Baptism!

Hello Everyone!

Our investigators were baptized this week! It was such a wonderful experience for everyone!Their son from Richmond, came down to baptize them. I gave a talk on Baptism how it is the gate on the path to eternal life, the path back to our Heavenly Father. After each baptism they embraced their son and there was such a sweet spirit there. Then their daughter-in-law sang "How Great Thou Art". I love that song.

They had a luncheon afterwards. My companion and I were there as the food was being prepared and cooked, so we went to ask what we could do to help. We were given the job of cooking the hamburgers and hot dogs on the grill! It was somewhat unexpected, but in a good way. Most of the burgers turned out great! I won't give too much detail about the other burgers. There were a lot of people there, and even some of their non-member friends! It was a great day!

This week I've been reading in The Book of Mormon a section commonly called "The War Chapters". I learned a great lesson in chapter 49. It talks of the Nephites preparations for war in verse 20 and in verse 23 states the result of their preparation. "Thus the Nephites had all power over their enemies..." What a simple, yet powerful principle! The Lord says in the Doctrine and Covenants. "...if ye are prepared, ye shall not fear." (D&C 38:30) I know that this is true. We ought to be spending much time each day in spiritual preparation. if we do, we will be given strength.

I love you all! Have a fantastic week!

With Love,
Elder Rogers

Transfers!

Hello Everyone!

Transfers happened this week! My new companion, Elder Nipko, is from Ephraim, Utah. He loves basketball and has been on the mission for about a year. And he was in my Zone when he started his mission, so I knew him before! I was his first zone leader and now we're zone leaders together! Transfer day was fun and it was great to see many of my past companions!

We had a miracle on Saturday! We had a lesson set up for 1:00 with a lady, and we had a member who was going to come with us. About an hour or so before the lesson the member had to cancel on us. It was out of the way of many of the members in the ward, and so I knew there would be difficult finding one on such short notice. I offered a prayer to Heavenly Father that we could find someone to take. Then we started calling. After nearly exhausting our resources I had the thought of calling a Less-Active youth we have been working with. I almost expected him to turn us down because he had in times past, but he said he'd come! And he had a great time! It blessed him, our investigators, us, and it was a simple answer to a simple prayer.

As I studied a talk from the most recent General Conference from Sister Oscarson, I was touched by 7 principles that lead to conversion. "We all need to seek to have our hearts and very natures changed so that we no longer have a desire to follow the ways of the world but to please God. True conversion is a process that takes place over a period of time and involves a willingness to exercise faith. It comes when we search the scriptures instead of the Internet. It comes when we are obedient to the commandments of God. Conversion comes when we serve those around us. It comes from earnest prayer, regular temple attendance, and faithful fulfillment of our God-given responsibilities. It takes consistency and daily effort."

With Love,
Elder Rogers

P.S. Our Investigators are getting baptized this weekend!!

Pig Pickin' and Transfers

Hello Everyone!

On Saturday around 11:00 we got a transfer call! Elder Davis, my companion is getting transferred to a new area called New Kent. My new companion's name is Elder Nipko. I went on exchanges with him about a year ago in New Bern, NC! He's great and I'm excited!

Our miracle investigators are still doing wonderful! They're set for baptism next weekend and everything is in place for it to happen. We're all excited! Our Ward had a pig pickin' today, which is basically where someone cooks an entire pig and everyone works together to eat it! It was tasty!

This week I ponderized Matthew 5:14-16. This is Christ teaching His disciples.
"14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."
I love where He states that men don't put the candle under a bushel. They put it on a candlestick so it's light can bless everyone. As I thought over this verse I realized that the restored gospel can be related to that light. Why would we hide the glorious light under a bushel? When one receives it all they want to do is put it on a candlestick so that everyone in the house can have their lives illuminated. I know that when we share the light we have received, our appreciation for the light increases. Christ is the greatest Light. May we let the warmth of His Light illuminate our lives and all that are in the house.

With Love,
Elder Rogers

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!