Dear Elders and Sisters,
It’s hard to believe that December is here again! What
happened to 2014? Time really flies when you are diligent and focused. We have
been blessed to witness many miracles this year. We are grateful to be engaged
in such a significant work. Elder Gong recently taught us that everything we do
as missionaries touches on both mortality and eternity. Perhaps no other time
of the year is associated with so many special opportunities to share what we
hold most dear with others not of our faith.
Our missionary purpose is to invite an increasing number of
people “to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through
faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the
gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end” (PMG, pg. 1). There isn’t a
more exciting and natural time than the Christmas season to testify of Jesus
Christ and to invite all to learn more of His teachings and Plan of Salvation.
Most people that you encounter each day know very little of
Christ and His teachings. They do not understand that the very first gift of
Christmas was from a loving Heavenly Father to all of His children – it was the
gift of a Savior, His only begotten son, even Jesus Christ. I invite each of
you, with your companion, to do everything you can to help someone come unto
Christ and be baptized during this Christmas season.
Elder Russell M. Nelson has said, “Christmas is a time of
reflection on what we can become because of God’s sacred gift. As we discover
the gift, we learn of the immeasurable love of God and our absolute need
for a Savior. As we embrace the gift, we strengthen our faith in Jesus
Christ, and desire to become more like Him. As we share the gift, we
follow in the Master’s footsteps, who invited all to hear His message” (Ensign,
December 2014).
Let’s follow up on our November month of faith and diligence
with a White Christmas in December. By this I mean a month of baptisms. In
order to accomplish this great task, let us continue to do the following:
·
Help others discover the gift by talking
with as many people as possible each day about God’s love and the sacred gift
of Jesus Christ. Set goals for how many people you will talk with each day.
·
Help others embrace the gift by inviting
them to fully receive the Savior’s gifts through baptism and receiving the gift
of the Holy Ghost.
·
Help others share the gift by asking them
to invite their family and friends to meet with you to learn more of the
restored gospel of Jesus Christ. Let’s ask everyone we talk with if they know
someone who would like to hear our message.
If you are here in Taiwan this Christmas it will be
memorable. If you help someone be baptized this Christmas season, your joy in
that memory will be eternal (D&C 18:15)! Let’s do it.
President Blickenstaff
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