045/059 100412 Missionaries are Safe

Picture: Flooding in Rio de Janeiro
There were many deaths in Rio de Janeiro because of floods caused by torrential rainfall (13 +/- inches in 24 hours). We know that the missionaries are in the hands of the Lord, so we do not worry. On the other hand, we do not cease to pray for their safety and success.

We were pleased to get an e-mail from the mission president, letting us know all the missionaries were okay.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Dear parents of the missionaries of the Brazil Rio de Janeiro Mission

We are writing to inform you that all of the missionaries in our mission are well and did not suffer any type of physical danger. Please be calm. God is with us. We thank you for sending your Sons and Daughters to our mission.

President Bezerra
President of Brazil Rio de Janeiro Mission

044/060 100405 Temple

Picture: Salt Lake Temple
So I have had a lot of people asking me in letter about suggestions with going through the temple, so here they are!

Preperation
1. Read the Book of Mormon. All of it. If you just have one week, fine. Read it. If you don't have time, find it. You need an in depth scriptural help. One thing in place of the Book of Mormon I would accept is Jesus the Christ to better understand our savior.
2. The day before you go into the temple, make it a day of fasting and prayer. If you are getting married, go ahead and spend some time with your future spouse, but in large make it a day of just you with the Lord. You'll have the eternities with everyone else, so give one day with just you and the Lord to prepare.
3. Don't freak out. The temple is wonderful and if you are worrying before hand you'll miss the point.

During
1. Just watch and let everything soak in. Its not to be forced. Like the last scripture in section 121 of the Doctrine and Covenants, the doctrines of the priesthood shall distill upon your minds once through your virtue you are in the presence of God. It shouldn't be any more or less than this. Just let you spirit accept it all. Don't have your mind drift or something like that, but you will lose something if you freak out trying to remember every single thing.

After
1. Remember a lot is symbolic. You won't understand it all. So go back. Stay calm, its not bad that you didn't quite get everything.
2. Pray with more spirit and faith. If you let it, the endowment will fill your body with light and knowledge and you will recieve spiritual gifts. That is the promise.
3. Never forget the covenants that you made.

Hope that helps!

043/061 100329 Letter from the President

This is a portion of a letter to the missionaries from President Bezerra:

Our goal is to reach an average of 75 baptisms per week. I'll show you how it is possible. I'll give the recipe:

A good dose of faith added to a lot of obedience, add about 10 hours of hard work during the day, and added 30 minutes of daily planning, plus much prayer, a dose of unity and a great desire to baptize the elect of God...

President Bezerra