Bye

 me voy de Simoca

La Via Correcta

 Well its been 6 months if you can believe it, so I'm gonna take some liberties and talk 'bout trains, cause I like trains.

     

Trains are the best. And they are guided through the world by tracks, in español vías del tren. These vías guide the train through the very best course, help support its load, and help it to arrive to its destinación. Off of these tracks, things don't go too well, the train will have a difficult time, won't make it too its destinación no matter how hard it tries, and is probably going to tip and fall.  But in the guides of the tracks/vías the train will go grand distances, be able to carry its load, and accomplish far more than it could without them.

    Similarly, our Heavenly Father has provided us with vías/tracks in this life. Guides to help us make it through this life, lighten our loads, return to Him, and find joy in the process. 

    Sometimes we think we want to just go off the rails, that we know best, but we can trust that the course our father has planned for us is the best,(2N26:24,Mosíah4:9), that it will strengthen us(Elder Christoferson, su voluntad), we will find joy in the journey (1Nefi17, just look at Nefi), and that it will lead us to eternal life with Him and our families (Helmanan3:29-30).

Entrar las vías/Stay en las Vías Repentance 

   As the train, we start our journey when we humble ourselves as a little child, and show that we are willing to follow the vías/tracks he has layed for us that lead to his kingdom (Mateo18:1-5, 3N11:37-38). 

     And we will not be perect in following his guidance(like a crazy train), but he has given us guides (2Nefi32) and we are never truely lost, we can always make our way back. If we truely repent and forgive others, he will forgive 'until seventy times seven.' 

     It should be said too that just because we are following his path, doesn't mean this journey will be 'fácil' (easy). No, in fact part of the plan is the oposicion, the challenges, and trials...

Strength/Struggles

     ...but He has promised that He will 'consegrate thine afflictions for thy gain'(2Nefi2:2). And as we follow Him, we will find the strength to lift our load. 

Matthew11: 

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

29 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. 

30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light

I have seen that this week in the lives of a family who we just got to know, the familia Johnson lets call 'em.

    The Familia Johnson is great, but they have been hit with a trial, a load that is unbearable to lift alone.

    Their daughter, 14years old, had been sick a bit ago, and recovered fine. Then got sick just a couple weeks ago, but nothing worse it seemed than a cold, and went to bed. But it was worse...and sadly she didn’t make it through the night. 

      We found them this week, and it was as if they had been waiting for us. 

      We shared with them about Christ, about His Sacrafice, how He knows them, and how He knows their pain. That He died for each one of them, suffered, so that He could help carry their burdens (Mateo11:28-30,Alma7:11-12).

      But even more than that, so that all can participate in the resurection, and so that we have the chance to return to our Father in Heaven and see our loved ones again(2Nefi9:21).

      We briefly testified of things, and let them unload a lot. And the mom talked with a surety that she would see her daughter again, and that, and her faith in her Savior, has not taken this load off her shoulderes, but has lightened it. He only, can help us to bear our loads. And in Him we will find Hope and Strength in our Struggles.

2Nefi26:

24 He doeth not anything save it be for the benefit of the world; for he loveth the world, even that he layeth down his own life that he may draw all men unto him. Wherefore, he commandeth none that they shall not partake of his salvation.

Joy/Obedience

    I have also seen, that as we try to follow these tracks, and stay firmly to them, we will find joy and success (1Nefi17). And we will have the desire to always rember, rejoice, and share of Christ.

2Nefi25:

26 And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins.

Eternal Life

       The promise, hope, and joy greatest of all, is this. 

 Helaman 3

27 Thus we may see that the Lord is merciful unto all who will, in the sincerity of their hearts, call upon his holy name. 

28 Yea, thus we see that the gate of heaven is open unto all, even to those who will believe on the name of Jesus Christ, who is the Son of God. 

29 Yea, we see that whosoever will may lay hold upon the word of God, which is quick and powerful, which shall divide asunder all the cunning and the snares and the wiles of the devil, and lead the man of Christ in a strait and narrow course across that everlasting gulf of misery which is prepared to engulf the wicked— 

30 And land their souls, yea, their immortal souls, at the right hand of God in the kingdom of heaven

I know that our Savior lives, that our Father in Heaven has layed a path for us, and that as we follow Him, and the teachings of His son we will find Joy, Hope, and Strength in even the most devastating moments of our lives. Jesus is the Christ, our Guide, our Fortaleza, and our Salvador. The only name by which we can return to our Father and our Families for eternity is His. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Las Palabras de Cristo

 Alright, hope everyones doing super good. Ive been cooking, so this id gonna be a short one.

We've been teaching and doing a good bit of service this week. 

But heres a quick experience I'd like to share that highlighted my week:

We found recently a friend who had known the the misioneros about 50 years ago. And he liked to talk with them like he does with us, but never really was very interested. He has got his ways and is good with them. But we went one time and gave him the Book of Mormon to read and invited him to pray about it. He did one of those things, but sadly not the other. We found that out just the other day when we went, and he had his doubts about the book. We sat as he shared why he thought it was a scam of some sort because he never heard that Jesus visited the Americas. We tried a few times to explain the promise of the Book, and how we can come to know of its truth by praying and asking of God. It didn't work out very well. He is very respectful, but also liles his way of talking, and likes to analize my companion and I like we're on criminal minds. It was very interesting. But I understood him, and I felt the love of the savior for him. My companion was trying to get a word in to express his testimony and the importance of this, but we were stuck. So I got the impression to just ask him if I could take 2 minutes to share my testimony. Intrigued he said, sure. I had opened up to 2Nefi33 (pure fire). And I briefly read and sumurized, the first two vereses about the spirit and its role. He had questioned my companions desire to share these things and why he wanted him to keep the book, and I explained to him why. Because he knows, because he followed the invitacion, that I did too, and didn't explaim this but my campion is a member because his grandma found the Book one day in her house, followed the invitacion, knew it was true, and from her the Church started and grew in the south of Chile when the first missionaries arrived later that year. And then, I read 2N33:10, and dang, feeling the spirit so strong and unexpected tears in my eyes for this child of God I testified that these are 'las palabras de Cristo' 'the words of Christ.' I don't know if he will gain a testimony of these things, but I know they are true. I know that because I have followed them and they have blessed my life, and I followed that invitacion to read and to pray, with real intent. He excepted the book, and invited us to write and names. I wrote a note, for that one person who will find this book one day. 'The most powerful book in the world', said my companion, 'because the Lord can put it in the hands of someone who is needing it.'

God lives, He is our loving Heavnely Father. And He is a God of Miracles, yesterday, today, and always. He has a way to help us find the way, because like the loving Father he is, he wants us to find this path of happiness. The Book of Mormon is true, and contains the words of Christ. And as we read and pray, we will come to find the truth of them and come to know Him more. And as we apply them, we will find miracles, blessing, and changes for the better in our lives.

Principe de Paz

 Prince of Peace, is one of my favorite names of the Savior. I love to study the different names of Christ, because each one helps us to better understand his character and how we can become more like him. This week I´ve had some studies and experiences that focused on this name of Christ, Prince of Peace.

The Guide to the Scriptures talks about the word "paz" (peace), in two different maneras:

1: Peace: Freedom From Conflict and Turmoil

     In The Book of Mormon we can see this type of peace come and go a lot, between all the wars, conflicts, and arguing brothers. We can see this peace last for a while in 4 Nefi, it´s going so well that Nefi after 60 years of peace is like, looks like we´re still doing pretty good, then pops back in in another 50 years like, still pretty good, passing this short record down 2 more generations, later some problems again...but they live in peace for a long time. And Nefi gives us some insight on how:

15 And it came to pass that there was no contention in the land, because of the love of God which did dwell in the hearts of the people.

16 ... and surely there could not be a happier people among all the people who had been created by the hand of God.

They had a love of God in their hearts and a love of all mankind, and I´d say they had developed Christlike Charity (Moroni 7:45-48).

I love the way that Profet Russel M. Nelson talked about this during the last general conference. 

"Charity is the antidote to contention. Charity is the spiritual gift that helps us to cast off the natural man, who is selfish, defensive, prideful, and jealous. Charity is the principal characteristic of a true follower of Jesus Christ.¹³ Charity defines a peacemaker...

When we humble ourselves before God and pray with all the energy of our hearts, God will grant us charity.::¹⁴

Those blessed with this supernal gift are long-suffering and kind. They do not envy others and are not caught up in their own importance. They are not easily provoked and do not think evil of others...¹⁵

sisters, the pure love of Christ is the answer to the contention that ails us today. Charity propels us “to bear one another’s burdens”¹⁶ rather than heap burdens upon each other. The pure love of Christ allows us “to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things”¹⁷—especially in tense situations...

Pray to have the courage and wisdom to say or do what He would. As we follow the Prince of Peace, we will become His peacemakers."

I have seen this week that this is the truth, and that as we can share this love of Christ and God, if we can feel their love for others, we can find peace. We had a lesson this week with a new family, were at one point we were talking about the Resurection (something that should be happy and full of hope) and one of the members of the family disagreed about part of what we were explaining, and from there started to go back and forth (between just this one family member) only talking about differences in what we believed. After a bit of this, I did not feel the spirit there like it was before, and I got the impression, 'Share your testimony of Christ'. Well that's what I did, in the middle of this discussion I said I would like to share my testimony about Christ. At that point, the rest of family had their attention caught a bit. I shared that Christ lives, that he loves us, and as I called each one of them by name in the room, that he knows each of us indivually. As I did so, everyone in the family looked up, when until this point they had not been interested much or focused at all. And I testified of the hope we have in Christ to live with our families for eternity. I could tell that they could feel the truth of these palabras (2Nefi33:3). And I know that they were true. And what at one point had seemed like might be the first and last visit with this family, turned into the just the start.

2: Peace: Peace From God to the Obedient

Hey, remember that peace that was in the earth for so long in 4 Nefi, well this is one of those reasons too.

12 ... but they did walk after the commandments which they had received from their Lord and their God, continuing in ^dfasting and prayer, and in meeting together oft both to pray and to hear the word of the Lord.

When we follow the Lord and his commandments, make and keep our covenants, we have the promise to have his Spirit to be with us (3Nefi18:7). And his spirit will be our guide and will "show us all things that (we should) do" (2Nefi32:5). The spirit will be our guide in all things when we choose to be obedient and follow our Savior, and as we try to follow him and live as he did, we will share His light in the darkness (3Nefi18:24) and His peace in the contencion. 

(It will also be easier to share peace and the love of Christ with others when we have found peace ourselves. So this is cool Alma38:8)

I know that as we come to know our Savior more and develop his love for others, we can share this peace with the world. So yep, bye.

"Peacemakers Needed"

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2023/04/47nelson?lang=eng

Otras Escrituras:

Mosíah4:3, 

3N27:5-6

Mateo 5:43-48

Mosiah4:11-12