To the missionaries of the Great Texas Houston Mission,
I couldn't help but think of you as we were doing our family scripture study one morning this past week. As a family, we are coming close to finishing the Book of Mormon again and were reading in Moroni 7. If you recall, Moroni realizes that he has some extra time in life that he didn't anticipate so he shares with us some things that his father taught about faith, hope and charity.
He addresses his remarks to those he refers to as the "Peaceable followers of Christ." I can think of no better name for you who where His name upon your chests each day. He says this:
5 For I remember the word of God which saith by their works ye shall know them; for if their works be good, then they are good also.
6 For behold, God hath said a man being evil cannot do that which is good; for if he offereth a gift, or prayeth unto God, except he shall do it with real intent it profiteth him nothing.
7 For behold, it is not counted unto him for righteousness.
8 For behold, if a man being evil giveth a gift, he doeth it grudgingly; wherefore it is counted unto him the same as if he had retained the gift; wherefore he is counted evil before God.
9 And likewise also is it counted evil unto a man, if he shall pray and not with real intent of heart; yea, and it profiteth him nothing, for God receiveth none such.
Elders and Sisters, it is good that we are here choosing to serve the Lord, but if we are serving Him without real intent, or if we are doing it grudgingly it profits us little. So if we are finding ourselves working with a bad attitude, should we just not work then? That's what the Adversary hopes we will conclude. On the contrary, Mormon continues that we if we are finding ourselves in this condition, we ought to pray unto God for charity and concludes his invitation to us with this powerful invitation:
48 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father WITH ALL 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.
Our great hope is that you will actively plead for this great gift of charity so that your labors here will not only bless your life, but that you can fulfill the full measure of your creation by becoming like Him whose name you bear. We testify that you will if you do.
Love,
President and Sister Mortensen
I couldn't help but think of you as we were doing our family scripture study one morning this past week. As a family, we are coming close to finishing the Book of Mormon again and were reading in Moroni 7. If you recall, Moroni realizes that he has some extra time in life that he didn't anticipate so he shares with us some things that his father taught about faith, hope and charity.
He addresses his remarks to those he refers to as the "Peaceable followers of Christ." I can think of no better name for you who where His name upon your chests each day. He says this:
5 For I remember the word of God which saith by their works ye shall know them; for if their works be good, then they are good also.
6 For behold, God hath said a man being evil cannot do that which is good; for if he offereth a gift, or prayeth unto God, except he shall do it with real intent it profiteth him nothing.
7 For behold, it is not counted unto him for righteousness.
8 For behold, if a man being evil giveth a gift, he doeth it grudgingly; wherefore it is counted unto him the same as if he had retained the gift; wherefore he is counted evil before God.
9 And likewise also is it counted evil unto a man, if he shall pray and not with real intent of heart; yea, and it profiteth him nothing, for God receiveth none such.
Elders and Sisters, it is good that we are here choosing to serve the Lord, but if we are serving Him without real intent, or if we are doing it grudgingly it profits us little. So if we are finding ourselves working with a bad attitude, should we just not work then? That's what the Adversary hopes we will conclude. On the contrary, Mormon continues that we if we are finding ourselves in this condition, we ought to pray unto God for charity and concludes his invitation to us with this powerful invitation:
48 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father WITH ALL 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.
Our great hope is that you will actively plead for this great gift of charity so that your labors here will not only bless your life, but that you can fulfill the full measure of your creation by becoming like Him whose name you bear. We testify that you will if you do.
Love,
President and Sister Mortensen
 |
| Missionaries from the Woodlands District at a recent service project |
