Mission Letter 7-7-13
The cause of Zion
We are all here for the cause of Zion. Each of us has accepted a sacred call from
God through His prophet, Thomas S. Monson, to be here and to represent the Lord
in all things that we do.
I am grateful for the opportunity that I have to serve along
side with you. I do hold this privilege
dear and sacred. Each of you has been
placed under Sister Alba’s and my care for the period of time that you serve
here in the California Santa Rosa Mission.
I know that each of you has contact with friends and family
that may be serving in other missions. I
am grateful for modern technology that allows us to have instantaneous answers
to questions or requests that may come our way.
It can also be a distraction as we try to compare what we do here and
what we are asked to do to what is happening or not happening in other
missions. I take great pride and love in
doing all I can to lead this work here in the California Santa Rosa
Mission. I do have a firm belief that it
is the best mission in the world and that we do have the most obedient
missionaries anywhere. I also want you
to know that there is no other place that I would rather be and I hope that you
feel the same way too.
The Hastening is happening everywhere, specially here in our
mission, we will strive to be the best that we can by having exact obedience to
the commandments and to all the mission rules.
We are obedient and we will obey.
There may be some that may fool themselves into believing
that it’s OK to not be completely obedient or that it doesn’t matter if I am or
not. I tell you that if anyone is of
this opinion your cause is not the cause of Zion and it will be extremely
difficult to fully enjoy our missionary experience together. Others may say that it doesn’t matter because
I will be going home soon or that what I do won’t matter at all so whatever I
give no matter how small or large is acceptable – we are asked to give it our
all – all our heart, all our might, all our mind and all our strength. Anything lacking these four things is short
of what we are asked to do.
Our cause is to be for Zion and to be a Zion like
people. People throughout time have
looked for places like Shangri-La, Atlantis or for other lost cities that once
had a dream of idealistic societies. The
scriptures share with us a glimpse of a very real place - the City of Enoch
(See Moses 7):
18 And
the Lord called his people Zion,
because they were of one
heart and one mind, and dwelt in righteousness; and there was no poor among
them.
19 And Enoch continued
his preaching in righteousness unto the people of God. And it came to pass in
his days, that he built a city that was called the City of Holiness, even Zion.
20 And it came to pass
that Enoch talked with the Lord; and he said unto the Lord: Surely Zion shall dwell in safety
forever. But the Lord said unto Enoch: Zion have I blessed, but the residue of the people have I
cursed.
21 And it came to pass
that the Lord showed unto Enoch all the inhabitants of the earth; and he
beheld, and lo, Zion, in process of time, was taken up into heaven. And the
Lord said unto Enoch: Behold mine abode forever.
23 And after that Zion
was taken up into heaven, Enoch beheld, and lo, call the nations of the earth
were before him;
24 And there came
generation upon generation; and Enoch was high and lifted up, even in the bosom of the
Father, and of the Son of Man; and behold, the power of Satan was upon all the
face of the earth.
25 And he saw angels
descending out of heaven; and he heard a loud voice saying: Wo, wo be unto the
inhabitants of the earth.
26 And he beheld Satan;
and he had a great chain in his hand, and it veiled
the whole face of the earth with darkness; and he looked up and caughed, and his angels rejoiced.
27 And Enoch beheld angels descending out of heaven,
bearing testimony of the Father and Son; and
the Holy Ghost fell on many, and they were caught up by the powers of heaven
into Zion.
Is is therefore our wonderful and great responsibility to
take the cause of Zion upon us and to build up a righteous people who will meet
this great city when it is returned upon the earth. Is this not a great cause? Can you join in this great cause to build a
Zion-like mission in all that we do? Can
you find Zion-like people of God? Yes,
they are all around us and as it speaks in verse 27, the angels are descending
every day and night to bear testimony of what we do.
I am grateful for each of you and for the miracles that we
are seeing. Each of us can be partakers
and participants of this great work.
Those lost cities of Atlantis and Shangri La live only in
the minds of people but those who are Zion-like are the ones that will dwell
with God. It is our wonderful privilege
to find them and bring them to Zion – the pure in heart.
Love,
President Alba
PS – I invite all to prepare ourselves so that when we come
to Zone Conference we may be taught by the Spirit and that we may learn those
things that are particularly needed individually as well as collectively. Pray for those who will teach and train that
we may only say and do those things that God would have us share with you. Most importantly pray for each of us who will
attend that we may diligently prepare and come with open minds and hearts to be
taught by the Spirit.
