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Quetzaltenango Guatemala Temple |
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My Favorite Place To Be: The Temple |
Tortillas for the week: 35
So where to begin this week, the branch had two sealing’s
in the temple in Xela and we are going to have a baptism this week. The branch
is really changing. I had more than six hours of interviews this week and I am
dead, but it is all worth it. THE BIG NEWS...READY...I TOOK PHONES IN ENGLISH
CLASS!! (My dad would be so proud...hahahaha.)
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English Class=No Phones |
I was able to meet and talk with a less active who knows
English because he lived in the States. So we talked in English. All l can say
is wow, the spirit was so strong and he even said I can really feel how strong
the spirit is. This conversation was the most powerful, testimony bearing one
on one conversation I have ever had in my life. I asked him how much he remembers
about the restoration of the gospel and he said to tell you the truth I don’t remember
very much, I have forgotten most of it. So I reviewed it with him and when
started to talk about Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon just wow, I give
praises to my Lord my God all the day long. As we read the first vision together
it seriously felt like we were in the grove with Joseph. I testified to him
that Joseph did see God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. I asked him do
you know these things to be true, he said no, I don’t but I believe them to be
true. I then asked some basic questions, do you believe that Joseph saw God the
Father and His Son, Jesus Christ and he said yes with all my heart. He then said
I believe the Book of Mormon to be true with all my heart and I believe in
these things with all my heart. When he said that I said I know that these are
true but I also believe. I believe these things to be true with all my heart.
My heart was just filled with gratitude as we talked. I am seeing in him and in
our investigator that if we just believe then the answer will come, just believe.
I have seen how strong belief is, I am seeing that if someone truly believes,
they will know, they will stay, they will Come Unto Christ. Yes we all say I
KNOW THESE THINGS TO BE TRUE, but do you truly believe? That is the question we
will all have to answer before Christ, did you truly believe? I can’t say
enough about believing and how important it is because the Savior of the world
said, all things are possible if you just believe. He also said be not afraid, only
believe. I love those words from our Savior, Jesus Christ.
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Forever Family |
All I can say is Satan doesn’t ever stop. I almost had to
cancel the two temple sealing’s we had this week. The baby got sick so we went
to the house and gave the baby a blessing. As we were talking to Francisco, I
felt that I needed to tell him to just go, just go to the temple no matter what.
I did and he said ok, I will think about it. As I was sitting there I felt prompted
to ask him and his wife if they needed a blessing. I never ask people if they
want blessings but in that moment I truly felt prompted to ask them. They both
said yes and I gave them both blessings. It was an incredible experience. The
spirit touched their hearts and in that moment they had their answer that they
needed to go to the temple to be sealed no matter what. The next couple of days
were extremely difficult but we worked through it and they were able to be
sealed.
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Xela |
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Branch Temple Trip |
On Saturday the branch went to the temple, it was amazing;
the inside of the Xela Temple is so beautiful, it is breath taking. Saturday
morning when I woke up I was so weak; I didn’t know how I was going to make it
through the day. As I walked in the temple doors I felt my body going downhill
even more and I was ready to collapse. In the session I felt strength coming back
to me and I continued to receive more strength the entire time we were in the
temple. As we left the temple I felt like I had a battery charge. Just being
able to inside in the House of the Lord was such a blessing and being able to
witness the two sealing’s was something else. During the last sealing I just
wept seeing Francisco being sealed to his wife and baby. It was such a tender
mercy. I can’t even describe my feelings. We just hugged and we both wept, we
were all like we did it, it all came together. (Just a side note Francisco served
his mission in Montana.) Anyway it was such a beautiful experience, one I will
never forget.
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The Temple I'm Going There Someday |
In the temple I met a brother from the States and we had a great conversation.
This is just a few of the things he shared with me, he said when you go home
life is really going start and you need to realize you can’t go back to the
same person you were when you left because that is mocking God. For example if
you get in your car and put on worldly music every time single time there something
seriously wrong with you because you have forgotten to find moments of peace
and reflection, we are only a part of this world not of it. He said you have to
keep the temple in your sights and if do you won’t fall, because the House of
the Lord is in your eyes. He also said there is a special young lady who is
just for you, she will be the most sacred thing in your life and you have to
take care of her. The most important calling in this life is to take care of God’s
daughters because He is going to ask you on judgment day, DID YOU TAKE CARE OF
MY DAUGHTER? Prepare yourself now by taking care of the daughters of God that
you are teaching and those you have been called to watch over. I had to go and
before I left he said I love you man and I really don’t know you. We hugged and
I said love you to bro, thanks. Another great moment in the temple.
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It Is Going To Be A Good Day! |
Sunday was awesome! We had 4 investigators at church!! That is a new record or me. I taught a class
to the investigators on the atonement, I focused on what Christ went through
just so he could know how to help us and to understand our afflictions and difficulties.
It was neat to see the investigators eager to learn more about the atonement.
What I love about Mom is that she serves in the temple,
what I love about Dad is that he goes to the temple when he can, and they
prepared me to enter in the temple. Families Are Forever.
con mucho amore, ducks forever,
Elder Mcilmoil
September 22, 2014
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Oh The Places You Go |
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Oh The Things You See |
Scripture of the week: Ether 4:11
LORD I BELIEVE
“Hold fast to what you already know and stand strong
until additional knowledge comes.” Elder Jeffery R. Holland
“Be true to the faith you do have.” Elder
Jeffrey R. Holland
“Honestly acknowledge your questions and your concerns,
but first and forever fan the flame of your faith, because all things are
possible to them that believe.” Elder Jeffrey R. Holland
“Be not afraid, only believe.” Jesus Christ
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Keep The Temple In Your Sights |