This past week we had the amazing opportunity to hear from President Ballard at an all mission meeting! This doesn't happen very often, usually once a year so I was incredibly lucky to be in the field at this time. President Ballard's message was so inspiring and so helpful that I want to share one of the major things he talked about.
We are at war for the souls of all mankind!! He emphasized this about four times within his talk so you know it's important. This was somewhat of a rallying cry for us missionaries. This is a war and so we should treat it as such. We should be actively, anxiously engaged in the work we should do. We need to treat every moment as an urgent need to save as many people as we can. We need to be bold. We are past the point of gentle pleasantries and proddings. The Lord has assigned us here because it is time to HASTEN the work. Not do the same work that has always been done.
And how do we hasten this work? Members. It is our job to lift, strengthen, and encourage the members to friendship every person they come into contact with. No one has an excuse not to love their neighbors. I understand that there are plenty of busy people, and it's easy to say "oh I'm too busy to go over and meet the new neighbors" or "I have to watch my kids, I don't have time for this and that". Its times like those that Satan is winning this war. There are so many people who don't know the truth because they simply know not where to find it.
Now I don't mean to chastise anyone in this email list hahaha. No, I'm sharing President Ballard's message so that all of you will rally behind a good cause. Each member needs to be missionary minded... that is the only way missionary work will progress. President Ballard said that the world is so different now than it ever has been. Because of this, and because Satan is throwing everything he has at us, it is now that we must rally behind what is the second greatest commandment. Love thy neighbor.
This love includes missionary work for if you truly love someone, you will want them to experience the great overwhelming peace and joy that only the Holy Ghost can bring. If your ward is not missionary minded, talk to the bishop. If your stake is not missionary minded, talk to the stake president. This is God's greatest work on the whole Earth today. Love your neighbors whether they be members, inactives, or nonmembers.
My goal isn't for everyone to go out and boldly proclaim to all their friends that they need to go to church and repent of their sins hahaha. No, my goal is that you will continue being faithful later day saints but that you will pray earnestly and with real intent for missionary opportunities each day. I can promise you that every needful thing, anything that you are struggling with, whether it be finances, family issues, health issues, anything, God will bless you for putting other's souls first.
Remember, we are at war. It is not time for us to work ourselves so that we may prepare for the war... no. It is time for you to take up your sword and trust in God that any of your weaknesses will be made into strengths with his power.
Alright hahaha, now that I've given my spiel, I finally found someone new to teach who might actually have potential of progressing!!! I am so excited!! And guess what, we got it from a member referral! Hahaha all of the knocking on doors and member visits haven't been in vain!! Well... most of them haven't yielded any success either... but I trust that Heavenly Father will bless me for my hard work even if it is not as efficient as I would like!
I hope you are all doing great and know that I love every single email I get and that, if I don't respond, it's not because I hate you but that I just don't have enough time to write everyone.
With best wishes,
Elder Francis
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