On 13 Jan 2019, a nation wide broadcast was held with Elder Jeffrey R. Holland. He came over for the Urdaneta Temple Groundbreaking ceremony. The Sunday before, he came to the Aurora Stake Center and we were invited to attend. President Schmutz talked about the Philippine Area Plan. He said, “ In just six decades, we have seen the establishment of the Church in the Philippines through the faithful and diligent efforts of members and missionaries. It is an effort that has brought forth fruit which is almost without parallel in the modern Church and it is just beginning. This cradle of Christianity has a significant role to play n the gathering of Israel and in establishing the Church throughout Asia in preparation for the coming of the Lord. To this end we must strengthen our faith in Christ, be true to our covenants, become self-reliant, and share the Gospel. (The Philippines is the ONLY Christian Asian country).
Nearing the end of his talk, he introduced Elder Holland. In his remarks he said, “When I saw Elder Holland coming towards me, he held out his arms to embrace me in a big hug. He could literally feel the weight of his body upon him as they stood for over 7 seconds or more. President Schmutz asked “How are you?” Elder Holland said, “I’m EXHAUSTED....but I’m Okay! (The new quote heard in our office now. Haha!)
Elder Holland came to the pulpit and said he had received a phone call last night from President Nelson telling him his oldest daughter had past away. Sharing with us that they also have tragedies and heartbreak like the rest of us. He said, “Remember, we are all in this together”. He went on to say, it is impossible for the Apostles to visit a Stake Conference like they used to. The growth of the church has expanded so much In the 31 years he has served as a General Authority. We are receiving continuing revelation and some of the changes that have recently come about have been worked on for years! To have one active Priesthood Quorum, 50 years, ministering, decades and decades, the work of salvation. How to help lighten the load of the Bishops, to get more help from the Priesthood & Relief Society to lead out in the wards. Shortened meetings, to move towards the home because in the future there will not be enough chapels due to property costs, transportation and government regulations. But we do have homes!
There are 168 hours in a week and only 2 hours spent in our church buildings leads to Home Centered Gospel Study. The 2nd Coming began with the 1st vision. Our dispensation will greet the Savior and present Him His Church. These revelations are given to strengthen the members and make us prepared. Some adjustments have been made, the temple session has been shortened and there are more temples to come.
Elder Holland went on to discuss the destiny of the church in the Philippines and the magnificent story in the history of the church, in this world, and the exciting hastening with still lots of work to do. He feels exhausted trying to keep up with President Nelson. Doing the work of gathering on both sides of the veil.
The 1st law of heaven is Obedience. It is the 1st law of everything. We cannot improve until we are obedient! The greatest declaration ever of obedience was the Atonement of the Savior. “Is there no other way?” “NO, there is not”. Thy will be done. (Matt 26:39). We could change the world if we pledged to do so.
If you had to introduce yourself to the world, what would you say? 3 Nephi 11:10-11 Behold, I am Jesus Christ, whom the prophets testified shall come into the world.
11 And behold, I am the light and the life of the world; and I have drunk out of that bitter cup which the Father hath given me, and have glorified the Father in taking upon me the sins of the world, in the which I have suffered the will of the Father in all things from the beginning. He was completely Obedient!!!
And here is the icing on the cake:
In closing, he quoted a statement by George Q. Cannon.
“By the Saints refusing to be led by the influences of Satan, and not yielding to his seductive temptations, he is virtually bound so far as they are concerned; and, when the head of the family can attain unto this power, and persuade his wife and family to do likewise, the power of Satan will be bound in that habitation, and the Millennium will have commenced in that household; and if all should take this course, man and the earth would soon be prepared for the coming of Jesus and the ushering in of the full Millennial glory, and the complete binding of Satan, of all of which glory they would already have a foretaste."
We have pondered this statement over and over and hold in awe the magnitude of it.
The following week we returned to the Teresa ward and Ondoy where the attendance has been growing. We also held our workshop for Transfers on the 21st and attended a new, shorter Temple session with our three departing Sister Missionaries. On Wednesday, we got up at 4:00am and rode in a shuttle out to the Airport to pick up our new Senior Missionary Couple, the Gordon’s. We waited until 9:30am when finally dad caught a glimpse of a white shirt and tie in a different area. We took them to the Area office to hand in their passports, then over to the Mission Home to meet President and Sister Koster. The new missionaries had arrived and we gave out our packets and did the orientation. Afterwards we took Elder and Sister Gordon to Eastwood to get settled in. They are a very sweet couple waiting to see where President wants to send them. Dad helped them with their phones, internet, water delivery and their parking space. We went back to the office and worked late.
On Saturday, we drove the van out to Ondoy to pick up two baptismal candidates and their families and take them to the Teresa Chapel. There were four other youth candidates waiting for us outside the gate of the church. We held a baptism for all seven. The Sister Missionaries were pumped!! Haha! Two Elders have also been transferred to Teresa to work in Ondoy - a total of six missionaries! So we are expecting many more baptisms to come. We need to find a bigger meeting place! YIKES!!!
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