What is a Mission?
We are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Our purpose as missionaries is to “Invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end.”
We volunteered to serve our mission for 23-months. Senior missionaries have the option to serve 6, 12, 18, or 23-month missions. Our Church encourages seniors to serve if possible, but it is not a requirement. We pay for our own missions. We have been saving to serve for decades and consider it a great blessing to now focus daily on the one thing that brings us the greatest joy of our lives, Jesus Christ and his great plan of happiness.
Jesus Christ
If you want to hear an excellent summary of what we believe about Jesus Christ, I highly recommend this wonderful talk (“The Way“, by Elder Lawrence E. Corbridge).
Living Prophets
We believe in living prophets. Listen or watch the latest message from our prophet here (“Peacemakers Needed“, by Russell M. Nelson).
What We Believe
1 We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.
2. We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam’s transgression.
3. We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.
4. We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.
5. We believe that a man must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority, to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof.
6. We believe in the same organization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, and so forth.
7. We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues, and so forth.
8. We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.
9 We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.
10. We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the restoration of the Ten Tribes; that Zion (the New Jerusalem) will be built upon the American continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the earth; and, that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory.
11 We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.
12. We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.
13. We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul—We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/pgp/a-of-f/1?lang=eng
To our dear Missionary friends, Joanie girl and Steve. Do hope all is going well for you. I love the pictures and the info you send. What a beautiful country ! All is well with us here in Utah ! Keeping busy as usual. Playing 3 to 4 gigs a month. I do love sharing my instrument with others. Our Branch is growing, every room is filled! Roger and I have 5 brothers and sisters to visit, a couple are married.Sister Kitchen and her husband are going on a mission in February of 2024 to the Baltic mission, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania . They are excited to learn some of the language. Well , I guess this some of the infor here. Take care, we love you guys !
Dear Steve and Joan, It has indeed been waaay too long since I have sent you a note. Can you believe it has been over a year since you have been serving?! It looks like you are seeing beautiful country and able to learn more about your surroundings. Hopefully, you are staying warm through the winter! We are currently in Oceanside, CA, where it has been beautiful; but they, too, are getting record rainfalls. Fortunately, we haven’t experienced any of the flooding that has been happening within several miles around us. Ken’s sister and wife came and visited us, and we went to the Farmer’s Golf Tournament at Torrey Pines in La Jolla. We usually try to go every year. My brother and wife were here and my sister and her husband come in a couple of weeks. So far the weather has been kind to our visitors! I’m so sorry Christine continues to battle with her health. It must be hard to be away and yet missionary miracles are plentiful to families of serving missionaries! That is our hope and prayer for her and you, as well. Thank you so much for your example of love and service! We love you!