Hello friends and family! I hope that you've all had a wonderful week! Things are going well here in el Bolson and our investigators as well as less active members are doing great! Marcelo is still preparing himself to baptize Romina, Norma is a less active member who hasn't gone to church in 9 years but she has now gone to church 3 times in a row, and Lilia is a new investigator that is really interested in knowing more about the gospel! Unfortunately Jose sent us a text saying that he never wanted to be baptized nor does he want to listen to our lessons anymore, and Silvina also decided that she doesn't want Yenien and Elias to be baptized because she doesn't want to have to take them to church every week...but Hermana Tapullima and I are praying lots and strengthening our faith in order to find new investigators! It was a week full of lots of ups and downs, but the highlight for me was watching Marcelo and Romina hold hands as they sang "Families Can Be Together Forever" with their two kids Morena and David, during their first family home evening ever. The spirit was strong and I was able to catch a glimpse of the beautiful, eternal family they are going to be one day. I love them so much.
Well I am sure all of you have already heard about the new church regulations that were released a few weeks ago. I know it is a touch subject to instead of talking directly about it, I would like to share a few thoughts on revelation. I would like to start off by saying that the "heavens are not sealed" as Elder Russell M. Ballard once said. I say that with the intention to remind you all of two things. First off, from the heavens above, our Heavenly Father gives divine revelation to our prophet Thomas S. Monson. If we believe that President Monson is the prophet of God in this time and day, we believe that he is the man on this earth who speaks the words of God, as if God were here with us. One needs to decide if they believe in prophets who receive revelation or not. To decide if President Monson, through revelation, speaks the words of God or not. It is like keeping the commandments in order to receive eternal life. One cannot choose which commandments to follow and which not to follow, and expect to receive eternal glory/life. It is black or white. Öne chooses to follow all the commandments and recieve eternal life in the Celestial Kingdom, or chooses to follow only the commandments they like, and lose all that the Father has to offer them. The same goes with the words of the prophets. There is no "gray area" to say "yes I am going to follow this, this, and this...but not that." Do you believe that God revealed new truths in the Book of Mormon? Do you believe in God's angels? do you believe that God and His Son Jesus Christ came to Joseph Smith in a vision? Do you believe that God is all powerful? I sure do, and if you do as well, what makes communication between the president of our church and God any different? God can do anything and everything. And if he could do all those things above, what stops him from directing this church with His Son Jesus Christ through our Prophet Thomas S. Monson? Family and friends, God never seals the heavens, only man does. So let us not seal the heavens, let us keep them open and strengthen our testimonies knowing that our prophet has received revelation from our loving, all powerful, Father above.
My second though is about personal revelation. In the Bible Dictionary under "Revelation" it says "the principle of gaining knowledge by revelation is the principle of salvation. It is the making known of divine truth by communication with the heavens and consists not only of revelation of the plan of Salvation to the Lord's prophets but also a confirmation in the hearts of the believers that the revelation to the prophets is true." I challenge you all to pray about his matter, the new regulations of the church. Ask your Heavenly Father why? what? and for what? and I know that you will recieve revelation and an answer from Him. Why do we read the scriptures every day? Why do we pray every day? Why do we go to church each week? Is it because we have seen the Celestial Kingdom and we know that it exists so we do all those things in order to get there? No. It is because one time when we were going through a hard time in our life, we opened the scriptures and found guidance. Because one time we found peace to our soul as we kneeled down, prayed, and our Heavenly Father spoke to us. Because one time we felt the Spirit touch our hearts as we sat in church listening to a message that just happened to have the perfect words for us in that moment. Or to say all of this in an easier way, it is because we have received revelation. And we have hope that if we do the things God asks us to do, we will be lifted up and exalted in the last day.
Revelation exists and the heavens are not sealed. Don't listen to others or look for you revelation in social media. Don't let your testimonies be shaken by what you see on the news or hear on the radio. Look for revelation in the heavens. From your Heavenly Father. And he will give you the hope and firm testimony you need to endure these "faith testing" moments. As the 13th Article of Faith says, "We believe all things, we hope all things, and hope to be able to endure all things." I hope that we will all be able to endure all things through the greatest tool our Heavenly Father has given us to do so, revelation through the Holy Ghost. Remember, only we seal the heavens. Not God. :)
Sorry for the long email but I loveeeeee you all!!!!!! Have a happy week!
xoxo
Hermana Anika Van Boerum :)
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