Mission Tour

This past week, the Texas Houston Mission was blessed to have Elder and Sister Christoffel Golden come on a mission tour.  Elder Golden has been a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy since 2001.  He and his family are faithful church members from South Africa.  While he was here, he held three mission conferences where he met with three zones each day.  He also held leadership training meetings each afternoon, interviewed a few missionaries, visited with the office staff and inspected an apartment or two.  His evenings were spent doing a youth fireside and a meeting where missionaries could bring recent converts and investigators to learn more about the Church.  We all learned a lot from Elder Golden!  He is a master teacher.  Among other things,  he primarily taught us to set higher goals and raise our expectations in sharing the gospel by trusting in the Lord and His promises rather than in our own skills and strength.

 

Before each conference, a group picture was taken.  Aside from a few late arrivals, most missionaries are pictured.  We also managed to take a few pictures during lunch, but ran out of time at the last conference.  A big thank you to local Relief Society sisters for providing yummy food for us to eat!

 



Elder and Sister Golden

Unseen Help

Dear Sisters and Elders –

 

Missionary work is challenging. Sometimes we may be tempted to get discouraged and even feel like we are on our own. However, we know that Heavenly Father and His Son will support us (see DC 39:12; 49:27; 84:88) and that we have access to the Holy Ghost when worthy (see Alma 17:3; DC 43:15-16).

In addition, there are many from the other side of the veil praying and working to help us find those that are prepared to receive the gospel of Jesus Christ. Elder Melvin J. Ballard (Apostle from 1919 to 1939) explained:

“It was made known to me that it is because the righteous dead who have received the Gospel in the spirit world are exercising themselves, and in answers to their prayers elders of the Church are sent to the homes of their posterity so that the Gospel might be taught to them, and that descendant in the flesh is then privileged to do the work for his dead kindred. I want to say to you that it is with greater intensity that the hearts of the fathers and mothers in the spirit world are turned to their children now in the flesh than our hearts are turned to them” (Melvin R. Ballard, Melvin J. Ballard, Crusader for Righteousness, Bookcraft, 1977, p. 219).

When you are tempted to become discouraged, remember that Heavenly Father, Our Elder Brother, the Holy Ghost, and others beyond the veil are supporting you.

“I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up” (DC 84:88). We are part of a greater effort than we sometimes realize!

Love,

 

President Pingree

Sister Sheldon arrived today, a few days later
 than her MTC group.  Welcome!

Sister Sheldon meets her two companions in the Woodlands