News Item: Iron Rod OTM Newsletter Jan./Feb. 2009
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Dear Missionaries,
There is a sign on the president's desk in the mission home that bears great significance for all of us. It is a quote from a talk given to the missionaries in the MTC on June 24, 2008 by Elder Robert D. Hales. He bore this testimony: "The fruits of the Atonement will be central to all of your personal missionary labors and all that you will teach and testify of during your mission. In fact, it will be the center of your whole life. The very purpose of your mission, the very purpose of being here in mortality, in fact, will be to gain a testimony of the Atonement for yourself and to help your investigators do the same."
Preach My Gospel also teaches us of the imperative nature of understanding the Atonement. It states: "As your understanding of the Atonement of Jesus Christ grows, your desire to share the gospel will increase." (Preach My Gospel, p. 2)
We learn from Preach My Gospel (p. 58) that, "As used in the scriptures, to atone is to suffer the penalty for an act of sin, thereby removing the effects of sin from the repentant sinners and allowing them to be reconciled to God. Jesus Christ suffered in Gethsemane and on the cross. He was the only one capable of making a perfect Atonement for all mankind. He suffered the penalty for our sins in Gethsemane and died on the cross. He took upon Himself the pains, sicknesses, temptations, afflictions, and infirmities of us all."
The Atonement is conditional so far as each person's individual sins are concerned, and touches every one to the degree that he has faith in Jesus Christ, repents of his sins, and obeys the gospel. (Bible Dictionary, p. 617)
As Elder Hales taught us in our last mission presidents' seminar in September 2008, the third Article of Faith very plainly sets forth the way whereby we might have access to the saving power of the Atonement. "We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by OBEDIENCE to the laws and ordinances of the gospel." As we teach people of these truths, we need to help them understand that one of these ordinances is baptism. For them to obtain exaltation it is necessary to enter the waters of baptism.
Lehi testified: "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." (2 Nephi 2:8)
The Prophet Joseph Smith declared that "all things which pertain to our religion are only appendages" to the atonement of Jesus Christ. (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 121)
The literal meaning of the word "atonement": is "at-one-ment, the act of unifying or bringing together what has been separated or estranged." (Encyclopedia of Mormonism, p. 83)
How grateful we are for our Savior's loving sacrifice for us and all mankind, for it is the only way whereby we may return to live with our Father in Heaven again! It is a blessing to be able to devote our time as missionaries to sharing this sacred and essential message with all those who are prepared to hear it. It is also essential that we apply this knowledge in our own lives--that we use the Atonement of Jesus Christ every single day. It will bring us peace, joy, comfort, and will allow the Spirit of God to be present in our lives. May each of us study and apply His Atonement with more diligence and faith.
With Love, President and Sister Seal
ASSISTANTS’ MESSAGE
“My mission had a great impact on my life. I learned to rely more on the Lord, to seek the guidance of the Spirit, and to feel an overwhelming love for God’s children. My testimony of the Savior and His infinite Atonement was strengthened. My missionary experiences became part of who and what I am. Missionary work became my passion. It has impacted my life and that of my family more than anything else.” - Silvia H. Allred
“My mission means everything to me 47 years after the fact. There may have been one day in those 47 years that I have not thought of my mission; I’m just not sure what day that would have been.” - Elder Jeffrey R. Holland
Dear Elders and Sisters,
It is safe to say that we all can recognize how our missions will impact the rest of our lives. Not only are our lives impacted but literally the thousands we meet throughout this sacred part of our journey. When you think back on your missions, who will you think of? Who is it that will stick out to you? You may see faces right now as you ponder on these questions. For most of you, these are people that you love dearly. These individuals were a main focus of your long and sincere prayers as you sought for ways to better work with them, or help them make necessary changes and steps to become. Some of them you taught. You really cared about their desires. You were not afraid to ask a lot from them, or from the members you prayerfully asked to help fellowship, because you understood it would be a great benefit for them all. When you studied, the Spirit taught you ways to help these individuals because you studied specifically for them. They recognized you as a servant of the Lord, because you turned them to our Savior and their Heavenly Father.
As Elder Wirthlin said, “The most cherished and sacred moments of our lives are those filled with the spirit of love. The greater the measure of our love, the greater is our joy.” Our missions will mean everything to us, as well, as we truly give of ourselves for others. How great is your love for the people? Are your specific prayers for them? How great are your efforts? Do you love the people as a missionary or as yourself, regardless of the nametag? We know that as we lose ourselves in this great cause, for our love of God and our fellowmen, we will truly find ultimate joy in this journey. Let us pray specifically for 100 baptisms and the exact amount that need to enter the waters in our own areas. Then we will do all we can and invoke the blessings of Heaven.
Love,
Elder Nickle and Elder Jurgensmeier
New Arrivals
January 14, 2009
Elder Britton Barnett Anchorage, AK
Elder L. Daniel Stout, Hyrum, UT
Elder Spencer Hirshfeld, Wasilla, AK
Elder Jordan Poulsen, West Jordan, UT
Elder Samuel Anders, Scottsdale, AZ
Elder Kyle Rawlins, Oakdale, CA
Elder Derrick Chapman,
Newman Lake, WA
January 20, 2009
Sister Glendora Howard
Idaho Falls, ID
Sister Tava Lee Nokes, Riverton, UT
Departing Missionaries
January 2, 2009 January 17, 2009
Elder Joshua A. Burnham Elder Brent W. Waller
Elder Alan T. Tanner Elder Shaun D. Yale
Sister Caitlin Sherar
The Lord will reward and richly bless you as you humbly and prayerfully serve Him. More happiness awaits you than you have ever experienced as you labor among His children.
The First Presidency PMG p. v
February Birthdays
01 Elder Meyere
07 Elder Goold
08 Elder Smethurst
12 Elder Anders
12 Elder Conrad
14 Elder Brown
16 Elder Caresia
16 Elder Hallows
16 Elder Hause
17 Elder Goodale
23 Elder Silcock
28 Elder Horch
29 Elder Barnes
March Birthdays
01 Elder Marsh
02 Elder Hawkins
03 Elder Payne
03 Elder Siolaa
05 Elder Richins
06 Elder Kaneko
06 Elder B. Jacob Miller
09 Elder Lelis
09 Elder Williams
10 Elder Osmond
12 Elder Nickle
15 Elder Enciso
15 Elder Lashaway
THE EIGHT EXPECTATIONS OF VEHICLES IN THE OTM
1. BE ACCIDENT FREE.
2. TIRE PRESSURE 35 #. CHECK THEM EVERY TIME YOU GET FUEL.
3. ONE BIKE DAY EACH WEEK. SUMMER TIME AT LEAST ONE EXTRA DAY.
4. END OF MONTH MILEAGE REPORT IN MY HANDS BY THE 5TH. (NO EXCEPTIONS)
5. ALL RECEIPTS FOR WORK DONE ON VEHICLES MAILED TO ME IMMEDIATELY.
6. RESPECT YOUR ALLOTTED MILES. (DO NOT GO OVER YOUR MILES.)
7. ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS! WEAR YOUR SEAT BELTS.
8. YOUR MISSION: BAPTIZE, BAPTIZE, BAPTIZE
WE WANT YOU TO BE SAFE AND ENJOY YOUR MISSION .YOU ARE VERY SPECIAL, ELDERS AND SISTERS. REMEMBER HEAVENLY FATHER’S HOUSE IS A HOUSE OF ORDER. NOW IS THE TIME TO PROVE TO HEAVENLY FATHER THAT WE ARE WORTHY TO LIVE WITH HIM. “AND IF A PERSON GAINS MORE KNOWLEDGE AND INTELLIGENCE IN THIS LIFE THROUGH HIS DILLIGENCE AND OBEDIENCE THAN ANOTHER, HE WILL HAVE SO MUCH THE ADVANTAGE IN THE WORLD TO COME .” D & C 130:19
I LOVE AND APPRECIATE ALL YOU DO.
ELDER (BEAR) BOWERS
Baptisms for December 2008
Ft. Smith
Clarksville Betty Louise Perry
Greenwood **Arthur Roy Althoff
Dakota Edward Gromley
McAlester Jorge Prada Arias
Mena Ashley Nicole Campbell Joplin Stake
Miami Heather LeAnn Irvin
Monett James Lee Fuller
Marilyn Sue Reber
Brenden Andrew Watson
Neosho Kaleb Derek Bell
Webb City Herman Eugene Hopper Jr.
Rogers Stake
Rogers Spanish Juan Francisco Mena
Springdale Stake
Prairie Grove Alberta Frances Casper Springdale 3rd Joni Dabra Capital
Tilo Kiyoki Lucky
Jarki Prison
Yomitha James Kalles
Telitha Kalles
Springfield Stake
Aurora Linda June Miller
Rocky Joe Thompson
Bolivar Natasha Grace Staggs
Springfield 2nd Edward Wade Edwards
Springfield Univ Brice Matthew Roewe
Willard 2nd Hermilo Ramirez Gomez
Springfield South
Branson 1st Suzanne Wonderley
Springfield 4th **Kenneth Ray Ferguson
**Sydney Ann Ferguson
Springfield 5th Corey Stearns
Davon Myles Davis
St. Robert Stake
Eldon Angel Marie Hildenbrand
Osage Beach Katie Lois Estrada
Winona Randall Alan Balmas Tulsa Stake
Bartlesville 2nd Mollie Allyssa Conn
Cleveland Beth Dawn Lynn Gross
Independence Erika Elizabeth Lord
Jenks Keenan Brady Wise
New Haven Octavis “TayTay” McClure
Skiatook Katlyn Renee Clark
Bryce Marcus Juby
Patty Lyn Juby
Tulsa East Stake
Claremore Ashley Nicole Estes Sam Wilson Linda Diane Wilson
Elm Creek Connie VanPatten
**Baptism was in November 2008
OTM BAPTISMS—DECEMBER 2008
(COV) Convert 11
(MD) Media Referrals: 0
(MR) Member Referrals: 10
(PM) Part-Member Family: 16
(T) Tracting: 1
(OTM’d) 6
TOTAL 44
Total Member Referrals: 47
“My Most Memorable Spiritual Experience”
DO YOU HAVE FAITH?
This is one of those experiences that is often overlooked in my memory, but is one of great motivating faith.
In February of 2008, I was serving in the Aurora Ward with Elder Siolaa. While working in Aurora one day, I became discouraged and frustrated. We had just left a house when I got yelled at. Elder Siolaa turned to me and said, “Do you have faith? You need faith.” He said it in such a meek and humble way, I didn’t take offense. I knew it was true. I had let doubt run rampant.
We turned the corner, he picked a house and we went up and knocked. A young lady answered. Elder Siolaa introduced us and we started to teach her outside. She wanted to learn more and invited us back.
My faith was built back up. She then, on her own, came to church. We had dinner with her and her husband and roommate that Wednesday. She told us that she needed to tell us something. In my mind, I thought she was going to drop us. I was wrong. She said, “I want to become a Mormon. I want to be baptized!” Total Shocker for me! I got transferred two weeks later, but it didn’t matter. She still got baptized.
I feel this is memorable because it goes to show that all it takes is one humble and faith-filled missionary to change someone’s life. Since then, whenever I get down, I ask myself the same question Elder Siolaa asked that day, “Do you have Faith?”
Elder Steven D. Foxford
BELIEVE!
"The Lord has promised us that as we 'search diligently, pray always, and be believing, . . . all things [will] work together for [our] good' (D&C 90:24). That doesn't mean that everything will be perfect or that we will not have any trials, but it does mean that everything will be okay if we just 'hang in there.' Ours is the opportunity to 'be . . . an example of the believers' (1 Tim. 4:12), and the Savior has promised that 'all things are possible to him that believeth' (Mark 9:23). So believe in yourselves. Believe that you are never alone. Believe that you will always be guided." Elaine S. Dalton, "Believe!" Ensign, May 2004,
Forty Day Fast Miracle
By Elders Liston and Stapley
The day of our fast, we had a huge miracle. We had received a member referral. We went to the referrals house to meet Cindy Allen and to share a message. This woman had been prepared by the Lord. After we had taught her, she said that she already knew that what we taught was true. She said that she knew that Joseph Smith was a prophet and she knew that the Book of Mormon was true, even though she hadn’t read it. She wanted to get baptized.
She said that when her family found out, she would be disowned. That didn’t matter. She knew the church was true. She is going to get baptized no matter what. Miracles do happen!
Media Referral Miracle
By Elders Smith and Sinex
We received a Media referral from a man who ordered a Lamb of God DVD for his grandchildren. The day of our appointment, his wife had been praying that God would help her find the truth. Then we knocked on the door. (She had forgotten that we were coming to deliver the DVD) She felt like we were an answer to her prayer.
They hadn’t ever heard of our church, so they wanted to make sure that we believed in the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, which, of course , we do. As we started teaching the Joseph Smith story, they told us that they also were confused about different religions. Everything we taught made so much sense to them. They wanted us to teach them more.
Their daughter-in-law was there and wanted to know if we could teach her children. A family friend was there who also wanted to be taught. We gave away 3 copies of the Book of Mormon and ended up with 4 new investigators with the possibility of more. We set a return appointment for the following week.
We knew we didn’t want to miss this appointment that day, and now we know why.
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