A VISIT FROM A GENERAL AUTHORITY AND HIS WIFE

We are privileged to have our first "mission tour" by Elder Arnulfo Valenzuela and his wife, Sister Pilar Valenzula.  Elder Valenzuela is the first counselor in our Area Presidency, and a General Authority, member of the Seventy.  They are both natives of Mexico and are both bi-lingual - which was such a blessing for me.  They stayed with us in their home and enjoyed getting to know them personally.  They are lovely, lovely people.

We held two zone conferences and one mission leadership council under the direction of Elder Valenzuela.  These events were spiritual meetings and very motivating to us all.

May I share with you a few things we were taught, and invite you to consider these practices in your life as well?

1.  He asked the missionaries to share with them their favorite Book of Mormon scripture.  After they read it, he asked them this question:  What are the promises made to you in this scripture passage
and what do you need to do to realize these promises?

2.  Elder Valenzuela taught a lot about repentance.  He said the "gate" to go through to begin our path back to Heavenly Father is not just baptism - it is repentance and baptism.  These things are connected and that is why we "teach repentance and baptize converts".

3.  He discussed in detail the scripture 3 Nephi 11:32.  This scripture talks about what Jesus suffered - personally - to make Heavenly Father's doctrine, His own doctrine.  The way we make the Doctrine of Christ, our doctrine is that we LIVE with faith in Jesus Christ, repent, be baptized, receive the Holy Ghost and endure to the end...in our own lives.

4. He also talked a lot about the sacrament ordinance and making it truly the event that we look forward to each week.  We need to connect repentance and Atonement of Jesus Christ to the sacrament ordinance.

5.  Sister Valenzuela talked about four things:  diligence, exact obedience, studying the Book of Mormon and effectively using "Preach My Gospel".

Many local church priesthood leaders attended our zone conferences.  The hosting stake presidents, President Tavera, from Paraiso, and President Cruz from Neza and their wives joined us for lunch with the Valenzuelas.  The Valenzuela's joined ward and stake leaders with our missionaries to do missionary work in the Oriental Stake one evening as well.  It was a very busy three days!

And amazingly, Sister Valenzula made time to teach me and a neighbor how to make flan too!

We are so grateful for their visit!  We all felt uplifted and strengthened!   Elder and Sister Valenzuela were excellent examples of those who are disciples of Jesus Christ, who are serving others and building up the Kingdom of God.  We were so blessed by their visit.

After their three days with us, the Valenzuela's flew directly to Chiapas, Mexico,  where the current earthquake caused much damage.  They were going to do humanitarian work there - where 200 church members lost their homes and four of their chapels were destroyed and will need to be re-built.  We appreciate their excellent examples of charitable service to the members!