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Hello + a Talk

Hello everyone,

Transfer decisions came in and I am staying in Niveles. I am very happy about that because we have been seeing a lot of great progress from our investigators.

We met with our friend Christine again this week and had a really great lesson. She had studied the Restoration pamphlet and read the introduction to the Book of Mormon and plans to read the entire book. She wrote down a bunch of questions for us, but they were all mainly if we were going to abandon her if she started asking hard questions. We assured her we wouldn’t and she was very pleased with that. Her faith is incredible and she knows the bible so well. She has been searching for the truth her whole life and she is ready to receive it! We taught her the Plan of Salvation and she is a very social person, so she is very engaged, but during the lesson she just let us speak and explain the plan. When Elder Peel was explaining the Spirit World, she piped in and said that is biblical, and then fired off a list of all the scriptures in the old and new testament that talk about the spirit world and doing work for those who have passed on - she explained the spirit world by herself! The rest of the lesson went well and after we left I just felt so much peace and happiness. The spirit was present during that lesson and it was bearing witness to her of the truth that she has been searching for. As President Packer said, she was hearing the familiar “ring” of the Gospel.

Sunday was a really good day and the rest of my weekly will probably be about Sunday. Three days earlier our friend, Stephanie, who we had taught a few weeks ago texted us and told us that she had read the verses in the Book of Mormon we had left with her and she had really felt the love of God as she read, and that she believed. We invited her to church and She came. It was probably one of the coolest moments on my mission to see her actually discover, for herself, that the Book of Mormon is true and then she continued to exercise her faith and came to church. As a missionary, this was a very touching experience because all we do is ask them to read. If they read, then they have the promise that they will know the Book of Mormon is true and this is Christ’s restored church on the earth. So, when someone actually does it and receives that witness, it is an incredible honor to witness that. We are seeing her this Tuesday :)

I Also gave a talk on Sunday about the Light of Christ. I read the bible dictionary definition of the light of Christ and it is basically our conscience, but it is also something everyone has and can lead to receiving the spirit in our lives - I focused on that. I talked about how Stephanie wanted to meet with us again because she had seen the light from Elder Peel and I. It was a short talk, but I think it did it’s job - I’ll try to attach it. I did receive the best compliment of my life though afterwards! A member came up to me and said “That was a General Conference talk, incredible, very very good - I loved it.” Made me feel pretty good! Stephanie said the talk was great as well. Unfortunately she had to leave after Sacrament meeting, but I am glad she still made the sacrifice to come.

Later in the day, Elder Peel and I went to go visit a man we have talked with twice. His name is Jean Marc. Since we didn’t know if we would be transfered or not, we went and visited. He told us he didn’t have time to talk at that moment, but to come back in the summer. We explained that we might not be here in the summer. At that moment the phone rang and Elder Peel answered, so It was just me and Jean Marc talking. We ended up talking for 45 minutes on his doorstep. I learned so much about him in that short time and was so glad we were able to talk. He does professional photography as a hobby now, so he needed to work on his photos. I asked if I could see some and he showed me his four or five instagram accounts that have over 1000 followers each! He explained to me that anything that is free in life doesn’t really have value because it doesn’t mean anything to you or the other person, unless what the other person is giving to you has value to them. When he finished saying that I pulled out the Book of Mormon I had brought for him, with my personal testimony in it, and told him this Book is free, but it means a lot to me. He reminded me that he doesn’t believe in anything, but he is interested and because it means so much to me, he would take it. He then gave me all of his contact information, not because I was a missionary, and not because he wanted to talk about religion, but because I had become his friend. It was probably one of the best moments of my mission. Hopefully, I am still here in the summer so I can go back and talk with him a little more because he is interested to know why I care so much about this Gospel. If I am gone by then, I will make sure to stay in touch with him.

The week was great. You do not have to be perfect to be a missionary, you do not need to be perfect to do good things. All you need to be is willing and let the Lord show you the way. My mission has become something incredible and it is all because I changed my attitude. When we focus on the negative and all the bad around us, we become filled with that darkness. But, if we just look up and thank God for letting us have the ride, the world becomes so much better. Be more positive! It is a silly thing to say, but it can make a world of a difference and very literally make the world different.

Much love,
Elder Molinari 

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Sq9qVvD-bFYIPShvRBAWhl8v6iXsQp3CyB1PgdGBQCk/edit?usp=drivesdk


I'm not sure if that works...but there is my talk ☺

Following the Light of Christ

Recently, Elder Peel and I were attending a little party for all of the volunteers at the Resto that we work at each Friday Morning. We were a little unsure about going because we didn’t know if it would be the most effective use of our time, but we could see the pleading in the eyes of the owner, and so we agreed to come.

Right before we showed up to the party, we had just challenged our investigator, Jonathan, to be baptized and he had accepted the invitation. Elder Peel and I were both in very high spirits and filled with the love of Christ as we headed out to the little get together.

When we arrived, we were of course in our Sunday best, and stuck out instantly. We walked around and greeted the owner and others that we knew.

Finally, we looked around trying to find a place to sit. We decided to sit at a table that was off in the corner with four people chatting with each other. We went and sat down and then introduced ourselves. One of the women, Stephanie, was particularly interested in who we were and wanted to talk to us about the missionary work we perform and also our Church.

We didn’t get to say very much, but what we did say sparked an interest for her and we ended up receiving her phone number and later making an appointment to meet with her. We went with Brother Desmedt a few days later and taught Stephanie about the Plan of Salvation that God has for her. The Lesson was wonderful and the spirit was there as the three of us expounded the marvelous Plan that God has for us to her.

At one point in the lesson, I think Brother Desmedt asked her why she had wanted to meet with the missionaries. She responded that when we had entered the room of the party a few nights earlier, we had a light about us that caught her attention. She determined that anyone who carries such a light with them, must have something good to say.

Well what is this light that she mentioned? In the doctrine and covenants we read that, “The word of the Lord is truth, and whatsoever is truth is light, and whatsoever is light is Spirit, even the Spirit of Jesus Christ” (84:45). So this light, that we carried into the room that night was the light of truth, or the Light of Christ!  

The Lord said, “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 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. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in Heaven.”

Brothers and Sisters you are the Light of the World. I think in order to share that Light, then we need to continually have the Spirit with us. If we need to have the Spirit with us, then we need to be vessels that can carry the Light of Christ with us.       

Did you notice that before Elder Peel and I had entered the room of the party, we had just come from a very spiritual teaching experience. I think one way that we can receive the light of Christ more fully in our lives is by having spiritual experiences that invite the Holy Ghost to be with us and then sharing that light with others!

We prepare ourselves for spiritual experiences by reading our scriptures, praying, going to church, visiting those in need, and following the Will of the Lord.

The Lord said “The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light” (Matt 6:22). So, if our eye is single to the glory of God, then we will be filled with the Light of truth, which light invites the Holy Ghost.

As members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, we have all been given the Gift of The Holy Ghost. We are promised that we will have his Spirit with us forever, as long as we are worthy of it and remember him. We renew this covenant each week with the Sacrament.

When we focus our efforts on following the Will of the Lord, then we will more effectively be able to Follow the Spirit, which will invite more of the light of Christ into our lives.

One of the best ways I know to receive more Light, is by sharing or teaching truth.  Remember that “the word of the Lord is truth, and whatsoever is truth is light!” When we share our testimonies we are sharing truth with other people and when we share that truth, we are spreading the light of Christ.

We have the opportunity every day, as bearers of Heavenly Light, to share the Light of Christ with others. It can be in a simple hello, or a word of thanks, or a Gospel discussion. Whenever we are following the promptings of the Holy Ghost, we are spreading light. Share simple statements of truth with your friends and neighbors that will invite the Spirit and allow, both, you and them to have a spiritual experience. We were not meant to put our light “under a bushel,” so that it profiteth nothing to all around. We were meant to share the light that has been given to us.

President Packet said, “the Holy Ghost can work through the Light of Christ. A teacher of gospel truths is not planting something foreign or even new into an adult or a child. Rather, the missionary or teacher is making contact with the Spirit of Christ already there. The gospel will have a familiar ‘ring’ to them.” Search for the meek and lowly in heart who are willing to listen and recognize truth. Stephanie had prepared herself already to hear the message of the Gospel. This light is nothing new, so when your friends see that light in you, help them feel the spirit and recognize the ring of the Gospel!

Read your scriptures, pray for spiritual experiences, go to church, talk with your friends and neighbors and spread the Light of Christ. Pray to know who to talk with, pray for opportunities to bear testimony, and you will begin to fill a world that “lieth in darkness” with a light that “enlighteneth every man.” The light of Christ will invite the Spirit, which will bring us to the Savior, who leadeth to the Father.

Just four days ago Stephanie sent us a text and said that she read the scriptures we had given her in the Book of Mormon and she felt the love of God and that she believes. The light of Christ is in all of us. Follow the promptings of the Spirit to spread the Light and the Lord will guide you to those who are prepared to hear the message of salvation and joy.

In the Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.   



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