Elder Sorenson - August 20, 2018

Hi Everyone,

Wow, once again I am sending out another letter to talk about how great this mission is. I have loved these past 23 months and I have received answers to prayers and I have strengthened, better said, found my testimony in this Gospel. I know this church is true and that He lives. I know for a fact that my Heavenly Father loves me and He knows what I can handle. I also testify that the Book of Mormon is the Word of God. This week I want to share with you what I learned in my studies!

I was reading Mosiah 18, and it talks about when Alma leaves his past, sinful life and really comes to Christ. He repents of his sins and goes off, secretly, to teach the words of Abinadi: he taught and preached repentance and redemption and faith in the Lord. He became a missionary! He taught what I teach everyday as a Disciple of Jesus Christ! Later on, he invites them to be baptized and how did they respond to the invitation? vs.11 “they clapped their hands for joy and exclaimed: THIS IS THE DESIRE OF OUR HEARTS.” Now, the mission is not all butterflies and lollipops with no rejections or sadness. It would be awesome if all of my investigators gave me a standing ovation after the first lesson and said, “Baptize me.” Or “This is the desire of my heart!” 

What do you want in life? What are your priorities? Is it to come to Christ and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things and in all places? Are you willing to mourn with those that mourn and comfort those that stand in need of comfort? 

I promise, as a representative of Jesus Christ, that you too can have this desire in your hearts. Over the past 23 months I have developed my desire to always serve Him and serve others. I have found myself and really know what my desire in life is - to never stop serving the One who gave me so much. I love Him and I love you. 

I invite you to always ask yourself the question, “What is the desire of my heart?” and realize who is truly at the helm and what you can do now to help Him.

Elder Sorenson
Mosiah 18

Elder Sorenson - August 13, 2018

Hi Everyone!

Last week I had transfers again and I am back in the city of Guayaquil with a new missionary. I had forgotten how crazy this city was. When I got here there was loud music, everyone was out in the street, and the food - it is completely different! My new companion, Elder Ribera, is from Bolivia. He is really cool just super duper shy. I know that the Lord has sent me here for a reason and I really am looking forward to learning at ton more in these last 5 weeks I have left here in Ecuador.

Yesterday, out of the blue, I was asked to give a talk and I had about 3 minutes to prepare for it. I was scrambling for a topic and I thought about what I have been studying in the morning. I talked about the great Sons of Mosiah in the Book of Mormon. Their example really has shown me how I should be, not only during the mission but after as well. In Alma 17, it says they, "waxed strong in the faith for they were men of a sound understanding and they had searched the scriptures diligently...but this is not all; they had given themselves to much prayer and fasting; and when they taught, they taught with power and the authority of God."

I applied this to us and how we should have a holy understanding on why we are here on earth (Alma 34:32) and we should ALWAYS study the scriptures to learn more and more (John 5:39) BUT this is not all, we need to pray and fast to have the "power" or energy we need to sustain us (2 Nephi 32:9). I hope that we can always wax strong in the truth and teach with the Authority we have that was restored through prophet Joseph Smith. I know the blessings we can receive are huge and really can change our lives so we too can have a holy understanding of this Restored Gospel. Every single one of us can teach with power and authority if we put into practice what we learn from reading the Book of Mormon and apply it to our daily lives.

I love you and will see you all soon!!

Love Always,

Elder Sorenson

Elder Sorenson - August 6, 2018

Elder Sorenson did not have time to write a letter this week; however, here are a few pictures he sent us! :-)