Bishopric Message November 2009

Coming “Forth Out of Obscurity, and out of Darkness”
Doctrine and Covenants 1:30

Brothers and Sisters,

As you will hopefully recall, earlier this year, our Ward Mission Plan was presented. Our hope this year was to come “forth out of obscurity, and out of darkness” by doing the following four things:
• Inviting all to “come unto Christ” (Moroni 10:32);
• Implementing our Ward Mission Plan by working effectively with the full-time missionaries, the ward council and ward members;
• Teaching the doctrine of missionary work; and
• Testifying of the blessings of missionary work.

In doing these things, we hoped to see 16 people enter the waters of baptism during the year. Last weekend, Yolanda Liao was baptised as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and was the 16th person baptised in the Isle of Capri ward this year.

Brothers and Sisters, we are grateful for all of your efforts this year to help this work go forward. We are thankful for the many people who have assisted in opening their homes and hearts to investigators and new members. We are also grateful to Heavenly Father for blessing us with these precious new converts to strengthen and fellowship with.

Even though our goal has been reached, the work is by no means done! We hope that we can continue to live each day as “full-time finders”, as Elder David A. Bednar teaches (Ensign, May 08). Sometimes we think that we haven’t got time to be member missionaries or we don’t know how or we may lack desire. Elder Quentin L. Cook has taught:

"Missionary work is not just one of the 88 keys on a piano that is occasionally played… It is a major chord in a compelling melody that needs to be played continuously throughout our lives... What we desperately need is for member missionary work to become a way of life; for the Savior's mandate to share the gospel to become a part of who we are." (BYU Devotional, 13 March 2007).

We pray that each of us will have the courage, faith and determination to open our mouths and know that they will be filled (see Moses 6:32). We know that as we do this, great blessings will come to each of us, individually and collectively. We are grateful for all you do and for the blessing it is to serve alongside each of you.

Love and Best Wishes,

Daniel Shine Bob Howden Rei Singsam
Bishop 1st Counsellor 2nd Counsellor