September 28, 2014

The Primary program was this week at church, it was really good! Always fun to watch the kids do funny things and feel the sweet spirit there. On Saturday Sarah and Craig said they were coming to church then Sunday morning a little family emergency came up, it was sad because they were really excited for the program. Hopefully next week. We started working with a recent convert’s daughter, Nicole. We taught her the restoration and when we said what do you know about Joseph Smith? She said he was a prophet right? I thought that was a good response! She accepted a baptismal date for the 25th of October. We picked up a few part member families this week, one girl who is 9 and wants to be baptized but her dad has to quit smoking so he can be worthy, he set a goal to be ready on October 25th as well so hopefully we can help them! There is a lot of less active members in the ward we have had some great visits with them, hopefully we can help to reactivate. Our mission is starting a new program called just serve, where we volunteer up to 10 hours a week at places like food banks, homeless shelters, hospitals, etc., it should be fun! We got to leave the mission for a fireside in west phoenix. We had a huge rainstorm! It was sunny in the morning and all the sudden it stormed, lots of tree's fell over, even a palm tree. We found a street light knocked over and a stop light so it was a pretty serious storm. The car (12 passenger van we drive) was rocking in the wind and you could barely see 20 feet ahead. Also I went on exchanges in fountain hills this last week, there is a lot of money rolling around their! I learned a lot! One cool thing was a while back in Pine we did service for a part member family who has a cabin in Pine, and I talked to a guy for like 40 minutes about the church, and we went and saw him, still hasn't joined but I think he will one day. I found a cool scripture the other day! Mosiah 2: 1 And it came to pass that after Mosiah had done as his father had commanded him, and had made a proclamation throughout all the land, that the people gathered themselves together throughout all the land, that they might go up to the temple to hear the words which king Benjamin should speak unto them. 2 And there were a great number, even so many that they did not number them; for they had multiplied exceedingly and waxed great in the land. 3 And they also took of the firstlings of their flocks, that they might offer sacrifice and burnt offerings according to the law of Moses; 4 And also that they might give thanks to the Lord their God, who had brought them out of the land of Jerusalem, and who had delivered them out of the hands of their enemies, and had appointed just men to be their teachers, and also a just man to be their king, who had established peace in the land of Zarahemla, and who had taught them to keep the commandments of God, that they might rejoice and be filled with love towards God and all men. 5 And it came to pass that when they came up to the temple, they pitched their tents round about, every man according to his family, consisting of his wife, and his sons, and his daughters, and their sons, and their daughters, from the eldest down to the youngest, every family being separate one from another. 6 And they pitched their tents round about the temple, every man having his tent with the door thereof towards the temple, that thereby they might remain in their tents and hear the words which king Benjamin should speak unto them; 7 For the multitude being so great that king Benjamin could not teach them all within the walls of the temple, therefore he caused a tower to be erected, that thereby his people might hear the words which he should speak unto them. 8 And it came to pass that he began to speak to his people from the tower; and they could not all hear his words because of the greatness of the multitude; therefore he caused that the words which he spake should be written and sent forth among those that were not under the sound of his voice, that they might also receive his words. 9 And these are the words which he spake and caused to be written, saying: My brethren, all ye that have assembled yourselves together, you that can hear my words which I shall speak unto you this day; for I have not commanded you to come up hither to trifle with the words which I shall speak, but that you should hearken unto me, and open your ears that ye may hear, and your hearts that ye may understand, and your minds that the mysteries of God may be unfolded to your view. Ok, now that you have read that, think of general conference! We gather round to hear the words of our prophet. Our tents are our houses and we look toward the TV as a family to listen. The tower could be the conference center so more people can listen. Cant all hear? Write it down- the Ensign, the internet, the TV, the radio! There are many other similarities but I am out of time, have a good week! Love, Elder Stevenson