Monday, October 1, 2012

Letter to the Missionaries 9-30-12


BELIEVE!

 

Dear Elders and Sisters,

 

It’s now been over a week since we had a visit from Elder Gavarett from the Seventy.  What a great experience it was for us to have a servant of the Lord right here with us in our mission.  As he arrived, both Sister Alba and I could feel a difference – especially as he stayed in the mission home and as he shared so many wonderful things with us that provided us with a greater sense of faith and belief.

 

Elder Gavarret is a very special servant of the Lord.  In the Doctrine and Covenants section 107 we read:

 

23.  “The twelve traveling councilors are called to be the Twelve Apostles, or special witnesses of the name of Christ in all the world – thus differing from other officers in the church in the duties of their calling.

 

24.  “And they form a quorum, equal in authority and power to the three presidents previously mentioned.

 

25.  “The Seventy are also called to preach the gospel, and to be especial witnesses unto the Gentiles and in all the world – thus differing from other officers in the church in the duties of their calling.

 

26.  “And they form a quorum, equal in authority to that of the Twelve special witnesses or Apostles just named.”

 

As part of his calling to be an especial witness, he testified and promised many things to us – including the charge for us to exercise more faith and to believe.  Is anything too great for the Lord?  If we truly believe that this is His work, we should not doubt that what we do and our commission is to represent Him here in our mission. 

 

“Behold, I say unto you that whose believeth in Christ, doubting nothing, whatsoever he shall ask the Father in the name of Christ it shall be granted him; and this promise is unto all, even unto the ends of the earth.”  Mormon 9:21 (italics added)

 

Later in the same chapter verse 27 we learn:

 

“O then despise not, and wonder not, but hearken unto the words of the Lord, and ask the Father in the name of Jesus for what things soever ye shall stand in need.  Doubt not, but be believing, and begin as in times of old, and come unto the Lord with all your heart, and work out your own salvation with fear and trembling before him.

 

Be wise in the days of your probation; strip yourselves of all uncleanliness; ask not, that you may consume it on your lusts, but ask with firmness unshaken, that ye will yield to no temptation, but that ye will serve the true and living God.”  Mormon 9:27-28.

 

Again, if we truly believe that we are on the Lord’s errand and that this truly is His work, “doubting nothing”, we are then entitled to ask the Father in the name of Christ and it shall be granted unto us.  As we dedicate ourselves to this work and our will becomes His will, nothing will be held from us because our desires will be pure and will be the same as God’s.  We must not doubt or despise not, or wonder not but we must hearken (listen and obey) unto the words of the Lord.  Whatsoever we stand in need doubting not but be believing, it shall be granted unto us.  I truly believe this and know that my faith is sufficient because my desires are the same as God’s.  He will grant unto us what we ask for – remember though, that it will be in His own time and His own season when He wills it.  It will surely come to pass after all we can do.

 

“Verily, thus saith the Lord unto you, my friends Sidney and Joseph (we could well place our own name here), your families are well; they are in my hands, (there are no better hands) and I will do with them as seemeth me good; for in me there is all power.”  D&C 100:1 (see the connection to 101?). 

 

Then, the Lord makes an incredible declaration that truly applies to all of us here in the California Santa Rosa Mission:

 

 2 Therefore, follow me, and listen to the counsel which I shall give unto you.

 3 Behold, and lo, I have much people in this place, in the regions round about; and an effectual door shall be opened in the regions round about. . .

 4 Therefore, I, the Lord, have suffered you to come unto this place; for thus it was expedient in me for the asalvation of souls.

 5 Therefore, verily I say unto you, lift up your voices unto this people; aspeak the thoughts that I shall put into your hearts, and you shall not be bconfounded before men;

 For it shall be agiven you in the very hour, yea, in the very moment, what ye shall say.

 But a commandment I give unto you, that ye shall declare whatsoever thing ye adeclare in my name, in solemnity of heart, in the spirit of meekness, in all things.

 8 And I give unto you this promise, that inasmuch as ye do this the aHoly Ghost shall be shed forth in bearing record unto all things whatsoever ye shall say.”

 

Can any of us doubt the word of the Lord?  Can any of us wonder if what we are about is true?  Can any of us wonder if 101 is possible.  Can we all believe together? 

 

Let us evaluate ourselves and ask if this is why we are here.  Let us recommit ourselves with greater faith, doubting not but be believing that the promises of the Lord will be fulfilled and the blessings he promises His righteous missionaries will come to pass.

 

Let us be more obedient, let us be more believing and trusting in the Lord – then work with every fiber of our being to make it happen – after all we can do.

 

My dear fellow servants, miracles are happening all around us and we will be the recipients of many more to come – all we need to do is obey, increase our faith and to believe that God will bless our efforts.  I believe this with all my heart and would that you believe as well!

 

I testify that we are in this great work – all together we are working and experiencing great miracles that will allow us to reach to the heavens and that God will grant unto us the desires of our hearts if we are ALL believers.

 

I love you, I respect you and trust that you will join in this great miracle that is about to happen.

 

One final word – BELIEVE.

 

Love,

 

President Alba

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