January 27th 2016

Hello everyone!!  So, this week has been a little bit like a roller coaster.  The weather keeps going back and forth between hot and cold.  Needless to say, it`s not helping my body.  This week was a little slow, but on the plus side, I have a friend here that just sent in her mission papers.   So, we are way excited for her.  We can`t wait to be there when she opens up and reads her call.  Also, the Mission President gave us permission to go to the doctor by taxi from now on, so that`ll save us a lot of time in traveling. :D

 I was reading in Mosiah this week and there was a part that really caught my attention.  

MOSIAH 18:18-29  I like this because it tells us exactly how the original Church of Christ worked.

1. (verses 18-20) They were called to preach re and have faith in the Lord Jesus Christ
2. (verse 21) There were no contentions among them
3. (verse 23)  They honored the day of rest (kept the sabbath day holy).
4. (verse 24)  The leaders worked
5. (verse 25)  They had a day set apart to unite themselves (Family home evening)
6. (verse 26)  They were strengthened by the Holy Spirit through their knowledge of the gospel attained through diligent studies of the scriptures
7. (verse 27)  They paid tithing
8. (verse 28)  They gave to the needy
9. (verse 29)  They helped each other temporally and spiritually.

To many of us, this should all sound very familiar.  When I read this, it made me think of our modern prophets and what they have taught us and continue to teach us.  Though many of these things appear to be relatively new concepts, they`re not.  They were all initiated at the beginning of the history of the church in the Americas. Reading this just reinforces my testimony that the Prophets are led by God.  They`re not old men who have good ideas.  They`re men who really know the Savior on a personal level.  Through this understanding, they`re able to carry out His will here in the earth.  I invite each of you to pray about the divinity of each of our leaders and to apply their teachings into your lives.  They will lead us to an all new love of the Savior and His gospel.  Of this I testify, in the sacred name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Con Amor,

Elder Joseph Nathaniel Jackson