To the missionaries of the Great Texas Houston Mission,
Thank you to all those who were successful in bringing investigators to the temple on Sunday. We had about 240 people there and the tours were conducted by many of our mission leaders. They each did a great job. Sister Mortensen and I were able to visit with many of the investigators who participated in the tours and saw how they were filled with the Spirit of the Lord. Many determining again that they needed to be baptized. Others realizing that they needed to be married so they could be baptized and then sealed. All of these miraculous changes because they had felt the influence of the Holy Ghost and had their vision elevated to the things of God.
At the outset of this dispensation, the Lord revealed to the Prophet Joseph Smith the qualifications to be called to His work when He said, "And faith, hope, charity and love, with an EYE SINGLE TO THE GLORY OF GOD, qualify him for the work." (D&C 4:5).
One of the things that the Adversary is very good at is that He gets us to take our eyes off of the Savior or off of the things of God. He does this in a variety of ways. I don't know that's it is useful to list all of the ways, but I do think it's important for each of us to be aware of the effect of losing focus on Him. I see it from time to time as I sit with missionaries who will say things like, "I just don't have the motivation anymore" or "I'm done". Elders and Sisters, the only way it's possible for these things to be said is if we allow the Adversary to turn our focus from the Lord to ourselves. The Adversary would have us seek our own and not the welfare of others. In the scriptures, this is condition is best described as an absence of charity.
The prophets through the ages have understood this subtle tactic of the Adversary. For this reason, President Hinckley has stated that, "“Every morning…, missionaries should get on their knees and plead with the Lord to loosen their tongues and speak through them to the blessing of those they will be teaching. If they will do this, a new light will come into their lives. There will be greater enthusiasm for the work. They will come to know that in a very real sense, they are servants of the Lord speaking in His behalf. They will find a different response from those they teach. As they do so by the Spirit, their investigators will respond under the influence of the same Spirit.” (PMG p. 94).
Please do all that you can to keep your vision elevated on the things you desire eternally. Keep your eyes single to His glory and we will qualify for the work!
Love,
President and Sister Mortensen
Thank you to all those who were successful in bringing investigators to the temple on Sunday. We had about 240 people there and the tours were conducted by many of our mission leaders. They each did a great job. Sister Mortensen and I were able to visit with many of the investigators who participated in the tours and saw how they were filled with the Spirit of the Lord. Many determining again that they needed to be baptized. Others realizing that they needed to be married so they could be baptized and then sealed. All of these miraculous changes because they had felt the influence of the Holy Ghost and had their vision elevated to the things of God.
At the outset of this dispensation, the Lord revealed to the Prophet Joseph Smith the qualifications to be called to His work when He said, "And faith, hope, charity and love, with an EYE SINGLE TO THE GLORY OF GOD, qualify him for the work." (D&C 4:5).
One of the things that the Adversary is very good at is that He gets us to take our eyes off of the Savior or off of the things of God. He does this in a variety of ways. I don't know that's it is useful to list all of the ways, but I do think it's important for each of us to be aware of the effect of losing focus on Him. I see it from time to time as I sit with missionaries who will say things like, "I just don't have the motivation anymore" or "I'm done". Elders and Sisters, the only way it's possible for these things to be said is if we allow the Adversary to turn our focus from the Lord to ourselves. The Adversary would have us seek our own and not the welfare of others. In the scriptures, this is condition is best described as an absence of charity.
The prophets through the ages have understood this subtle tactic of the Adversary. For this reason, President Hinckley has stated that, "“Every morning…, missionaries should get on their knees and plead with the Lord to loosen their tongues and speak through them to the blessing of those they will be teaching. If they will do this, a new light will come into their lives. There will be greater enthusiasm for the work. They will come to know that in a very real sense, they are servants of the Lord speaking in His behalf. They will find a different response from those they teach. As they do so by the Spirit, their investigators will respond under the influence of the same Spirit.” (PMG p. 94).
Please do all that you can to keep your vision elevated on the things you desire eternally. Keep your eyes single to His glory and we will qualify for the work!
Love,
President and Sister Mortensen
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| The temple grounds are always beautiful! |
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| Our tour guides |
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| Elder Halterman takes the first group |
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| This great group came to tour the temple grounds from Huntsville |