Sent on February 24, 2014
This morning I realized that amidst all of the work we have been doing, Elder Cannon and I have never shown each other pictures of our family or talked about their names haha. So we did that for a second. It was good. I love Elder Cannon by the way. He is 100% focused on the work and we compliment each other very well that way. It really is all we care about! And we work hard. He is a great example and friend to me!
We had Ward Conference here this week and it was awesome. It was all centered around missionary work and it will be a great building block for this ward as we start to change the way we do things here in Redondo! We have a vision and a plan for how we are going to change this ward and city! It obviously is going to happen as we become united together as saints and sharing the gospel becomes a top priority and desire for us all. So we will be doing a lot more to become united with the members and I am excited but also a little scared for a change. We are going to drop the way we have done things for the last year and just pray that this will bear fruit! But now that I think about it I am not really that scared because I know it is going to work!
The Spirit leads! We had an open hour and a half and we had no idea what to do. We normally would just go outside and knock and talk to anyone but that didn't feel right. As we pondered this random former investigator from the area book popped into my head that I had tried like 5 weeks ago but they werent home. We went and were blessed to meet the Tolenoa family. They come from the island of Kosrae. We gathered them around and taught the whole family the Restoration and Sis. Tolenoa even said the prayer! It was glorious. They are going to come to come on a church tour on Saturday! Seven new investigators in one swipe! A family! Too great. Grateful for the Spirit.
We also had a super sweet lesson with a man named Benjamin Motay! He is from the Ivory Coast. I love getting to teach people with such diversity! He is an incredible man with an incredible family.
God is blessing us greatly that is for sure.
The Book of Mormon is so true! Day after day it gives me answers to real-life, real-time questions! I can't describe how it has been changing me! Here is one insight for y'all.
Helaman 3
24 And it came to pass that in this same year there was exceedingly great prosperity in the church, insomuch that there were thousands who did ajoin themselves unto the church and were baptized unto repentance.
25 And so great was the prosperity of the church, and so many the blessings which were poured out upon the people, that even the high priests and the teachers were themselves astonished beyond measure.
26 And it came to pass that the work of the Lord did prosper unto the baptizing and uniting to the church of God, many souls, yea, even tens of thousands.
THIS IS NOW! Notice in verse 25 "so many the blessings which were poured out upon the people". Listen. If we will just devote ourselves to not focusing on ourselves, and to this great work, we will recieve MORE BLESSINGS THAN EVER BEFORE. Not only that, but THOSE WE LOVE WILL JOIN US.
Mosiah 21
36 And now all the study of Ammon and ahis people, and king Limhi and his people, was to deliver themselves out of the hands of the Lamanites and from bbondage.
ALL OF THE STUDY. The goal at the time for the people of King Limhi was to deliver themselves from bondage. The goal for us now is to gather Israel, to save the MAXIMUM amount of God's children! It must be the topic of ALL OUR STUDY! We must trust that God will take care of the rest. I know he will!
I have more, but I dont have much more time. I hope you all realize the POWER that each of you have to be a fruitful laborer in the vineyard.
Jacob 5
70 And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard sent his aservant; and the servant went and did as the Lord had commanded him, and brought other bservants; and they were cfew.
71 And the Lord of the vineyard said unto them: Go to, and alabor in the vineyard, with your might. For behold, this is the blast time that I shall cnourish my vineyard; for the end is nigh at hand, and the season speedily cometh; and if ye labor with your might with me ye shall have joy in the fruit which I shall lay up unto myself against the time which will soon come.
72 And it came to pass that the servants did go and labor with their mights; and the Lord of the vineyard labored also with them; and they did obey the commandments of the Lord of the vineyard in all things.
73 And there began to be the natural fruit again in the vineyard; and the natural branches began to grow and thrive exceedingly; and the wild branches began to be plucked off and to be cast away; and they did keep the root and the top thereof equal, according to the strength thereof.
74 And thus they labored, with all diligence, according to the commandments of the Lord of the vineyard, even until the bad had been cast away out of the vineyard, and the Lord had preserved unto himself that the trees had become again the natural fruit; and they became like unto aone body; and the fruits were equal; and the Lord of the vineyard had preserved unto himself the natural fruit, which was most precious unto him from the beginning.
God has called a prophet to lead this work, and He is calling for us to come and join (vs 70). This is the last time everyone! This is FOR REALS! We must go and labor with our mights! It is a choice, just like everything. And it will take trust and sacrifice and work, But we are promised that if we do this we will have JOY in the fruit. Trust the promise. Engage yourself in the work, and experience the miracles that come when the Savior works alongside you, because you are doing exactly what He asks!
Love you all! Praying for you much! Have a great week!
Elder Cook
24 And it came to pass that in this same year there was exceedingly great prosperity in the church, insomuch that there were thousands who did ajoin themselves unto the church and were baptized unto repentance.
25 And so great was the prosperity of the church, and so many the blessings which were poured out upon the people, that even the high priests and the teachers were themselves astonished beyond measure.
26 And it came to pass that the work of the Lord did prosper unto the baptizing and uniting to the church of God, many souls, yea, even tens of thousands.
THIS IS NOW! Notice in verse 25 "so many the blessings which were poured out upon the people". Listen. If we will just devote ourselves to not focusing on ourselves, and to this great work, we will recieve MORE BLESSINGS THAN EVER BEFORE. Not only that, but THOSE WE LOVE WILL JOIN US.
Mosiah 21
36 And now all the study of Ammon and ahis people, and king Limhi and his people, was to deliver themselves out of the hands of the Lamanites and from bbondage.
ALL OF THE STUDY. The goal at the time for the people of King Limhi was to deliver themselves from bondage. The goal for us now is to gather Israel, to save the MAXIMUM amount of God's children! It must be the topic of ALL OUR STUDY! We must trust that God will take care of the rest. I know he will!
I have more, but I dont have much more time. I hope you all realize the POWER that each of you have to be a fruitful laborer in the vineyard.
Jacob 5
70 And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard sent his aservant; and the servant went and did as the Lord had commanded him, and brought other bservants; and they were cfew.
71 And the Lord of the vineyard said unto them: Go to, and alabor in the vineyard, with your might. For behold, this is the blast time that I shall cnourish my vineyard; for the end is nigh at hand, and the season speedily cometh; and if ye labor with your might with me ye shall have joy in the fruit which I shall lay up unto myself against the time which will soon come.
72 And it came to pass that the servants did go and labor with their mights; and the Lord of the vineyard labored also with them; and they did obey the commandments of the Lord of the vineyard in all things.
73 And there began to be the natural fruit again in the vineyard; and the natural branches began to grow and thrive exceedingly; and the wild branches began to be plucked off and to be cast away; and they did keep the root and the top thereof equal, according to the strength thereof.
74 And thus they labored, with all diligence, according to the commandments of the Lord of the vineyard, even until the bad had been cast away out of the vineyard, and the Lord had preserved unto himself that the trees had become again the natural fruit; and they became like unto aone body; and the fruits were equal; and the Lord of the vineyard had preserved unto himself the natural fruit, which was most precious unto him from the beginning.
God has called a prophet to lead this work, and He is calling for us to come and join (vs 70). This is the last time everyone! This is FOR REALS! We must go and labor with our mights! It is a choice, just like everything. And it will take trust and sacrifice and work, But we are promised that if we do this we will have JOY in the fruit. Trust the promise. Engage yourself in the work, and experience the miracles that come when the Savior works alongside you, because you are doing exactly what He asks!
Love you all! Praying for you much! Have a great week!
Elder Cook
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