Tuesday, April 22, 2014

The importance of members

Hey everybody, 

This has been a tough week. Alot of things have happened! Even though it was a hard week we had an amazing stake conference this weekend. 

This entire stake conference was on The Work of Salvation and how members and missionaries can work together. That is such an important thing that we must realize. If members and missionaries work hand and hand then this work will progress so much faster and more effectively! One big thing I learned from stake conference is that if members would just open their mouths about the gospel and show their faith in God that God will fill their mouths. In D&C 31:7 it says "Yea, I will aopen the hearts of the people, and they will receive you. And I will establish a church by your hand;" This shows us that God is the one that opens the hearts of the people. He does the heavy lifting. Then in D&C 33: 7-8 it says "Yea, verily, verily, I say unto you, that the field is awhite already to harvest; wherefore, thrust in your sickles, and reap with all your might, mind, and strength.Open your mouths and they shall be filled, and you shall become even as bNephi of old, who journeyed from Jerusalem in the wilderness." Here it tells us that all we have to do is open our mouths and God will fill them. This is Gods work and he is in control. These are his children and he want them to come back. He is working constantly to prepare their hearts so that when we open our mouths and trust in God they will recieve the words. Gods hand is constantly in our life! We just have to realize that these are his children... our brothers and sisters. He wants them to come back so much. He works through us to make that possible. Our mission president during Stake Conference quoted a General Authority that said if someone has enough faith to put a mormon.org card in your pocket then God will put someone in your path to give it too. We should be praying everyday for missionary oppurtunites. If we ask we shall recieve. We shouldnt be scared to share the gospel because God will put into our mouths what we should say if we just have the faith to take that step forward. 

So me and my companion made a Family Mission Plan for each family in our ward. I will attach it and hopefully it will help each of you with your missionary work. 

Another amazing thing happened this week. One of our investigators recieved the Melchizedek Priesthood last Sunday. That was such an amazing experience to witness someone making another step back to our Heavenly Father. He was so happy after he recieved the Priesthood! 

I read a amazing talk this week called waiting on the road to damascus by Dieter F. Uchtdorf 
This is an very uplifting powerful talk given by a servant of the lord and i would suggest that each of you read it. 

Well I hope everyone is doing good! Keep me posted on all your guys life! Love Yall

Elder Kennedy

Family Mission Plan

1.     Make a list of people who you feel would benefit from the Gospel
a.    Pray and seek for inspiration to whom you should work with on your list.
b.    Look on Facebook for inspiration
c.     Be alert to those who have had a recent death, birth, or marriage in the family. Someone who is going through a hard time.
d.    Contact some of the people on your list who you feel inspired to invite to an activity, church, or to start doing family history with.
2.     Invite someone from your list to…
a.    Dinner
b.    Family Home Evening
c.     Family Game Night
d.    Sporting Event
e.    BBQ
f.      Etc. ( come up with your own ideas )
3.     Share a Spiritual Message with those on your list.
a.    Uplifting Text Message
b.    A talk that has inspired you
c.     Mormon Message
d.    Mormon.Org Card (can get these from the missionaries)
e.    Have a Bible Study
4.     Invite them to Church activities
a.    Ward BBQ
b.    Ward Family Functions
c.     Youth Nights “Mutual”
d.    When you are giving a talk or teaching a class at church
e.    Invite them to take a tour of your church building
f.      Etc.
5.     Extend an invitation anytime to
a.    Meet the missionaries so they can learn more about our faith
b.    Go to the Visitors Center at the Temple
c.     Read from the Book of Mormon
d.    Give them a copy of The Book of Mormon
e.    General Conference/Stake Conference/Firesides

“Yea, I will open the hearts of the people, and they will receive you. And I will establish a church by your hand;” – D&C 31:7

Preparation to Share the Gospel with Those on your List


“Preach My Gospel reminds all of us that “nothing happens in missionary work until [we] find someone to teach. Talk with as many people as you can each day. It is natural to be somewhat apprehensive about talking to people, but you can pray for the faith and strength to be more bold in opening your mouth to proclaim the restored gospel” ([2004], 156–57) – Elder M. Russell Ballard

·      Attend the Temple Regularly
·      Pray for missionary opportunities and have faith to act on impressions felt by the Holy Ghost
·      Do Family History work
o   Learn how www.familysearch.org works
o   Bring Names to the temple to have them done
·      Read talks on missionary works
·      Invite the missionaries over to teach you the lessons so you can see how to share the Gospel with your friends
o   Role play with the missionaries on how to extend invitations and follow up on those invitations
o   Learn what kind of resources are out there that can help spread the gospel
·      Read your scriptures and pray daily
·      Read from Preach My Gospel daily
o   This will help you become a greater missionary
·      Follow the promptings of the Holy Ghost and learn to recognize promptings
·      Ask the missionaries for Copies of the Book of Mormon
Names of Referrals or people you are working with…
·      ___________________________________
·      ___________________________________
·      ___________________________________
·      ___________________________________
“Now is the time for members and missionaries to come together, to work together, to labor in the Lord’s vineyard to bring souls unto Him,” he declared. “He has prepared the means for us to share the gospel in a multitude of ways, and He will assist us in our labors if we will act in faith to fulfill His work.”
– President Thomas S. Monson



Wednesday, April 2, 2014

First Baptism!

Hey everybody,

My companion and I got our first baptism March 29th, 2014. Her name was Catherine Ann Ainsworth. It was such an awesome experience seeing someone make that first step coming unto Christ. She has been prepared all her life for this moment. God really does have a plan for each one of us and as long as we pray, seek Gods guidance, and follow the promptings of the Holy Ghost we can have a happy life. That is not saying that we won't have hard times, but we will have a more fulfilling life.

Last week I was able to help one of our Recent Converts find 15 names to take to the temple from his own family. He was able to go do baptisms for the dead for the first time. He had such a wonderful spirit about him as he was able to be baptized for his ancestors. He was one of the happiest people I have ever seen and had a glow about him that was just amazing. That was one of the most peaceful experiences of my entire life. It was very humbling and very exciting seeing someone so young in the gospel get so excited to do temple work for those that have past on. We need to as members of this church be going to the temple as much as we can. As we go to the temple it not only blesses our lives and gives us peace and refuge from the world, but also blesses the lives of those that have past on who haven't had the opportunity to have those saving ordinances done to them. As we go to the temple we can receive revelation for ourselves and our families. We can feel a closer connection to our Heavenly Father and our ancestors that have past on. Do family history work and go to the temple. As you do so you will draw closer to Heavenly Father and will help in the work that truly matters. The work of salvation for those that have past on.

Love all of you so much. Stay faithful in the gospel because this is the true gospel restored on the earth again. Only by doing temple work can those that have past on receive those saving ordinances.

Love you all,
Elder Kennedy