Has The Day of Miracles Ceased?

Hello everyone! 

This week has been one of miracles! I could narrow it down to 4-5 that really stuck out in my mind.

1) In preparation for zone conference, when we were asked to prepare a five-minute talk and role play. I was struggling to find the reason behind it, or why we needed to do it. I had the mind set of "If we talk, just tell us to talk". Either way, I did some studying and preparing for my talk. It ended up being that I was not asked to share my talk. Although I was not able to speak at Zone Conference, the Lord pressed upon my mind just how much this "prepare to learn" can help. 

During the second half of zone conference, Sister McReynolds shared a message about Samuel the Lamanite (Helaman 13-15) and how we can apply his example to our missionary efforts. This really stuck out to me, because those verses that we read in her training were the exact same ones that I had prepared to share in my talk. In that moment I could relate even more so to Samuel the Lamanite, and it's because I studied him in depth before zone conference. Because of the "prepare to learn", I was able to get more out of zone conference than I would have otherwise.

2) On Friday night, we were coming home from an appointment and it was a little past nine. We received a call from Elder Carroll, who upon learning we were still on our way home, invited us to find one new friend by the end of the night. With this invitation, Elder Goodey and I approached the next person we saw. We had a wonderful conversation, centered around Jesus Christ and His sacrifice for us. She was very invested in the conversation, and agreed to meet with us again, even suggesting that we meet on Wednesday. Elder Carroll's invitation pushed us to be able to share the message of Jesus Christ with a lovely daughter of God.

3) Continuing on to the weekend, we were so blessed to be able to watch general conference. It was so special to hear the words of the prophets and apostles. It was an especially great experience, because we were able to sustain President Russel M. Nelson as the prophet and leader of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. What a powerful and special experience! The spirit was there throughout all our meetings, and I received many answers to questions, many of which I didn't even know I had. How special it is to have a living prophet and apostles on the Earth today! 

Another reason it was such a special meeting, was that we were able to participate in so many ways. For one session, we watched it with a member who had no way to view or listen to conference. She was saddened that she wouldn't be able to participate, so we offered to come and watch conference with her, on our tablet. She was very grateful to have the opportunity to listen to a living prophet. Another session we watched at the Liverpool stake center, with an investigator, and partook of the special spirit there. Then for the Sunday Morning session, we had yet another amazing experience as we were able to gather at a member's home and watch (after a few technical difficulties) conference with three of our friends. We had a great discussion before and after the session, and the spirit was strong. Many hearts were touched as we listen to the messages shared.

If you haven't watched conference, member or not, I invite you to. Even if you are not religious, these great men and women that speak at conference  provide each of us with information that can help enrich and uplift our lives. 

4) The Temple. What could be a better way to follow Easter and General Conference than going to the House of the Lord? It was a very special time, that was brought through much hard work, prayer, and miracles. 

When Elder Goodey and I heard we could attend the temple today (02 April), we were very excited. As we began finding ways to get us to the temple, we became discouraged. As a result of the Easter Bank Holiday, we could not find any buses or trains that would get us to the temple in time for a session, and we could not find a member of whom could drive us there. Elder Goodey and I feared we would not be able to make it to the temple. Than a miracle happened. 

On Sunday night, after discussing with a few others our predicament, we took one last look at potential travel plans. To our amazement, a new train route had opened up that left at 5:50am the next day. Due to the walking distance to the train station, we had to get up much earlier than usual,  during the fourth hour of the morning. Although immensely tired, we woke up, got ready, and were able to make the train and travel to the temple. All five connections went smoothly, and we got Chorley! However, when we got to the temple, the session was full and we could not get in. 

As we stood there, another temple worker offered, "would you like to do sealings? We can take you there, you can do some sealings, and then we can get you at 10:30 for the next endownment session." What a miracle it was that the Lord put in our hands, for us to have the opportunity to seal children to their parents for time and all eternity, and still attend an endowment session. When we got to the sealing room, the sealer told us,  "I'm sorry you missed your session, but I'm not sorry, because I get to remind you that as a missionary, your end goal is to get your investigators to a room like this." He even went through a couple sealing so we could listen to the blessings and covenants that couples receive during the sealing ceremony. It was very special to me, and a striking reminder of how great a purpose mine is as missionaries. We help souls receive all the blessings the Father has for us. How wonderful it is to help, not only living souls receive these blessings, but to work as a proxy, so my ancestors can also receive these blessings, as they might not have had the opportunity to in their lives.

What a blessing this week has been, to remember Jesus Christ, and His ultimate sacrifice for us, that we may work towards perfection. Although we may not be perfect now.  I love what was shared in the Saturday Morning session of conference regarding "how many times do we have to make mistakes to become perfect? Thousands? Millions?" Having learned (and still learning) the piano, I have personally experienced this principle in action. It is by making those mistakes that you are able to become better, and eventually be able to play a piece perfectly. 

Invitation of the Week

Read a conference talk, and choose a principle that influences you personally, and apply it into your life. The prophet's words are the words of God for you. I promise that their words will help you. 

I love you all! 

Elder Burns

England Manchester Mission

Springwood, Suite G5

Booths Park

Chelford Road

Knutsford

England WA16 8GS

United Kingdom