Hello!

Hello everyone!

This week was fantastic! We've been working on making better lesson plans and it has made a difference. This week we taught the husband of a Less-active member. He is Muslim and so our teaching approach was a little different. Being in the South just about everyone I've taught has been Christian - Baptist, Pentecostal, Catholic, you name it. It was a good lesson and we're excited to keep teaching him.

Our investigators are still doing wonderful! They are getting baptized on June 11 and their son from Richmond is going to come and perform the ordinance. They're so excited, and so are we! At church they have been introducing themselves to everyone. It's great!

This week I have thought a lot about the Savior. Our lives must be focused on Him. He truly is the Light of the world. Our hearts should "magnify His holy name." (2 Nephi 25:13). I also think of what King Benjamin said in his great sermon. "For how knoweth a man the master whom he has not served, and who is a stranger unto him, and is far from the thoughts and intents of his heart?" (Mosiah 5:13) We truly must serve Him and think of Him and love Him.

With Love,
Elder Rogers

I Believe in Miracles.

Hello Everyone!

This week was absolutely miraculous! Just wonderful! We had two exchanges with some great Elders on Tuesday and Friday. But the best part is the miracle we had. I may have mentioned something last week of them coming to church, but I'll retell the story so far from the beginning.

Last week this couple came to church. Their son and daughter-in-law are members and their son had introduced them to the church a little while back. After church they invited us over to dinner on Wednesday. It was delicious! And they are so prepared for the restored gospel. We asked them what their expectations were about the church and the wife said something to the effect of, "Well, baptism! And then of course getting sealed later." My companion and I were ecstatic!

We also taught them on Saturday and then on Sunday they came to church and also brought their non-member son and his wife! The Stake President gave a powerful talk about Christ and that evening the same family drove us to a fireside put on by our Mission President and Wife. That was Spirit-filled and inspiring! And they loved it! They want to get baptized in June and we are so excited for them! The Lord has brought to pass a huge miracle and I'm grateful to have the chance to be a part of it.

This week I've pondered somewhat about our Eternal Family, with Heavenly Father at the head. His purpose is to "bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man." (Moses 1:39) He desires and yearns for all of us, His children, to return to Him and dwell with Him forever as an Eternal Family and this happens as we live the gospel of Jesus Christ. In 2 Nephi 2:8, Lehi teaches his son Jacob, "...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..." It is greatly important! As we share this beautiful gospel which will bring others to God, we will draw nigh to Him as well. I know He loves us. I know He is our Father. And I know that Jesus Christ is the Messiah. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Have a wonderful week everyone! I love you!

With Love,
Elder Rogers

P.S. Here's one of the Elders I went on exchanges with and also a city across the water that we saw.

All We Need Now is Some Farr's Ice Cream!

Hello Everyone!

This week was great! There was a lot that happened. On Wednesday we had our Mission Leadership Council meeting which prepared us for Zone Meeting on Friday. We are learning more about how we can work together with the members in our areas to help our investigators progress. Zone Meeting went really well! The Spirit was there and there was a lot of good participation.

Mother's Day was great! Skyping my family was fantastic! And a miracle came at church! There was a couple that walked in that was new, so we introduced ourselves. They looked like members, so I asked if they were visiting. One of them said that yes, they were. So then I asked if they were members. Nope. Haha at that point we realized what a great opportunity this was! We later learned that their son was a recent convert and their daughter-in-law (His wife) was a returning Less-Active. They've read a large portion of the Standard works! They stayed for all three hours of church and invited us over for dinner this Wednesday. And as if it couldn't get any better, they are next door neighbors to our High Priest Group leader! So we're thankful to the Lord for this miracle and are excited to see what comes!

This week I've been reading a little in the book of Acts. It's great! I really loved Acts 5:41-42. Peter and the Apostles teach of the Savior. "Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.
32 And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him."

I know that Jesus Christ truly is the only One who can bring means for repentance and forgiveness. And what a blessing that is! As we come unto Him and repent, He will truly forgive us. We will feel the peace of His grace. I testify that we will find the greatest joy in life by following the simple pattern of faith, repentance, and keeping our covenants. I know He lives. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Well I love you all! Have a marvelous week!

With Love,
Elder Rogers

P.S. We played some disc golf today. It was amazing! For those of you that are unaware, I used to always get some Farr's after playing disc golf. It was a wonderful tradition!

The Waters of Baptism

Hello Everyone!

Well I'm just really excited that our investigators got baptized on Saturday! It was an absolute miracle! Their father who has been a member for under a year, baptized them! There was a sweet spirit and we were all edified. I was able to play the piano and accompany the songs, so that was fun.
We experienced a little miracle this week as we acted in faith. We had pulled up to the home of a Less-Active whom we had tried to visit several times before, but we could never find them home. We had tried at different times of the day, but to no avail. Before we went to knock on their door, we noticed that there was an "X" through their name on our ward roster. Perhaps they had moved, or didn't want contact. But we decided to try anyway and so we went and knocked on their door. On the first knock, a man answered. We asked his name and found out that he was the non-member husband of the Less-Active lady we were coming to visit! He said they were busy, but accepted a return appointment! It was a miracle! We must always act in faith. Although something like that doesn't always happen, the Lord always blesses us when we do act in faith.

We also had a wonderful Stake Priesthood meeting last night. One young man from our ward quoted Elder Neal A. Maxwell, who said, "The more we know of Jesus, the more we will love Him. The more we know of Jesus, the more we will trust Him. The more we know of Jesus, the more we will want to be like Him and to be with Him by becoming the manner of men and women that He wishes us to be (see 3 Ne. 27:27), while living now “after the manner of happiness” (2 Ne. 5:27). I love this quote! We must learn of Jesus. As we do we will be filled with peace, faith, hope, and love! I know that He lives. He is our Savior. May we all study and feast upon His word each day. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Have a wonderful week, everyone! I love you!

With Love,
Elder Rogers

P.S. This week I also saw Elder Talbot, my last companion and the other Elder Rogers in the mission!

"Let Us Help You Move!"

Hello Everyone!

This week flew by! We've been staying busy here. On Monday we had a Zone Preparation day, so that was fun! And everything is lining up for the baptism on Saturday. They have both been interviewed. Their dad is a recent-convert of about 6 months, and he's going to baptize them! We're excited!

We were at an appointment that fell through on Saturday and a man was walking past us, so we started talking to him and sharing the gospel with him. He told us he was about to go help someone move and he didn't have time. So we asked if we could help and he let us! There were a bunch of people at the house already, but we got to help move tables and couches onto the U-Haul. It was great! Haha most of the time people won't let us help like that.

During my personal studies recently it has occurred to me the great importance of both 'heart' and 'mind'. And now both of those words (But especially heart) have been sticking out to me everywhere that I read in the scriptures. We learn from D&C 8:2 that " [God] will tell you in your mind and in your heart, by the Holy Ghost, which shall come upon you and which shall dwell in your heart." So those are the two places the Spirit speaks to us. As I pondered this, I realized how important it is to purify our hearts and cleanse our minds. It's is so important! I know that as we do, we will be more aware of God's influence. He will more easily guide our paths and give us direction. I know He truly loves us and is always reaching out to us. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
I love you! Have a wonderful week!

With Love,
Elder Rogers

Darkness Dispersed

Hello Everyone!

This week was wonderful! On Wednesday, we had a mission leadership meeting where we learned more of the power of prayer and felt the Spirit in great abundance. On Thursday, we taught one of our investigators a lesson on following the Prophet. That was a great experience. Friday came, and we had Zone Meeting! Our mission president and his wife were there, so we were a little nervous, but the meeting went quite well. A few hours later, we had interviews with President Baker. He is such a wonderful man. Interviews were fantastic and I learned a lot!

General Conference was also just inspiring! I was filled with the Spirit of God as His servants addressed us this weekend. What a blessing! There's also a scripture that I really love about heeding the prophet's counsel in the Doctrine and Covenants. It's section 21 verses 5 and 6. It reads, " 5 For his word ye shall receive, as if from mine own mouth, in all patience and faith. 6 For by doing these things the gates of hell shall not prevail against you; yea, and the Lord God will disperse the powers of darkness from before you, and cause the heavens to shake for your good, and his name’s glory." I know that the promise given here is true. As we receive the prophet's words, the powers of darkness will disperse. Light will enter our lives. We will come to know Our Father and His Son. (John 17:3) I know they live. I know they love us. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

I love you all! Have a splendid week!

With Love,
Elder Rogers

Miracles

Hello Everyone!

This week was absolutely miraculous!! The biggest miracle happened near the end of the week. I believe it was two Thursdays ago that Elder Davis and I set a goal to have a baptism on April 23rd. Last week we began teaching a 9 year old son of a recent convert. He is so smart! I haven't taught young kids too many times, but some of the answers they give are better than most of the people we teach! But anyway, this last Saturday we were going to set a baptismal date of April 30th because we thought that would be about as soon as it could happen. That didn't work for the dad, so we thought that we could do it sometime in May, but the father suggested that we do it on the 23rd! It's quick, but the ward pulled together and the baptism is practically already planned! It has been absolutely miraculous!

Yesterday we went to visit a less-active member we had never met before. She let us teach her and her teenage son. We taught and testified of the Restoration. It was apparent that they had once been very strong in the church. She said the closing prayer and it was so powerful. One of the most sincere prayers I've ever heard, and she expressed a desire to come back to the church. The Spirit was quite present, and we left feeling so good.

This week we were blessed so much by the Lord. There were many hard days, but as we pressed forward, we saw miracles. Moroni said it well in Ether 12:6. "And now, I, Moroni, would speak somewhat concerning these things; I would show unto the world that faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith." I know that life can get difficult, but as we press forward with faith in Christ, miracles will come to pass. He knows us perfectly and wants what is best for us. With Christ, we can always have hope.

With Love,
Elder Rogers