Elder Richardson in Guatemala: March 19,2016 "retaining a remission of your sins from day to day"

The mission office

Dinner at the Mission Presidents home, It's always nice to get a home cooked meal.

Tortillas: 8

Las bendiciones del Señor son grandes sobre la ciudad de Quetzaltenango! I feel so happy to have another great week with the chance to serve the Lord with all I can. We continue to see much progress in our area and in our investigators. I have seen and can testify that the change in peoples life comes in a great manner as they read the book of Mormon and willingly give their will to the Lord. A great experience this week was hearing the testimony of an investigator of how much the Church of Jesus Christ has changed his life, and also teaching about the Sabbath day and literally having them REJOICE in the knowledge of the commandments of the Lord. For me, of the greatest blessings of missionary work, one of the greatest is seeing how much people are changed by God, and being able to witness his works and power. I love my Heavenly Father so much.

Mejor Milagro:

A few week ago I shared the story of a family that we met from a reference of a less active family. When we met this family, at the tail end of the message we were sharing a drunk man can into the house. He entered and sat down and began to listen, and once we finished and were leaving he began to talk and mistreat us a bit. They just told us to ignore his insults, and we set an appointment to come back another day. When we returned, but family was not there, but the man that was drunk was, but this time not drunk. We asked if we could share with him, and he accepted. He liked what we talked about, and commited to let us come back and teach him and his family more. We were able to return, and his new attitude after reading the pamphlet we left was amazing. We pulled his family in and told them that they had to pay a lot of attention. He was excited to learn more, and was completely attent to what we taught. We had the chance to teach the complete message of the restoration, and it amazed him. When we invited him to search for himself and be baptised when he came to know it was true, he responded with an of course, and that if he came to know it was true he would for sure be baptised in the Church of Jesus Christ. We are now going to start teaching them with regularity, and thanks to the blessing of the Lord we were able to find a back up to the simple teaching, truly seeing that we are but instruments in his hands, and that he will to the most important part.

Family home evening with Franklins family and an investigator family, we love them all so much, they welcome us into their home as if we are part of their family.

We can't forget PI DAY!!!

Testimony Time:

This week, I was studying about ordinances, convenants, and the atonement, when I came across the topic of "the remission of sins". I found this scritpure that impacted me in Mosiah 4:26,

"And now, for the sake of these things which I have spoken unto you—that is, for the sake of retaining a remission of your sins from day to day, that ye may walk guiltless before God—I would that ye should impart of your substance to the poor, every man according to that which he hath, such as feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, visiting the sick and administering to their relief,both spiritually and temporally, according to their wants."

The remission of sins is the forgives of bad actions, after we have repented. It is being forgiven by God and receiving peace. What impacted me most in this scripture is the concept that we learning about retaining this forgiveness from day to day. Thanks to the gospel of Jesus Christ, we know what we need to do in order to receive the remission of sins. Because God restored the truth through Joseph Smith, we have this knowledge of how to receive this forgiveness. Many people are searching in many different things, but we can rejoice in the knowledge of everlasting peace and happiness. The concept of retaining the remission of sins day to day truly is the concept of enduring to the end. As we work to do this, we find the true concept of happiness in this life. I love my Saviour so much, and I am so grateful that because of him we have this great opportunity. As we celebrate this next holy week, we can take some special time to ponder on what he has done and what it really means to us. I testify of this peace that is available, and that it is only through Jesus Christ that we can find another life, the life that God wants us to life. Of this I testify in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Elder Richardson
Misión Guatemala Quetzaltenango
josephr@myldsmail.net