The Strength of Priesthood Power!

Queridos y bondadosos padres! Que los quiero mucho! Thank you so much for all of the prayers and support you have sent my way, I really feel the power of your faith helping me too!

Mom and Dad: Yes I know Elder Wood! he was in our district two transfers ago, and we are really, really similar! He goes home soon, but it is such a small world.

I learned a lot this week about priesthood power and I am very grateful for all of the lessons that Heavenly Father gave me. The sister missionaries have had a flu going around (working in the visitor's center half the day is conducive to spreading germs) and so there have been a lot of sick sisters in our district. That means...that there were a lot of priesthood blessings to give :) One sister told us "that was exactly what I needed, after that blessing I knew exactly what I needed to do, and I feel so much better" I really have just a lot of confidence now though that I can be worthy and ready to give a blessing and I can rely on the Spirit for the words to say. I know that as I just focus on being humble and let the Spirit talk, that the blessing the Lord wants to be said will be said.

I also know that the priesthood is "to have the privilege of receiving the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, to have the heavens opened unto them, to commune with the general assembly and church of the Firstborn, and to enjoy the communion and presence of God the Father, and Jesus the mediator of the new covenant." (D&C 107:19) Basically, as priesthood holders we have the right to receive revelation for our spheres of influence. Here is an example: This week I was looking for a way to just lift the district up and in the middle of sacrament meeting it was like the Lord opened my mind, poured a quart of revelation in, and slammed the lid, and I knew that I had to call all of the companionships to share a scripture with them. Well, we did it, and everyone commented that they felt very uplifted. I am really just learning to recognize that feeling that comes when I know the Spirit has place a thought in my mind.

The Lord was so good to us this week. I have had to be really patient in these last weeks...it’s just been so different in the area since I first got here. I honestly feel like I know everybody, I am even starting to learn who is who in the English wards (we cover more than 20 English wards all together...) The Lord poured out several tender mercies for us this week. 

We have been working for so long to reactivate the L family and baptize their son too. N (mom) and J (the son, who we gave the clothes to) have been coming to church so consistently, and they love it. This Sunday we had a funny experience getting J's cousin to church too. We stopped by to pick up D, the cousin, and he didn’t have a shirt or shoes on or anything. He really doubted whether he'd go to church, but as soon as we said "We'll go get J then" he said "Oh! I'll go get ready!" it was so funny to see his cousin run into his home and get him all ready for church. They even made it to church on time :) That is the power of having a friend in the gospel.

This week Elder Killian and I spent a lot of time studying the doctrine of Christ, as He describes his gospel in his own words and how it applies to everyone. As I have been reading the Book of Mormon this last time through (a blue pass along copy) I have been highlighting in red everywhere that it mentions Christ or his names, and underlining in blue the elements of his gospel (His atonement and mission, faith in Christ, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, enduring to the end--3Ne27:13-22). My testimony has just been so strengthened that the atonement of Jesus Christ is the central fact that governs our lives. He came to save us, to suffer for our sins, and make the way back to him possible. He just asks that we believe in him, repent and obey his commandments, including getting baptized by the priesthood authority. When we have read that from the scriptures with investigators, the Spirit always testifies of "following the example of Jesus Christ by being baptized" and it has helped me see too how our purpose is centered in the doctrine of Jesus Christ. We have had a lot of success teaching Christ's doctrine in his own words to people. September and October are going to be great months!

There are just so many amazing stories I want to tell from this week...but I will limit myself to two. We had a recent convert lesson with G and her family this Thursday (they are receiving the recent convert lessons from Preach my Gospel!) and she and her mom told us another part of their story. The night after they failed their baptismal interviews they both prayed really hard. I guess that was a way that Heavenly Father used to make sure they had real intent, because they wanted to know if they should go through with the interviews with President or not, and ultimately if they should be baptized. Well, you can count on the Holy Ghost to answer prayers, because that night they both dreamed multiple times about getting baptized, and they knew God answered their prayers. In the lesson L (the unbaptized father) was there, and he said: "just go slowly with me, baby steps. I'll read the Book of Mormon, I've just been Catholic for a long time." I can't wait for this family to go to the temple! I want you all to meet them some day.

My other amazing grace we experienced this week came from working with the Powells to fellowship recent converts. The Powells are an answer to my prayers, I have wanted for a long time to have a way to keep these converts active, and the lord sent us Brother and Sister Powell! They will be working with us to fellowship the recent converts!

Pues, casi se me ha expirado el tiempo, pero, les quiero dar mi testimonio de que yo sé que cristo vive, y que esta involucrado en nuestras vidas, A medida que tengamos fe en él, y le seamos obedientes, él nos muestra su mano en nuestras vidas. Miro su mano mas y mas cada dia, y estoy super agradecido por la oportunidad de servirle como un misionero. 

(Well my time is almost over but I want to give my testimony that Christ lives and is involved in our lives. As we have faith in him, and obey him; he shows his hand in our lives. I see his hands every day and am super grateful for the opportunity to serve as a missionary.)

Los amo! Haz lo justo!

Con amorcito,

Elder Michael George Stewart