The Miracle

We recently had a powerful zone conference with our president! He talked about a miracle that happened in the mission... 

On Saturday, September 28th we had 98 baptisms in Liberia (100 if you count the 2 Elder Pluim forgot to record). On a good month, this mission averages about 90 baptisms. In President's friend's mission... they are lucky to get 6 in a year! We had 100 in just one day! 22 in Kakata and 16 in my area. I was pleased to hear about Kakata's success but when president announced 100 baptisms for just one day... I was so happy to hear we are all working hard in the mission. President calls it a miracle because something sparked the mission's motivation to work harder and love the work. Although he'd never admit it... It is because we have a loving President who supports and cares for his missionaries. This is only the beginning if you ask me. This miracle motivates us all to work a little harder and continue to go the extra mile because as the Lord promises in D&C 82:10, when we do as He asks... He is bound to bless us for our efforts.

President also spoke of another and a much grander miracle. With the prophet's recent plea to study more about Joseph Smith's first vision, President thought it would be a good idea to discuss it as a zone. I learned many great things that I often don't think of when I teach about this event literally everyday! How amazing is it that Joseph Smith, an uneducated 14 year old farm boy was given a small vision that revealed many things? Think of all the truth Joseph learned from the first vision alone! 

1) God answers prayers and the heavens are open today. 

2) God knows each of us personally even by name. 

3) God and Jesus Christ are two separate beings. 

4) God and Jesus Christ have bodies of flesh and bone. 

5) God delegates the work to His Beloved Son. 

6) Satin is real and understands our potential. 

8) Before the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Lord's true church was not on the earth.

There is absolutely no possible way Joseph could have made all this stuff up. How would a little boy know about priesthood hierarchy? If it were a priestcraft scheme... Joseph would have given himself more credit but instead, he states that the Father and the Son lead the work and that they are in charge. 

Regardless of the many scientific reasons the first vison had to have been true... a person can only know for themselves if they pray and ask God just as Joseph did. A testimony can't be gained by science neither should it be taken away because of science. "And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost. And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things." (MORONI 10:4-5)

Joseph Smith wanted the answer to one question and he got much more because of his faith to ask God which church was true. It's very common in Liberia to believe the exact opposite of all these things. We still live in a world where people don't know the truth. That is why it is such a wonderful privilege to be here teaching people that God loves us so much that he restored His church  through a prophet. On my desk I have two paintings... One of the Savior's Atonement and another of the first vison. I believe these two paintings render the two most important events that has ever occurred. I am so happy to be here teaching what matters most... God so loved the world that He sent His only begotten Son to suffer for our sins and save us from spiritual and physical death. God so loved the world that he called a prophet to restore the truth and save us from darkness.

The work is divine! Love you all! 

-Elder Hallenberger