We met together as a mission for our April Change Council/Revelatory Experience on April 4. We learned together about the sacrifices our Savior made in order to allow us the opportunity to progress spiritually in mortality.
Elder Miller helped us with an object lesson about the suffering of our Savior. While President Laycock taught us about Jesus, Elder Miller stood in front of us and held his arms straight out with an egg resting on the top of each hand. We discussed how Jesus held the entire weight of His body as He hung on the cross. We talked about all that the Savior has done and does for us.
After a short time, Elder Miller's arms were shaking and his muscles were fatigued. His body was swaying back and forth, and the weight of those small eggs was extremely heavy. We all sat together and thought about the suffering of our savior and all that He has done for us.
Joseph Smith declared that all things "which pertain to our religion are only appendages" to the Atonement of Jesus Christ.
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland stated that "Jesus is the Christ, the Savior and Redeemer of the world. Our basic message is that with a complete offering of His body, His blood, and the anguish of His spirit, Christ atoned for the initial transgression of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden and also for the personal sins of everyone else who would ever live in this world from Adam to the end of time...the essential message of the gospel is this from the Master's own lips: 'I am the way, the truth, and the life:no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.' Thus the Atonement of Christ, which makes that return to the Father possible, is the central fact, the crucial foundation, and the chief doctrine of the great and eternal plan of salvation, which we are called to teach...
...As missionaries we should bear frequent and powerful testimony of Christ. Doing so invites and becomes part of the divine power of testimony borne on wings of fire to the very hearts of investigators. Such a divine testimony of Christ is the rock upon which every new convert must build. Only this testimony of the atoning Anointed, Victorious One will prevail against the gates of hell" (From a talk given at the MTC in Provo, Utah June 20).
At the point of exhaustion for Elder Miller, President and I held his arms up for him. He heaved a great sigh of relief. President Laycock then asked, "What will each of us do to sustain and serve our Savior?
During our April Zone Leader Council and revelatory experience, we discussed ways to strengthen our mission. Our Zone Leaders were helpful and excited to try to take our mission to "the next level". We reminded everyone of our goal to read the Book of Mormon, and try to finish it by Easter. But, more important than just finishing the Book of Mormon by Easter, we wanted to encourage and invite our missionaries to establish a pattern of daily reading from the Book of Mormon. We know without a doubt that daily reading from the Book of Mormon brings blessings that we can not possibly even imagine. In President Ezra Taft Benson's talk titled, "Flooding the Earth with the Book of Mormon," President Benson states that, "The Book of Mormon is the instrument that God designed to "sweep the earth as with a flood, to gather out (His) elect." (Moses 7:62). This sacred volume of scripture needs to become more central in our preaching, our teaching, and our missionary work."
This is what we are trying to do in the Chile Santiago East Mission. We know that just as Elder Bruce R. McConkie states: "The Book of Mormon reveals the mind and will and voice of God to all men" (Millenial Messiah pp. 159, 170, 179). What can be more important in these trying times? If we can know the mind, will, and voice of God, we can be saved and exalted. If we can help missionaries to establish a daily pattern of study from the Book of Mormon, we can help them to create miracles in their own lives and in the lives of those they love and serve.
We learned together, and we rededicated ourselves to the service of the Lord.
Elder Wassom served faithfully in the La Dehesa Ward,
and we love him very much!
What a blessing it was for this mother in the La Dehesa Ward who was baptized a few months ago, to have her daughter enter the waters of baptism and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost during the month of April. We are so happy for these two daughters of God. We love them very much and are so thankful for their desires to be obedient. They will bless the La Dehesa Ward in many ways.
We had the opportunity to attend and participate in many youth firesides during April. It was a privilege for us to be with the youth of the Church. They are wonderful people with hopes and dreams of bright futures. We know that as they stay active in their wards and stakes and as they obey the laws and ordinances of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, they will find true joy and be able to do all that is required of them to be able to gain Eternal Life. We love them, and we are so thankful for faithful missionaries who work diligently to teach them the Gospel and to be good examples to them. Our missionaries are constantly taking young men on divisions to allow them the opportunity to teach and testify and feel the fruits of the Spirit. We love our missionaries. What a blessing they are to the youth of Santiago.
We enjoyed the opportunity to meet with youth groups during April. The youth of the Church in Santiago are strong and devoted. They have the desire to live the Gospel and be obedient. We love them. We are trying to remind the Young Men of the need to serve missions, and we want them all to feel an urgency to become faithful servants of our Father in Heaven at all times and in all places. The young people of the Church are always warm and loving.
During the month of April, we enjoyed meeting with youth from all over Santiago. We visited with these smart, beautiful young people during Sunday evening firesides about the importance of eternal marriage and learning to make and keep covenants. We had time to answer questions and did our best to help them understand the importance of Temple attendance and becoming worthy companions to their future spouses. We discussed "The Family A Proclamation to the World." These youth are a bright light for the future of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It was a privilege for us to be among them and to learn with them. Four of our Missionaries attended and helped answer questions. The missionaries are excellent examples of leaving the world behind and going out into the world to teach and preach the true and living Gospel of Jesus Christ. They are making a difference in the lives of so many young people. We are eternally grateful for their selfless service.
President Laycock, Elder Prera April, 2011 Santiago Airport
Elder Prera returned home during the month of April, 2011. Our hearts will always hold a special place for dear Elder Prera. We love him, and will miss him.
Sister Sain, Sister Blackham, Sister Laycock, President Laycock, Elder Matthews, Elder Ogrins, Elder Adams, Elder Bryner, Santiago Airport April 4, 2011.
We love each one of these fine missionaries!
Saying good-bye is always painful,
but we look forward with great anticipation
to see what wonderful blessings
await these dear Sisters.
Elder Ogrins says farewell to Santiago!
On Monday, April 4 we said good-bye to six fantastic missionaries. We will miss these missionaries, but their legacy of testimony and teaching will live forever in the Chile, Santiago East Mission. Each one of these missionaries gave his or her heart to the Savior's work. They shared all that they have and all that they are with the dear Chilean people. They learned to do the Lord's work in the Lord's way, and we will love them forever!
On Tuesday April 5, 2011 we met five wonderful new Chile Santiago East Missionaries at the Santiago Airport. We were so thankful for their safe arrival and for the feeling of love and excitement that they brought with them. We also met three wonderful Latin American Missionaries who arrived from the Chile CCM. We love every one of them already.
We ate pizza together, and President Laycock interviewed each of them. They are ready and excited to share the Gospel. We look forward to seeing them succeed.
They met their companions, and set off to teach and preach the Gospel together.
Five North American Missionaries arrived on Tuesday April 5, 2011.
What a marvelous blessing!
Three Latin American Missionaries arrived on Tuesday April 5, 2011.
Our son, Landon received his Mission Call on Monday March 20, 2011!
We gathered our family together from all over the world, and through the miracles of technology we prayed together and opened his call on Tuesday evening connected by telephones and computers. He will leave on July 28, 2011 for the Argentina Missionary Training Center.
Landon will serve in the Uruguay, Montevideo West Mission.
We are thankful that he will be able to perfect his Spanish skills and serve our Father in Heaven by serving the people of Uruguay. We know that he will be able to bring many souls unto Christ. He is "muy animado."
I am posting this wonderful teaching experience written to me at my request by Elder Maxfield. It is such a beautiful example of Elders doing the Lord's work in the Lord's way. What a miracle! We love our missionaries. They are obedient and faithful.
"Dear Hermana Laycock,
Claudia is an "antiguo investigador" (old investigator). We found her by looking through our Area Book. There was no reason stated for why the missionaries had dropped them, and when we talked to the family, they didn`t know why either. We began to teach them, realizing they had plenty of doubts, worries, and misunderstandings. One lesson was particularly difficult. On Tuesday, 15 of February, we taught Claudia and her husband, Diego. It was hard to share the doctrine because of their constant interruptions with doubts. In the end, Diego left feeling frustrated without giving us the opportunity to explain the doctrine. Claudia was left feeling flustered and doubtful. The only thing we said before leaving was: “We promise you will receive answers to your questions.”
On Thursday, the 16 of February, we returned. The first thing Claudia said was “Let me tell you about what happened to me yesterday.” She then shared with us her miracle.
Wednesday, Claudia had gone to work at the hospital, and during a break, she noticed a co-worker not drinking coffee and jokingly asked him if he was a Mormon. Later he approached her and told her that he was. They talked for a moment, and he lent her the movie “Legacy” to watch in her spare time. As soon as her conversation ended, her phone rang. On the other end was one of the bosses of the hospital, Gabriel Garcia, who is an Area Seventy of Chile. He began his conversation telling her that she had been on his mind for some time, and that the Lord had told him to call her. He stated that he had spoken to the bishop of our ward who informed him that Claudia had still not attended church. He then told her something to the effect of: “Let the Lord into your life. Let him bless your family. Let him help you. Let him in.” And immediately after, he began to expound on the exact doubts and concerns she had – all by the power of inspiration and revelation. We had not talked to him, and neither had she. This was the first phone call he had given her. At the end of the conversation, she was left speechless. She knew she had experienced a precious miracle. And as she hung up the phone, she began to pray expressing her gratitude to the Lord.
We knew we didn`t have much more to do that day. Elder Garcia had already committed her to attend church with us on Sunday. So we confirmed that and said we would stop by to pick them up.
Sunday came, and they (Claudia and her seventeen-year-old daughter, Dani) were ready when we stopped by. They both walked with us to church. We had already called and planned for some members to help us when they arrived at church. The members were there waiting, and they welcomed them very warmly. They sat with them during Sacrament Meeting and then introduced them to the Bishop after the meeting. They stayed for the second class with “animo” (excitement) and participated with thoughts. After the prayer, Claudia shared the same experience from Wednesday with those in attendance and began to cry expressing her love for the Lord knowing that he was watching over her. The members again accompanied her to Relief Society, and they both felt very welcomed. At the end, she expressed to me that the hours “flew by.” These same members drove her home.
This experience helped me realize that the Lord is doing His work. The Holy Ghost is so important, and causes miraculous changes in people. I know that as we listen to the Holy Ghost, do the Lord`s work in his manner, and work with all our heart, might, mind, and strength, then miracles do happen.
I love Claudia, Dani, and her whole family. I know they will get baptized if they continue doing as the spirit directs them, and as we help them. I feel immensely blessed to have been a part of such an experience. We have high goals for them this change, including a fecha this week, and baptism in the coming weeks."
Here is the follow-up that I received a few weeks later from Elder Maxfield...
"This week was wonderful! As we worked on forgetting ourselves so that we could focus on our investigators, we saw more miracles. Claudia and Dani both had “fechas” (baptismal dates) for the 20th of March. We planned to go by their house every day to make sure they were progressing well and were on schedule for the baptism.
On Tuesday, we went by and the first thing Dani said to us was that she was not going to be baptized on Sunday. That came as a shock because she was usually the more enthusiastic of the two. We spent a good amount of time talking to her and encouraging her. We gave her about 10-15 minutes to be alone to contemplate and pray, to ask God whether or not she should get baptized this Sunday. By the end of our visit, she was in tears and confusion, and she held firm on her decision to not get baptized on Sunday. She said the reason she did not want to be baptized was that she had had a dream in which she arrived Sunday for the baptism, and someone said, "If you are not 100% sure about this, it is better that you do not get baptized."
That dream really made her question herself, and it caused her some confusion. Let`s just say that after this lesson, it became a matter of sincere prayer for us. I prayed really hard for Dani and Claudia the next few days. Wednesday, we had a “noche de hogar” “(family home evening) with members. Thursday, we had more members come to her house to talk, and then we showed up and taught her a lesson. By the end of the lesson, she mentioned that 3 Nephi 27 (the last reading assignment that we had given her) had really touched her. She was somewhat bewildered that we had not left that scripture with her earlier. But at the end, she told us that she wanted to get baptized with her mother. We finished Friday, and Saturday we had their interviews. They both went great. It is so satisfying to see the changes that have taken place in their hearts and in their eyes over the past 2 months. They have completely changed and learned to rely on the Lord for everything.
The baptismal service was wonderful! We started filling the font with water before the meetings. After sacrament meeting we realized that the “calefont” (heater) was not working, and that we only had cold, cold water. I didn`t know what to do, so I uttered a few silent prayers asking the Lord to warm the water to the degree that we would not feel the affects of the cold.
The time for the baptism arrived. Dani went first. As I descended into the water, it was freezing! But as I stood in the cold water of the baptismal font, I smiled at her. I saw the tears of joy in her eyes, and the cold went away. My legs and body suddenly felt warm. During the whole ordinance and afterwards, I did not feel the cold. Later, I asked the other three who had also entered the water if they had felt the cold. Each one of them said that during the actual baptism they did not feel cold at all. It was a miracle in answer to our prayers.
Through their tears, they both bore pure testimony that sounded like they came from the lips of members of 20 years or more. Claudia and Dani are miracles."
On the Tuesdays and Thursdays during March, we conducted trainings with every missionary on the initiative: "Fundamentals from Preach My Gospel Teaching More Effectively" to continue to help missionaries become more powerful gospel teachers. We practiced together and learned together. We enjoyed being together and learning how to better do the Lord's work in the Lord's way. We want to be strong and powerful Gospel Teachers. We want to be able to bring many souls to the waters of baptism so they can receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost and the promise of Eternal Life. We know that to do this, we must be excellent teachers. The trainings included 8 powerful lessons on the following topics:
1. The Doctrine of Christ--The Missionary Purpose (March 8 and 10)
2. The Role of the Holy Ghost in Conversion (March 8 and 10)
3. Revelation Through Prayer (March 15 and 17)
4. Revelation Through the Book of Mormon (March 15 and 17)
5. Revelation Through Church Attendance (March 22 and 24)
6. Teach People, Not Lessons (March 22 and 24)
7. We Invite. They Commit. We Follow Up (March 29 and 31)
8. How to Begin Teaching (March 29 and 31)
We thoroughly enjoyed learning together as we conducted these training sessions. We saw great progress in the abilities of our missionaries to be bold, to listen to the Holy Ghost, and to teach with clarity and love.
If you would like to attend a Sunday Service of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, click HERE to locate a chapel near you and a time that a congregation meets.
To learn more about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or Missionary work for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints click HERE.
Book of Mormon
The Book of Mormon is another testament of Jesus Christ. It was translated by Joseph Smith Jr. It is "a volume of holy scripture comparable to the Bible. It is a record of God's dealings with the ancient inhabitants of the Americas and contains, as does the Bible, the fulness of the everlasting gospel." To read more about the Book of Mormon visit Mormon.org.
Preach My Gospel
Preach My Gospel is a guide to missionary service for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is a unifying tool for Members of the Church and Missionaries.
To read from or listen to the teachings in Preach My Gospel click HERE.
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