Helo everyone! I hope all is going well! This week has truly been a great week, and Elder Hurtado and I just keep working hard. We have really been trying to work on strengthening the members in the branch as well as helping our investigators learn and progress and come to church.
This week we have been able to see some miracles, and start to see some progress. We now have 2 investigators with a baptismal date! We are really excited as are they. One is Alma Carranza. She is the wife of a member. They are really great. She always goes to church, they just have some problems with marriage papers, and she has to look for an answer. They have had some problems with their marriage, but they are doing better now, and I know that as they both come closer to the lord there relationship will improve as well. The other is named Jose. He is a great guy! He has know gone to church twice, and likes it, and really is curious to learn more and follow Christ!
We are continuing to look and work with other investigators as well. We are working with another family that is great! They said they were going to go to church, but not sure why they didn't. They have been reading the Book of Mormon, understand the message of the Restoration, and have a great desire to learn more.
Life really is great! I love the mission! I love this Gospel! This week I have been able to learn so much as always, probably the biggest think that has amazed me is all of the connections in the scriptures. I love it! Everything connects! Everything is a witness of the truth!
The thing that has really jumped out at me is the importance of Faith. Let me give some examples.
In
James 1:5-6 it says, "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed."
So the question is, how can we ask in faith, so God will answer our prayers?
Let's see what the scriptures teach us. "Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone" (
James 2:17)
So we see, faith without works are dead. Okay, but what are the works that must follow faith?
In the Book of Mormon, Alma teaches us that the word (What we learn, or what we our putting faith into) is like a seed. And as we show faith, or we nurture this seed with our works, giving it water, putting it in the sun, if the seed is good it will grow (
Alma 32:26-43). So, if we put faith into the word, we will follow it, we will take care of it, and in this way we will show our faith, and if it is good, we will see the fruits.
The important part of this lesson, is that we must learn to have true faith. We can just say we believe without works. We must truly believe. We must feed that believe with water and sunlight, and them we will know if it is true. Another example is
Matthew 7:20. Jesus Christ here is teaching us how to know if a prophet is true or false, and gives us the following answer, "Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them." Now, let me ask you something going along with what we have discussed thusfar. If you have never tried a fruit, can you know if it's good by looking at it? The answer is no. If we what to know if a prophet is true, we must try their fruits. Which means exercising faith in them to see if the seed grows. We must eat the fruit to know if its good.
Now, Faith is the first principle of the Gospel. Without Faith, we can't go anywhere. We must exercise Faith in Jesus Christ and his gospel to progress and return to live with him. It is the only way. So to finish today I want to leave each and every one of you an invitation. Try the fruit! Nurture the seed! Let it grow! How do we do this? Trusting in God, keeping his commandments, following his ways.
And for you who ask, why do the Mormons believe in prophets? Was Joseph Smith really a true prophet? If you want to know, follow the advise of Christ himself. Our Savior and King. Try the fruit. Read the Book of Mormon. Come to Church. Pray and ask God for yourself, and in this manner I promise He will respond.
This is The Church of Jesus Christ! Of this I testify! He has at the head, and has called prophets once again to lead and guide his holy work. I love him! I testify of Him! And most of all, I invite all to come and Follow Him. Lets Follow Him together!
I love you all!
--
Elder Trenton Horace Harmon
Letters
Mission Honduras San Pedro Sula Oeste
12 calle, Avenida Circunvalación,
S.O. Edificio Yude Canahuati,
3 Nivel, Oficina #4
San Pero Sula, Cortés, Honduras, C.A.
Packages
Mission Honduras San Pedro Sula Oeste
Apartado Postal 1956
San Pedro Sula, Cortés, Honduras, C.A.
