Saturday, July 20, 2013

Letter to the missionaries: President Alba 7-7-13


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.