kelli wrote this for her ward newsletter and asked me to post. ENJOI.
Virginia rocks! the weather is great, the land is beautiful, the people are God's children.
I am so grateful for the wonderful people you all are. in the mission field you see in vivid colors the differences in active members, less-active members, inactives, and investigators. when thinking about the ward back home i am so impressed and grateful for the good people you are. i was so lucky to be shaped by such incredible strong individuals in the leaders and membership of the ward. today my message is to the many people who, in the goodness of their hearts, sent me the famous words from President Hinckley's father "Forget yourself and go to work". Today my message is to the many men and women who often remarked to me "I wish I would have served when I was your age." And today i have but one message--repent. you too have the chance to "Forget yourself and go to work."
I can't help but think of president hinckley a couple of years ago in conference when talking about missionary work he said what's happening is good--but it is not good enough. joseph smith stated after all is said and done our duty is to preach the gospel. there is nothing more important that you can be doing in your life than preaching the gospel. share the message of the gospel with your family. preach it to your neighbors. it is more than activity in God's kingdom, there is a duty to preach the gospel and it lies on the shoulders of the faithful men and women of His church. if you do not a family mission plan, then i'm calling you to repentance. how many convert baptisms have you been apart of in the last year? decade? the bishop of the ward in which i am working should be a great example to each of you. he has baptized 4 times as many people into God's church than he did while serving his mission; and will continue onward in the building up of His kingdom. if you are not a member missionary then you are failing to fulfill your duty before God. i testify this is God's true church here on the earth with all the laws and ordinances necessary for each person to obtain salvation. with that knowledge i labor each day to spread God's word. you will be held accountable for what you know! i quote nephi when he says wo! wo be unto him that is at ease in Zion! wo unto him who crieth: All is well! if you yourself are not daily participating in member missionary work then you are allowing the devil to cheat your soul (alma 28:21). let my words ascend up to heaven even to rend eternity and stand as a witness against me and every person within reach of my words at the last day. we will, each of us, be held accountable for what we know! so i want you all to know the love from home, the cards and cookies have meant the world to me--i appreciate every morsel given. But now i'm telling none to write or send me anything unless you tell me about the missionary work in which you are a part. But please do. write me, you have a fellow sister who is unashamed! I'd love to hear about the miracles you've witnessed in your missionary labor. but if you don't have such a story to share--i will not write back! Heavenly Father's work will roll forth whether you yourself choose to help or not. but you decide. i say to our ward today: shall we not go on in so great a cause? go forward and not backward. courage, brethren and on, on to victory! let you heart rejoice and be exceedingly glad. let the earth break forth into singing. let the dead speak forth anthems of eternal praise to the King Imamnuel, who hath ordained before the world was, that which would enable us to redeem them out of their prison. for the prisoners shall go free!
i commend each of you on your path of discipleship. i testify that our Savior lives, He is the Son of the Living God, the Master, the Redeemer, the Great Creator, the Mediotor, our Advocate with the Father. my banner is clear, i am a disciple of Jesus.
