Hastening the Work of Salvation - February 3, 2014

"Behold, I will hasten my work in its time." - Doctrine & Covenants 88:73

It is an incredible time to be a missionary in an incredible place like Iowa! I testify that God is hastening the work of salvation and that missionary work, loving others, is the best work we can engage ourselves in in this life.

Here is how it is hastening in Waterloo.

You may remember how a few weeks ago I shared the experience of how Bishop Lasley, the Waterloo Bishop, had a meeting with all the missionaries and the Assistant Ward Mission Leader to set the 2014 baptismal goal for the Waterloo Ward. It is a lofty goal. With 15 baptisms in 2013, Bishop Lasley, using his priesthood keys, set the inspired goal of 40 baptisms for 2014.

Elder Newhouse and I have been constantly thinking of how we can involve our efforts more with the members. I won't lie, it is stressful trying to coordinate things with members. I always feel like I have to be perfectly prepared or else it freaks me out and I am super fearful of not having good interactions with members.

Tuesday, we were grounded. Wednesday, wasn't very fruitful as everyone we tried was not available.

Thursday, we had a lesson with a single less-active which she cancelled after we had set up for a member to come with us. Then we had dinner with a member. Afterwards, the Elder's Quorum President went out with us and we taught this lady named Flomata. We have taught her a few times before, she is from Liberia, and she just had a baby 3 weeks ago! She was very willing to meet with us and we taught her the Doctrine of Christ. When we left the appointment to go teach another investigator, our Elder's Quorum President said, "That is why we do missionary work." She is so prepared and wanting and ready to show her already strong faith in Christ by coming to church and being baptized, with her and her family.

Friday, we had a dinner with some members and then we went over to this wonderful part-member family named the Gerkie's (pronounced Jerky but with a Y). They are very into their Native American roots and we always learn something new in respect to Native Americans. We also have a great member family who is very Native American as well and they have been doing an incredible job fellowshipping this family.

Saturday, we had an appointment with a potential investigator whom we had the Sunday School President come with us to that fell through. That afternoon we had a member of the Bishopric come and teach our investigator Maurice about the Book of Mormon. It was a really neat lesson.

Sunday was the highlight of our week. We had a wonderful fast and testimony meeting. The Stake President was there unexpectedly and presided and shared his testimony about the importance of marriage and families. Heavenly Father wants us to come unto Him in our families, and a temple marriage is the only way!

Sunday evening after church, because church is now from 1 pm - 4 pm, we had dinner with our Elder's Quorum President and his family. We taught them the Doctrine of Christ and it was wonderful to get to know them better. Following that, our Bishop picked us up and we then drove to teach Teta Ross. Teta Ross works at a Nursing & Rehab Center here in Waterloo as a housekeeper. One of the active members of the ward here recently had knee replacement surgery and she has been there for a couple of weeks now. One day when the Bishop was visiting her, he started talking with Teta Ross and soon found that she was a very strong woman with an incredible faith in Christ. Civil war has ravaged her home country of Liberia and she sends money from her minimum wage job here to support an orphanage that she is the Mother/Caretaker/Founder of in Liberia. 50 kids live in this orphanage! Teta Ross shared how her heart is empty and how she desired to come to church and learn more. Last night we were finally able to meet with her and Bishop Lasley.

Bishop introduced us and we sat as she told us of her life. She shared some horrifying experiences from the civil war in Liberia before she came to the US and how, because of the horrible things she witnessed and were done to her, she came to hate God. She didn't understand why these things would happen to her. She continued to attend her Pentecostal church but she was empty inside and angry at God. Over time her heart has softened and she looks for solace. We began to teach of how God loves us and the pattern of dispensations (prophets coming and guiding the people and the choice of the people to not hearken to the voice of prophets and falling into apostasy). We taught about Jesus Christ and how he healed others and established a church calling apostles and conferring the priesthood to them. We then explained the sadness about the killing of Jesus Christ and his apostles and the earth again following into a prolonged state of apostasy, the Great Apostasy. She was riveted by the message and she related to each point we taught as she has experienced them in her own life. About this point in the lesson, she began grieving for her brother (she witnessed his beheading years ago in her country). I tried to comfort her using words, but that did not seem to be the solution that was needed. Bishop Lasley asked her if she had ever received a blessing by the laying on of hands. She said yes. He asked if she would like a blessing by the laying on of hands. She said yes. Elder Newhouse and I joined as Bishop laid his hands on her head and gave her a blessing of peace. As soon as our hands were on her head she was calmed. She felt the grief pull away and peace come into her empty heart. After that we showed in the Restoration pamphlet a picture of the priesthood being restored and I testified it was by this same power that she received the blessing just moments ago. It was a very powerful witness that the priesthood has been restored and that we hold it today. That lesson was one of the most spiritual lessons I have ever been in. It was so strong and you could feel our Heavenly Father's love for His daughter Teta Ross. She wants us to share the message with her family and friends and neighbors.

I testify that God has prepared in each of our lives and within each of our own circles of influence those "who are only kept from the truth because they know not where to find it" (D&C 123:12). In her prayer to close our lesson, Teta prayed for those very people who are looking for the truth and peace of the Gospel, but do not know where to find it, and that they may find us and we may find them.

I find solace in the words contained in Doctrine & Covenants 64:33-34:

"Wherefore, be not weary in well-doing, for ye are laying the foundation of a great work. And out of small things proceedeth that which is great.

"Behold, the Lord requireth the heart and a willing mind; and the willing and obedient shall eat the good of the land of Zion in these last days."

Love,

Elder Zachary R McKenzie

Iowa Des Moines Mission

D&C 6:34, 36

  Doubt Not, Fear Not.

By the way, Elder Hollan and I made Google Maps:

https://www.lds.org/maps/media?type=streetview&id={ll:%2242.187122,-93.590019%22}

Come Unto Christ - January 27, 2014

"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  

Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

- Jesus Christ

What a wonderful week it has been. It has been cold again, but the cold on the outside is overcome by the feelings of warmth and of the Spirit that come from inside our hearts.

This week I had the opportunity to teach some Marshallese children and some of the investigators in the Spanish area. Exchanges are a wonderful thing. The light of the gospel is strong and the Light of Christ illuminates all of our hearts, no matter who we are, what language we speak, or where we are from. 

This morning I was reading a talk entitled "The Fourth Missionary" by Elder Lawrence E. Corbridge of the Seventy. He asks the question, "who will you become?" If everything about our earthly identity is stripped away, our possessions, our family, our career, our aspirations, what is left? Who are we, what personality; what habits; what characteristics; what knowledge; who are we? Who we are is a sum total of all of our thoughts, actions, speech, what we hear, what we see. Are we becoming deliberately or accidentally? 

A certain quote is decorating the back of my missionary planner this transfer. It reads:

"The wise use of your freedom to make your own decisions is crucial to your spiritual growth, now and for eternity. ...

"The Lord's way is the only way for us to experience enduring happiness."

- Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

As President Monson said, "decisions determine destiny." As my Dad always said, "inaction is a decision not to act."

Elder Corbridge spoke of our decisions for good or bad (as "no man can serve two masters), as defining who we become. Do we choose the right and choose to assimilate light? Or do we choose wrong and choose to acquire darkness? He uses these words over and over again, "assimilate" and "acquire."

What does it mean to assimilate? To bring ourselves in congruence with; to bring into our being; to make ourselves like something else; to allow external influences into us and become part of who we are. We are all beings of light. We are the very children of the Eternal God. Each of us is given the light of Christ, which is the ability to choose good or evil.

"Of all the titles of respect and honor and admiration that are given to diety, He has asked us to address Him as Father."

- Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

Picture yourself as a white, glowing, brilliant, radiant, silhouette of a body. This is your Spirit. You have a spirit body, that is distinctly you, living within your physical body. As we endure this mortal sojourn, the physical and spiritual become one. We must choose to radiate the light we were born with, that divine potential to become as our Father in Heaven.

What does it mean to acquire? To gain; to get; to have brought into our possession. Satan is the father of all lies, the very devil himself. He lives and works in darkness. We acquire darkness, these things are not natural to our beings of light.

Go back to the picture of your spiritual silhouette. Each time we make a wrong decision, or sin, we acquire darkness. "Scales of darkness" begin to cover our radiant Spirit (see 2 Nephi 30:6). As we make right decisions, we assimilate, or bring into us, the natural qualities of our spiritual self. As we continue to make right decisions and to repent (scroll down to "REPENTANCE" to learn more) we assimilate light into our being, "And then shall they rejoice; for they shall know that it is a blessing unto them from the hand of God; and their scales of darkness shall begin to fall from their eyes; and many generations shall not pass away among them, save they shall be a pure and a delightsome people" (2 Nephi 30:6).

As we heed to the Light of Christ each of us has as a result of being born with a physical body, we become more like Christ. We are continuously asked to be more Christlike, to be a better Christian, and to treat others as Christ did, as he set a perfect example for us. Might I suggest we also become "Christlight," become an influence for good in the world. Christ told us,

"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." 

- Matthew 5:14-16

May we become "Christlight" through our conscious decision-making is my humble prayer.

Love,

Elder Zachary R McKenzie

Iowa Des Moines Mission

D&C 6:34, 36

  Doubt Not, Fear Not.

Walking, Walking, and more Walking - January 21, 2014

Iowa Elders sang as they walked and walked and walked and walked.
Iowa Elders sang as they knocked and knocked and knocked and knocked.
They knocked on doors and froze and talked.
Sharing the gospel all the time.
Week after week, they sang as they walked and knocked and walked and knocked and walked.

- (slightly edited lyrics of Pioneer Children Sang As They Walked)

Well, it's been a wonderful week in Iowa. A few really cold days and a few really warm ones (in the 30s!). Elder Newhouse and I have been walking all week. Sadly, some of it didn't turn out the way we would have liked as appointments fell through and people weren't home, but it turned out to be some good talking time nonetheless.

(By the way, we don't knock on doors as much as I probably made you think by the opening of this letter. But we still knock them! You can't be a real missionary unless you knock some doors... ;) )

We had the opportunity of having interviews with our Mission President this week. When talking with me about serving with Elder Newhouse again, he said "I honestly forgot that you had served together before." President Jensen is such a funny guy, but a Spiritual Giant! He is taking steps as directed from God that will revolutionize Missionary Work forevermore. I will include details about that in the future... *suspense*

This week I was asked by President by way of one of my Zone Leaders to have a specific training this week in District Meeting. I am to train and refocus the efforts of this district on helping an investigator be baptized after you have found them. As missionaries, we find lots of people to work with, to teach the message of the Restoration, and invite them to baptism, qualifying them as "investigators." Of all of these new investigators only a very small percentage actually get baptized. And sometimes, missionaries go so long in between preparing people for baptism they forget how it is done.

With that in mind, I have turned to Preach My Gospel and the Book of Mormon to look for solutions. Recently my focus has been really turning to working with members. As previously mentioned, our Bishop here in Waterloo is very missionary-minded! He is getting the bishopric and Ward Council excited to do missionary work as well. My Book of Mormon reading happened to be in Alma chapter 32 today. For those of you who don't know, Alma 32 is a chapter where the ancient American prophet Alma gives a wonderful allegory on Faith, relating it to a seed. Just like the primary song says

"Faith is like a little seed:

If planted, it will grow.

Faith is a swelling within my heart.

When I do right, I know."

Alma is laboring with 7 other missionaries at the time this chapter takes place. (Just like a missionary district!) The beginning of Alma 32 says "And it came to pass that they did go forth, and began to preach the word of God unto the people, entering into their synagogues, and into their houses; yea, and even they did preach the word in their streets. And it came to pass that after much labor among them, they began to have success among the poor class of people" (verses 1-2). These missionaries, by their own diligent efforts, had begun to have "success among the poor." Since I have been in Iowa and teaching these wonderful people, I don't think I have taught someone who had a job AND a good family situation my entire mission whom I found on my own. We can see that even the efforts of Alma and his brethren, without the help of members, bring those that are in poor temporal circumstances. 

Don't get me wrong, I love the people of Iowa and the people we work with, but sometimes it gets frustrating when everyone we work with has problems with the Law of Chastity, or the Word of Wisdom, or the means to provide for their family and live the Law of Tithing (for a detailed description of what these things mean see http://mormon.org/beliefs/commandments, Live the Law of Chastity, Obey the Word of Wisdom, and Keep the Law of Tithing). Missionaries are called and set apart to help people progress spiritually, but more often than not, we need to help people get their lives in order temporally before they can be blessed spiritually by the blessings of the gospel and preparing for baptism. 

Missionary work can be hard, but it is always worth it because of the love we are given by Christ for these people. As President Gordon B. Hinckley said "The process of bringing new people into the Church is not the responsibility alone of the missionaries. They succeed best when members become the source from which new investigators are found" (Ensign, May 1999, 106). 

Members are the best missionaries. And we are focusing our efforts unite the members with the missionaries.

Even though I'm cold I still love you!

Elder Zachary R McKenzie

Iowa Des Moines Mission

D&C 6:34, 36

  Doubt Not, Fear Not.

Inspired Servants of the Lord - January 13, 2014

To whomever may read this letter/email home,

 

This last week was pretty crazy. Monday and Tuesday we were grounded indoors because it was so cold. That is the first time that has happened in my 17 months in Iowa. It might also be because the weather was the coldest in Iowa in over 20 years, and, with wind chill factored in, we were colder here than it was in the center of Antarctica. Now if that is cold, then I don't know what is!

 

Friday night we were also grounded, but this time it was just the cars and not us that were grounded, as there was freezing rain. So we spent a good part of the week indoors. It was really weird!

 

Some highlights from the week and then I've gotta go!

 

I first want to say I know that the words spoken by our Savior, Jesus Christ, in Doctrine and Covenants Section 1 verse 38 ring true today, they were true and they will forever be true. It reads: 

What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and though the heavens and the earth pass away, my word shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled, whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same.

God calls ordinary men to perform extraordinary works, and to be instruments in His hands, each and every day, and that miracles proceed from the mouth of God and His servants.

 

The Bishop of the Waterloo Ward is an inspired, caring individual. We had the opportunity to coordinate with him, the other 4 missionaries serving in the ward, and our assistant ward mission leader to discuss the ward baptismal goal for the year of 2014. In the meeting we discussed who was baptized in 2013 in the ward, who we are currently working with, what we should work towards for 2014, and set a goal to "leave room for the miracle." We prayed, discussed, and prayed again, and using his keys, our Bishop made an inspired decision, giving me a great example of how to counsel with others and make decisions by the Spirit.

 

We also attended Ward Council where our high councilman also provided training. We are called o our calling to receive inspiration to share things with those who hold keys. Our callings are how God builds us to further the work of His kingdom by building servants who will obey.

 

May we all seek the Cause of Zion and seek to build the kingdom of God on earth, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and build in unity to bring others to Christ.

 

Love,

Elder Zachary R McKenzie

Iowa Des Moines Mission

D&C 6:34, 36

  Doubt Not, Fear Not.

Enter 2014 - January 6, 2014

"Preach the gospel at all times and if necessary, use words."

- St. Francis of Assisi

Surprise! Elder Nelson was transferred! We didn't get the call until last Monday night, after we emailed. So we spent Tuesday and Wednesday saying goodbye to people and doing other fun missionary work things.

As we were trying to prepare the Taylor kids and Elijah Spicer for baptism the week of Christmas, we were using our vehicle's miles a little too freely. We ended up walking on Monday and Tuesday last week because we didn't have any more miles to use. It was kind of fun. The thermals I received for Christmas were put to good use!

On Thursday, Elder Nelson and I traveled to Iowa City in the car of Sister Sharon Evans. Sharon is our missionary grandma. She does our laundry each week, drives us to transfers every time, comes to missionary meetings, and she keeps track of us throughout our lives. She knows all the missionaries who has served in the greater Waterloo area since she was baptized 10 years ago. There was a bit of a mix up of when the meeting started, so we arrived fairly early. Which was great, because before every transfer meeting in the foyer of the Iowa City Stake Center there is quite an excitement of missionaries talking to each other from all across the mission and trying to find out what will be happening a few hours later when "transfer doctrine" (where we're placed) is announced.

We arrived there right as the huge van of missionaries that comes from the Ames stake got there. The Story City Branch was in the Ames Stake. So many of the missionaries I served as a district leader in when I was in Story City were there. In the first attached picture the missionaries are, from left to right: Sister Paul, Sister Muirbrook, Sister Browne, Elder Barger, Sister England, Elder Kilpatrick, Me, Elder Hollan, Elder Fiso, Elder Claridge, Elder Theriault, and Elder Morgensen. The 4 I served as district leader not pictured were Elder Dyer, Elder Newhouse, Sister Hill, and Sister Tobias. Of these 15 missionaries, all were at transfers except for Sister Paul, Elder Fiso, Sister Hill, and Elder Morgensen.

At this transfer meeting, my joy was full. I was able to laugh, talk, and reminisce with these wonderful missionaries as they arrived. I don't know if I have ever had as much love for or charity for a group of people other than my family than I have for all of these incredible Elders and Sisters. I can relate with Alma as it says in Alma 17:2 "Alma did rejoice exceedingly to see his [district]; and what added more to his joy, they were still his brethren [and sisters] in the Lord; yea, and they had waxed strong in the knowledge of the truth; for they were men [and women] of a sound understanding and they had searched the scriptures diligently, that they might know the word of God. But this is not all; they had given themselves to much prayer, and fasting; therefore they had the spirit of prophecy, and the spirit of revelation, and when they taught, they taught with power and authority of God."

Before the transfer meeting, I was full of a Spirit of gratitude that doesn't often accompany me. I was blessed as we reminisced and these Elders and Sisters and others told me of the impact I had on them or other various compliments. God is good and He has given me all that I am and can expect to become. At one point Elder Newhouse and I were greeting each other, when Sister Browne and Sister Muirbrook walked up. Sister Browne (who very much reminds me of Marinda), said "this was one of my favorite companionships, I was just waiting for you to be translated." Wow!

Eventually, it was time for us to begin spiritually preparing for the transfer meeting, so we were all herded into the chapel to be quiet and ready for the wonderful messages the Mission Presidency was to deliver. As we were spiritually preparing, I was handed a 12-week Program training booklet that one receives for every time they train a new missionary. I hadn't been alerted that I was going to train at all, so I was quite surprised and didn't know what to think. We had received a call from the Assistants the Saturday before asking if we had enough room for an extra companion, a visa-waiter, in our apartment. God is always one step ahead. 

The meeting was wonderful. Transfer doctrine began to be given, and the only visa-waiter there to be trained was called to serve in Des Moines. They eventually announced the Cedar Falls Zone and the Waterloo English area. Elder McKenzie was to continue to serve as the district leader and his new companion was to be Elder Newhouse. ELDER NEWHOUSE?!?!?!?!?! Elder Newhouse and I went and gave each other a huge hug while everyone, including us, were flabbergasted. Those we had served around were very taken aback, surprised, and excited. (my words don't do it justice.) One of the Elders we had served around stood up he was so stunned! 

After the Transfer Meeting we were asked by many why we were so excited to be serving with each other and we had the missionaries we knew come up to us and tell us they couldn't believe we were serving together. 

If you do not understand the magnitude of this, maybe this information will help. Rarely do missionaries serve with someone they have already served with, especially when it comes to English-speaking Elders. I have only heard of one other instance of English-speaking Elders serving together for a second time in the 17 months I have been in Iowa!

So to prove we are companions again, I included a picture. We are excited and have seen many miracles in the mere 4 days we have been together. 2 investigators came to church, a less-active family came to church, and we have found two individuals that are looking for a church.

May God bless you in 2014!

Love,

Elder Zachary R McKenzie

Iowa Des Moines Mission

D&C 6:34, 36

  Doubt Not, Fear Not.

 

My Final Missionary Christmas in White! - December 30, 2013

2013 is ending quite well!

Elijah was baptized on Saturday and confirmed Sunday! It has truly been a miracle and an answer to prayers to see him enter the waters of baptism! It was extra neat because Elijah asked me to baptize him, so I had the opportunity to baptize someone for the first time since I've been a missionary. I'll tell you one thing, it was really weird to be in a tank of water after not being in water for 17 months.

Christmas was wonderful! Elder Nelson and I made a french toast breakfast with bacon, orange juice, and homemade jam from home. Then we Skyped home at the Youngblut's, a family out here in Waterloo, and they fed us really well! Then we had another dinner. And after that, we went to the Marshallese Christmas party and they fed us as well. I still feel that I haven't recovered fully from all the food we ate that day! 

This week was full of unexpected events. We were called to help jump the Sister's car one morning and we were called to help with another companionship later in the week in the morning. Then Kianna, Tia, and Deacon, who were scheduled for baptism this last Saturday, didn't get baptized due to some miscommunication between us and their mother. It was a big bummer, but we were so happy to see Elijah baptized and confirmed!

The attached pictures are Elder Nelson and I with Elijah and his mother. Elijah's mom gave the closing prayer at the baptism and she was so touched by the Spirit that she was speechless, then she finished her prayer. It was so powerful! 

I hope we were all able to enjoy the Christmas Spirit this year! May we take that love into our lives and let it flow into the lives of others as we make our New Year's Resolutions this year. May we read and ponder the words of President Dieter F. Uchtdorf who spoke Of Regrets and Resolutions in General Conference of October 2012. May we ponder his words and the marks of a finisher as we finish 2013 and move into 2014.

The Marks of a Finisher:

1. The Mark of Vision.
2. The Mark of Effort. 
3. The Mark of Faith. 
4. The Mark of Virtue. 
5. The Mark of Courage. 
6. The Mark of Prayer. 

These, the marks of a true finisher, will be as a lamp to our feet in the journey through life. Ever beckoning us onward and lifting us upward is he who pleaded, “… come, follow me.” (Luke 18:22.)

- President Thomas S. Monson, April 1972 General Conference "Finisher's Wanted"

http://www.lds.org/general-conference/1972/04/finishers-wanted?lang=eng

Happy New Year! 

Love,

Elder Zachary R McKenzie

Iowa Des Moines Mission

D&C 6:34, 36

  Doubt Not, Fear Not.

Wonderful Winter Days - December 23, 2013

It was the week before Christmas and all through the house, not a creature was stirring except for ... a missionary and his companion emailing home at the library.

This pre-Christmas week has been wonderful. We are working with a 10-year-old boy named Elijah. He wasn't baptized when he was 8. We didn't know he hadn't been baptized until he and his mom came up to us at the ward Christmas party on December 13th and said he wanted to be baptized. He has been to church off and on with his mom and his other younger siblings. He wanted to be baptized, so we figured, why wait? He is going to be baptized this Saturday! 

Back in November, I talked with Elder Fiso about how we were going to find and baptize someone in Story City in the last transfer of the year, someone to be party of the 550 souls coming to Christ in the year 2013 in the Iowa Des Moines Mission. When I was transferred, I had that desire still. Sarah was baptized my first week here in Waterloo. And we also had the investigators Kianna, Tia, and Deacon, who were going to hopefully be baptized before the end of the year. But I desired of God to find someone and baptize them in the month of December. A soul who was prepared to be baptized in 2013. 

On Monday, December 9th, Elder Nelson and I were contacted by a less-active member and invited over for chili. We met, David, and his nonmember fiance, Melissa, and had chili and discovered that she was very prepared by the Lord for us to meet with her. Melissa found out earlier that day, her grandma who she is very close to, is a Mormon. We talked with her, and David bore powerful testimony about how he knows this Church is true. Even though he didn't always listen and he has been in and out of prison, his conviction of the truthfulness of the gospel is sure. All the while we were meeting with them, I was thinking "is she the elect individual who has been prepared by the hand of God to be baptized in 2013?" All they would need to do is be married. They both want to get married and David wants to be sealed to her. She kept smiling and as the lesson progressed there was such a powerful spirit in the room. She changed from "I would be baptized if it was right" to "I will be baptized." I was praying and in my head I was thinking, "they need to get married this week to be baptized in 2013." (Our mission president requires living the Law of Chastity 2 weeks before a person can be baptized.) But for whatever reason, they are thinking next July or August, even though they want to be married now. It might be a reason not completely in their control. So Elder Nelson and I fasted the next day to have whatever reason come forth and be fixed. We haven't been able to meet with them since as David has a crazy work schedule.

We met Elijah on December 13th, and he is prepared and ready to be baptized in 2013. God will perform miracles. He works in mysterious ways to bring souls to Him. He knows his children and their lives. We must pray, fast, and seek for opportunity to be an instrument of the Lord in our fellow brothers and sisters lives. If we are doing what God needs and wants us to do, seeking to be under the influence of the Holy Spirit, we will be blessed to bless others, strengthening ourselves in the process. There will be more to this account that I do not know now, but the strength it brings me is wonderful.

This life is all about perspective. Step back and put yourself in view of eternity. Who you were before this life, and who you will be after, and what you must do here and now to connect those two pieces of you. This can only be done right within the perspective of the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ.

May we remember Christ and his life and sacrifice this Christmas and Christmas Eve!

Love and Merry Christmas!

Elder Zachary R McKenzie

Iowa Des Moines Mission

D&C 6:34, 36

  Doubt Not, Fear Not.