Good morning everyone! Makiah, congrats
on your decision to be baptized. What an amazing blessing this is in our lives.
You will grow up and become such an amazing young lady. You are awesome and
such a beautiful daughter of God!!:) LOVE YOU!!!
This morning my scripture study was amazing. Then I got to the computer and
watched 2 Mormon Messages called "Good Things to Come" and
"Flecks of Gold". Both of these messages are awesome and I encourage
you all to watch them. We have worked very, very hard this week and have helped
other missionaries in our district in preparing people for baptism and doing
interviews but have not had the success we wanted with our investigators. But it was a good week! We went to Quissamã
again to interview a man who has so much potential. He had a rough week and is
trying to work through some things so we will keep working with him. We are all
really excited for one young man named Cawan. He is 10 years old and is so
smart. He loves everything about the Gospel of the church. Elder Bean and Elder
Alarcon went to take him to church but he was still asleep. The district all
prayed a lot to see if we could get a miracle and right before the second hour
started, Cawan walked into the building. I interviewed him and he wants to be baptized
but his mom is a little hesitant but she said she would allow him if he went to
church. So now we get to go back and talk to his mom and see if she will allow
Cawan to be baptized. Elder Freire and I
we are working very hard but people aren't going to chruch. We have found that
we are planting lots of seeds and that we are continuing to find many flecks of
gold. I love all of the little miracles that my Father in Heaven gives me every
day! Elder Bean and I were on divisions we were walking to an area but had no
clue how to get there. We asked a 19ish year old kid and gave us directions but
as we walked away I had the impression we should go back and talk more with him.
We tried to talk to him but it turned out he wasn't interested in what we were
saying. I am glad I followed that spirit! As we were walking to where he told
us to go a man walked out of his house. We decided to check our directions with
him and it turned out that he was interested and is an amazing investigator. I
am so grateful that I followed that prompting to turn back. We will go back to his
house this week and hopefully he will go to church with us this week.
I would like to share some of the
things I learned today. I have been studying in the book of Mosiah in the Book
of Mormon. In Chapter 16 Abinadi talking about what is to come with Jesus
Christ. He tells the people in the City of Lehi-Nephi that they must repent of
their sins and have a change of heart or they will NOT live with God again!
Mosiah 16:1 And now, it came to pass that after Abinadi
had spoken these words he stretched forth his hand and said: The time shall
come when all shall see the salvation of the Lord;
when every nation, kindred, tongue, and people shall see eye to eye
and shall confessbefore God that his judgments are just.
2 And then shall
the wicked be cast out, and they shall have cause to howl,
and weep, and wail, and gnash their teeth; and this because they would
not hearken unto the voice of the Lord; therefore the Lord redeemeth
them not.
3 For they
are carnal and devilish, and the devil has power over them; yea, even
that old serpent that did beguile our first parents, which was
the cause of their fall; which was the cause of allmankind
becoming carnal, sensual, devilish, knowing evil from
good, subjecting themselves to the devil.
4 Thus all mankind
were lost; and behold, they would have been endlessly lost were it not
that God redeemed his people from their lost and fallen state.
5 But remember that he that
persists in his own carnal nature, and goes on in the ways of sin and
rebellion against God, remaineth in his fallen state and
the devil hath all power over him. Therefore he is as though there
was no redemption made, being an enemy to God; and also is
the devil an enemy to God.
6 And now if Christ had not
come into the world, speaking of things to come as though they had
already come, there could have been no redemption.
7 And if Christ had not
risen from the dead, or have broken the bands of death that the grave should
have no victory, and that death should have no sting, there could have
been no resurrection.
8 But there is
a resurrection, therefore the grave hath no victory, and the sting
of death is swallowed up in Christ.
9 He is the light and the life of the world; yea, a
light that is endless, that can never be darkened; yea, and also a life which
is endless, that there can be no more death.
10 Even this mortal shall put on immortality, and
this corruptionshall put on incorruption, and shall be brought
to stand before the bar of God, to be judged of him according to
their works whether they be good or whether they be evil—
11 If they be good, to the
resurrection of endless life andhappiness; and if they be evil, to
the resurrection of endlessdamnation, being delivered up to the devil, who
hath subjected them, which is damnation—
12 Having gone according to
their own carnal wills and desires; having never called upon the Lord while the
arms of mercy were extended towards them; for the arms of mercy were extended
towards them, and they would not; they being warned of their iniquities
and yet they would not depart from them; and they were commanded to repent and
yet they would not repent.
13 And now, ought ye not to
tremble and repent of your sins, and remember that only in and through Christ
ye can be saved?
14 Therefore, if ye teach
the law of Moses, also teach that it is ashadow of those things
which are to come—
15 Teach them that
redemption cometh through Christ the Lord, who is the very Eternal Father.
Amen.
As we study this chapter we come to
know exactly what we need to do to come back into the fold of God. That there
truly are Good Things to Come. That if we repent of our sins and do good
continually we will be saved and God will bless us. I love what I am doing! I
know as Abinadi knew that Jesus is the Christ that he will come. And that we
need to be prepared. We as members and missionaries have a huge responsibility
to share this with everyone that we meet. At times many of us will fall off the
path but we can come back into the fold of Christ! He has suffered so that we don't
have to. If you have gone away for any reason please come back. The Lord loves
and knows each of his sheep. He loves us and we need to love him. I testify
that God lives! That the Book of Mormon is the word of God and proof that God
still talks to men. That the Bible is the word of God and that we can
understand the Bible through studying the Book of Mormon and vise versa. I love
my family and know that we can live together forever. I hope that each of us
can become better saints and followers of Christ. I know what I know and it
will never be taken away from me. Just as Abinadi said
9 Now Abinadi said unto him: I say unto you, I
will not recall the words which I have spoken unto you concerning
this people, for they are true; and that ye may know of their surety I have
suffered myself that I have fallen into your hands.
10 Yea, and I will suffer even until death, and I will
not recall my words, and they shall stand as a testimony against
you...
In the name of Jesus
Christ, Amen.
Love Elder Stilson
Friday I was frustrated. We walked for
about 3 hours and nothing was happening, appointments kept falling through and
my knees were killing me. Feeling a bit defeated, I stopped and prayed. I
thanked the Lord for all of the blessings but told him of my needs. I was so
grateful to just be able to stop and talk to him on the street, and I was
grateful for my companion being patient with me. After a few tears I asked God
what we needed to do at that moment. I got the impression to call a contact that
we met last week. I called and she didn't answer. When she didn't answer I
thought we 
should have gone to another bairro to look for someone else. But
Elder Gonçalves said that we should pass by just to see if she was at home. We
went there and a different young lady answered the door and allowed us in to
teach her parents and her. What a huge blessing. It was such and an amazing
lesson! Then Saturday morning we got to teach 4 references in one lesson. They
were all very attentive and really wanted to learn. They loved the Book of
Mormon and when we made the baptismal invite I will never forget the response of
one of the ladies. We asked when God answers your 
prayers and you know that
these things are true, will you follow the example of Jesus Christ by being
baptized by someone who holds the authority of the Priesthood. She said " I
wouldn't think twice!" What if all of our responses were this way? What if we
were as obedient as Christ? We would all live in a peace that is needed for all.
I love you all and know that when we are obedient we will be blessed. I love you
and hope you know that you are all in my prayers. Huge Shout out to Elder
Stilson, thanks for being such great example of obedience and dedicated,
diligent service to the Lord. Your service is blessing me. Thanks for your faith
and the love you have for me!! Love you Cuz!!! Congrats to Hermana Stilson on
her first baptism!! LOVE YOU SISTA!!!!
