We are Hastening the Work!

It's a great time to be a Missionary - 

It's a great time to be a missionary . . .  I'm sure throughout all ages it has been a wondrous and a marvelous work to be inovoled in.  Our children are descendants of the early church history missionary, Parley P. Pratt.  What amazing lessons we have learned as we read about his life.  There can be no better example of dedication to the Lord and sharing the gospel message than this amazing missionary.  The more we learn of him, the more we see what incredible missionaries the church was blessed with right from the beginning.

        (the zone leaders of La Ceiba, Tocoa and Miramar with Area President Carlos H. Amado)


But truly in these times . . .

We can see that the work is being hastened every day.

We have been so blessed these last several weeks to be the recipients of several visits to our area of General Authorites who come bearing significant and wondrous gospel messages for our missionaries.

Many of you are probably aware that Elder Quentin L. Cook, Elder Ulisses Soares, of the Seventy, and other General Authoriies of the church recently completed a tour of Central America where they spoke to thousands of missionaries about the great task ahead of them.






Words of the Apostles and Prophets - 

We can learn much from their words.

We were very blessed to have Elder Soares, of the Presidency of the Seventy, visit both the East and the West San Pedro Sula Missions along with Elder Adrian Ochoa of the 2nd Quorum of the Seventy.  Their wives accompanied them and it was a great experience to be able to hear from them also.  What dedicated women as they support the extremely busy lives of their husbands!

Elder Soares taught from the Book of Ether. He said that the Brother of Jared hewed out the stones in great faith so that the Lord could do what was necessary to provide light in the barges. (See Ether 3:1-6.)
“Think of your missions as the rock,” he continued. “You have to cut [the rock] by planning, working, studying and obeying. The stones represent all the work that we can do in the mission. After we have done all that we can do, we ask the Lord to touch the stones so that we can see the miracles.”

Elder Quentin L. Cook included in his remarks to missionaries in Central America, "You are working at a time when the Lord's work is greatly hastened".  “Central America is a strong area of the world that is growing in convert baptisms and activity of the members,” “Remarkable things are happening there. The whole area is a great example of the hastening of the work in the Church.”  He concluded by saying that all members have a duty to share the message of the gospel with all those they come in contact with!  In other words . . .

Doctrine & Covenants 28:16 - 

"And thou must open thy mouth at all times, declaring my gospel with the sound of rejoicing."

We need to "open our mouths" at every opportunity!

Elder Cook also had kind words to say about our area presidency, The Central America Area Presidency is teaching, training, and testifying in a way that is building the kingdom in that region of the world".  He was speaking of Area President, Carlos H. Amado, Elder Kevin R. Duncan, and Elder Adrian Ochoa.

In addition Elder Cook emphasized four topics:

1. You have been called as emissaries of the Savior, so love His children. Love all people.

2. Love and respect your companion.

3. Love your mission president and his wife.

4. Love the Lord. 

“There has never been a time when it is more important for you to become part of the wards and branches where you are assigned. Know the people. Be a part of the spiritual direction of the ward.”

We felt so privileged in the next few weeks to enjoy a mission tour with our wonderful area president, Elder Carlos H. Amado.  He spoke to our missionaries as they gathered in three different groups.  The missionaries found him a delightful, entertaining and a very inspiring teacher.  We truly feel so blessed to have spent this time being taught by the spirit through the words of this uplifting man.  Many of our missionaries had the opportunity to be greeted personally by him, shaking his hand, seeing his face as he expressed his kindness and concern for each.

(Zones - La Paz, Pineda, Satelite)

(Zones - Olanchito, Tocoa, La Ceiba and Miramar)

(Zones - Progreso Norte, Progreso Sur, Santa Rita)

Some of the highlights of President Amados remarks include :

• Have a continual prayer in your hearts - be willing to ask, how can I be a better missionary? How can I find more people?
• Have faith Heavenly Father can hear your prayers.  Our Heavenly Father can hear billions of prayers all at the same time, I don't know how, but I know that he can.
• The importance of the continual guidance of the Spirit!  Missionaries must bring the Spirit, they can't teach all by themselves . . . let the Spirit teach!  When you study and plan, listen to the Spirit, it's your mission, your area - not the Mission Presidents.  He is there to support you!  Also very important . . . "We can't teach by the Spirit, what we haven't learned by the Spirit".  Be teachable.

(You can tell each missionary was enjoying our time with Elder Amado tremendously)

Be a part of the work . . .

Join with missionaries and members everywhere as we each have an important part to  -

"Hasten the Work of Salvation"

(Time to depart - both spiritually and physically well fed!)

 

Aren't they all so amazing!

If I do even say so myself . . .