Monday, April 30, 2012

Scriptures are da bomb!

 "Baptism is the Gateway...Those chickens are ready."
"They got excited after telling them the analogy of the MOTHER HEN.
They wanted to be baptized after that!"

Hello everyone!
What a week! Last Saturday was the baptism of an amazing lady! Her
husband was extremely happy that he was finally able to baptize his
wife and to make the temple their next goal! I can truely testify and
add my witness to the many thousands of earlier and present and future
missionaries, that there is truely no greater joy than seeing a child
of our Heavenly Father, our fellow Brother or Sister, enter into the
waters of baptism and begin their new journey towards exaltation!
Missionary work is the best!

This past week I have been able to do quite a bit of extra studying,
for multiple reasons, and IT HAS BEEN FANTASTIC! The scriptures are
absolutely true! No doubt about it. The more you read the more the
grand scheme of things fit together and the Book of Mormon is truly
the key! Reading the Book of Mormon alongside the Old and New
Testaments and the teachings of the modern prophets (I'm currently
studying the Teachings of President George Albert Smith), has been a
tremendous blessing to me. I have learned so much and have gained a
deeper understanding and appreciation for our Lord and Savior Jesus
Christ. I wish I could sit down and tell yall everything I have
learned BUT! that would take all day and I'm a busy man. Sorry. :P

Psalms and Proverbs are EXCELLENT to study. I highly recommend to
everyone that they take the time to study a few chapters in each
(after their Book of Mormon studies of course) every day. One of my
new favorite scriptures is found in Psalms 145:9:
"The Lord is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works."
I have seen the Lord's tender mercies in my life especially in my life
as a missionary. He loves each and every one of us and blesses us
EVERY DAY! Take a few minutes every evening to mentally go through
your day and you will see them. I promise you that. This work is true.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the only church
that has the Lord's Priesthood authority. The Book of Mormon is the
Word of God and is another Testament of Jesus Christ. You WILL gain a
deeper love for Him and for your fellow man as you honestly study that
great book EVERY. DAY. Don't miss out on those blessings. Today is the
beginning of eternal happiness or eternal disappointment for you.
Choose the right TODAY. I love yall and hope everyone has a fantastic
week.

Elder Smith

Monday, April 23, 2012

News from Elder Smith's 2nd Area

First things first: My new address:

Elder Hyrum Smith
Box 10 Lot 21
141 Little Joes Lane
Barco, NC 27917


I live in a mobile home! It's bigger than my last apartment so it's
pretty nice. This is a big farming area too. The Currituck Branch is a
really really cool branch. Everyone is anxious to do missionary work
so it's really really awesome for us. Member's like to come out with
us all the time. So, some really cool news...We set someone for
baptism yesterday! It was SO cool. The story is a lengthy one so I'll
just say that she is someone who has been investigating the church for
years and never set a date, but when we saw her yesterday, and how
everything worked perfectly for a lesson and how the Spirit came into
the room....it was amazing. We set her for this Saturday (April 28th)
and her new husband (they got married last Saturday) is going to
baptize her. It was so amazing, I will happily say that there wasn't a
dry eye in the room.


So a couple fun facts about my area: I live about 30 miles or so from
Kitty Hawk (where the Wright brothers first flew) and Dale Anderson
lives IN my area. For those who don't know who that is he is a big
monster truck celebrity. His truck it the Gravedigger (which is pretty
famous). He gives people rides in his monster truck for 5 bucks! If
he's in the area on my P-day...well...I'll have a cool story then. :)

I was reading The Teachings of President George Albert Smith and these
words really struck me.


"What a fine thing it is to feel that we belong to a church that is or
should be composed of saints. It is not sufficient that we have our
names upon the records. It is important that we live the lives that
entitle us to be called Saints, and if you will do that, you will be
happy...

I would like to say to the Latter-day Saints, if we are worthy to be
called Latter-day Saints, it will be because we are living the lives
of saints, and it is the purpose of the Gospel to qualify us in that
way. The world has gotten into such a condition and has been deceived
by the adversary for such a long time and has declared that the mere
belief in God is all that is necessary, that I am fearful for it. That
is only a trick of the adversary...

It is not those who say, 'Lord, Lord,' who enjoy the companionship of
His spirit but those who do His will...
How many of us day by day are laying a foundation and building a
structure that shall conform to the dignity of the stature of our
Master?

Let us do better than we have ever done before. Let us renew our
determination to be real Latter-day Saints, and not just
make-believe....I do not know anybody who can not do a little better
that he has been doing, if he makes up his mind."

Think on those words and let the Holy Spirit be your teacher now.
I love the work I am a part of now. I know that this Gospel is
absolutely true and that Jesus Christ lives. He is my Savior and
Redeemer. I love Him with all my soul. This is His true church and is
led by a prophet, seer, and revelator. Thomas S. Monson is that
prophet. I know Joseph Smith saw our loving Father in Heaven and our
Savior Jesus Christ. I truly loving these two years to serve. I love
you all and hope and pray that you will receive the spirit of
missionary work and will work your hardest to spread forth His Kingdom
on the earth, preparatory to His Second Coming. He wants all of us
there and will hold us accountable if we failed in our duty.

Elder Smith.
 

Monday, April 16, 2012

Transfers - 2nd Area - Currituck, North Carolina

NOTE: Before I post Elder Smith's letter, I want you to know that our son, Caleb, informed me that where Elder Smith has been transferred to - Currituck, North Carolina - is where Caleb's wife's PARENTS LIVE...He will be serving in her parent's BRANCH - where Rose's FATHER is the BRANCH PRESIDENT...Plus, this BRANCH is in the same STAKE as Caleb and his wife, Rose, are serving in...Wonder what the Lord has in mind for...Elder Smith...(smile) Mama Smith

Now, for Elder Smith's letter:

Well....I'm being transfered. We got the call last night and I am
being sent to Currituck, North Carolina. I am really going to miss
Colonial Heights. I have learned so much. There are some really cool
things happening here though. We had a church tour with a potential
investigator a few days ago and it was SO good. For those who don't
know what that is, it's where we go through the building with
non-members and discuss certain things about church. The Spirit was SO
strong, especially when we took them to the baptismal font and spoke
about Jesus Christ and His Atonement. We set her for baptism for May
19th. I really wish I could stay one more transfer and help teach her
but I am being sent elsewhere. My companion, Elder Bradfield, is such
a stud; I'm going to miss that guy. He is, afterall, my Dad
(missionary terminology for Trainer). So for all those who may be
sending letters, I'll announce my new address as soon as I find out.


In my personal studies today I ran across a verse in the New Testament
that really made me think. In Matthew 12:25 Jesus Christ says,
"...Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and
every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:" In my
mind I was reading it as, "A family divided won't be Eternal" and I
thought back on some things I recently heard in church.


You've probably heard the saying, "Offense sells tickets, defense wins
games." How can we increase our spiritual fortitude, and that of our
families, so we may have the defense necessary to endure to the end
and "win the game"?


Spiritual fortitude...FORTitude...fortress...castle...HEY! The Temple looks like
Fortress! They look like Castles with great defense capabilities.

If the Temple is the only place wherein our families can be sealed
together for time and eternity, why can't it be the place to provide
the spiritual fortitude, the spiritual defense, for ourselves and for
our families? It IS! We have been commanded, by God, to attend the
temple FREQUENTLY. Are His commandments restrictions? Are His
commandments temporal restraints? Said He, "Wherefore, verily I say
unto you that all things unto me are spiritual, and not at any time
have I given unto you a alaw which was btemporal; neither any man, nor
the children of men; neither Adam, your father, whom I created.
Behold, I gave unto him that he should be an aagent unto himself; and
I gave unto him commandment, but no temporal commandment gave I unto
him, for my bcommandments are cspiritual; they are not natural nor
temporal, neither carnal nor sensual." (D&C 29:34-35). He doesn't
command us to do something if it wasn't for our ETERNAL benefit. Too
many people think in terms of "today" and not in terms of "eternity".
This life is the EXTREMELY brief time we have to prove to our Beloved
Father that we want what He has, that we want to be as He is. Ponder
the words of President George Albert Smith, "Today is the beginning of
eternal happiness or eternal disappointment for you.” This is the life
for men to prepare to meet God, and He has provided the Temple, with
its eternal life saving blessing, to provide us and our families with
the spiritual fortitude to withstand everything the Satan will throw
at you. And I warn you...Lucifer is preparing his weapons of death and
destruction and will soon unleash everything he's got to destroy your
family. Are you prepared? Are you doing everything you can so that
your house will not be divided?


Change your priorities, put God FIRST!!!! And He will provide for you
everything you need. Don't get caught up in the wants and desires of a
pleasurable and comfortable life. Such things won't last the eons of
your immortal life. Don't be eternally disappointed. Put Christ first.
Don't waste that drop of precious blood he spilt for you.

In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Monday, April 9, 2012

How Much Does It Cost?

Howdy yall!
This has been a super good week. Always busy as usual. I've noticed something about our church that is completely different than most churches out there. Everything we do is free. I say that because 99% of the time we talk with people and offer them a Book of Mormon they'll say, "How much does it cost?" I love seeing the people's surprise when we say it's free. We've also had to explain a couple times that we're a lay ministry (for those who don't know what that means, it means that we're not paid to proselyte, to have positions in the church or anything.) People really like that missionaries and bishops alike aren't paid. You gotta love this church. It's true after all.
This is the last of week until transfers! We'll find out next Sunday if either myself or my companion will be leaving this area. He's been here for 9 months so I'll most likely be staying. I'm worried though...about a week ago we had interviews with our mission president and he told me that the time for me to "stretch" is coming up. Oh boy...


Is the Gospel only for sinners? Or is it for everybody, saint and sinner alike? It seems that most people tend to think, and I include myself, that the gospel of Jesus Christ and His Atonement is to be used only when we seek forgiveness. It is true that that is one of its main objectives, however, President David O. McKay expands our view. He said, "The purpose of the gospel is...to make bad men good and good men better, and to change human nature." Thus, the whole purpose of the gospel is to help us experience a mighty change of heart, or rather, to have our very natures changed to a more Divine character.
How can this be possible? How is this done? We are weak and cannot accomplish this great feat ourselves. The Atonement of Jesus Christ unlocks the gate to perfection. What? Isn't the Atonement to provide forgiveness? Yes, it is.
It is also the only means through which we can repent. Isn't that the same thing? In one way it is, but to repent doesn't mean to say "I'm sorry". It literally means "to turn from", "to CHANGE one's mind". Thus, it is through the Atonement, the only way for us to repent, that we can bring about this mighty change of heart.
But, how does the Atonement work? What makes the Atonement so powerful? The answer is found in 2 Nephi 2:8.
"Wherefore, how great the importance to make these things known unto the inhabitants of the earth, that they may know that there is no flesh that can dwell in the presence of God, save it be through the merits, and mercy, and grace of the Holy Messiah, who layeth down his life according to the flesh, and taketh it again by the power of the Spirit, that he may bring to pass the resurrection of the dead, being the first that should rise."
So, it is through the Grace of Christ that it is possible. But what does Grace mean? The Bible Dictionary states, "The main idea of the word [grace] is divine means of help or strength...This grace is an enabling power..." Thus, Grace is as Elder David A. Bednar puts it, "...the enabling power of the Atonement [to strengthen] us to do and be good and to serve beyond our own individual desire and natural capacity."
The Atonement doesn't come free, however, for as 2 Nephi 25:23 states, "We know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do." We must put in our effort, and, if we desire, we will be recipients of His Grace, His Divine Enabling Power, to be wrought with a mighty change of heart and mind and thus qualify ourselves as joint-heirs with Christ to receive exaltation, even ALL that the Father hath.
 In closing I want everybody who reads this to read Ether 12:27 and substitute the word "grace" with "enabling power". Perhaps you will all understand the Atonement just a little bit better.

Jesus Christ lives. He is our Savior and Redeemer. I know our Father in Heaven loves us and wants us to be with him again. I so testify in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Monday, April 2, 2012

Don't Judge Me...

General Conference

Hey yall!
You know what was the best part of this last week? General Conference! I hope everyone was able to see ALL the sessions. The Lord has spoken and now we must act. "For you shall live by every word that proceedeth forth from the mouth of God" (D&C 84:44) "For his [the prophet] word ye shall receive, as if from mine own mouth, in all patience and faith." (D&C 21:5).

There are many many things from General Conference that I would like to add my witness to, however, due to lack of time, I will focus on just one thing that stuck out. "Brethren, step up!" These are the words that Elder Jeffrey R. Holland spoke on Saturday afternoon and it's on these words I would like to focus.

What is the supreme responsibility of every member of the church? "After all that has been said, the greatest and most important duty is to preach the Gospel." - President Joseph Smith

We as Latter-day Saints have the FULL and EVERLASTING Gospel of Jesus Christ. We are the only church that has the ability to receive the necessary ordinances for salvation. We know who we are. And we are a very small number compared to the population of the world. Church membership is a little over 14 million which sounds like a lot. However, when compared to the vast number of nearly 7 BILLION, our numbers are quite small. Let's take it a step farther shall we? I would say that most of the members of the church think it the responsibility of the full-time missionaries to preach the gospel. The number of full-time missionaries number around 50,000. That number compared to 7 billion is tiny. "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few." Latter-day Saints, step up. Would you not, if it was your own child, a brother, a sister, perhaps even a parent that strayed off the path and lost their grip on the Iron Rod, would you not try your hardest to bring them back? Let me tell ya something...WE ARE ALL ONE. BIG. FAMILY. You have an obligation to help that "stranger" down the road just as much as I do as a "full-time" missionary. As members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we have made a COVENANT to our God and Maker, to stand as witnesses of Him at ALL times, in ALL things, and in ALL places. Don't break your covenant. We see plainly in the scriptures what happens to those who forget their duty and responsibility to God and to each other.
"We will attain our exaltation in the Celestial Kingdom only on the condition that we share with our Father's other children the blessings of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and observe that commandments that will enrich our lives here and hereafter." - President George Albert Smith

Everyone: Step up. Forget yourselves and go to work, for we can work only as long as the Master allows. "Don't delay, time is running short."

In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.