Sunday, March 25, 2012

"That is a very productive church!"

I used to be very confused about why we call our complete standard works published in one colume a quad. After all it contains: the Old Testament, the New Testament, the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price. And that seems to be five books in my mind, but a quad implies four. Why don't we call it a quint? (I eventually figured out that when we call it a quad, we are counting the entire Bible as one book.)

Well, during High school I attended a thing at the Universit of Utah called Math Circle, and all of the people there loved numbers to a similar degree that I did. So, one day I asked some of the smartest people there about it. I had assumed at they were LDS also, but I was wrong, and they didn't even know what I was talking about.

But when I had explained the situation that there are originally two books and that through modern day revelation we had three additional books. Their response was, "That is a very productive church." That sentence has stuck with me since then.

I was thinking abiut that sentence nd how wonderful it ia to live in a very productive church, when I realized that modern revelation isn't limited to the quad, but every six months our prophets speak to us, and we get taught on high. Not only have we added three books to the original two, but we also have the archives of all of the conferences for many many years. I love being a part of a work that is directed by God!

The Bible says that ye shall know them by their fruits, and normally we interpret it to mean the Book of Mormon, which is amazing and wonderful and God's proof to the world that the Book of Mormon is true.

But perhaps it also refers to all of our fruits. We have more scriptures and revelations and wisdom from God than most people could even imagine. Ours is truly a productive church. If you were to try to count our fruits, you would discover that our tree of revelation is a very productive tree.

So enjoy conference weekend everybody, and think about how thankful you are to live in a "very productive church!"

Thursday, March 22, 2012

Texas Fort Worth

Dear Sister Sanchez:

You are hereby called to serve as a missionary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  You are assigned to labor in the Texas Fort Worth Mission.  It is anticipated that you will serve for a period of 18 months.

You should report to the Provo Missionary Training Center on Wednesday, July 11, 2012.  You will prepare to preach the gospel in the Spanish language.  Your assignment may be modified according to the needs of the mission president.

You have been recommended as one worthy to represent the Lord as a minister of the restored gospel.  You will be an official representative of the Church.  As such, you will be expected to maintain the highest standards of conduct and appearance by keeping the commandments, living mission rules, and following the counsel of your mission president.  As you devote your time and attention to serving the Lord, leaving behind all other personal affairs, the Lord will bless you with increased knowledge and testimony of the Restoration and of the truths of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Your purpose will be 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.  As you serve with all your heart, might, and strength, the Lord will lead you to those who are prepared to be baptized.

The Lord will reward you for the goodness of your life.  Greater blessings and more happiness than you have yet experienced await you as you humbly and prayerfully serve the Lord in this labor of love among His children.  We place our confidence in you and pray that the Lord will help you become an effective missionary.

You will be set apart as a missionary by your stake president.  Please send your written acceptance promptly, endorsed by your bishop.

Sincerely,
Thomas S. Monson
President