"Shall we not go on in so great a cause?" (Joseph Smith) - October 4, 2021

 Spiritual Thought

Over the course of the past two days it has been our profound opportunity to be instructed a the feet of the Lord as we receive counsel and guidance through his living prophets.  It has been our privilege to be the recipients of something which many believe ceased many centuries ago: revelation specific to our day and time.  My prayer is that the significance and splendor of such an occasion is never lost on us.  However, more importantly, it is my prayer that this experience will motivate us to refocus our actions and desires on accomplishing the work of the Lord.  If after this weekend we are hearers of the word only then this revelatory weekend will have largely been in vain.  Deeply spiritual experiences demand deeply faithful actions from the true disciples of Jesus Christ.

In this spirit I would like to issue an invitation to each of you who will receive this letter.  It is your choice as to whether you will accept this invitation.  However, if you choose to accept it I promise that the Spirit of the Lord will flow into your life in rich abundance.  You will feel a greater connection to the Savior Jesus Christ and will want to draw closer to him.  The power of temptation will be diminished as you invite the Savior of the World to be your constant and eternal companion.  My invitation is this: I invite you to read the entire Book of Mormon before Christmas Day.  Such frequent basking in the word of the Lord has the potential to bring unimaginable blessings into your life.  Think of what there is the potential to feel as we commit to a regular, daily study of this sacred record.  This invitation will require diligence to achieve but is very possible.  The Book of Mormon is 531 pages long.  There are 82 days until Christmas.  If each of us would read only six and a half pages each day, beginning today, we would read the entire Book of Mormon before Christmas.  As you study the lessons taught in the Book of Mormon I invite you to search for those same things which our prophet asked us to search for this past weekend: pure truth, pure doctrine, and pure revelation.  Throughout your study of the Book of Mormon please be attentive to the promptings of the Holy Ghost.  Frequently ask yourself "What is the spirit teaching me that isn't being said?".  I also ask you, regardless of how many times you may have done so, to once again act on the promise of Moroni.  Ask our Heavenly Father in sincere prayer if this book truly is his word and contains the fulness of his gospel.  I ask each of you to please send tell me about the experiences you are having if you feel comfortable doing so.  There is nothing that would bring me more joy than to here how any of you are choosing to bring yourself closer to the Savior of the World.  I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God and will invite the power of Godliness into the life of the sincere reader.  Joseph Smith truly did translate this record by the gift and power of God.  The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.  This church possess the priesthood power necessary to administer all of the ordinances required for us to return to our Heavenly Father.  Jesus Christ lives.  He is the Savior of the World and stands with outstreched hands to receive us.  My prayer and fervent hope is that we will exercise the faith necessary to draw near to him.

In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

 

Weekly Update

It is difficult for me to express the joy that has filled my soul since President Nelson announced the construction of the Antananarivo, Madagascar temple.  This announcement marks the answer to countless prayers and is undeniable evidence that our Heavenly Father truly does care for each of his children in every corner of the globe.  The world may have largely forgotten about Madagascar.  However, I testify that our Heavenly Father knows and cares for each of his children on this far flung island, just as he does for all of his children in every corner of the globe.  I do not currently know any of the people living in this distant location but I testify that God knows them.  He is there father and desires for each and every one of His Malagasy children to have the opportunity to return to his loving parental embrace.  Such an opportunity can only be possible through the saving ordinances of the temple.  I am confident that I, along with many others throughout the world, know something more about what it means to shout with joy at the opportunity to return to our Heavenly Father's presence as we each did in the preexistence.  "Hosanna, hosanna, to God and the Lamb" (The Spirit of God - Hymn No. 2).

The other exciting news is that transfers are happening again this coming Tuesday.  I will be moving to a new area but it will only be to the next area south.  My new area is in Woods Cross and borders my current area to the south.  I am also going to be training a new missionary who is coming into the mission tomorrow.  His name is Elder Holdaway and he is from North Carolina.  I am excited for this new challenge and opportunity for growth.

I hope all of you have a great week!

Elder Payne

 

We were able to watch general conference on the large pull-down screen in the stake center with our district.  It was a lot of fun and a new way to experience conference.

The colors really started to change in earnest this week.  The mountains are really pretty shades of red and yellow.  Now would be the time to go hiking to we might try to make that happen.

Everyone in the district brought some sort of food or snack for conference.  Being the strange person that I am this is what I brought: Cream of Chicken soup, parsley flakes, chili powder, and a bottle of salt.

My shoelace broke this week so I had to improvise with what I had available until I could get a new one.  This looks a little strange but actually works really well.

On exchanges with the district leader.  Counter-clockwise from me: Elder Barker, Elder Hurley, Elder Marchman.

With my district before the last session of conference.  The sisters aren't in this picture but that's their fault for deciding they needed to go get a drink just as I took this picture.

While on exchanges I saw this whiteboard stuffed into the roof of the pavilion of the Woods Cross park.  That is weird enough but it is even stranger for it to have my name on it.  I don't have any idea what I reserved from 4-8 on September 3rd but I hoped everything worked out.

These three Apache helicopters flew over in formation one day this week.  It was pretty neat to see.