To the Missionaries of the Great Texas Houston Mission,
It was great to see some of you at our second Mission President's fireside in Spanish last night. You sounded beautiful and looked even better. Thanks for always being worthy of such a beautiful Spirit. It was another edifying evening.
In Ch 1 of PMG we read that our purpose is to "Invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end." It continues by saying "Many of these people are searching for purpose in life. They are concerned for their families. They need the sense of belonging that comes from the knowledge that they are children of God, members of His eternal family. They want to feel secure in a world of changing values. They want “peace in this world, and eternal life in the world to come” (D&C 59:23), but they are “kept from the truth because they know not where to find it” (D&C 123:12)" (p. 1).
Knowing that many are searching and just not expecting to find it in us reminds me of the disciples on the road to Emaus that we read about in Luke 24. All of God's children are on a road to Emaus. It is a journey filled with hopelessness. Just as the two disciples journeyed and were joined by a stranger, so are those we meet being joined by you. The disciples didn't recognize the identity of the stranger because they were preoccupied by their hopeless feelings, but they did recognize that they felt better when He was with them much like our investigators feel when they are with you. The Savior began teaching them from the scriptures. They didn't still didn't "see". This didn't change until He "he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them" (v. 30). Interestingly, only then did they begin to see and begin to make sense of what they were feeling as they looked back on their entire experience with Him (v. 32). Once they did this, they acted "in the same hour" (v. 33).
Elders and Sisters this is our role! We find these children of God in a hopeless condition, we ask inspired questions and we teach, but it is the ordinances of Salvation that ultimately help people see. For this reason must remember to invite people to be baptized everyday. We renew our challenge to each of you to make this a daily goal. As you have this foremost in your thoughts you will begin to see people differently; not as they are, but as they may become. We will invite people more freely and more confidently. We will invite those who have strayed to partake of the Sacrament and not just come to church because we recognize that it is through the emblems of the sacrament that sins can be remitted and the power of God can be reintroduced more fully and more completely in their lives. This is what matters. This is why Nephi says, "Angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore, they speak the words of Christ" and "the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do."
That we will be diligent is retaining this foremost in our own hearts and minds is our great hope!
We love you and are so, so proud of all the good you do.
Love,
President and Sister Mortensen
A couple of weeks ago, President Mortensen and I were honored to attend the graduation ceremony for many students of the "Daily Dose" (English as a second language) classes taught by our missionaries. Here are some pictures from that event.
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| About to perform "head shoulders knees and toes" |
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| President Mortensen address the graduates |
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| Missionaries given a service award from the Spring Branch School District |
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| Elders at a baptism in Sealy |
