Santo Domingo East Mission: December 2018

Sunday, December 30, 2018

Merry Christmas to All

Dear Family and Friends,

My Christmas gift to you all is my testimony of the Book of Mormon. There is so much power in this book, I can’t even think of opening it’s pages without picturing light emanating from the book.

One of the historians who writes in the Book of Mormon shares his desires for this history (Mormon chapter 8). I read it and can feel his plea to us to embrace this record. This prophet-historian, Moroni, has just witnessed the destruction of his entire people. He is sickened by the sight of so much blood spilling over the face of the earth and a people, who had once had the light of the góspel, lying across the plains, their dead bodies providing food for wild beasts. Moroni realizes he has been preserved and remains alive, although very alone, solely to complete this history and he begs us to read it.

I too, beg you to read, not just for curiosity, or for obligation, but for inspiration. The Book of Mormon is God, talking to you personally, touching your heart like he can in no other way. The book has touched my heart, and continues to do so every single day, even though I read now in Spanish! Dive right in! Read Alma Chapter 5, Read Helaman Chapter 5. They are two of my favorites.

The Book of Mormon brings us closer to Jesus Christ, helps us understand Jesus Christ, gives a greater desire to follow Jesus Christ, and shows us how to follow Jesus Christ. This Christmas, if we truly worship the son of God, we must seek to better understand and follow his teachings.

With much love,

Hermana Smith

Sunday, December 23, 2018

Gifts from caring parents

One of the mothers of a missionary in our mission made 200 pillow cases for our missionaries for Christmas It was such a good idea. Something they really needed, and beautiful too!

Missionaries Perform

For zone conference each zone (11 in total) performed a number. They sang songs, they wrote skits. They were so creative and fun!

We love the mission!!

Contacting the grinch

With some of our kids

Happy Hermanas

President Smith designed these shirts as a Christmas gift for the missionaries. Who knew he was such a clever artist? This elder is acting out the joy of the missionary on the shirt.

Why Just Being Good Isn't Enough

When The Savior came to the Americas he mentioned baptism at least 100 times. (3 Nephi, especially ch 11 and 12) I have been pondering this fact. Why was he so insistent that these people be baptized? Why not just encourage them to repent, and that’s the end. Why not just tell them to be good, to be obedient, to keep the commandments and leave it at that?

Because he wanted to bless them!!! He loved them. He craved the opportunity to show his love to them. He wanted to send the Holy Ghost to be their constant companion, to comfort them, to bring them joy, to illuminate their minds, to bring all things to their remembrance, to strengthen them in hard times, to help them feel His love.

He couldn’t do this unless they agreed to be baptized. Baptism is a covenant, a contract, a binding agreement. Our part of the agreement is to be obedient to the commandments, and Christ’s part of the agreement is to bless us with the Holy Ghost. But he can’t keep his part of the agreement if we don’t have a contract!

Baptism is essential for each one of us who wants to receive blessings from The Savior. Baptism is an ordinance essential for salvation, and baptism makes it a whole lot easier to keep the commandments because we are then entitled to the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Sunday, December 9, 2018

TV Program about the Church

Elder Welch read Mosiah 3:19 while on the TV talk show about the church in the DR. He was a superstar.

Our assistance with the talk show host who wanted to grill our elders about the law of chastity. They responded with Mosiah 3:19.

We bumped into friends we knew almost 40 years ago in Tulsa, Oklahoma. They were here because Mark Tanner was one of the first missionaries here in the DR.