Tulancingo, Hidalgo-May 22
Hey Mom!!
This week was pretty great!! We had lots of success this
week!! We were able to receive more referrals from members this week!
And you know that when we receive referrals, the work goes a lot easier!
Thats what Preach My Gospel teaches, that the ideal form of teaching is
when the members share the Gospel with their friends, family,
neighbors, etc. and then they go with the missionaries to teach those
people! We were also able to have quite a few investigators in sacrament
meeting this week! It was a pretty great week! I have been in Pachuca
for the pást 6 months, in the Constitución ward and the Tecnológico
ward. Today was transfer day!! I had transfers... its always sad leaving
areas, but the Lord always has other things in store for us as well! I
am now working with Elder Merino, we will be opening up an area as Zone
leaders here in Tulancingo! Not one of us knows the area at all, so I
hope we don't get lost!! I was in this Zone earlier in my mission when I
was in Xicotepec, so I do know a little bit of how to get from one town
to another haha! We are really excited!! Its going to be fun!
Yesterday,when
I was still in Tecnológico the Bishop asked me 5 minutes before
sacrament meeting to give a talk, so I threw together the most important
thing that I could think of in the moment. I ended up giving my talk
about the Priesthood. I want to share a few of the thoughts that I
shared at church. Well, as missionaries we share Lesson 1 or "The
Restoration" at least once a day. We all know that the Church was
restored by the Prophet Joseph Smith. With the restoration, we received
many great blessings from God. For example, The Book of Mormon, Temples,
True Doctrine, an understanding of the Lords plan for us, missionary
work, eternal families, etc. But without the Restoration of the
Priesthood, our church would fall under the same category, and would
carry us just as close as other churches to Gods presence. The
Restoration of the Priesthood brings to pass all the blessings of the
restored church. With the true priesthood authority, we can be baptized
in order to receive the remission of our sins. We can receive temple
ordinances in order to be with our families forever. We can become as
our Heavenly Father is, perfected and glorified with everlasting power
and domain. But, why is the Priesthood so necessary to achieve these
things? Surely, some may think, if we just live good lives and strive to
be good people, we may be able to achieve eternal life... but that is
not the way the Lord has and will bring to pass the eternal life of his
faithful and obedient children. He explains in Doctrine and Covenants
section 84, the reason why we need the Priesthood for all these things.
In verse 19 it tell us that the Priesthood holds the keys to the secrets
of the kingdom and the Knowledge of God. As we read in John 17:3,
Eternal life is being able to know our Heavenly Father and his son Jesus
Christ. Our Heavenly Father uses the Priesthood to exalt his faithful
children. That is why D&C 84 goes on to say in verses 20, 21 and 22
that for that reason the power of the divinity is manifested in the ordinances of the priesthood like baptism, confirmation, the sacrament,
the endowment, and eternal sealing. That is why the priesthood is so
important! I am glad the our heavenly father has blessed us with the
priesthood and I hope to always be faithful to him in order to be
"sanctified by the Spirit" and to become worthy of an eternal life in
the presence of my Heavenly Father! I know that this church is true! I
know it!
Elder Paynter
