Once a year we are invited to the S&I three day convention with the coordinators to get our batteries charged. Daniel has always stated that this area is the first he's invited to attend as a DTA
The convention was from Tuesday Nov. 11 to Friday Nov. 14, 2014. What I learned in those three days will last with me forever. There were so many good things shared by wonderful people in the room so I will start with Elder Martinez and his wife, than brother Anderson from Salt Lake, than brother Rappleye than the rest of the group and last but not least my sweetheart Daniel.
Elder Martinez had us read a few scriptures to analyze further. One was D&C 6:36 and 37 " Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not. Behold the wounds which pierce my side, and also the prints of the nails in my hands and feet; be faithful, keep my commandments and ye shall inherit the kingdom of heaven. Amen". I was thinking about so many times fear of things to come overtake our thinking but we should have more trust in the Lord. The Josephs from Haiti had their home broken into by robbers while they were attending the seminar and they expressed that they were not worried after listening to Elder Martinez.
Brother Anderson spoke on being on the right journey toward exaltation.That the trials in our lives is what makes us get closer to him. We are here on this earth to reach our potential and to become better. Even when you have been born again you have a body that has desires, we all have temptations, we all love chocolate! Sexual drive is given by God but if you are looking in the wrong places, don't go there! We need to be clean before the Lord. Invite all youth to attend seminary and Institute. Don't miss one. Mosiah 18:21 D& C 66:3 sins of omission Good, better, best!
Use your talents. We need not only to use the talent given to us but to make it better, to improve it. He went over Revelations 7: 9, 13,14 This is the only way to become better, if you take away the pressure there is no progress, you can't find the word fun in the scriptures. We are to have peace but not as the world gives peace. Some decide to get out of the pressure by leaving the Church, the pressure that turns us into saints. There is no other way.
He had us read Mosiah 23:14 The responsibility we have as teachers is to be great examples. Job 13:15 He allows death, trials, burdens but faith is not only thing that we should never lose.
To believe is faith in the old testament = Trust! D&C 67:13 talks about to continue in patience until you are perfected. Be the way we are. Don't try to be like someone else. God loves us the way we are. Think of what is your mission in life and try to fulfill it and how do you know if you are making any progress on what your mission is? read 2 Nephi: 28 Also know what the Gospel of Jesus is all about, read Matthew 22: 36-39 A fellow was making a painting of Christ and as he went to show President Kimball all the different portraits of Him and asked to choose which one was the closest, President Kimball said: look into my eyes, there should be love for all people, the portrait of Jesus should show loving eyes. He ended by saying Jesus loves everyone!
Brother Rappleye discussed the talk by Elder Martinez on service and it was nice to have his son in law and elder Martinez daughter commenting first hand because the stories on this talked were about those two families who went to help after the hurricane George hit Puerto Rico. How much we need to observe and than act when doing service. How we need to be in tune with the spirit to tell us what to do and how home teaching and visiting teaching is so vital in order to serve one another. We went over Moses 7: 18 and the Lord called his people Zion, because they were of one heart, and one mind, and dwell in righteousness; and there was no poor among them. Jacob 2:17-19 explains the principle of prosperity. Pay your fast offering and not only pay it but be generous. This is how we help the poor and how much does it cost? 0 because it does not cost anything because we would have spent it eating anyway. Next: Seek personal development. We read Matthew 11:5, ( The poor received the gospel) Matthew 19: 16-20 Mosiah 4:26 We are expected to become self-reliant to be able to help those in need. Is what it's called raising the bar. He explained how that term came about and drew a picture. No excuses. Elder Gardner is blind and does everything anyone around does, he is a distinguished lawyer and successful in all he does. Another example: Dr. Carson His mother was one of 24 children, she married to a 28 year old fellow at age 13 but at age 8 or 10 his mother separated and only said: "your father has done bad things and he is not going to be living with us". She was on her own, would check into the mental hospital because things were so bad. Ben while he was in grade school was made stupid and was ridiculed until he found out that he needed glasses to see. His mom had a 3 grade education but made him study hard and encouraged him to never give up. He later was given an award but still the fact he was black was hard for people to accept him. Ben Carson became a successful Dr. so much that he was the one responsible for separating twins joint at the head. He wrote a book " Gifted Hands" and now he is running for President. Another great example was Mary Murdock who died on her way to the Utah but told someone to tell her son John the following " Tell John that I died with my face facing Zion" What is the legacy we want to leave behind? Alma 48:11-13, 17 We are leading as people to the welfare of our brothers and sisters. We want to be knows firs of all as people with integrity, people who are valiant. people who think of others. Example of Moroni who was valiant and didn't fear men. Jesus was crucified because he proclaimed to be the son of God, the bread of life, all was fine and dandy feeding the 5000 physically but as soon as he said I am the bread of life, people left. Is no much different today, we also believe that we are children of God but Satan wants to convince you that it is not true. John 10: 24-31 People get stuck on verse 30 because they read it out of context thinking that God the Father and the Son are the same thing when it clearly shows in the scriptures they are two different beings. We need to have the courage to stand with difficult doctrine even when we will be standing alone. Joseph Smith, Brigham Young and John Taylor practiced plural marriage. Ended on October 6, 1890. Nancy and Kent Rapplleye would not exist today if it wasn't for plural marriage. 2 Samuel 12: 7-8 Jacob 2: 27-30 D&C 132 Brigham Young to with blacks couldn't hold the Priesthood; Gordon B Hinckley: The Family, A Proclamation to the World. given in 1995.At the time no big deal, it was accepted, but is it now? Thomas S Monson: Same sex marriage. What do we know, where do we stand? faith in following the prophet the one soul that will not led us stray and that is a promise. Moroni 7:48 Be still and know that I am God. Things will get worse and worse but we know who we are. There is no substitute for family prayer. What does the Savior want us to do? What does it mean to be a leader in the kingdom of God? What is our mission? Brother Rappleye ended the meeting with his wife standing by him acknowledging that he appreciates all she does for him and how much he loves her. He even gave her a kiss at the end. Very sweet ending.
In between this last meeting brother Britton from Jamaica and brother Muñoz shared their thoughts on social media. brother Joseph on the new requirements to graduate form seminary, brother Gamiete of the role of priesthood leaders. It shared that there are 2400 LDS official sites for the Church, that the most popular one is Facebook, followed by Twitter He read Moses 7: 60-62 The missionary work can be done this way without having to be knocking on doors and the same goes to what we know of our students. Are we helping them to improve their lives? Are we making a difference? Are we helping the students help others? Tips on how to post: Be natural, Be brief, Be Relevant, Be visual, using images, share scriptures, Mormon messages, talks,etc. example: If not us who? If not now when? to encourage young men and women to go on a mission. Remember President Benson to fill the earth with the Book of Mormon. now is sweep the earth with good messages using social media. Know the difference of goals vs purpose or Metas y Propositos. #sharegoodness #comprartebondad. In Acient Greece Alenxander the Great was taught by Aristotle. Who are we teaching? We are the trainers like Aristotle was to Alexander the Great! The rules have changed. It is no longer just attending seminary that will get you graduated, now you need to read the material and pass an exam and have a Bishop interview. D&C 124: 45-46 and 3 Nehpi 27: 10-11 were shared. Remember the 7 hats White: fact; Blue: management; Red: feelings; Black; opposition; Green: creative solutions; Yellow: optimistic.
Daniel spoke about a historic event that took place thirty years ago, when the first area Presidency was introduced and now we are at another historic event because we are at a pivotal point as well when the self-reliance approached has been introduced. It is done the same way it was done when the pioneers organized themselves. D&C 136:3, 9, 27 to become self-reliant and help others. His presentation was very good. It lasted over an hour and well worth it. He ended by saying " We are the Church and He is at the helm'.
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