I´d like to share a part of the CES
fireside talk given by Elder Jeffery R. Holland. He explained how Zion
has always had to flee Babylon to be safe and able to live the gospel.
IN all of the dispensations from Abraham to the pioneers, we´ve had to
flee. However, this dispensation is different from the others. The time
has come to set in our stakes and create Zion in every part of the world
wherever we are. We no longer have to run. The time has come to fight
back against Babylon and establish God´s kingdom! We cannot be quiet! We
cannot run! We must stand were we are and be the light to draw in the
elects of God! Think and pray about how you can do that better i your
life. As Elder Holland has said ´´It´s getting late.´´ It´s time for us
to do more than we´ve done before.
One of my
favorite scriptures is D&C 107:99-100. Read it. Remember it. Just
going to church is not enough. Just being baptized is not enough. If we
want to be worthy to enter into God´s rest, we must serve with ALL of
our heart, might, mind, and strength. So do it. It´s worth it.
I love you all and can´t wait to be with you again. I
know that Christ is our Savior and Captain. We are His disciples and
therefore must model His perfect life.
Anyway, this week I got to speak in Sacrament
meeting. They don´t have a chapel, just a house.
There were a good amount of people there though. I had a blast. i spoke
about.... MISSIONARY WORK and how it makes us happy. And how we have
an obligation and duty to do it if we want to receive eternal life.
We also had a baptism this week. His
parents are also very interested in the church. The mother knows the
church is true and will likely be baptized in a few weeks and the father
is listening to us and said he would go to church! I´m excited for
everything that´s happening now. We´ve really got some good work set up
in the area now.
We taught a lot and some
miracles happened this week. President and Sister Souza came to our ward
and discoursed. It was really good. The Spirit was really strong. We
had Lindomar come to church (his divorce is finishing up right now and
we´ll start his wedding this week.)
Alberto also went. His wife was inactive for 20 years
but came back to church before I got here. Her
daughter was baptized too. The husband, Alberto, is very Catholic and
never had come to church. But, this week he came for the first time and
stayed for all three hours! I think he really liked it. We´re gonna
work on getting him a date for baptism set up now.
I´ve
been thinking a lot about conversion and what it means to really be
converted to the Gospel of Christ and be a Disciple. I was thinking, ´´I
wonder if I am truly converted? Would I be willing to sacrifice
EVERYTHING, not just my life but all of my time, efforts, desires,
personal status, and comfort for Christ?´´ I´d like to think I would.
I´m grateful that I haven´t been put up to that test yet. I´ve seen so
many people who draw close to God with their lips but whose hearts are
very from from Him. Be a Disciple of Christ and converted to His Gospel.
It is the only path to lasting happiness. Trust in Him and He will
direct thy paths.
Love you and cant wait to see you,
Elder Hodson
