Texas Houston Mission: June 2016

Sunday, June 26, 2016

We are only seeing a glimpse...

To the Missionaries of the Great Texas Houston Mission,

We had the wonderful opportunity to be at the temple with many of our recent converts this past Friday night. As we were standing there in the temple watching these converts take names in hand into the baptistry we had the impression that each one of these converts were far more valuable than the way we normally view them. The first recent convert from the Spring stake brought two cards, one containing the name of his father, the other with his grandfathers name. Each convert literally held in their hands the eternal welfare of their families. Realizing this, we remembered the words of the Savior when He says, "The worth of souls is great in the sight of God" (D&C 18:10). Each of our converts really do represent generations in each direction.

What a remarkable thing it is to consider that Isaiah prophesied of this very reality and the Lord repeats this prophecy in 3 Ne 26:1 when He says: For behold, the day cometh that shall burn as an oven: and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly shall be stubble; and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of Hosts, that it shall leave them neither root (ancestry) nor branch (posterity)."

Without the blessing of the gospel and the promised blessing of priesthood ordinances, people will be lost and alone forever. We hold the power of the message that will allow them to find fulfillment in the relationships that they love both in this life and eternally. Later in that same chapter, the Savior repeats the promise of that He will send Elijah the prophet so that families can be connected forever.

We hope that each of you will be focused on helping each new convert (whether they are converts you taught or not) find and take their own names to the temple within 30 days of their baptism or as soon as possible so they can find the joy and hope for eternal reunions with those they love!

We are so grateful for the blessings of the gospel and the great privilege it is to be able to share its message with our brothers and sisters here. We love you and are grateful for this time we have together!

Love,

President and Sister Mortensen

We held two English Leadership councils last week. They were very inspiring councils and we were grateful to be able to learn from each other and the Spirit.

The Klein Zone shows their unity

The East Council

The West Council

We held the 8 week Follow-up Training for the missionaries that arrived in April. They are all doing so well and becoming great teachers. The following are pictures taken that day

We attended District Meeting in the Westlake District last Friday. It was wonderful to be with these missionaries and see the great leadership of Elder Bailey.

Elder Bailey in action

Role-Plays

Westlake District

We held a Mission President's, "Why I Believe" Fireside tonight in the Houston North Stake. It was a wonderful evening with beautiful musical numbers and inspiring testimonies. One of our favorite events in the mission! Our missionaries are so talented! The following are a few pictures I took before the fireside.

Sunday, June 19, 2016

Fathers

To the Missionaries of the Great Texas Houston Mission,

At the very beginning of the Book of Mormon, Nephi writes:

"I, Nephi, having been born of goodly parents, therefore I was taught somewhat in all the learning of my father."

This becomes a theme in the Book of Mormon of fathers teaching children. We see this with Lehi teaching his children, to King Benjamin teaching his sons (Mosiah 1), Alma teaching his son, Alma the younger teaching his sons and ultimately with Mormon teaching Moroni. When we see this pattern, the Book of Mormon becomes a collection of examples of what faithful fathers do. They teach. This is very different than what the world understands of fatherhood. The gospel of Jesus Christ helps us understand that becoming parents beings much more than having children. Once children are born, we inherit a sacred duty to teach them in the ways of the Lord.

Sister Mortensen and I are both grateful for our fathers. We are also grateful for your fathers. We owe much of the happiness we have experienced here to those who have not only bore you, but those who have taught you in such a way that you were willing to heed the call to serve.

I feel like I can relate much more to Helaman who led such young, valiant servants in his day when he refers to the stripling warriors as his "sons", not because he was literally there father, but because he felt a fathers love for each of them. I feel this same way about each of you. We feel that our family has grown by hundreds since we have been here in Houston. We love you and we are proud of the way you serve and lift and bless.

Thanks for making this Father's Day a day so full of happiness because of the way your faith allows us to see the fruits of your faith, much like Helaman saw the fruits/miracles of the stripling warriors.

We love you and feel so honored to be serving along side you in this great cause!

Love,

President and Sister Mortensen

We attended District Meeting in the Tomball District last Friday and enjoyed a wonderful spirit among the missionaries. We love to see the unity and dedication in this mission.

Elder Bird provided great instruction and leadership

Role plays

Color coordination=Unity

You can photo bomb us any time President

The Tomball District

Some of the Cypress Missionaries

Monday, June 13, 2016

Hope Amidst Perilous Times

To the Missionaries of the Great Texas Houston Mission,

In 2 Timothy chapter 3, Paul describes the last days in this way:

1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,

4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

This weekend saw the largest massacre in US history in Orlando, Florida. An armed gunman, allegedly from ISIS, entered a nightclub and killed 50 people. It was a senseless and tragic killing. Our hearts go out to the victims and their families. The gunman was also killed. Although these kinds of events shouldn't be a surprise to readers of the Book of Mormon, they have many looking for hope and peace.

I met one such man this weekend when out teaching with Elders Hanks and Stringham. When asked why he felt prompted to let the missionaries in, the investigator mentioned that he has experienced an increasing sense of hopelessness when he watches the news, politics and current events. He felt like he ought to turn his thoughts to God.

We testify just as the prophet Joseph Smith did from Liberty jail when he said:

12 For there are many yet on the earth among all sects, parties, and denominations, who are blinded by the subtle craftiness of men, whereby they lie in wait to deceive, and who are only kept from the truth because they know not where to find it.

Elders and Sisters, we not only know where to find it, but we possess it. Recognizing this, we must follow Joseph's counsel when he then admonishes us:

13 Therefore, that we should waste and wear out our lives in bringing to light all the hidden things of darkness, wherein we know them; and they are truly manifest from heaven--

14 These should then be attended to with great earnestness.

17 Therefore, dearly beloved brethren, let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed.

Let us do all we can do to help those "searching for the truth" so they CAN find it or find us. We love you and testify that His arm will be revealed as strive to qualify for His power.

Love,

President and Sister Mortensen