing around here! (somewhere in the 50s sometimes!) #2 Elder Dennis making pupusas at la casa de la familia Ortega #3 "I have a blue comb!" #4 "Welcome to Houston" sign right next t<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF1ych-jMPbAFpm6xnyjp9i8F-Xjrk0zBj8m3DekyK4hlYgsTq_-vIBTlo_xPux-sGS2tBTZAILw-S4IN5NrVKHrgWU1aEiWczH4suZCyUVGQHjjeKDbznZleEzYCKd0HHvraDI_Xk5E4/s1600/CAM00090.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF1ych-jMPbAFpm6xnyjp9i8F-Xjrk0zBj8m3DekyK4hlYgsTq_-vIBTlo_xPux-sGS2tBTZAILw-S4IN5NrVKHrgWU1aEiWczH4suZCyUVGQHjjeKDbznZleEzYCKd0HHvraDI_Xk5E4/s320/CAM00090.jpg" /></a>o the airport #5 The "old" companionship. AKA just two of Elder Ayala's trainers. He had four. We tell him it is because he is so rebellious. He just became a zone leader this transfer and is zone leader companions with Elder Leavitt, his trainer. I love Elder Ayala so much. He is an incredible missionary. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03019079097075377402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3967307509798018896.post-72201736019654068752013-12-20T10:00:00.001-08:002013-12-20T10:00:01.764-08:00A God of MiraclesDear Family,
How blessed we have been this past week. It has been incredible. Elder Dennis and Elder Larson and I are just loving life. We have been working really hard and being blessed with incredible results. This past week was just so wonderful.
On Sunday, la familia Ortega came to church. They showed up 30 minutes early again and brought the whole crew. They took up an entire bench at church. The Primary sang some Christmas songs and they felt the Spirit so strongly. Also, la familia Del Castillo came for the first time! Last week they tried to come but couldn't find the chapel even though they drove around looking for it for an hour. This time the whole family came. The parents came to Gospel Principles and felt the Holy Ghost so strongly as we learned about temple covenants and their three daughters just wanted to stay in Young Womens. It was such a good Sunday to see all of them at church. The best part is that Hermana Del Castillo is really good friends with one of our other investigators named Mirna. Hermana Del Castillo, without us knowing, told Mirna that she had come to church with us and that she loved it so much. She invited Mirna to come this following Sunday with their family. When we went to the lesson with Mirna today, she told us that she was coming to church. It was such a miracle because we hadn't even invited her to come yet! The Lord is so kind.
La familia Ortega is doing so well. They are faithful English class students and are always the first there. They write up on the board "On Time-Familia Ortega" and "Late-Los Misioneros". Our English class is definitely a highlight each week. We have 3-5 investigators there every class in addition to the members that come and the friends they bring. It has been a huge success and it just a blast to teach.
The Ortega Family is on schedule to be baptized next Sunday on the 28th. Please continue to pray for them. They are so excited. We teach them every day and they just love it. The change in their home and their lives is just so drastic. In the course of about three weeks, they have become new people. There is a special spirit about them always and they becoming converted to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Hna Ortega (the wife of the man that was less-active for many years) committed to be baptized along with her three granddaughters (Jennifer, Sandy, and Nathalia). They have all been practicing praying and have begun praying together as a family. They had a really special experience doing it for the first time and committed themselves to continue every day with family prayer. This Sunday, Sandy and Nathalia will participate in the Young Women in Excellence dinner/event and they are so excited. We are planning on sending the sister missionaries to represent us.
I just don't understand how God does it all. Our investigators are just so prepared and keep all their commitments and want to come to church and want to be baptized and we don't even do anything. We just meet people that want to learn about the Gospel and the Holy Ghost touches them and they Heavenly Father just works everything out and softens their hearts. As we taught Hermana Martinez last week (the less-active that just came to church for the first time in years and years) we found out that she has been reading in the Book of Mormon every day for the past month and has made considerable progress in her reading. I still remember how hard we had to push them just to bring their scriptures to the first few lessons. As I think about la familia Martinez, I can't help but think of 3 Nephi 18:32
32 Nevertheless, ye shall not cast him out of your asynagogues, or your places of worship, for unto such shall ye continue to minister; for ye know not but what they will return and repent, and come unto me with full purpose of heart, and I shall bheal them; and ye shall be the means of bringing salvation unto them.
I know that the Savior heals. I feel that healing often. I am so grateful for the incredible opportunity that I have to be "the means of bringing salvation unto them". What a magnificent calling this is!
I have begun to understand a little more fully what the joy of the Gospel feels like. Last night we ate at the Colons and they are doing so well. They are working towards being sealed as a family this coming May. I love them so much. I will always be grateful for the chance the Lord gave me to know them and participate in their conversion process. If I had labored with all my might for two years just to have helped them receive the covenants and ordinances of the Gospel, it would have been more than worth it. They are moving to Kentucky in June just have committed me to take them all to Havasupai at some point.
We made it through another transfer. The transfer in six weeks will only be one new missionary coming in. It is crazy to think that we can go from a transfer of 43 new missionaries to a transfer of one new missionary.
One scripture that has been on my mind all week long and that we shared with the Colons last night is probably my favorite story in the Book of Mormon. As I have studied it repeatedly this week, the Spirit has taught me much more than I previously understood.
In Mosiah 24, we read about Alma and his people. They have been persecuted ever since Alma fled from wicked King Noah's court and have finally found a new land where they were free, only to once again be put into bondage. Amulon, the appointed Lamanite leader in that part of the land, made it so that the people of Alma couldn't pray out loud for fear of being put to death, nevertheless they cried to the Lord in their hearts. We then read the following:
12 And Alma and his people did not raise their voices to the Lord their God, but did pour out their ahearts to him; and he did know the bthoughts of their hearts.
13 And it acame to pass that the voice of the Lord came to them in their afflictions, saying: Lift up your heads and be of good comfort, for I know of the covenant which ye have made unto me; and I will covenant with my people and deliver them out of bondage.
14 And I will also ease the aburdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do that ye may stand asbwitnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their cafflictions.
15 And now it came to pass that the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea, the Lord didastrengthen them that they could bear up their bburdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with cpatience to all the will of the Lord.
What I have learned about this story and these words of the Lord has been so comforting to me this week. First, the Lord hears and answers our prayers and is ever aware of us even when we feel He is not. Second, He knows of and remembers the covenants (in this case baptismal covenant) His people have made with Him. What I love the most is that the Lord says he is aware of the covenant they have made. This covenant is found in Mosiah 18:8-9:
8 And it came to pass that he said unto them: Behold, here are the waters of Mormon (for thus were they called) and now, as ye areadesirous to come into the bfold of God, and to be called his people, and are willing to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light;
9 Yea, and are awilling to mourn with those that bmourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand ascwitnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the dfirst resurrection, that ye may have eternal life—
So this people covenanted with the Lord to bear one another's burdens and the Lord says, "I remember the covenant you have made and so I will bear your burdens and make them light." And why does He do this? So that we may "stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all thing, and in all places that [we] may be in, even until death". Thus He shows us how to keep our covenants and helps us to keep them. And not only does He help us when we need it but He helps us more than we need. Just like the extra baskets full after feeding the multitude, His grace in this instance is more than enough. He doesn't only strengthen us to be able to bear the burden, rather He strengthens us to such an extent that we can perform the task with ease. What a comfort that is and what a blessing! And all He ask in return is that we be witnesses for Him hereafter.
I feel the Lord helping me keep my covenants every single day. He lightens my burden and strengthens me and has asked that I do the same for the rest of His children. I have found that doing so brings true joy, lasting joy. I know that this is the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. I have had far too many witnesses to ever deny it and even more, I feel it burning within me. I love my Heavenly Father and His Beloved Son with all my heart. They live. I know it. This is Their church and They guide it through a living prophet. It is all true.
I love you,
Elder Case
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03019079097075377402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3967307509798018896.post-27815560470428825262013-12-10T12:31:00.002-08:002013-12-10T12:31:14.597-08:00More PicturesThis is Adolfo Vega. He is my favorite youth in the ward. I love his family. We got signed up to set up Christmas lights in one of the church buildings. They will be used for many different ward parties and our mission Christmas conference. I knew exactly how to do it because of all the wedding receptions I have helped out with. These elders are my <br />
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