Semana 11

 Elder Lutze, 

I can't believe another week is already gone.  Life is just speeding by... took down Halloween and put up Thanksgiving this week. We sent your Christmas packages on Tuesday through LDS Xpress. You'll have to let us know when you get them. You should receive two. (The one has 12 days of Christmas with 12 numbers and a thought beneath each number. The other is a late Halloween from the McBrides) I spent time with the YW on Tuesday night, coloring pictures for kits to teach Primary songs to the kids in Sierra Leone where the Speirs are serving currently. I also facilitated an emotional resilience class on Wednesday. Great group of five women and the Spirit was present! Friday, Sonia and I went to the family history center. Sis. Lambert helped us and we found a new person!! Otto Schroeder. So, we're making a little progress on the German line. Dad and I did initiatories on Saturday. I love the temple. Two of the sisters helping me were named Karren and Carolyn so that was special for me.  A little message from Grandma to me. I always love your letters! We did receive permission to speak with you on December 18th. Let us know what the best time will be so we can make sure everyone is gathered, but not interfere with your work. My guess is that evening will be best for us. We could do it late so as not to interfere.

I'm currently studying Isaiah! He's truly amazing... all that he saw past, present, and future with an incredible testimony of Jesus Christ.

Isaiah 42:6 "I the Lord have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles; 7 To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house." This is truly you as a missionary!!!

Isaiah 55:11 "So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it." If we will always be humble and remember that He is in charge, truly His word will accomplish and prosper all things.

Isaiah 55:1-3

1 Ho, everyone that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.

2 Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.

3 Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.  

The meaning of the scriptures is clear. Jesus is the “living water” and “the bread of life” (see John 4:13; 6:47–51), and His gracious gifts to men are free. The invitation to come unto Christ and obtain those gifts without money and without price suggests not that they can be obtained without effort, but that one does not need the goods of this world to obtain them.

Elder Marion G. Romney explained what price is required:

“When earth life is over and things appear in their true perspective, we shall more clearly see and realize what the Lord and his prophets have repeatedly told us, that the fruits of the gospel are the only objectives worthy of life’s full efforts. Their possessor obtains true wealth—wealth in the Lord’s view of values. …

“I conceive the blessings of the gospel to be of such inestimable worth that the price for them must be very exacting, and if I correctly understand what the Lord has said on the subject, it is. The price, however, is within the reach of us all, because it is not to be paid in money nor in any of this world’s goods but in righteous living. What is required is wholehearted devotion to the gospel and unreserved allegiance to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. …

“A half-hearted performance is not enough. We cannot obtain these blessings and be like the rich young man who protested that he had kept the commandments from his youth up but who went away sorrowful when, in answer to the question, ‘What lack I yet?’ Jesus said unto him,

“‘If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor … and come and follow me.’ (Matt. 19:21.) Evidently he could live everything but the welfare program.

“There can be no such reservation. We must be willing to sacrifice everything. Through self-discipline and devotion we must demonstrate to the Lord that we are willing to serve him under all circumstances. When we have done this, we shall receive an assurance that we shall have eternal life in the world to come. Then we shall have peace in this world.” (In Conference Report, Oct. 1949, pp. 39, 43–44.)

I love you, pray for you, and put your name on the temple prayer roll!

 Mom