Feb. 13, 2017

Family, Friends, etc...,

This week has been crazy.!!!

So. Our main investigator Jennifer has fallen off date again. She hasn't come to church. And she is still struggling with a couple things.

We had a great church tour with Dayna Richter, a single woman in her twenties who works as part of the police force at the navy in an underground part of a base. She has lots of cool things to say about that, and is a very interesting person., But she is shy and so if you didn't take the time to get to know her you wouldn't know it.

We also found another great investigator named Jay. He said he wants to 'go through with this whole conversion thing' but it's way frustrating, because, he too, just like Vlad is YSA. (Why? WHY??) So another handoff lesson for him this week.

Finally I am getting a little bit of Spanish here in Manette. These past two Thursdays we've gone over to see the same spanish family, and yesterday out knocking we've found another new spanish investigator, which is way exciting! There's also several potentials we have up our sleeves. So Yay! I am excited!!

Every day that I have gone past what I know I can do, the Lord always provides, so long  as we continually trust in Him. This morning I've been reading in Isaiah recently, and its been awesome. Some scriptures/inspiration:



“In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

“And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” (John 14:2–3.)

And where did Jesus go? He went to His Father. But before He went to His Father, He went someplace else. He went to Gethsemane. We are not required to go through His trials, but we are required to be willing to go through them. To prove that we are willing to do so, we must go through our own trials and remain faithful.

The Lord said, “My people must be tried in all things, that they may be prepared to receive the glory that I have for them, even the glory of Zion; and he that will not bear chastisement is not worthy of my kingdom.” (D&C 136:31.)

At the conclusion of the Sermon on the Mount in the Holy Land, the Savior said, “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in Heaven is perfect.” (Matt. 5:48.) But when the Savior repeated the Sermon on the Mount to the people of ancient America, He said, “Therefore I would that ye should be perfect even as I, or your Father who is in heaven is perfect.” (3 Ne. 12:48; italics added.)

Something important occurred between the time He taught this sermon to the people in the Holy Land and when He taught it to the people of ancient America. In the meantime, He went through His Gethsemane, where He drank the bitter cup and did not shrink. We too should strive for perfection, bear up under our problems and our sorrows, remain faithful to the end, and not shrink.

My friend from the Himalayas will have his trials and tribulations as he returns to his homeland to share this important message with his people: that Jesus Christ is our Redeemer and our Savior and our Exemplar who will direct them along the right path that leads to exaltation; that there is a reward, but it must be earned; and that the reward is glorious beyond description. He tasted of that reward when he asked the Lord, “Is it true?” and the Holy Spirit bore witness to him that truly it is.

I testify that this restored gospel which we espouse is indeed the real truth and the right way to a glorious and eternal reward. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

And now my son [or daughter] [insert your name here] I would the you should remember that as much as ye shall put your trust in God even so much ye shall be delievered out of your trials and your troubles and your affliction and ye shall be lifted up at the Last Day. Alma 38:5

...it came to pass that i was three days and three nights in the most bitter pain and anguish of soul; and never, until i did cry out unto the lord Jesus Christ for mercy, did I receive a remission of my sins....

"....never, until I did out...."

God wants to help us, but we have to use our agency first!

O my son, do not let us be slothful for so was it with our fathers, for so was it prepared for them that if they would look they might live even so it is with us. The way is prepared  and if we will look we may live forever. And now, my son, see that ye take care of sacred things, see that ye look to God, and live.
Alma 38

 15 And now behold, I tell you by the spirit of prophecy, that if ye transgress the commandments of God, behold, these things which are sacred shall be taken away from you by the power of God, and ye shall be delivered up unto Satan, that he may sift you as chaff before the wind.

 16 But if ye keep the commandments of God, and do with these things which are sacred according to that which the Lord doth command you,... behold, no power of earth or hell can take them from you, for God is powerful to the fulfilling of all his words.

 17 For he will fulfil all his promises which he shall make unto you, for he has fulfilled his promises which he has made unto our fathers.

 18 For he promised unto them that he would preserve these things for a wise purpose in him, that he might show forth his power unto future generations.



 20 Therefore... be diligent

Remember, follow the Lord and you will be safe.



 I love you all! Have a great week.

Elder Hakala