To the Missionaries of the Great Texas Houston Mission,
What a joy to be with you during our Christmas Conference! We hope you enjoyed our time together as much as we did. What a blessing it is to be able to share the message of Christmas as His representatives with our brothers and sisters who live within the borders of our mission.
It is interesting to consider that some of the greatest events in the history of the world happen in such private settings and hidden from the world. The birth of the Savior, the First Vision, our own personal conversions are some of the many examples of this. Because He knew this, the Savior taught that only those who have "eyes to see will see" and "ears to hear will hear." These important miracles won't be obvious to any of His children otherwise.
We are just completing a remarkable year and one of the greatest in the history of this mission. The more incredible thing is that it feels like we became more united and unified as the year wore on. There is great momentum moving into January of 2017. With a week left in December we already have more than 100 people committed to baptism in January! That is incredible! You are incredible! And the Lord is merciful to allow us to participate in this great gathering that will prepare the earth for His second coming!
As we remain focused on our purpose and lose ourselves in this work, we will see even greater blessings as the Lord will hasten His work through us. This is what Joseph Smith taught in section 123 when He said (see the blessings promised in v. 17 and the requirements to experience them in vs 13,14):
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—
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.
15 Let no man count them as small things; for there is much which lieth in futurity, pertaining to the saints, which depends upon these things.
16 You know, brethren, that a very large ship is benefited very much by a very small helm in the time of a storm, by being kept workways with the wind and the waves.
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.
We are confident that His arm will be revealed as we work to develop the attributes of the true shepherds that led their sheep to the Savior at His birth on that first Christmas so many years ago!
We wish you a very Merry Christmas and hope you each have a wonderful time speaking with your families. Please communicate our love for them and appreciation to them for the way they have raised you so you could be here at this time!
Love,
President and Sister Mortensen
Kaity Fisher, a dear friend in the Conroe area took beautiful pictures at our Christmas Conference. All the photos are available for you to view and download for free at this website:
http://kaitlynbeauregardphotography.pixieset.com/thmchristmas/
password: thmchristmas
download code: 6233
The pictures will only be in this gallery for 60 days, so take a look and download the pictures with your missionaries in them. The missionaries cannot access this website because of the limitations on their ipads. I'm sure they would love it if you would download the photos they are in and share them via email.
Thanks so much!
