this week was sweet, we finally had a youth activity with the missionaries that i had been planning forever. MUD DODGEBALL!!!!! it was way fun. afterwards we had a lesson on the restoration. im so glad that this happened half of the kids there were non-members, now they can see that missionaries aren't scary, that there just regular guys. so far after that two members are inviting thoses non-memebers to have the missionary disgustions in their homes. im way stoked. they have the rest of this week to invite them. 
i had to give a talk on how this land is a chosen land and relate it to missionary work. it ended up being a really good talk. even though i wrote it 45min before.
-i prayer that the holy spirit will be here to testify of what im going to speak about today. what id like to speak on today is how the lord god has preserved this land. the book of mormon is overwhelming evidence of gods hand in the establishment of this nation and his dealings with mankind both during times of righteousness and wikedness. the lord has repeatedly said that if we keep the commandments that we will prosper. turn with me to 2nephi 1:9 here the lord has promised lehi what will happen if he keeps the commandments. we have two records -the jaradites and nephites- of two nations that were swept off the face of the land because of their wickedness. nephi a prophet in the book of mormon prophised the destruction of that eary american civiliztion and lateer the rediscovery of this land by an inspired explorer. turn with me to 1nephi 13:12 that scripture is talking about columbus and how he was led by the spirit too this promised land. for centuries the lord kept america hidden until the time was right to unviel her for her destiny in the last days "it is wisdom that this land should be kept as yet from the knowledge of other nation." "for behold many nations would overrun the land, that there would be no place for an inheritance." in the lords due time his spirit "wrought upon" columbus. the pilgrams, puritans, and others to come to america. they testified of gods intervention in their behalf. the book of mormon records that they humbled themselves before the lord and the power of the lord was with them. only if we humble ourselves and keep the commandments will the lord fight our battles and protect us. think of zions camp. the lord promised that his presence would go with them and that all victory and glory would be brought to pass through their diligence and fathfullness and prayers of faith. in our heritage it gives an account of zions camp: : "difficulties of the camp began to take their toll on participants. the refining process revealed the grumblers, who did not have the spirit of obdience and often faulted joseph smith for his troubles. on 17 may the prophet exhorted thoses posssessed eith a rebelios spirit to humble themselves before the lord and become united, that they might not be scourged" we know that they eventually humbled themselves and moved on with the march towards clay county. "when zions camp reached eastern clay county missouri in late june 1834 a mob of over 300 missouians came out to meet them- intent on their destruction, under the direction of the prophet joseph smith the brethern set up camp and the junction of the little and big fishing rivers." this is where joseph smith said the infamous line "stand still and watch the salvation of god" continuing on pg 47 : " the mob began to attack with cannon fire, but the lord was fighting the battle of the saints. clouds quickly began to formm over head. the prophet described the circumstances "it began to rain and hail.... the storm was tremendous; wind and rain, hail and thunder met them in great wrath, and soon softened their direful courage and frustrated all their designs to kill joe smith and his army... after experiencing the pelting of the storm all night, "forlorn hope" took the back track fir independence to join the main body of the mob fully satisfied that when jehovah fights they would rather be absent" the lord fought there battles because they were doing what the were commanded. i think about the story of the stripling warriors. moroni rallied them together in his day to defend their wives, their children, and for the cause of liberty. why did this band of 2,000 young men defeat the lamenites and establish peace in the land? because of their faithfullness in keeping the commandments. turn with me to Alma56:47-48 their mothers had taught them to keep the commandments. because of the faithfulness the lord delievered them. we as members of the church have been commanded by the lord to do missionary work. ive noticed when reading the book of mormon that people in the land are prospering because of the righteosness..... do you think that the righteous were doing missionary work? when we cease in sharing the gospel we will not prosper. it is my prayer that the holy ghost has touched each and every one of you and has burned with in you. that it was fired you up to go out and do missionary work. in the name of jesus christ amen.
our area is starting to pick up aswell. we finally found 5 new investigators were teaching and so far two of them have baptismal dates. that makes a total of four people schedualed for baptism. and we haven't met with the other 3 but they will be commited for baptism on the first lesson.
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Elder Tyler Herring
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