Week 89...The Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Hello everyone!
This week was great we have found a few more families to teach and visit! We are focusing on the Book of Mormon and helping them receive the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The Book of Mormon lays it all out so simple what is required for salvation. 2 Nephi 31, 3 Nephi 11, 27 and many other references that tell us that we must first of all have faith that's just a basic doctrine and isn't addressed too much. Why would anyone want to repent if they don't have faith? Faith leads to repentance. Asking for forgiveness and ultimately change of behavior and belief, looking for harmony with your own life and God's commandments. Baptism by water by someone holding the priesthood. Joseph Smith said it doesn't matter how many times a man enters the water of baptism if the persons performing that saving ordinance is not ordained of God, holding the priesthood (not exact quote but it's what is meant). After we have buried our old selves and been born again we must receive the Holy Ghost also by someone holding authority. This completes baptism. "Verily verily I say unto you, unless a man be born of water and spirit he shall not enter the Kingdom of God" Jesus Christ himself saying so.

After these first principles have been applied to our life and the ordinances performed we must then continue "with a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of man" endure to the end. This is the refiner's fire. The marathon runner that slows down in the last 3 miles will not win. We must always be pushing forward. We will fall but that's not important whats important is that we get back up on our feet "relying on the merits of Christ, who is mighty to save" And we keep on going. We go and go and don't stop. This is what we are teaching. This is the restored gospel. Simple, and straightforward "that even a child may understand" I know that if we take these principles and ordinances and apply it in our lives we will all have the opportunity to enter in the the presence of the father having been redeemed through the blood of Christ. He is merciful to those who come unto him. But Justice will stand. A famous saying in the UK among the members. " Truth Will Prevail" God's truth has been restored through a living prophet and salvation is there for the taking but we must act. I love you all and pray that we might all come unto Christ and receive his gospel!

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-Elder Heaton

Philippines Bacolod Mission