HIII hermanos y hermanas!!! Can you all believe I have been home for 2 months now?! The blessings of a mission are priceless. I just want to go back.
For those of you who were unable to make it to my homecoming talk/ my sister's farewell talk here it is...
Side note: A quartet of brethren sang "Brightly Beams Our Father's Mercy" and surprised everyone by singing the last verse and chorus in Spanish...YES, I was crying.
Megan,
Let the lower lights be burning;
Send a gleam across the wave.
Some poor fainting, struggling seaman
You may rescue, you may save.
I know that this is THE TRUE CHURCH. I would NOT let my sister leave for 18 months
if I did not know that this is the only true church on Earth. That is why in
turn she allowed me to leave for the past 18 months to rescue and save my
eternal Ecuadorian friends and above all to rescue myself, a poor fainting,
struggling sea woman. The blessings of a mission are priceless and I would not
desire anything more for my sister.
Responding to an invitation from my Mission President and
from the First Presidency of the Church to begin I wish to address the youth of
the church and my sister, in relation to serving a mission. Youth, becoming like Christ is HARD. Becoming HIS representative is HARD. Discipleship is HARD. Imagine this: Walking out of an airplane parked
on the tarmac, hitting into a wall of humidity that makes you immediately sweat
and feel sticky, hopefully praying for air conditioning but sadly there is
none, blankly nodding at what the Ecuadorians are saying because you know NO
Spanish, being overly fed a heap of rice for every meal with the starter of
soup which, SURPRISE has a pig’s foot with its stubby black hairs still intact;
and to top it off persistently scratching your face that itches from the five
mosquito bites that welcomed you into a new country. How would you react?
I felt overwhelmingly stressed, lost and doubtful of my
decision to serve a mission and longingly hoping for those eighteen months to
be over, even though I had just started day one. The only relief I found that night involved a
shower with bitter cold water and tears.
In the book of First Thessalonians, Paul counseled the
Thessalonians in a moment of doubt that they should be quick to “REJOICE
EVERMORE. Pray without ceasing. And give thanks in ALL things.” Honestly my reaction to my first day in
Ecuador did not reflect, “Oh, let’s rejoice evermore!” However, the following months my perspective
on such doubtful and arduous instances altered dramatically. I humbly saw a three year old boy dash out of
his bamboo one-roomed home, shirtless with tattered pants too big for his
stature, running shoeless with dirt plastered feet and outstretched arms to
greet my companion and I. Eager to
reveal his new toy that his mom had so graciously given him, he ushered us to
his designated play area where we came upon a freshly dug two inch hole. His unforgettable smile, exposed his once
white teeth now covered in charcoal colored plaque, indicated the pride and
personal value of his toy. He proudly
gazed at us with his engaging eyes as he presented his used, sullied and
chipped plastic spoon. His “new toy”, an
eating utensil, allowed him to rejoice and unconsciously ignore his state of
living.
I believe in rejoicing evermore. From that day forward, after seeing true joy,
I emphasized this belief and treasured countless plastic spoons that allowed me
to “Rejoice evermore” just as the young three year old boy had taught me. So youth, as Paul invited those in times of
old, I do the same today…The mission WILL be hard, however you will LOVE IT if
you, “Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing.
And give thanks in ALL things.” The
mission will not be the best two years OF your life, it will be the best two
years FOR your life.
Brothers and Sisters, as I share a few moments of
“Rejoicing evermore” more with you today, I earnestly pray that the Holy Spirit
will abide here and astonish each one of you, not from the words that I will
say but what the spirit will testify to each one of you. HE knows you, and WILL communicate with you
through the unspeakable gift of the Holy Ghost.
“Walk tall you’re a daughter, a child of God.
Be strong, please remember who you are.
Try to understand.
You are part of his great plan.
He’s closer than you’ll know reach up he’ll take your
hand.”
As we sang those words to our dear investigator,
Katherine, a 20 year old single mom of 2 kids, Christian and Javier, we left
her humble home in awe of her incredible faith and the matchless love the
Savior had for her. She would patiently
care for her 2 boys until 5:30 pm when she would leave to night school, to
hopefully receive at least her high school diploma. Like many girls in Ecuador, she got pregnant
at a young age and gave birth to a still born baby girl who she desperately
wished to hold again. Katherine, like
all of us, had made many mistakes during her short 20 years on earth, therefore
she was intrigued by the principles of repentance and eternal families and the
ordinance of baptism.
One day Katherine’s faith was tested when her friend
introduced her to a flattering and very charming man. The man owned a large mansion, fancy clothes,
and a temporal substance she and her two sons lacked...MONEY. Glorifying his wealth, he gave Katherine a
tour of his mansion. The unknown man
promised her she could reside there and cleverly persuaded her that her and her
two sons would never lack the things of the world. All could be hers. Money, food, an education. However, there was one condition - she could
not be baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Later, when recounting this story to us with her
tear-stained face, Katherine said, "I need that money for my kids, we have
little food and clothing and I receive no income to pay for my education or
that of my children." Despite her
temporal need for food and clothing, and her desire to have the best for her
kids, she declined the offer from the man and with stalwart faith told him,
"I would rather have my children grow up and know they are a child of God
than have your empty promises of wealth."
After declining the offer, her friends and family ridiculed her for her
decision and they persuaded her to go back and accept the offer from the charming
mysterious man.
She traced her steps back to the mansion and only found a
spacious field. The mansion was no
longer there. She was left spinning in
circles, in the empty field, confused as to where the mansion and handsome man
had gone.
Katherine said to us, “Hermanas that man…he was Satan –
he promised me all the pleasures in the world if only I would NOT follow the
example of Christ and become a member of His Church. Satan wants everyone to be miserable like
unto himself.”
But, like many courageous disciples before her, she declared, "THIS IS MY
RELIGION!"
On May 31, 2014, Katherine Rosío Reyes Sanchez was
baptized and confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints and received the gift of the Holy Ghost.
She has been beaming with the light of Christ ever since.
The gospel for Katherine was wonderful and filled the
void of emptiness and lack of physical substance in her humble home.
Brothers and Sisters, is this gospel still wonderful to
you? Or has it become the “norm” in your
life? Can you yet see, hear, feel, and
marvel? Or have your spiritual sensors gone into standby mode?
I want each of you to think of the first undeniable time
that you felt the influence of the Spirit, the first time you entered into the
doors of the House of the Lord, the first time you truly prayed with a broken
heart and a contrite spirit to our Heavenly Father, the first time you invited
someone to hear what you believe, the first tender mercy that you recognized
came from the Lord or the first time that you really applied the Atonement of
Our Lord and Savior. Ponder and listen
intently and sincerely to the Spirit testifying to you as to why the gospel in
this “first time moment” was so wonderful to you. Do you wish to feel that way again? YOU CAN!
You can feel that awe and wonder in the small and simple things. In this past general conference, Elder Causse
taught three principles on how we can continue in marveling at the gospel. First, never tire of discovering or rediscovering
the truths of the gospel. Second, anchor
your faith in the plain and simple truths of the gospel. And finally, to seek
and cherish the companionship of the Holy Ghost.
The Book of Mormon highlights for many Nephites and
Lamanites, their first time witnessing a sign that came from heaven that
preceded the coming of the Messiah to the Americas. Suddenly the signs of His
birth appeared in the heavens. The people were so stricken with astonishment
that they humbled themselves, and nearly ALL were converted. However, only a
short four years later, as it says in 3 Nephi 2:1, “the people began to forget
those signs and wonders which they had heard, and began to be less and less
astonished at a sign or a wonder from heaven, insomuch that they began to be
hard of hearts, and blind in their minds, and began to disbelieve all which
they had heard and seen.”
We are blessed to live in a place where the Church is
well established, and the majority of those you associate with are members. I grew up here. I had a discernible and
tender testimony of the truthfulness of the restored gospel. However, before the mission I was not always
anxiously participating personally in the teachings of the gospel, such as reading
the scriptures every day or saying my personal prayers, despite what my parents
had taught me. The gospel had stopped
being wonderful to me. It was just
normal. The primary answers seemed so
simple to me, that they became less and less important. In Alma 37:41, my dilemma was highlighted
when Alma, addressing his son Helaman, says…“Nevertheless, because those
miracles were worked by small means it did show unto them marvelous works. They were slothful, and forgot to exercise
their faith and diligence and then those marvelous works ceased, and they did
not progress in their journey.” Alma continued to council Helaman in verse 46,
“O my son, do not let us be slothful because of the easiness of the way; 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.”
In my first area, we lived a good 20-30 min away, in walking
distance, from our assigned proselyting area.
Every morning on the familiar walk there we passed an eye-catching home with
two flower pots outside, full of red flowers nicely kept, and embellished
detail on the windows and door. I
remember seeing an older man sitting outside the house in a red plastic chair
reading a book and I had the thought, "Hey, he likes to read - give him a
Book of Mormon!” After having the thought I would always rationalize it away
with something like, "No, you don’t know enough Spanish!” or “You just
want to share the gospel with everyone because you are a missionary. Plus, we have lunch or a visit right now and
can’t be late!" I specifically
remember failing at least two times to initially heed the prompting from the
Holy Ghost upon seeing this old man.
One evening we passed the house with the two flower pots
and there was the old man in his red plastic chair reading another book. I thought, "Hey, look he is reading
again...he really does love to read...the prompting came again…give him a Book
of Mormon." My companion had a
similar feeling so we both looked at each other and approached the man in the
red chair! So I introduced myself and asked,
“Do you like to read?” He looked at me
and pondered the strange question from the foreign girl, and responded “Yes,
why?” “We have a book that you will just love! May we come in and present it to
you?” Carlos Pacheco invited us into his
home we had a PERFECT first lesson and he accepted to be baptized in 2 weeks. Like GOLDEN INVESTIGATOR ALERT!! (In the back
of my head I was thinking why I didn’t listen to the spirit earlier this guy is
golden) HE even gave the closing prayer
PERFECTLY. We asked him if he was a
member of the Church and he said no.
Still doubting because it was a seriously perfect and organized prayer
we asked him again and he said no. The
next day we came back and he apologized for not telling us earlier that he was
baptized about 40 years ago and had been inactive for more than 30 of those, so
he didn’t think he was still a member of the Church. His wife had died 4 years ago as a faithful,
active member of the church, but they were never sealed in the temple to each
other or to their 11 children because at the time, there wasn’t a temple in
Guayaquil and they didn’t have enough money to travel to the temple in Lima,
Peru.
His son was the current Stake Presidency’s secretary and
had sent MANY missionaries to invite him to church again, but he NEVER let them
in. Carlos and his son expressed their
gratitude believing that we were an answer to his prayer as we reminded him of
the great plan of happiness and that Heavenly Father loved him. The Spirit had told me beforehand to stop and
give him a Book of Mormon but I did not listen and quickly rationalized away
the prompting. We were just beaming when
we found out he was already a member - all he needed was a loving and helping
hand to bring him back to the gospel of Jesus Christ. As we told Carlos, it does not matter how
long you have been inactive, you are a member of His church!
May we always go straight way without fears or any
inconvenience and rescue the one! The
lost, the last, and the least. God is
aware of each of us. God was aware of
Carlos Pacheco and placed him in our path so he can become, Carlos Pacheco in
the red plastic chair, reading the Book of Mormon! He later entered the Temple in Guayaquil to
do baptisms for and behalf of his loved ones and is preparing to be sealed to
his wife and their 11 children in the coming months.
Carlos over 30 years ago, stopped marveling at this
gospel. But remembered that wonder and
his “first timers” years later.
In D and C 20: 32-34 says, “But there is a possibility
that man may fall from grace and depart from the living God: Therefore let the church take heed and pray
always, lest they fall into temptation; Yea, and even let those who are
sanctified take heed also.” Do each one
of us need to take heed, in Spanish it says cuidar which also means to watch
out for, ourselves? Yes. Does the Bishop need to? Yes.
Stake President? Yes. The
prophet? Yes, of course. Brothers and sisters please do not be swayed by the easiness of the way.
At some point
maybe we have felt like the prodigal son did as recorded in Luke chapter 15
verses 20 and 21,
“And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was
yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell
on his neck, and kissed him.
And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against
heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.”
Have you ever said this or something similar before? Perhaps when your heart was broken and your
sprit contrite in prayer with our Heavenly Father? Have you ever felt unworthy to be called HIS
son or daughter? LISTEN to what the
father’s response was...
“But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the
BEST ROBE, and put it on him; and put a RING on his hand, and SHOES on his
feet:
And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us
eat, and be merry...
For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was
lost, and is found.”
Our Heavenly Father and HIS son saw you and will have
compassion and RUN and embrace you. In his
talk, Elder Holland taught,
"Only the Father and His Only Begotten Son can do
that. Salvation is in them only. So we pray that they will help us, that they
will “come out” to meet and embrace us and bring us into the feast they have
prepared. They will do this!"
Why the BEST ROBE, a RING and SHOES?
Our Heavenly Father, in those moments of "I am
unworthy to be called thy son or daughter" will clothe us with the ROBES
of HIS son. The BEST ROBE he could ever
offer us.
Elder Holland said, "I know that if we will be
faithful, there is a perfectly tailored robe of righteousness ready and waiting
for everyone, robes … made … white in the blood of the Lamb.”
Then the RING. A
ring is a symbol of love something eternal and commitment in marriage. The
truth is, is that when we are baptized we are ALL married to, or better said,
become part of the family of Christ.
After our baptism we express our love and commitment to Him by keeping
the commandments and continuing the process of changing, repenting and
constantly renewing our covenants with Him.
The SHOES allow that we may walk in the footsteps of HIS
Son and follow His example continually.
And, I will add that they are the GREATEST brand of shoes ;) because
they will ENDURE TO THE END.
I know with ALL my heart that if we come unto our Father
in HEAVEN and ask for forgiveness, like the prodigal son, HE will give us THE
BEST ROBE, a RING of promise and SHOES top follow in. I also know that HE will, like the scripture
says in Spanish, throw a "fiesta" because HIS son or daughter has
been found!
I will forever be grateful for my Heavenly Father and His
Son Jesus Christ, and for these 3 gifts that were given to me as the gospel
became wonderful for me again.
Our investigator, Hermanegildo, otherwise
known as Poleto, suffered from depression.
And when I say depression, I mean HE was DEPRESSED. During a visit, Poleto told us of a time
where he almost took his life. He said,
“Hermanas I almost tied the rope around my neck...but I saw a LIGHT and heard a
voice tell me that I was needed here on earth.
So I dropped the rope.” Poleto
continued by explaining how, even after this experience, he STILL did not feel
like God needed him here. We were then
prompted to share a short video with him called “The Hope of God’s Light” that
relates a very similar story about a man named Todd Sylvester.
After the video ended the Spirit was so strong in the
room and I asked him, “Poleto, do you believe that we are sent from God?” He paused, thought for a moment, and then
said, “You could be...I don’t know?” On
this day, I had exchanges with Hermana Jaimes, and we both looked at each other
without saying anything then knelt down. As we were kneeling on the ground, we invited
Poleto to PRAY right then and ask our Heavenly Father if He had sent us there
to help. With our eyes shimmering with
tears and hopeful faces, we waited until he slowly got down on his knees and
offered the most fervent and sincere prayer.
He expressed his sadness, frustrations and everything that was troubling
him...and innocently asked if God would let him know if we were sent BY Him and
if this was HIS true church.
There was a pause in his prayer as Poleto was unable to
speak and tears ran freely down his cheeks.
He finished the prayer, and we looked around the room which included
Manuel Santana (who was recently baptized), his best friend Johnny, and Hermana
Jaimes and I, ALL with tear stained faces.
I mustered the question again..."Poleto, do you believe that we are
sent from God?" He looked us both
in the eyes and said, "Yes I do!"
And of course the next question was..."Do you believe that this is
the church of God." He replied,
"It is undeniably the truth, Hermanas!"
Afterwards I testified, and now testify to ALL of you,
that as missionaries, we ARE sent from God to answer His children’s
prayers. The hope of God’s light is
REAL. In that moment, MY words were HIS
words. The Savior understands us
all. Poleto also needed comfort and so
God, just like that night, sent an ANGEL to comfort him. God DOES listen, and wants us to act on our
faith to FIND His light. We can come to
know Him by serving Him.
Now, to close, I
would like to quote from the late Elder Boyd K Packer’s poem called “These
Things I Know”, as I feel that his words have become mine as I have served my
Heavenly Father and Savior Jesus Christ…
I now can say with all certainty
That I KNOW and LOVE the Lord.
I can TESTIFY with them of old
As I preach His holy word.
I know what He felt in Gethsemane
Is too much to comprehend.
I know He did it all for us;
We have no greater Friend.
I know that He will come anew
With power and in glory.
I know I will see Him once again
At the end of my life’s story.
I’ll kneel before His wounded feet;
I’ll feel His Spirit glow.
My whispering, quivering voice will say,
“My Lord, my God, I know.”
Y yo si lo conozco! Jesús
vendrá otra vez con poder y Gloria. Espero
de seguir conociéndolo para que en el último día me conocerá como uno de sus
siervos.
Dios es un Dios de
amor, ira, milagros, El ama la justicia y aborrece la maldad, es celoso,
requiere sacrificio, no puede mentir, es perfecto. Sé que Él es nuestro Padre Celestial y tiene
un plan perfecto para cada uno de nosotros.
En su infinito amor, mando a su hijo para que en aquel que en El cree no
se pierde más tenga vida eterna. Su
expiación es suficiente para cada uno de nosotros. Sé también que hay un don impecable que nos
ha dado del Espíritu Santo para guiarnos e inspirarnos a donde debemos de
ir. Sé que José Smith fue un profeta, lo
sé porque lo he defendido y sentido el poder de sus frutos. Uno de estos siendo El Libro de Mormón. Ese libro es perfecto y es la clave de mi
testimonio. La historia de mi vida está
aquí, el suyo también. Sé que Dios
revele sus secretos por medio de sus siervos los profetas. Siéguenlos. La Iglesia es verdadera. Les Amo.
En el nombre de Jesucristo, Amen.
