 |
| Testimony Meeting With Outgoing Missionaries |
 |
| A Special Dinner Is Held To Honor Returning Missionaries |
 |
New Missionaries Arrive At Airport
|
 |
| New Missionaries Prepare to Meet Their Trainers and Start Their Missions |
 |
New Missionaries Look At Houston Temple
This Is The Goal For The People They Will Help Become Disciples
|
 |
| New Missionaries and Trainers - An Impressive Group! |
 |
| Sister Peterson and New Companionship As They Depart For Their Area |
Saturday, the Houston area was visited by 5 General Authorities and
Sister Franco of the General Primary Presidency. Elders Ballard and
Rasband of the Twelve were accompanied by Elders Uceda, Cornish and Gifford
Nielsen of the Seventy. Their purpose was to learn about the cleanup
efforts and what we can do better/different to prepare and serve in the
future. But more importantly, they came to support the Saints, missionaries
and those impacted by the storm and flood. Each General Authority went
with a local authority to visit work sites Saturday. Sunday, they
each attended sacrament meetings attended by thousands.
I had the privilege to tour Saturday with Elders Uceda and
Cornish and Stirling Pack who oversees cleanup operations. We visited areas around the Barker and
Addicks Reservoirs that were only recently accessible. I saw many great
missionaries working their hearts out. The missionaries have been such a blessing to those impacted by the floods. At one site, the Mighty Brenham Branch was there with a great group
of men, women, children and missionaries. The home owner they
helped was so grateful and said he will never forget the workers. He took
their names down so he could keep in touch with them. He invited us to
have a prayer together and as we held hands in a circle, he offered a
beautiful, heartfelt prayer to Heavenly Father. He prayed saying that he
knew there was a plan for us and asked for help to see that plan. We took
a picture together on top of a pile of rubble that was previously his tile
floor. Everyone there felt the spirit of love and charity. Tears
were shed and embraces were had with deep feeling.
 |
The Brenham Branch and Missionaries On Top of Rubble Pile
Home Owner At Top Was Profoundly Grateful
|
 |
Missionaries At The Houston Temple Grounds
Performed Over 600 hours of Work Last Week
|
 |
| This Trio Companionship Is Powerful |
 |
| 60 Missionaries Worked Two Days On Temple Grounds |
 |
Elders Devyn Cornish and Juan Uceda, of the Seventy,
Meet Missionaries Working On Flooded Homes
|
 |
| An LDS Chapel Was Flooded, But Repairs Are Underway |
 |
| Addicks Reservoir Remains Flooded, Near Many Homes |
Last night, the General
Authorities and Auxiliary leaders shared some thoughts with the members who
were most impacted by the floods. There were several hundred people at
the Hafer Stake Center. The message was one of hope in Christ. He
can help us through all things. What is it we hope for? Moroni 7:41
tell us that answer. “And what is it that ye shall hope for? Behold I
say unto you that ye shall have hope through the atonement of Christ and the
power of his resurrection, to be raised unto life eternal, and this because
of your faith in him according to the promise.” This is our
message to people. We can overcome all sufferings in this life through
the atonement of Jesus Christ.
Elder Ballard taught an important principle as well, and
that is that our sufferings refine us and help us become who the Lord wants us
to be. He told the story of a young man in Elder Ballard’s ward who had
lost his mother and he blamed God. Elder Ballard invited him in to visit with
President Spencer W. Kimball. President Kimball had many afflictions in
his life. He had heart surgery (President Russell M. Nelson of the Twelve
was his surgeon), he lost part of his voice when he had to have his vocal cord
removed, he had many other afflictions, yet he was called to be the
prophet. He told this young man “None of us wants to suffer, but
through my suffering, I have come to know God.”
A highlight of the week was a special zone conference. Elder Uceda was gracious enough to accept an invitation to join us and spoke for nearly 2 hours. The missionaries learned many great principles including how to help others become disciples of Jesus Christ.
 |
Elder Uceda, One of the Seven Presidents of Seventy,
Has Missionaries Gather Around To Teach Them
How To Pray With Investigators
|
 |
Each of Our 12 Zones Held Breakout Sessions To Discuss How
To Find People To Teach
|
 |
| Missionaries Were Served a Delicious Lunch |
 |
| Getting A Mission Photo |
 |
| President Peterson and Assistants |