Don't Be Lukewarm!

Multi-Zone Conference

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving! This past week was a good one. We had two baptisms! Woohoo! Heavenly Father has really blessed us. We have been blessed with people that we can help a little along the way but they also help us through their faith and examples. We have been blessed with such great people and investigators! You can see the hand of the Lord in the work here in this area. I am so thankful for it.

We had Yasmin's baptism this past week on Friday. She came to the church all excited and invited all of her friends & their families to come see her baptized too. We are teaching some of her friends and their families also. I wish her parents would come around. It is sometimes hard to understand. They really want the gospel in the lives of their children because they see the blessings that come but sometimes they are not willing to make the changes themselves so they can enjoy the blessings together as a family. As we keep inviting I hope their hearts will change and they will see they need it too. Saturday was the baptism of Mayara. Holy cow, I have never seen a person more prepared than her. On Sunday, the day after her baptism she went to the bishop to have her temple recommend interview done. She was interviewed and this Saturday she will be going to the temple with a member family (the member that baptized her). President has decided that he would like the baptisms performed by members of the ward so they have connections with them when we get transferred. So we no longer do the baptisms. I think this has been good and has connected new converts with members in a great way. I respect and admire Mayara for her decision. She is a great example of faith and of integrity. After she was baptized she went home and some of her family began to criticize her badly and say horrible things about her and the decision she had made. Told her not to go back to the church etc...but instead she came the next day and was confirmed. She was in Relief Society and said to a member that she was feeling something way different then before and that she knew it was the Holy Ghost comforting her and confirming to her that she had made the right decision. Then she went and had her temple interview. She pushed onward. It was awesome to see her stand firm during her challenges and trials.

Baptism of Mayara

Baptism of Jasmine

Gina, Renato and Mayara & her boyfriend Vitor

We had a Multi-zone Conference this week which was awesome.  It is always great to see everybody and learn a little more about how we can serve better.

One of my Trainers - Elder Sander

Our zone with Pres. & Sis. Bangerter

With Elder Hugo at Zone PDay activity - love this guy!

The spiritual thought I wanted to share this week is from Revelations 3:15-16.

"I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot."
"So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth."
As I was studying this past week I came across this scripture. Sometimes I think we get comfortable and think it is okay to be "lukewarm", or "more or less good" or "somewhat a good person". But the Lord has told us that He will not accept lukewarm. We need to choose whether we are going to be "cold or hot". Are we going to be obedient or disobedient, righteous or wicked. To Him there doesn't exist this thing of "I kept the sabbath day holy 50% of the time" or "I will obey this commandment but not this one because it doesn't make a difference for me" This isn't how the gospel works. We cannot have one foot in and one foot out. Of course we all will make mistakes and are not perfect but when we keep choosing to only obey partially or follow Him halfheartedly then we are on the wrong path that will lead to unhappiness. The Lord would love to bless us and has many blessings in store but we have to be obedient so He as a just God can bless us with them. If we have gone down the wrong path or made choices that aren't good we are never to far to come back to Him if we have a contrite heart and humble spirit and true desire to follow Him. That is what the atonement of Jesus Christ is all about. But we need to make sure our hearts and our will is one with Him. I love that video "Because of Him". I know most of you have seen it but it is so important to remember all we have been given. It reminds us of all the sacrifices He made for us and all that is possible because of Him. Because of Him, we are here and have the opportunity to return to our Heavenly Father and Him one day. I love my Savior and hope to honor that sacrifice and remember Him as I choose to follow Him with my whole heart, might and mind. Here is the video link if you would like to watch it again.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_S3TI4bYerU (Video "Because of Him")

Hope everyone has a great week.
Elder Davis