So another week has come and gone and the
work moves on. We are working hard in helping the members fulfill their calling
of being missionaries. We have about 20 future references and are looking to
turn each one of those into a progressing investigator. The ultimate goal is to
help them reach the temple, but they cannot get to the temple if they are not
first baptized and remain faithful. Everything has a beginning and for
exaltation, it´s baptism. But how do we baptize? We first must find those who
are prepared to receive the Gospel. How do we find those prepared to receive the
Gospel? How are they prepared? Alma teaches us that: ¨For behold, angels are
declaring it unto many at this time in our land; and this is for the purpose of
preparing the hearts of the children of men to receive his word at the time of
his coming in his glory.¨ (Alma13:24) Who are these angels, then? The guide to
the scriptures lets us know that angels are not just heavenly messangers, but
also righteous men and women on earth who follow the impresions of the Spirit.
The Lord is sending every member as a ministering angel, not only to serve and
help but also to share and testify. They are also the ones who introduce their
friends to the authorized representatives who can help them reach baptism. A
bishop cannot authorize a baptism of someone older than 8 years old. A stake
president cannot authorize a baptism of someone older than 8 years old. The only
person with that authority is the mission president over the area. Though many
good people have wonderful intentions, their friends will not receive the
necessary ordinances, until they are presented to the people with the authority
and correct keys. They will not receive exaltation. Who will prepare your loved
ones if you don´t do it? The angels on the other side of the veil can only go so
far. Another thing that I have come to understand more fully is the importance
of commitments and invitations. Our friends and family see how happy we are.
They see that we are different. A lot of them want to be truly happy, but
believe that it is out of their reach. When they see that we are happy, they
still believe that it is something unattainable for them. If we do not invite
them, they may never know that they can truly be happy. They don´t know what to
do to find faith and increase it. Each person has a divine potential inside
waiting to shine and grow, but they do not have direction or nurishment and
don´t know where to find it. Out of all the people in the world and in all the
history of the world, we are an extremely small percentage of people with the
fulness of the Gospel in our lives. Why is that? It is because we promised, we
made a covenant with our Heavenly Father, that we would bring the Gospel to
those around us. They trusted in us, that we would go and find them and never
give up on them. We can´t let them or our Heavenly Father down.
This wednesday, we are planning to talk about the
missionary activity and see if it is something that will function in Villa
Urquiza. I am very excited and hope to be here if they do it. Hermana Velazquez
is a wonderful companion and missionary. She is doing well here and she will
help this area flourish even more. We need to get to work now so I will talk
with all of you again soon. I love you all to the ends of the earth and
beyond.
Love
Hermana Alvey
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