Words of Faith

To the Missionaries of the Great Texas Houston Mission,

As missionaries we are in the unique position to represent the Lord in His work. When we are living according to His standards, our words are His words, our promises are His promises and our invitations are His invitations. Sometimes, even though we may understand this, our words betray us; we fail to use words of faith.

For example, sometimes when we invite others to read and pray about the Book of Mormon, we will say, "Will you read the Book of Mormon to know 'if' it's true?" Using the word "if" suggests that there is some doubt as to whether or not it is true. The fact is, it is true. We are only inviting them to act so that they too can know this truth. So instead, we suggest that we consider using words of faith by saying something like this, "The Lord would have you read the Book of Mormon and pray so that you too can know 'that' it is true. Will you accept His invitation to you to read and pray to know that it's true?"

Similarly when we extend an invitation to be baptized, we sometimes say, "We have prayed to know when you could be ready and believe that you can be ready by December 19th. Will you pray to know 'if' you should be baptized on that date?" If the Lord has truly confirmed to us that a person can be ready, shouldn't that change the way we word the invitation to something more like this: "We have prayed and know that the Lord would have you follow His example by preparing to be baptized on December 19th. Will you accept the invitation to prepare for this date?"

As we speak in words of faith and allow the Spirit to carry our words unto the hearts of those we teach, they will be more inclined to accept our invitation and follow the Lord.

We love you and are eager to meet with you at our zone conferences this week. Please come prepared with a 5 minute talk one of two topics:

1. The Importance of Members (PMG p.160-162)

2. How do I work with Stake and Ward leaders? (PMG 213)

We look forward to a wonderful conference!

Love,

President and Sister Mortensen

The Larsens arrived in the THM last Wednesday and we are so happy to have them! This is the fourth mission they have served and we love them already.

Here are some of our missionaries from the Cypress Zone at a recent service opportunity. They are blessing so many lives!

Thanksgiving

To the Missionaries of the Great Texas Houston Mission,

On October 3, 1863 President Abraham Lincoln issued a Thanksgiving proclamation establishing the last Thursday of November as an annual national holiday to remember and give thanks. The interesting part of that proclamation is that it was extended in the midst of the American Civil War; a war that took it's heaviest toll on American lives and families. An inspired President at the time, instead of focusing on the problems that were so obvious to everyone, focused a country on the "gracious gifts of the Most High God." He admonished, referring to these gifts that, "they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American People. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens."

We read about similarly inspired people in the Book of Mormon, who in the midst of tragedy all around them never forgot to praise God and give thanks to Him. These people were blessed and remembered by Him. This is a talent that must be cultivated in each of our hearts. As we spend more time counting our blessings and less time counting our problems, we will find greater happiness and peace in the midst of challenges.

So it is in this Spirit that we give thanks for you. We are grateful for your faith, for your sacrifice and your love. We are most especially grateful for the privilege we have of serving with you. What a wonderful miracle it is to be among the few who have been selected to be the "light bearers" to the world. We have the opportunity to experience just a glimpse of what the Savior experienced of whom it was said by Isaiah, "he was despised and rejected of man, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief." He has given us the great opportunity to become like Him. If that is the blessing, should we not embrace this experience in spite of its difficulty?

We love you and wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving.

Love,

President and Sister Mortensen

We enjoyed having Elder Packer and Sister Packer in our mission last week. We had a special MLC with them and then held two mission tour conferences with them. It was wonderful to have so much of the mission together and to hear the words of a general authority. The Packers were very impressed with our missionaries and the spirit they possess. Here are some pictures taken those two days. 

Elder and Sister Packer

Monday's Conference

Tuesdays Conference

 On Wednesday we held the 8 week follow up training for the missionaries who arrived in September. It was great to see them all together and see what great teachers they are! It was a great meeting and I think we all learned and were edified.

 On Thursday we were able to visit the Aldine School District where many of our missionaries were volunteering at Operation Saving Smiles. The organizers of this event were so thrilled to have the missionaries there to help and they were so impressed with the work ethic and happiness they brought with them. We loved being with them too!