Hola Todos!
This week has been wonderful and very busy. I can't believe how fast time goes by. We had exchanges with the Sunset valley Sisters and it was wonderful. I went on an exchange with Sister Dickson and Sister Rueda went on one with Sister Duke! Both sisters are wonderful and have so many talents and a love for the Lord's work. Sister Dickson and I worked really well together. She is a wonderful sister with charity and love towards others and I've always wanted to be her companion since the day we met. We had a busy day together and it was a wonderful experience getting to be with her. We got to go to the Central Texas food bank and do service, also we got to walk around Downtown Austin and talk to people. We met a policeman, some
Jehovah witnesses, along with many others, and talked to them about our beliefs and testimony on eternal families. What a place to go street contacting/finding! It's so busy here!
We found a new investigator (Petula) last week and had a lesson with her this past Monday. We taught her the restoration and she soaked it up like a sponge and loved it. She said it all made sense to her. We invited her to be baptized and she said yes and is so excited to read in the Book of Mormon! We found her through an investigator that we are teaching right now. He brought her to church with him last week. Sadly we found out that she lives right outside our area so we had to refer her to other Sisters, but they are really excited to continue teaching her and so are we. As long as she's being taught the Gospel it doesn't matter who's teaching her because it's the Holy Ghost that's really the teacher.
We've been meeting with Patricia, our recent convert, and talking to her about temples and family history work. She has found a lot of family names and is really excited to go to the temple in a few weeks and we are excited to be able to go with her!
We had the opportunity to work with one of our Relief Society Presidents in the Zilker Park ward. She asked us if we could go on some visits with her, and then we asked if she could visit some people with us and it was a great experience. We had visited 3 less actives and all of those visits went really well. In fact one of them came to church yesterday! I think it built trust and also it was good to work together and help each other with this great work. I love working with the members!
I did a training in our district meeting his week on how to develop the Christlike attribute of Integrity. As I was preparing I studied some of the things our Mission President sent to us a few weeks back and I wanted to share some of the things he said.
..."Let us ask ourselves, what can we do better? How we can best improve is answered by the Lord’s declaration, “What manner of men ought ye to be? – even as I am.” We seek to follow him."
Preach My Gospel describes some of the attributes of the Savior. Please consider another Christlike attribute – integrity. We are covenant people of the Lord. Let us ask ourselves if we are men and women of our word. In the early chapters of the Book of Mormon, we read the experience when Nephi first encounters Zoram. Zoram believed Nephi to be his master, Laban. When he discovered this was not so, “he began to tremble”, probably fearing for his life. Nephi “spake unto him, even with an oath, that he should be a free man like unto us”. The account states that “Zoram did take courage at the words…”. Nephi and his brothers worried that if Zoram did not go with them, the Jews would pursue and destroy them. Their predicament was resolved “when Zoram had made an oath unto us, our fears did cease concerning him.”. These men faced grave risks. The stakes were high – life or death high -- yet, upon giving one another their word, their concerns ceased.
This week has been wonderful and very busy. I can't believe how fast time goes by. We had exchanges with the Sunset valley Sisters and it was wonderful. I went on an exchange with Sister Dickson and Sister Rueda went on one with Sister Duke! Both sisters are wonderful and have so many talents and a love for the Lord's work. Sister Dickson and I worked really well together. She is a wonderful sister with charity and love towards others and I've always wanted to be her companion since the day we met. We had a busy day together and it was a wonderful experience getting to be with her. We got to go to the Central Texas food bank and do service, also we got to walk around Downtown Austin and talk to people. We met a policeman, some
Jehovah witnesses, along with many others, and talked to them about our beliefs and testimony on eternal families. What a place to go street contacting/finding! It's so busy here!
We found a new investigator (Petula) last week and had a lesson with her this past Monday. We taught her the restoration and she soaked it up like a sponge and loved it. She said it all made sense to her. We invited her to be baptized and she said yes and is so excited to read in the Book of Mormon! We found her through an investigator that we are teaching right now. He brought her to church with him last week. Sadly we found out that she lives right outside our area so we had to refer her to other Sisters, but they are really excited to continue teaching her and so are we. As long as she's being taught the Gospel it doesn't matter who's teaching her because it's the Holy Ghost that's really the teacher.
We've been meeting with Patricia, our recent convert, and talking to her about temples and family history work. She has found a lot of family names and is really excited to go to the temple in a few weeks and we are excited to be able to go with her!
We had the opportunity to work with one of our Relief Society Presidents in the Zilker Park ward. She asked us if we could go on some visits with her, and then we asked if she could visit some people with us and it was a great experience. We had visited 3 less actives and all of those visits went really well. In fact one of them came to church yesterday! I think it built trust and also it was good to work together and help each other with this great work. I love working with the members!
I did a training in our district meeting his week on how to develop the Christlike attribute of Integrity. As I was preparing I studied some of the things our Mission President sent to us a few weeks back and I wanted to share some of the things he said.
..."Let us ask ourselves, what can we do better? How we can best improve is answered by the Lord’s declaration, “What manner of men ought ye to be? – even as I am.” We seek to follow him."
Preach My Gospel describes some of the attributes of the Savior. Please consider another Christlike attribute – integrity. We are covenant people of the Lord. Let us ask ourselves if we are men and women of our word. In the early chapters of the Book of Mormon, we read the experience when Nephi first encounters Zoram. Zoram believed Nephi to be his master, Laban. When he discovered this was not so, “he began to tremble”, probably fearing for his life. Nephi “spake unto him, even with an oath, that he should be a free man like unto us”. The account states that “Zoram did take courage at the words…”. Nephi and his brothers worried that if Zoram did not go with them, the Jews would pursue and destroy them. Their predicament was resolved “when Zoram had made an oath unto us, our fears did cease concerning him.”. These men faced grave risks. The stakes were high – life or death high -- yet, upon giving one another their word, their concerns ceased.
That is quite amazing. I have asked myself the question, would I risk my life trusting the word of another? There are some that I would, but there are many I would not. Of greater importance, could someone entrust their life to me and my word? Do I have that level of integrity? As a discipline of Jesus Christ, I must ensure that it is so. It seems that integrity, even when the risks were highest, were a part of the culture in Nephi’s and Zoram’s world. A man’s word was
something of great value and could be fully trusted. Perhaps Nephi and Zoram were exceptional men. Perhaps they placed a greater value on their word of honor than did other men. Yet, we also have the account of Zerahemnah. Someone we might consider a “bad guy”.
Alma 44:8 “And now it came to pass that when Zerahemnah had heard these sayings he came forth and delivered up his sword and his cimeter, and his bow into the hands of Moroni, and said unto him: Behold, here are our weapons of war; we will deliver them up unto you, but we will not suffer ourselves to take an oath unto you, which we know that we shall break, and also our children; but take our weapons of war, and suffer that we may depart into the wilderness;
otherwise we will retain our swords, and we will perish or conquer.". With his life on the line, and that of his men, Zerahemnah refused to make an oath that he could not keep. In past generations, a man’s word was his bond. Sadly, that is not generally the case now. But, what
is God’s view on the matter. The 13th Article of Faith states: “We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul—We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.”. D&C 124:15 And again, verily I say unto you, blessed is my servant Hyrum Smith; for I, the Lord, love him because of the integrity of his heart, and because he loveth that which is right before me, saith the Lord. Alma 53:20 And they were all young men, and they were exceedingly valiant for courage, and also for strength and activity; but behold, this was not all—they were men who were true at all times in whatsoever thing they were entrusted. God expects us to be men and woman of integrity. The Savior is our example to follow. “What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and though the heavens and the earth pass away, my word shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled…” As we seek to be true disciples of Jesus Christ we must be honest and true in all
things.
Karl G. Maeser, the founder of BYU, and an apostle of the Lord stated: “I have been asked what I mean by 'word of honor.' I will tell you. Place me behind prison walls--walls of stone ever so high, ever so thick, reaching ever so far into the ground--there is a possibility that in some way or another I may escape; but stand me on the floor and draw a chalk line around me and have me give my word of honor never to cross it. Can I get out of the circle? No. Never! I'd die
first!”
With this topic in mind, consider the question, when do you think the level of honesty in the world declined? Was it abrupt or a more gradual loss of integrity? Was honesty valued in the time of Joseph Smith? Could a man’s word of honor be trusted? It seems to me that it could. Therefore, consider the power of the three witnesses and the eight witnesses to the Book of Mormon. In a society where a man’s word was highly valued and like Zerahemnah, would rather perish than make an oath that he could not keep, ponder what it meant to have three honorable men state: “we also testify that we have seen the engravings which are upon the plates; and they have been shown unto us by the power of God, and not of man. And we declare with words of soberness, that an angel of God came down from heaven, and he brought and laid before our eyes, that we beheld and saw the plates, and the engravings thereon; and we know that it is by the grace of God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, that we beheld and bear record that
these things are true.”. Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught: “Measured against all … possible objections, the testimony of the Three Witnesses to the Book of Mormon stands forth in great strength. … As is well known, because of disagreements or jealousies involving other leaders of the Church, each one of these three witnesses was excommunicated from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by about eight years after the publication of their testimony. … Yet to the end of their lives … not one of these witnesses deviated from his published testimony or said anything that cast any shadow on its truthfulness. “Furthermore, their testimony stands uncontradicted by any other witnesses. Reject it one may, but how does one explain three men of good character uniting and persisting in this published testimony to the end of their lives in the face of great ridicule and other personal disadvantage? Like the Book of Mormon itself, there is no better explanation than is given in the testimony itself, the solemn statement of good and honest men who told what they saw” (“The
Witness: Martin Harris,” Ensign, May 1999, 36).
Furthermore, eight additional witnesses testified: “Be it known unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, unto whom this work shall come: That Joseph Smith, Jun., the translator of this work, has shown unto us the plates of which hath been spoken, which have the appearance of gold; and as many of the leaves as the said Smith has translated we did handle with our hands; and we also saw the engravings thereon, all of which has the appearance of ancient work, and of curious workmanship. And this we bear record with words of soberness, that the said Smith has shown unto us, for we have seen and hefted, and know of a surety that the said Smith has got the plates of which we have spoken. And we give our names unto the world, to witness unto the world that which we have seen. And we lie not, God bearing witness of it.”. To these witnesses, the Lord himself spoke: D&C 17:6 And he has translated the book, even that part which I have commanded him, and as your Lord and your God liveth it is true. In
regards to the aforementioned verse, Elder Bruce R. McConkie of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles stated: “This is God’s testimony of the Book of Mormon. In it Deity himself has laid his godhood on the line. Either the book is true or God ceases to be God. There neither is nor
can be any more formal or powerful language known to men or gods.”. This work is true. It is God’s work. “The Book of Mormon is powerful evidence of the divinity of Christ. It is also proof of the Restoration through the Prophet Joseph Smith.” (Preach My Gospel, page 103). Eight honorable men, upon whose word we could entrust our lives, declared that they saw and handled the plates. Three others testified that an angel of God showed them the plates. The Savior himself, in the words of a solemn oath – “as God liveth” – declared the Book of Mormon to be true. While I do not claim to be of the stature of those men, I do add my witness that the Book of Mormon is true. It has blessed my life. I invite you to study from it every day."
something of great value and could be fully trusted. Perhaps Nephi and Zoram were exceptional men. Perhaps they placed a greater value on their word of honor than did other men. Yet, we also have the account of Zerahemnah. Someone we might consider a “bad guy”.
Alma 44:8 “And now it came to pass that when Zerahemnah had heard these sayings he came forth and delivered up his sword and his cimeter, and his bow into the hands of Moroni, and said unto him: Behold, here are our weapons of war; we will deliver them up unto you, but we will not suffer ourselves to take an oath unto you, which we know that we shall break, and also our children; but take our weapons of war, and suffer that we may depart into the wilderness;
otherwise we will retain our swords, and we will perish or conquer.". With his life on the line, and that of his men, Zerahemnah refused to make an oath that he could not keep. In past generations, a man’s word was his bond. Sadly, that is not generally the case now. But, what
is God’s view on the matter. The 13th Article of Faith states: “We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul—We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.”. D&C 124:15 And again, verily I say unto you, blessed is my servant Hyrum Smith; for I, the Lord, love him because of the integrity of his heart, and because he loveth that which is right before me, saith the Lord. Alma 53:20 And they were all young men, and they were exceedingly valiant for courage, and also for strength and activity; but behold, this was not all—they were men who were true at all times in whatsoever thing they were entrusted. God expects us to be men and woman of integrity. The Savior is our example to follow. “What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and though the heavens and the earth pass away, my word shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled…” As we seek to be true disciples of Jesus Christ we must be honest and true in all
things.
Karl G. Maeser, the founder of BYU, and an apostle of the Lord stated: “I have been asked what I mean by 'word of honor.' I will tell you. Place me behind prison walls--walls of stone ever so high, ever so thick, reaching ever so far into the ground--there is a possibility that in some way or another I may escape; but stand me on the floor and draw a chalk line around me and have me give my word of honor never to cross it. Can I get out of the circle? No. Never! I'd die
first!”
With this topic in mind, consider the question, when do you think the level of honesty in the world declined? Was it abrupt or a more gradual loss of integrity? Was honesty valued in the time of Joseph Smith? Could a man’s word of honor be trusted? It seems to me that it could. Therefore, consider the power of the three witnesses and the eight witnesses to the Book of Mormon. In a society where a man’s word was highly valued and like Zerahemnah, would rather perish than make an oath that he could not keep, ponder what it meant to have three honorable men state: “we also testify that we have seen the engravings which are upon the plates; and they have been shown unto us by the power of God, and not of man. And we declare with words of soberness, that an angel of God came down from heaven, and he brought and laid before our eyes, that we beheld and saw the plates, and the engravings thereon; and we know that it is by the grace of God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, that we beheld and bear record that
these things are true.”. Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught: “Measured against all … possible objections, the testimony of the Three Witnesses to the Book of Mormon stands forth in great strength. … As is well known, because of disagreements or jealousies involving other leaders of the Church, each one of these three witnesses was excommunicated from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by about eight years after the publication of their testimony. … Yet to the end of their lives … not one of these witnesses deviated from his published testimony or said anything that cast any shadow on its truthfulness. “Furthermore, their testimony stands uncontradicted by any other witnesses. Reject it one may, but how does one explain three men of good character uniting and persisting in this published testimony to the end of their lives in the face of great ridicule and other personal disadvantage? Like the Book of Mormon itself, there is no better explanation than is given in the testimony itself, the solemn statement of good and honest men who told what they saw” (“The
Witness: Martin Harris,” Ensign, May 1999, 36).
Furthermore, eight additional witnesses testified: “Be it known unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, unto whom this work shall come: That Joseph Smith, Jun., the translator of this work, has shown unto us the plates of which hath been spoken, which have the appearance of gold; and as many of the leaves as the said Smith has translated we did handle with our hands; and we also saw the engravings thereon, all of which has the appearance of ancient work, and of curious workmanship. And this we bear record with words of soberness, that the said Smith has shown unto us, for we have seen and hefted, and know of a surety that the said Smith has got the plates of which we have spoken. And we give our names unto the world, to witness unto the world that which we have seen. And we lie not, God bearing witness of it.”. To these witnesses, the Lord himself spoke: D&C 17:6 And he has translated the book, even that part which I have commanded him, and as your Lord and your God liveth it is true. In
regards to the aforementioned verse, Elder Bruce R. McConkie of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles stated: “This is God’s testimony of the Book of Mormon. In it Deity himself has laid his godhood on the line. Either the book is true or God ceases to be God. There neither is nor
can be any more formal or powerful language known to men or gods.”. This work is true. It is God’s work. “The Book of Mormon is powerful evidence of the divinity of Christ. It is also proof of the Restoration through the Prophet Joseph Smith.” (Preach My Gospel, page 103). Eight honorable men, upon whose word we could entrust our lives, declared that they saw and handled the plates. Three others testified that an angel of God showed them the plates. The Savior himself, in the words of a solemn oath – “as God liveth” – declared the Book of Mormon to be true. While I do not claim to be of the stature of those men, I do add my witness that the Book of Mormon is true. It has blessed my life. I invite you to study from it every day."
Family and friends it is so important to develop the Christlike attribute of integrity. I would invite you to study from the Book of Mormon and look for other examples of those who have integrity. I promise as you do so you will develop a strength and need/desire to be more like these people and be honest in true in all things. I testify that when we do we can be happier and those around us will trust our word.
I am excited to continue to look for the Lord's prepared children and I won't stop until I find them! Have a wonderful week and be safe!
Con Amor,
Hermana Mann
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