GOOD NEWS! Ashley was baptized Saturday while we were at training and confirmed today in Sacrament Meeting. I am so happy for her!! She was welcomed into the ward by many of our members. She already has a few good friends in the ward who have reached out to her while she was being taught by Elders Sillito and Bailey. She plans to go to the temple to do baptisms for the dead Thursday.
This is her story written by a ward member: "Back in February, Elder Covey and Elder Dunn knocked on Ashley's door while out, sharing the gospel. Her husband answered the door and, to play a trick on Ashley, told them that she would like them to come by tomorrow night when she would be home. The next day, when the elders returned and Ashley learned of this, she played it back and suggested the Elders come to dinner later when her hubby was home. Her hubby was shocked to see the Elders coming over for dinner. But Ashley was shocked to find out she really enjoyed the message they brought so she kept meeting with them casually. Five months later, in July, she heard a podcast say that "Mormons" believe in eternal families. She was hooked and contacted the elders asking to know everything about that. She was met with a lot of opposition from her loved ones as she worked towards baptism but she had prayed and knew that Joseph Smith was a true prophet and that the Book of Mormon was the word of God so she did not let this distract her from the following the Lord's plan for her."
We were blessed to be invited to the Mission Leader Training with the Area Presidency and Elder Bednar this week in Savannah, Georgia. Fifteen Mission Presidents and their wives serving in the Southeastern USA were in attendance, along with the Bairs and Merrells, the two Area Medical Advisors. The 2 1/2 days we spent together flew by. The spirit was so strong and was at work helping us to learn. No new principles or doctrines were taught, but principles and doctrines were emphasized with love and clarity and carried into our hearts.
This is her story written by a ward member: "Back in February, Elder Covey and Elder Dunn knocked on Ashley's door while out, sharing the gospel. Her husband answered the door and, to play a trick on Ashley, told them that she would like them to come by tomorrow night when she would be home. The next day, when the elders returned and Ashley learned of this, she played it back and suggested the Elders come to dinner later when her hubby was home. Her hubby was shocked to see the Elders coming over for dinner. But Ashley was shocked to find out she really enjoyed the message they brought so she kept meeting with them casually. Five months later, in July, she heard a podcast say that "Mormons" believe in eternal families. She was hooked and contacted the elders asking to know everything about that. She was met with a lot of opposition from her loved ones as she worked towards baptism but she had prayed and knew that Joseph Smith was a true prophet and that the Book of Mormon was the word of God so she did not let this distract her from the following the Lord's plan for her."
We were blessed to be invited to the Mission Leader Training with the Area Presidency and Elder Bednar this week in Savannah, Georgia. Fifteen Mission Presidents and their wives serving in the Southeastern USA were in attendance, along with the Bairs and Merrells, the two Area Medical Advisors. The 2 1/2 days we spent together flew by. The spirit was so strong and was at work helping us to learn. No new principles or doctrines were taught, but principles and doctrines were emphasized with love and clarity and carried into our hearts.
Elders Merrell and Bair, Southeast AMA's
I thought I would share a few of my notes:
A new Missionary Handbook will be available for missionaries in November. It is about spiritual self-reliance. It is about becoming, not just while serving a mission, but for the rest of our lives. Like all the new changes/adjustments, it is a higher way.
The Area/General Authorities taught:
Discipleship - to dig down and give it all
Repentance - is going from good to better - being willing to change, being willing to become what God wants us to become.
Sanctification - comes by yielding our will to God
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| Elder Bednar |
Elder Bednar asked us to take notes of what we were learning that was not being said. This has opened an amazing world for me. My notes now have specific people and items I need to attend to. Someone in the group reminded us of a talk by Elder Scott suggesting that after we receive promptings to ask, "Is there anything more?"
Elder Bednar talked a little about the "adjustments" (We in the church have been referring to these as "changes.") He asked us to view them not by how they affect us or the saints in North America, but by how it meets the needs of the saints in the world. He told us that cows and other beasts are valued more highly than women in India and Africa. That in some parts of our world women are considered property. Some of the "adjustments" teach the value of women. Some of the"adjustments" are more family-centered, church-supported. They make it possible for more family members to participate together in the ordinances.
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| Elder Bednar |
We learned another way to view "adjustments" from a talk by President Nelson. He asked us to compare them to a gel capsule filled with medicine.
The medicine represents a covenant - a promise where God sets the terms, conditions, and blessings; and we either accept or reject it. Covenants never change.
The capsule that delivers the medicine represents the ordinance, a sacred action that teaches us about the covenant. This can change, just like medicine can be delivered from a syringe or capsule etc., according to needs of patient.
The procedures can also change according to needs.
Ministering - is my opportunity to show my willingness - the depth of my testimony - to truly minister is to love them and bring them to Christ through His ordinances. (With all the ministering lessons I have heard, I have not understood until now that bringing those I minister to to Christ and the saving ordinances is the main purpose of ministering. That is how I show my love for the Savior and those we minister to)
Conversion - When we are truly converted, we want to share the gospel.
We were told by several leaders that "This is the greatest season of the church in the world." Elder Bednar also told us, "to keep our boots on!"
I feel so blessed! It is so wonderful to be a part of this dispensation!
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| Elder Merrell and Elder Bair |
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| It is cotton harvest time here in Georgia Elder and Sister Merrell with a cotton field in the back ground somewhere on the road to Savannah. |
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| A Cotton Field on the Road to Savannah, Georgia |
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| Dinner at The Pirate's House in Savannah with Southeast Mission Leaders (Sister Bednar is in red jacket in center of picture) |
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| Getting ready to leave on our tour Elder and Sister Tai (a new general authority) on left, President and Sister Clayton are in front of me and Elder Merrell |
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| Trolley Car Tour of Savannah Sister and Elder Merrell and Pres and Sister Hughes |
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| The Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Savannah We toured this church along with those in our training group. |
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| Inside the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Savannah |
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| We toured the Thomas Lowe House |
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| Our tour group in front of the Thomas Lowe House |
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| Sister and Elder Bair in front of the Georgia Queen Tour Boat |
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| We ate dinner and glided down the Savannah River to the Atlantic Ocean and then back again. |
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| The girl who waved hello to every ship coming into Savannah in hopes that one would be carrying her returning love. |
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