Well my loving fans
and followers, I hope that this letter finds you all doing great and kicking. I
really can’t say how fast the time is going, it’s crazy! I am enjoying every
day and taking in all the experiences that I am having, and let me tell you, it’s
quite the experience. So lets get down to the report shall we...
This week we spent a
lot of time trying to find some new people. We found about 16 new people and 5
families so that is a pretty good week. Some of these people are ready and some
are not so ready, but that’s when Papi Mar comes into hand to give them the
lowdown and to tell them what they need to do to change their lives for the
better. It’s a simple process, they just need to be willing to do their part
and I promise bendiciones for them! So this week we were mostly focused on
finding a lot of new people and to invite them to the ward conference that we
had this past Sunday… and let me tell you we packed the house. We had 120
people come! The reunion was really good and the spirit was super strong.
We talked all about
the importance of the familia and The Proclamation to the World. The
Proclamation to the World is advice that we have been give by leaders and I can
promise you that if we live these principals we will be blessed, not only
ourselves but every single one of our family members. It’s such a blessing to
have the gospel in our lives. If we live the gospel, not only believe in it, we
will receive so many blessings.
I would like to
attach the Family Proclamation so that each of you can read it and ponder it.
Live it out, and I promise you that the Lord will bless you immensely. (my spelling
blows because my mind is in Spanish...don’t worry your mother fixes most of
it!!!) so deal with it. HAHA! So below is what I want you to read, I don’t want
you to only read it but to take some time to reflect and ponder it and I
promise that you can take something from it.
THE FAMILY
A
PROCLAMATION TO THE WORLD
The First Presidency and Council of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
WE,
THE FIRST PRESIDENCY and the Council of
the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,
solemnly proclaim that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God
and that the family is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of
His children.
ALL HUMAN BEINGS—male and
female—are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or
daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and
destiny. Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal,
and eternal identity and purpose.
IN THE PREMORTAL REALM, spirit
sons and daughters knew and worshipped God as their Eternal Father and accepted
His plan by which His children could obtain a physical body and gain earthly
experience to progress toward perfection and ultimately realize their divine
destiny as heirs of eternal life. The divine plan of happiness enables family
relationships to be perpetuated beyond the grave. Sacred ordinances and
covenants available in holy temples make it possible for individuals to return
to the presence of God and for families to be united eternally.
THE FIRST COMMANDMENT that
God gave to Adam and Eve pertained to their potential for parenthood as husband
and wife. We declare that God’s commandment for His children to multiply and
replenish the earth remains in force. We further declare that God has commanded
that the sacred powers of procreation are to be employed only between man and
woman, lawfully wedded as husband and wife.
WE DECLARE the means by which
mortal life is created to be divinely appointed. We affirm the sanctity of life
and of its importance in God’s eternal plan.
HUSBAND AND WIFE have a
solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for their children.
“Children are an heritage of the Lord” (Psalm 127:3).
Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to
provide for their physical and spiritual needs, and to teach them to love and
serve one another, observe the commandments of God, and be law-abiding citizens
wherever they live. Husbands and wives—mothers and fathers—will be held
accountable before God for the discharge of these obligations.
THE FAMILY is ordained of God.
Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan. Children are
entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by a father
and a mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity. Happiness in family
life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord
Jesus Christ. Successful marriages and families are established and maintained
on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love,
compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities. By divine design,
fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are
responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their
families. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children.
In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one
another as equal partners. Disability, death, or other circumstances may
necessitate individual adaptation. Extended families should lend support when
needed.
WE WARN that individuals
who violate covenants of chastity, who abuse spouse or offspring, or who fail
to fulfill family responsibilities will one day stand accountable before God.
Further, we warn that the disintegration of the family will bring upon
individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and
modern prophets.
WE CALL UPON responsible
citizens and officers of government everywhere to promote those measures
designed to maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of
society.
I spent a lot of time thinking about the importance of the
family and friends while listening to all the talks. Really the family is the
most importance. I really have come to appreciate more and more the importance
of the people in my lives and the impact that they have had on me. I know
without my family and friends I would not be here today doing what I am doing.
Each of you guys has had an influence on my life for the better. I promise that
if we all continue to put an emphasis on the family and friends this world can change
so much. That’s what I am trying to do here...
There are so many broken homes and families here that it
breaks my heart. I know the importance of the familia more then I ever thought
I would know. We are truly so blessed in the states. We are so blessed that
each and every one of us need to thank our Heavenly Father and show how
grateful we are for the LITTLE THINGS. I know that family and friends brings
blessings that nothing else can.
I want to thank each and every one of you for the
influence that you have had on me. I love and care about you guys and want you
each to know that I have become a better man because of you. I want to thank my
mom, dad and brother who have especially made a difference and raised me with
principals and ejemplos that have given me the chance to help people here in
Honduras.
I know that the Lord has put in store for us the family to
not cause us problems of any kind but to lift us up and edify our lives. I want
each of you to work on relationships with others and value the importance of
each person that we are in contact with each day. Not everyone has the blessing
of being raised around loving family and friends. Cherish it. Reflect upon the
people that really have made a difference in your life.
A lot was on my mind this week on the family because of an
event that happened this week to a family that we are teaching. So we are
teaching a few people in a family and knew of the others...well this past week
some people of a bad group came and killed two of the family members that we
are teaching.... it gave me a wake up call once again that we need to make the
most of every day. We need to protect our families and friends to make good
choices all the time. We as friends and family are in charge of this. We need
to look out for everyone even when it may be hard. We need to take a strong
stance... maybe this family could have helped these two individuals.
We spent a lot of time teaching them about the plan of
salvation and how the Lord knows each one of us, he knows our needs and our wants
in the moment that we need them. We talked about the plan that the Lord has for
each one of us. Even though it was a horrible incident and what happened was
very bad, our Heavenly Father is there for each one of us. He knows more than
we ever will know in certain circumstances. But, it is our responsibility to
help our family and friends when we can and allow them to receive the blessings
that the Lord can give to us through following the commandments and living the
gospel correctly. I am so thankful to have the gospel in my life and friends
and family it means so much to me. Thanks....
Other then this, I don’t really
have much more to say. I love you guys and I am doing great. I am living the
dream, FINDING THE ONE every day. I love and care about you guys, make it a
special week! Gi, make it a special week. Strive to have more Christ-like
attributes every day and the Lord will bless you. Serve others, study hard,
play hard and live each day to its max. Mr. 210 and Slim Jim just keep working
hard too. I love you guys so much. Thanks!
Aim high in all that you do and
put your best foot forward every day!
Con muho amor,
Elder Long!
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