Week 70

Hello there family and friends, 

Elder Rexinger here in good old Pasco, Washington. We have had a pretty good week. I'd definitely say it's been eventful. We went from having no people on date to be baptized to having four people seriously on date for baptism.  The cool thing was they were all put on date within a day of each other! 

We had a lesson at the Bland Family home and they had 4 non-members there that we taught the restoration to. One of the non members chose to not commit to being baptized, and that's all good. Our Purpose as missionaries is to INVITE others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, Repentance, Baptism, Receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end. The key word there is invite. Whether or not they choose to accept it or not is up to their own personal agency. It also helps doing missionary work when we look at it that way. The true success in missionary work and the invitation (whatever that may be). In 2 Nephi 2:16 we read "Wherefore, the Lord God gave unto man that he should act for himself. Wherefore, man could not act for himself save it should be that he was enticed by the one or the other." 

People in this world are enticed by a multitude of things on a daily basis. The same is true about the Gospel. The more we introduce it to other people in our lives, odds are that someone will accept it. If they reject your invitation does that mean it’s a failure? No, it’s not a failure. It means you're a freaking Rockstar for putting your beliefs out there. Missionary work is intimidating to be sure, but I want to testify to you all that the Gospel is true. I Testify that God loves each and every one of His Children, each and every one of us. The Gospel is here to bless our lives, both in this life and in the life to come. 

This is what Joseph Smith has stated about missionary work, commonly referred to as The Standard of Truth. He said, "The Standard of Truth has been erected; no unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing; persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent, till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done”. God will help us in this great undertaking and work of which we are engaged. 

I Love you all. See you later. Thank you for the prayers and support.

Elder Rexinger

Columbia River Temple