Conversion Matters

Matters of Conversion 7.08.18

Last night we attended the baptisms of three young women—22-year-old Michelle (single mother of three children, ages 4, 3, and 2) and her two nieces, Samantha (15) and Brandy (12). There was something so sweet about it! I could hardly stop the tears then and again today as they were confirmed. I watched the branch president’s beautiful wife (I am sure they are only in their 20s) love these three and care for the little children. Brandy just lit up today when she saw us there for them. So many of these people are so alone and just want someone to care.

Today we attended three sacrament meetings. The first two were in Spanish, and left us mentally exhausted, trying to understand the spirit of the messages, if not the literal meaning. We ARE coming closer with the Spanish. The meetings were wonderful and spiritual. We decided to go the the last meeting of the day, the 1:00 at Los Presidentes, and we were rewarded with a spiritual feast. First we saw Jovanna, a 17-year-old whom we met last Sunday at FHE. She doesn’t speak English and is here from Mexico for a few weeks to visit her sister. She was so thrilled to see us, kept hugging us, and brought us an invitation to a baby shower for her sister. (Our hearts are full!)

The speakers in the 4th branch (English-speaking) were from the Garcia Family. Jasmin just turned 14 this week. She is amazing. She told about the miracle that brought her family into the Church. About a year ago her dad picked her up from school for some reason, and as they drove home, they saw some elders riding bikes. They stopped, and the elders asked if they could stop by their house. The dad invited them to come that day because his family was having a difficult time. Both Dad and Jasmin said it truly was a miracle. Dad was already a member, inactive, but living a good life and keeping the Word of Wisdom. He just didn’t go to church because he didn’t want to force it on his wife and Jasmin. When the elders came, they expressed joy at being able to meet the Garcias, but said that they were leaving—transferred. Taking their place would be sister missionaries. Brother Garcia says that was also a miracle, a tender mercy, because his wife and daughter could meet with the missionaries even when he was not there. Today Sister Garcia is YW president. Brother Garcia is Elders’ Quorum president. Jasmin has changed her rebellious life and loves the Gospel and her fellow young women. Sister Garcia told the story of her difficult life—raised by grandparents rather than her addict parents; called home to take care of her six siblings when her mother became ill when she was about twelve; the death of her mother from brain cancer; being expected to parent her brothers and sisters when she was only a child; abuse, threats, and blame from her addict father; leaving home with the first boy who paid her any attention and finding him to be abusive; taking her new baby to a shelter for battered women; petitioned for custody of her siblings and kept them together for a few years—all before she turned 20. Her story is much like most of the converts in Laredo when they decide to change their lives and follow the Savior. Their lives before the church were unimaginable.

We have an appointment tomorrow morning to start teaching Abel Sanchez (see last week’s blog on miracles). When Jim called him to make the appointment, Abel was thrilled to hear his voice and anxious to meet and be taught. Tender mercies!
One of our incredible young single adults is planning to serve a mission as soon as she graduates from college in December. She is working to go to the temple to get her endowments before she goes back to Texas A&M in College Station in the fall. She wants to meet with us several times a week for the temple-prep lessons. We are blessed! We will get permission to teach her these lessons. She wants to road trip to Utah to receive these blessings. She has been a member for about a year and a half, the only member in her family. Her boyfriend served a mission in Brazil and is encouraging her to serve. The young people here—we love them so much already!

I have three piano students now—two seminary kids and the wife of one of the Spanish branch presidents. This is a blessing in my life!

The Lord knows each of us and loves us infinitely. He forgives us of our sins and weaknesses, no matter what they are. He paid the price long ago in Gethsemane and on the cross. It is true. The Restoration is true. The blessings are ours.

Milagros Matter

Milagros Matter 7.4.18
Dear Friends and Family,
This blog is for those of you who want to keep track of us on our mission in Laredo, but especially for our children, grandchildren, brothers and sisters and their families, aunts and uncles and cousins. We hope you will gather your families every day and pray for us and the other missionaries all over the world. The people of Laredo are on-track to become a stake and could use your prayers, too! This is a tough, but interesting city. Like any border town, it has its challenges, and we believe that we were sent here to help strengthen the good people who are fighting to save their lives and the lives of people they love through the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

"Milagros" means "miracles." If we didn't believe the Lord's hand was in our lives before we came here (and we did!), we would believe it now. On Monday we met and helped the lady from El Salvador. I told you about her last week, but forgot to explain what brought her across our path. A friend in California told her to find an LDS church and go there to wait until someone came to help her. The church was full of young missionaries who called us to come help her so she could get back across the border. I do not know the end of her story--maybe I never will, but I do know that she crossed our path for a reason (or we crossed hers). One missionary mini-miracle.

On Thursday we were setting up our institute class to teach the lesson on the Proclamation to the World on the Family. A man appeared in the classroom door, curious as to what we were doing there. We explained our purpose, and he seemed disappointed that the class was for young adults. We invited him to stay anyway, but he declined. He said he had had an encounter with some elders, but did not relate to them well. Thursday he had been riding his bicycle past the church, saw our car, and came in. Abel Sanchez is in his mid-sixties, and looks like he could be Jim's brother--fair and freckled, a special-ed teacher, and former HS track runner. They hit it off, exchanged numbers and addresses, and made a date to meet later this week. I don't believe in coincidences. I do believe in milagros!

On Friday we met with Bro. Salmond, our seminary & institute director for some inservice. Later he and Jim went to visit possible seminary students for this fall. They came to one address on the list and found instead a man in his mid-sixties (again!) who invited them in and showed them his Book of Mormon, given to him by some elders who never came back. Before the Elders he met with some Sister missionaries whom he described as "beautiful--not like pretty, but beautiful from the inside out." They talked for a while, and Hugo Arriaga asked Jim if WE would teach him. Jim challenged him to read the Book of Mormon. They looked at Mormon 10:4, and talked about how he can pray and find out if it is true. Hugo says he prays every day from his heart, not like his church teaches him to pray. He asked if we would teach him when he gets back from vacation in two weeks! Another little miracle.

Brother Salmond (who is also a stake president in McAllen) said, "I thought I came here today to find seminary students, but now I know I came to help you find this man." We are not called as proselyting missionaries, but the Lord knew that we were the people that Abel and Hugo needed to meet. Who knows but what they may be one of the reasons we are serving in Laredo! The mission president has given us permission to teach them.

We have been in Laredo for a month now. Our eyes and hearts have been opened to many things. On this Independence Day, we are grateful to live in this blessed country. We are grateful for our Founding Fathers, imperfect human beings who were touched by God's hand to institute the beginnings of this great nation. Like the founding Fathers, we also give thanks for Joseph Smith, an imperfect man but true prophet of God. The two are inseparably connected.

The gospel is true. Our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ love us and direct us. We love you all--you are the pieces of our lives. Thank you for your prayers. God bless America!

Doggie Treats Matter

For thirteen years I wrote to my faculty every week. Monday Memos often were written later in the week when I got around to it. And so the tradition continues. . .
We love being here in Laredo! It is very fair to say our work here is different than the young missionaries who work long hours and physically challenge themselves to be out there teaching and finding every day until the sun is gone--all of that in very challenging weather (have I mentioned that Laredo is unrelentingly hot??!). We live in the same apartment complex as two sets of sisters, and we are constantly amazed at their commitment to give all they have to building up the kingdom of God. We, however, are old, slow, and have a hard time staying awake past 9:00.

Sunday we attended three branches (soon to be wards, we hope) and were exhausted by the mental exercise of understanding the Spanish. It is always inspiring, even when we are only getting a quarter of the message. We also had four sister missionaries come to dinner. We loved feeding them! Jim had to leave early for a general district priesthood meeting and then come pick me up to head off to YSA family home evening. The young people take turns teaching the FHE lessons, and we watch them grow and learn as they teach. This Sunday Papo (William) retaught and expanded on our Thursday Institute lesson on the new and everlasting covenant of marriage. During Thursday's lesson, Papo ended up teaching other young people the concept of exaltation, and that brought him an understanding that he continued to share in his lesson. He was only baptized in February, but he is quickly gaining a spiritual maturity that will ready him to be a leader in in Laredo. When young people join the church here, they often have to change everything in their lives to commit to Christ. It is inspiring.

Yesterday we got a call from a sister missionary who needed some help. While all the missionaries were at the church preparing for transfers, a woman showed up at the church wanting help getting to cross the border. (Living in a border town Is INTERESTING, to be sure!) So, Jim and I jumped in the car and headed over. It turned out to be nothing disconcerting, and we were happy to help. The woman had been living in California, but was heading home to El Salvador. While here she bought a truck and was trying to get across the border with temporary license plates. The temporary plates would expire while she was in Mexico, and though she had the paperwork, customs told her she would be detained without her real plates. She had no address here, so she had to find a way to express-ship the plates. She wanted us to witness that she had the original paperwork, so we took her to UPS and got the order arranged for her to pick up the new plates there when they arrive. She was a very nice woman who spoke English quite well and said she was learning Korean. So, that was our adventure yesterday--well, one of them, anyway.

We had a tire that was losing air since we drove it off the showroom floor. We were on our way to Texas, so filled it up a couple of times on our way, but, because it was a brand new car, we didn't worry too much until it started losing air very fast over the weekend. We had to fill it several times a day until the dealership here could order a new tire and finally get it replaced yesterday. It turns out that there had been a hole in the tire, and someone had plugged it! THEN-- Our newly replaced windshield caught a rock yesterday! So, the crack stretches across SLOWLY. Oh, my word!

Rio Bravo (without John Wayne): Rio Bravo is a small, poor suburb of Laredo, right on the Rio Grande. Every house is surrounded with tall, pad-locked fences and gates. Most houses are very old and poor stucco put-togethers. Every place has two to eight dogs of all sizes (skinny, scrawny, hungry), waiting to eat you up if you look at them. Partially-paved streets lead straight to the Rio, where border-patrol vehicles line the banks every few hundred feet. Rio Bravo police drive up and down between the chain-link fences. Sisters Paepke and Brown had an appointment to teach a member about Family History work, but they were not to go there alone, so we took them. The Sisters asked us to contact some other (YSA) members there while they went to their appointment. Somehow they had no qualms about this shady little town and were anxious to knock doors when they finished. I was not at all sure we should leave them for even a minute, but they shoo-ed us away with smiles on their faces. We went about finding the addresses we were given, despite dogs nipping at my heels and biting Jim's leg! We did talk to a couple of people, but were not able to find any of our contacts. When the sisters joined us later, they apologized for not warning us about dogs, and showed us how they carry doggie treats in their pockets. Still, it's not like people are on their front porches waving to passers-by! They are locked in their houses behind fences and gates. So, the only successful contact was the appointment the sisters had. The young man's mother had old Spanish genealogy that they were able to help put in the computer and get a very excited family started on Family Search.

We think serving here is like serving in a foreign country! We met one family at church this week who does not speak Spanish either. They are quite new here with his job, Mangusons, and she is primary president, and he is Sunday School president. They have a little boy. Everyone here speaks Spanish, even in the English wards. We had one new attendee at Institute who says he "lost" his Spanish on his Russian mission, but to everyone else English is his or her second language. So, we are working on Spanish and learning little by little.

Much love to all of you! Happy birthday, Donny!

Missionary Matters

June 18, 2018
Dear Friends and Family,
We had a wonderful and interesting week here in southern Texas! Our calling here, of course, is to teach, and teach we did! We also connected on Hangout for the first time for a CES inservice on Wednesday night after a very interesting trip with sister missionaries to Hebbronville. Sisters Zidek and Libberton asked us to take them out to this typical little town about an hour away to give out some free Bibles that were requested on Mormon.org and contact some members who had not had any contact with the Church. There was only a burned out house at one of the addresses. At another, the man did not remember ever being baptized--but in his state, maybe he wouldn't have remembered his own name. We met one very sweet senior couple who just could not travel the distance to attend church, so now attend with the Methodists. It is very sad that people get kind of "lost" in the middle of nowhere and don't have a chance to grow in the gospel. We were very impressed with the Sisters who prayed and then marched like shepherds, trying to gather the sheep. They had a little FaceTime meeting with Cameron and prayed for his friend.

The little trip to Hebbronville was our second encounter of the week with the border patrol. We had to pass through a checkpoint. I really had no idea until then what the "checkpoints" were that were keeping some of our people from the temple. On Monday we went to a missionary apartment down by "the river," and decided to take a little drive to see the Rio. As we turned into the neighborhood and down an unsaved little road, a border-patrol vehicle pulled out and followed us. Here we were in a big SUV with dark windows. . . I guess we looked suspicious. We decided it wasn't worth being searched or questioned, and turned around. It could have been iffy if there were people waiting in the bushes!

We had a fun time buying little puzzles at the dollar store for our object lesson for Institute. Our third border-patrol encounter was at the church on Thursday night. As we set up for class, one of the members who is a border-patrol helicopter pilot came in to tell us that a threat had been called in against churches. He was there to lock all the doors and guard the front foyer. Oooo, that was a little scary. No incidents, thank goodness. We had 28 students, including our newly-baptized friend, an investigator with the sister missionaries, a young man who is being re-activated by sister missionaries, and our fabulous YSAs. It is a joy to teach them, be with them, and learn with them! Several are returned missionaries. They love and support each other.

On Friday we went to THE INCREDIBLES 2 and enjoyed some time walking that beautiful mall. We are loving walking daily at the community fitness center. On Saturday night we had another fiesta to celebrate Bro. Orozco' birthday with a "carne asada" --which is a barbecue with a Mexican flavor. The favorite activity is karaoke! The surprise songbird was Sister Paedke. WOW--she was amazing. Also, Bro. Orozco can really sing! He and his wife are the YSA advisors and comida preparers. They have three grown children and three grandchildren. Sister Orozco now has all her documentation, and as soon as Brother Orozco's comes through, they will go to the temple in San Antonio.We are very excited for them.

I got to teach Relief Society on Sunday following Pres. Nelson's talk on 'Revelation" from April Conference. It was a special experience. I also gave my first missionary piano lesson to 14-yr-old David. The District owns some keyboards the kids can use for practice, and I give the lessons at the church for David. I invited him to come to the house, but his mother uses the Internet at the church during his lesson. I forget how little resources some of these people have. I offered our WiFi and a computer for her use here, but I think they may be more comfortable at the church. The "Los Presidentes" building is tiny, but beautiful. They have relocatable classrooms--which is where we will teach seminary. A renovation and expansion is planned for 2019. three large branches (soon to be wards) meet in this building--which is very near us. The Hillside Chapel is a large, regular-sized building. We like to attend and serve there, too, as one Spanish branch and one English branch meet at Hillside. Two Spanish and one English meet at Los Presidentes.

Love to all of you! We love being here in Laredo and doing the Lord's work!

Pioneers Matter

This is my talk from Laredo 1st Branch today, June 10, 2018:
On our wall at home hangs a cover of a Church News from almost 20 years ago. It hangs there because our son Sean is in the cover photograph with a handcart and camera equipment. The unusual thing is that in the background is the dome of the “Savior on the Blood” Church in St. Petersburg, Russia. The headline says, “Handcarts across Siberia.” In honor of the Mormon pioneers who, at great sacrifice, crossed the American plains more than 150 years before, modern-day Russian Saints trekked across their own land. They were an example of the new kind of pioneer—one who sacrifices the World to leave behind the darkness and walk into the light.

One such pioneer was Igor, the president of a little branch in Gotchna. At his first introduction to Mormon missionaries, he was drowning in drink and a life without purpose. He embraced the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and lost his government-supported job, his friends, and extended family. With faith he created his own business, traveled to Sweden to receive temple ordinances, and led his family in righteousness. As we stood with Igor, complaining of the rickety train which was stalled in the frozen Russian winter, it was Igor who dropped his head, folded his arms, and fervently prayed in faith for the Lord’s help. We quickly closed our eyes and felt the power of his pleadings. As he ended and we raised our heads, the train started, and we boarded for the trip back to St. Petersburg.

And now in Russia they look forward to a temple’s being built on Russian soil.

Elder Flanagan and I have talked many times about how you, our brothers and sisters in Laredo, are also pioneers—Saints who are willing to work, sacrifice, and covenant as you build a stake of Zion. We are blessed to be part of this exciting trek. We were asked to speak today about pioneers, and you were the first to come to mind.

For some reason, when I packed for our trip, I included one envelope of family histories. I am thankful for my own pioneer heritage—brave ancestors who faced pain and death in Europe, on the ocean’s waters, and across America’s wilderness. As in many pioneer stories, they left their properties and homes, unbelieving family, wealth, comfort, friends, and jobs, and pledged themselves to the building of God’s Kingdom above all else the world had to offer. My great-great-grandfather, Christopher Syverson Winger, was one of those valiant pioneers in the early restored church. Born in Norway in 1835, Christopher was a strong, handsome, and ambitious man. He apprenticed as a shoemaker. A young man, separated from home and family, he began to withdraw from his Lutheran religion and slipped into a worldly life, though he read the Bible and wished he could have lived in the days of Jesus and his apostles saying, “Oh, that I had lived in that day, then would I also have been faithful in proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and even though I was brought before a judge and thrown into prison, I would have stood fast.” Little did he know that his future held just such a promise!

When two Mormon missionaries came to Drammen and stirred up much interest about a “new” church which proclaimed angels had visited the earth and given golden plates to a boy named Joseph Smith, Christopher listened. At his first hearing, he experienced a “heavenly feeling. It was as though a voice whispered to me that here was something which I must hear and investigate.” He traveled around Norway, securing jobs as he went and ending up as a factory worker with a Mormon who talked to him about the Gospel. Others warned him not to listen to these American ideas and tried to disparage those who would preach or join with such a group. Christopher, however, was drawn to Brother Frandsen (who was probably one of my husband’s ancestors!)and joined with him in a meeting where the Spirit was so strong, that Christopher cried and committed himself to baptism. He says that the Tempter tried to stop him, but he knew he should go ahead and be baptized and give his life to Christ.

At that time in Norway, Mormons were severely persecuted, and Christopher was choosing a difficult path. He was called as a traveling elder (missionary) and began to preach and baptize. This led to his imprisonment at least twice. He faced traveling on foot without purse or script in the freezing Scandinavian winters. Miracles saved him and strengthened him.

Terrible epidemics swept Europe, and C.S.S. Winger was called by the Norwegian government to go to school to become a doctor, which he did for a year and a half until his call to missionary work won out and he returned to God’s work full time. He was falsely accused of crimes and thrown in prison for weeks, subsisting on bread and water. Released on Christmas Day, he walked through the snow until (it is his testimony that) God sent two good men who offered to transport him by sleigh for a small amount of money (which he had hidden in the toe of his boot), then on the deck of a steamer where he was snowed upon day and night, and into Stavanger. He writes, “Even the school children pursued me on the streets, and both myself and the Saints were exposed to mob violence, but the Lord strengthened us and many believed our testimonies.” Again he was arrested for preaching Mormonism, and thrown into a dank and dark cell. When Christopher was finally released, he traveled about by foot, preaching and baptizing. One of the men he baptized was a wealthy man who took many Saints with him to Zion. None of Christopher’s family would listen to him, and none joined the Church in this life. Persecution had become so great that Christopher S.S. Winger was finally granted permission to leave Norway and go to Denmark. He had no money and marched on-foot through all of Sweden. Elder Winger served among the Saints and traveled still, preaching and baptizing until in 1863 when he received permission to emigrate to Zion. He sailed on the B.S. Kimball from Liverpool, England, with 700 Saints bound for America. Many couples were wed aboard the ship, including Christopher and his beloved Ane Marie Salvesen, whom he had known since childhood. They “arrived happy and well at Salt Lake City in the early part of September 1863.” Christopher stayed faithful and stalwart all of his days. He served another mission to Scandinavia and one to Minnesota. He had three wives and 24 children. Through his trials and sacrifices, he remained a faithful pioneer and bore his testimony firmly all of his days. When we are faithful through hardships, the Lord is building us into strong servants.

I am grateful for all the gospel pioneers! Because of their examples and sacrifices, the Church was firmly established for me and for you. And now Elder Flanagan and I have been called to work with the Laredo Pioneers of 2018—to build a stake—to prepare us all for more temples—to teach our young people to be the leaders of southern Texas. Like those who crossed the plains, I bear witness that we do not have to do it alone. Our Heavenly Father will send angels to attend us. Those who have gone before us will watch over us in the Lord’s work. We pray for you and ask you to pray for us in this righteous work.

Spiritual Matters

Tonight President Neal Peterson blessed us and set us apart as missionaries. It was another assurance that God is there, that He knows us and loves us, and that He is sending us to the exact place where He needs us. President Peterson addressed all my concerns and  referred to D&C 84:88. When the blessing was finished, I asked him if he knew that that was "our" scripture--pointing to the frame. He did not, but we all were touched that his words were the message that the Lord wanted us to hear. Jim's blessing addressed Jim's concerns and blessings for our family while we are gone. Wiping his tears, President Peterson told us that he couldn't find the exact words to express the feeling that had come to him when his hands were on Jim's head. It was something about our teachings helping the Gospel to spread across the border. I guess that we'll had to wait to see how it all plays out. President Peterson says we will know when it happens. It was a testimony to us that it was the Lord's message, through our very spiritual, in-tune stake president. Jim, Cameron, and Bishop Todd Parker participated in the laying on of hands.

Missionary Matters

We had our missionary "farewell" last Sunday. the best part was our family choir! Five of our boys, some daughters-in-law, and grandchildren sang "The Spirit of God." Brady and Kelsey sang solo parts, and Jill was our fabulous pianist. Here is a version of my talk:

Many years ago when were a very young family, we moved to a house in the country near Shelley, Idaho. Jim was working and had the opportunity to student teach seminary there. Steven and Derek were in first and third grade, and we had three pre-schoolers at home. We enrolled the boys at school and waited that first day for them to come home on the bus. This was in the days before cell phones, and we only had one car. When the bus came and went with no little Flanagan boys, I began to panic. It was late, and I wasn’t sure how to get help or what to do. No one was at the school by the time I called. Jim was at work and the nearest neighbors were not at home. I finally reached my mother-in-law in Idaho Falls, but she had to find a way to come. As twilight fell, amidst panic and prayers, my two little boys were seen walking down our country road. A miracle. How did they find their way? Not knowing which way to go, they had knelt together by a fencepost and said a prayer. A loving Father was watching out, and they were guided home. Isn’t that the way with all of us on this earthly journey? We are lost and alone until we rely on the Father to guide us back safely home.

As General conference closed on Easter Sunday, President Nelson stood and announced seven new temples. It was exciting to hear of another Utah temple. It was thrilling to hear the announcement of a temple in Russia. Seven new temples, but the one that took my breath away was the very thought of an Indian temple in Bengaluru. I had never thought of faithful Saints on the sub-continent praying for the blessings of the temple. Just as conference closed, Facebook dinged, and I looked to see a post from my friend Cecilia Jabakumar, principal of Arcadia Elementary.  She expressed her joy at the announcement of a temple in her homeland and exclaimed,, “How great is our God!” She later posted pictures and information about the thankful Saints in Bengaluru.  On his world tour, President Nelson told how there were to be 6 temples announced at conference, then the night before the announcement, the Lord told him to announce a temple in India.

The people of India have made many sacrifices for the Gospel.  Like the refugee converts I met in Turkey, they may have had to choose between the Church and their family. Like the branch president who met our train in Russia, they may have been forced from their jobs when they chose Christianity. Like the Iranian refugees, maybe they had to flee for their lives. No matter what sacrifices they had to make or we have to make, they made them willingly in exchange for the greater blessings and peace that the Gospel brings. “sacrifice brings forth the blessings of heaven!”

Sacrifice is giving up something good or desirable in exchange for something of greater value. As Latter-day Saints we often have to make those kinds of choices: Raising families, serving in callings, making time for dinners to the sick, attending the. Temple instead of ball games or. Netflix, or maybe serving a 23-month mission in Laredo, Texas!

Many years ago my nephew was called to serve in the Russia St. Petersburg mission where my son Sean was already serving. Matt was asked to speak on sacrifice much like I was for today. He said he didn't think a mission was a sacrifice. I was feeling the same way until I started remembering all the things we would miss while we are teaching seminary and Institute in Texas—baptisms, graduations, weddings, babies, trips. These are all good things, but it is true that it is a sacrifice to miss them.

Remember the sacrifices on the altars in Old Testament times: Adam, Noah, Moses and all the prophets taught their people to lay on the altar the best they had in similitude of the Savior who would come and offer himself as the ultimate sacrifice. Easter has just passed, and we remember Christ in the Garden, on the cross, and resurrected on the road to Emmaus. His mission did away with blood sacrifices, but we still offer our sacrifices in similitude. We are asked to lay our pride on the altar, to give Him our hearts, our lives, and our love. 3 Nephi 9:19-20:

19. And ye shall offer up unto me no more the shedding of blood; yea, your sacrifices and your burnt offerings shall be done away, for I will accept none of your sacrifices and your burnt offerings.

20 And ye shall offer for a sacrifice unto me a broken heart and a contrite spirit. And whoso cometh unto me with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, him will I baptize with fire and with the Holy Ghost, even as the Lamanites, because of their faith in me at the time of their conversion, were baptized with fire and with the Holy Ghost, and they knew it not.

Cristina Rosetti said, "what shall I give Him, poor as I am?" Nothing seems to quite measure up. So, we are going to Laredo. For 23 months we will put aside the busyness of our lives and focus on the Lord's work.

Elder Haleck gave a talk in last October's conference called "The Heart of the Widow." He says that the heart of the widow is defined by a willingness to give all for building up the kingdom of God on the earth. Do we have that same heart, that willingness? Mark 12:41-44: "And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much. And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing. And he called into him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast more in than all they which have cast into the treasury. For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living."

"The heart of the widow who gave her two mites is a heart that will give all by making sacrifices; by enduring hardship, persecution, and rejection; and by bearing burdens of many kinds. The heart of the widow is a heart that senses, feels, and knows the light of truth and will give anything to embrace that truth. It also helps others to see that same light and come to the same measure of eternal happiness and joy. Finally, the heart of the widow is defined by a willingness to give all for the building up of the Kingdom of God on earth."

President Monson said, "As we follow the example of the Savior, ours will be the opportunity to be a light in the lives of others."

My sacrifice seems small compared to so many who sell their homes and cars, leave their children and grandchildren, and leave to serve in faraway, poor countries. We have traveled all over the world, and we have been called to serve in a busy border town on the Rio Grande.

Elder Dallin H. Oaks asked us to find ways we can sacrifice to help us come closer to the Savior. April 2012 That sacrifice—the Atonement of Jesus Christ—is at the center of the plan of salvation.

The incomprehensible suffering of Jesus Christ ended sacrifice by the shedding of blood, but it did not end

the importance of sacrifice in the gospel plan. Our Savior requires us

to continue to offer sacrifices, but the sacrifices He now commands are that we “offer for a sacrifice unto [Him]

a broken heart and a contrite spirit”

(3 Nephi 9:20). He also commands each of us to love and serve one another—in effect, to offer a small imitation of His own sacrifice by making sacrifices of our own time and selfish priorities.”

President Nelson told the people in Bengaluru, "It is easier for us to build a temple, than it is for us to build a people who are ready for the ordinances and covenants of the temple. It is going to take you a while to get ready." Then he joked that they better hurry because he is 93, and he wants to return to dedicate the temple. He said with a temple in India, members will have to "give up contention, learn to love one another even better than we already do, we will have to keep the commandments, we will have to be honest, we will have to be fair, we will have to be a covenant-keeping people."

His counsel is true for all of us. Our time is short. It is time for us to be willing to lay it all on the altar. We can never repay Him for all he has given us. How great is our God!