THE VISION OF THE SOUTH

"Make no small plans: This is the vision I have for the South. I believe that one day the South will baptize more people into the church than all other English speaking missions in the world together....We will see the time when we will baptize hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands...In your day you will see a million members of the church in the South. There will be temples plural in the Southern States. What a great call you have to serve with these marvelous people." President Spencer W. Kimball

Sunday, July 27, 2014

From President Hansen: Fishermen

Author: President Hansen
We were going down _____ Ridge which is a street we've been working a TON lately, so we've talked to a bunch of people down there. As we were biking, I felt like everyone was saying hi to us, giving us a friendly wave, we knew a ton of the people because we'd talked with them in the past. There was a tangible change in the neighborhood while we were coming through, I could really feel like we had made a difference. Even though we haven't found any new golden investigators (yet) or really any super solid contacts, there has definitely been a change wrought in the eyes of these people of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. They see us a bit less as those weird Mormons who all they want to do is drag you to the font and baptize you, and more as people who are really trying to be there to help and share what we hold so dear.

Herman, allowed us into his home. Cathie asked what I thought was a really inspired question. Really quick back story- she was there when he got baptized and when he got the priesthood. Anyway, so she asked him if he remembered why he worked so hard to get the priesthood. In that moment, tears filled his eyes, and he said, "So I can baptize my kids". Cathie asked him if that was what he still wanted, and he said yes. Sister _________ and I were able to discuss with him how the church is a place for the sinner to be healed, not for the perfect to flaunt their perfection. He continued to cry, and when Cathie asked if we could come back for a family home evening, he said yes. He has two little girls and his wife is not a member. He told us how badly he wants the spirit to be in his home. I know that the Lord will bless him as he puts forth his best efforts. We should be going back next week. That was definitely a spirit led lesson.

Some fishermen are away from home for twelve hours and have their line in the water for ten hours. Other fishermen are away from home for twelve hours and have their line in the water for only two hours. This last type may wonder why they do not have the same success as others. “The same principle applies to missionaries, whom the Master called ‘fishers of men.’ A missionary’s line should drop into the fishing water the moment he or she leaves the apartment” We came to a conclusion that when we leave those doors to our quarters, we will be selfless the whole day. Nothing will be for us, but for our Savior and His children that he will place before us.

Missionary was not getting anything out of the scriptures then dove back into the scriptures. It seemed like the verse came alive! The scripture is 1 Nephi 10:19. It says: For he that diligently seeketh shall find, and the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto them by the power of the Holy Ghost, as well in these times, as in times of old, and as well in times of old as in times to come. Wherefore the course of the Lord is one eternal round.

If I want the lights on, and know that the switch is going turn on the light, but am too lazy to walk over and flick the switch, then my desire and belief are in vain. I don't get the light. So, in conclusion, You gotta want it. You gotta believe that you can get it. You gotta work for it. (In other words, you gotta diligently seek for it)

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