October 10, 2016

A Great Opportunity

To the Missionaries of the Great Texas Houston Mission,

In our most recent General Conference, we were blessed to hear from those who we sustain as prophets seers and revelators. One of those messages that stands out was given by Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. We would like to request that each of you give prayerful attention to this talk and invite all members of your wards to do the same.

In that address, Elders Oaks said: "

As an Apostle of the Lord, I urge every member and family in the Church to pray for the Lord to help them find persons prepared to receive the message of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ."

For the believers, that may as well be called an Apostolic charge or mandate. Believers would be wise to heed this call to action.

If we were missionaries in a ward, we would encourage members to read this talk before we came over for dinner or to teach. We might ask them to look for how Elder Oaks describes our duty to share the gospel "(Sharing the gospel is not a burden but a joy. What we call “member missionary work” is not a program but an attitude of love and outreach to help those around us. It is also an opportunity to witness how we feel about the restored gospel of our Savior.")

As they read, ask them to be prayerful and listen to the promptings of the Holy Ghost that will tell them "all things that ye should do" (2 Ne 32:3) and "show unto you all things what ye should do" (2 Ne 32:5). Help them understand that as the Spirit invites us to act, it is the way the Lord invites us to repent (PMG Ch 11).

Bear your testimonies to all members using the words of Elder Ballard who Elder Oaks quotes as having taught, “A most significant evidence of our conversion and of how we feel about the gospel in our own lives is our willingness to share it with others." If members will consider sharing the gospel the great "evidence" of their conversion, they will experience the blessings of joy mentioned by President Russell M. Nelson that is a gift to the righteous that can only be obtained through righteous acts as we do what the Savior would have us do.

We love you and are excited by all of the blessings taking place to the people who reside within this great mission!

Love,

President and Sister Mortensen

     


Just wanted to say hi. Elder Yanzon is headed for his exit interview in a couple of hours and then we should have more time to email. Until then here's a picture from this week. :)