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;
6 For it shall be agiven you in the very hour, yea, in the very moment, what ye shall
say.
7 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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