COME LISTEN TO A PROPHETS VOICE!

Dear Family! Oh it has been a wonderful week! Filled with so much Joy! 

You have heard of "Meet the Mormons" I am sure. It will be released in various locations Oct 10th!!!! We had the greatest opportunity to see it at a Zone conference this past week with President Slaughter. It was phenomenal! However that may just be a cheesy missionary opinion. But it truly was hilarious, touching and powerful! A member in our ward returned from a meeting regarding this movie. He mentioned that members of different faiths said after watching this movie that they would let missionaries in to listen if they came knocking on their door. TELL EVERYONE TO SEE IT!

John&Amber: A beautiful family! They are currently catholic. Brother Flynn, who converted from Catholicism, came with us to a lesson this past week. John asked very direct questions of Brother Flynn and why he left the catholic church, how he knew this was true etc. Brother Flynn explained clearly that after questioning and wondering, he felt this was where he needed to be. Brother Flynn's father was a devout catholic, Brother Flynn was an alter boy and took catechism classes. However, he knew this was Christ's church and that he must be a member of it. He encouraged John and Amber to continue learning and reading! So powerful! I just wanted to cheer, clap, scream and shout and say "Amen" after every sentence Brother Flynn said. John and Amber would have never had the same experience if it was only Sister Barrick and I testifying. Members are outstanding and so helpful!

We attended the baptism for three 8 yr olds on Saturday! The spirit was overpowering. Sherry and her daughter Ruby came! (friend of Aiden, one of the 8yr olds) All the primary children sang "I am a Child of God." Ruby was the only one up front with a hymnbook in hand, but she sang at the top of her lungs and with passion. At the end of the baptism she told her mother she was getting baptized into Aiden's church. As we spoke with Sherry afterwards, she had tears in her eyes. She mentioned that she is not ready to learn more at this time, but there was no doubt that the spirit pierced her heart. She even attended the primary program Sunday morning and loved it! She will remember these moments for eternity! 

The Primary Program was a success! They almost filled the entire gym with seats! There were about 15-20 members from different faiths who attended (teachers, classmates, neighbors, boyfriends, brothers, sisters, spouses etc) and even more family and friends visiting!  There are more kids in our ward than adults so you can imagine how packed the stand was. The sunbeams sang, ‘Follow the Prophet’. As they finished the chorus..."Follow the Prophet, Follow the Prophet, Follow the Prophet he knows the way." …. a young voice shouted out again, "He knows  the way." Everyone had a good laugh after that. The words these children spoke impacted individuals at just the right time, with just the right spirit. It is powerful to see how each one can hit the heart of one person out of so many in the congregation. 

Our prophet, President Thomas S. Monson does indeed know the way. We have the great blessing and honor to hear from the prophet of the whole earth this weekend. This past week we have been handing out invitations to listen to conference. As we have testified of a living prophet many people have given odd looks, shut the door rather quickly or asked questions. President Slaughter mentioned this in his email this past week. "He (the prophet) says what needs to be said. He does not fear man. He is more concerned about offending God than he is about offending man (D&C 3:7). He is called because the Lord trusts him to speak plainly, that all may be left without excuse." The truth will always be opposed. It just amazes me every time there is great opposition. I immediately think, "WOW this must be true, if there is that strong of a negative reaction to it." It gives me more fire and energy to find those millions of people who are waiting to hear and listen to this profound truth. I know there is a living prophet on this earth today. His name is President Thomas S. Monson. We get to hear from him this weekend and we can choose to listen carefully. How grateful I am to be living in this time. 

I love each one of you. Thank you, thank you for all you have done. I think of you often throughout the week. I pray for you often. I am so grateful for the lessons you have taught me that I use on an hourly basis. Thank you! Always, Sister Davis

Zone Conference

"...LITTLE CHILDREN DO HAVE WORDS GIVEN UNTO THEM MANY TIMES...WHICH CONFOUND THE WISE AND THE LEARNED..." Alma 32:23

MOTHER, FATHER, JORDAN, CRISTY, ADRI, TYLER, and TUCKER!!! 

Exactly 187 years ago from today in 1827, Joseph Smith obtained the gold plates, a record of God's dealings with ancient inhabitants of the America's and the fullness of the everlasting gospel! Many events followed, including persecution, ridicule and mocking….events that we cannot comprehend or understand. All this occurred so we could hold a witness of our Savior, Jesus Christ in our hands. AND more importantly so that others could come to know, understand and accept the fullness of the everlasting gospel!!! What a miraculous day! 

I am not sure if I mentioned but we received a new Ward Mission Leader, Brother Howell. WOW He truly has gone above and beyond. He is living the higher law and see's the Lords Vision. There are so many aspects to being a ward mission leader and I commend him for jumping right in! He has gone out of the way to help us. I would have never thought of all that he has offered to us in helping. He keeps me on my toes, that is for sure. 

In the Leon Springs Ward there are some well developed areas with gates, guards, security cameras and celebrities. We visited a family this past week in one of these areas. It was evening and as we drove through the neighborhood and there were many homes we drove past with the windows open and the lights on so you could see inside the home. (sounds creepy, but I believe it is just their culture) As I looked at one beautiful home, there was a father sitting at the dining room table reading the newspaper. Across the table was his son, who sat on the edge of his seat, a bit uncomfortable, looking down and a bit upset. I thought, “here is the most beautiful home, and a beautiful family and they don’t know about the most prized possession in the entire universe, the gospel of Jesus Christ.” How I wish I could have walked up their brightly lit path, to the big glass door and shared with them what I know. (I don’t think it would have worked so well with the guards and security cameras all around. lol) 

Many families here in Leon Springs are helping so many friends accept the gospel. 

Sister Metcalf: She came to a lesson with us, and the lesson fell through. Her friend lived right next door so she asked if we could stop by and she could introduce us to her friend. She was so helpful and was willing to stop by a few other families in the area with us to drop off invites to the primary program this upcoming Sunday!(hence, my subject line this week)

Obeng family: We dropped off the restoration dvd to this family a few weeks ago. The member who is friends with Mrs. Obeng said that she brought the restoration dvd to watch at soccer practice! WOW - the power of a just a simple authentic movie. 

Phelps: As we stopped by a family we have been trying to get in touch with, we saw the home across the street had their garage door open. The mother of the home answered and mentioned she was busy helping her daughter with homework and this wasn't a good time. Typically this excuse is given as a kind way to mention they are not interested. Thinking nothing of it we left her with a card so she could contact us at another time and drove to our next appt. On the way there we received a message from Sister Almager in the ward. "My friend just texted me and said you just knocked on her door. She mentioned she would have sat down and spoken with you if she were not helping her daughter with homework and fixing dinner." AHHHHHH OH MY GOONDESS! After she spoke with her friend a little more she found out that she has been searching for a church home and just hadn't found something yet. Sister Almager mentioned that this has been a long time childhood friend who she has spoken with quite a bit about the church. She is familiar with a lot that occurs (the people, the activities etc) All that was needed was an invitation! We will be seeing the family at the Alamger's son's baptism this Saturday! 

I love and cherish the Book of Mormon. I love my Savior, Jesus Christ. I am so grateful to know of His church on this earth. 

Love you all so Very Much!  Sister Davis

P-Day nature walk

Our last district

"...FOR BEHOLD, HE KNOWS ALL THY THOUGHTS..." Alma 12:3

FAMILY!!!! 

What a beautiful and tremendous week it has been. A cold front has come. We got rained on a few times and the leaves are slowly starting to change. 

I was able to visit the Encino Park Ward this past week. They are just north of the San Antonio Temple. How neat it is to be all over San Antonio and every one of different faiths can point out this central edifice, THE TEMPLE! Look to the temple! As we walked around this neighborhood Sister Pectol pointed out a man we should go speak with watering his plants. As we approached him he looks at our tags with squinty eyes, walks towards us and holds out his hand to shake ours. He was so intrigued. As we began to share with him the restoration, he asked question after question. He has a wife and three kids and invited us to come back and share more with his family. Before we left, Sister Pectol shared with him a powerful testimony of sincere love for this man she had just met. We are all his children. 

The Book of Mormon chapter in Preach My Gospel has hit my heart this past week. I have heard many times that we can "Use the Book of Mormon to Respond to Objections," but have not quite understood this principle. I can't say that I fully understand it now, but I feel I have caught a glimpse of the vision. In a lesson yesterday there were many questions thrown at us. I felt confident about answering some, but others I had no idea how to answer. As we drove home that evening I thought of the phrase in Preach My Gospel, "Our main task is to declare the gospel and do it effectively. We are not obligated to answer every objection." If I truly understood this principle, then WHENEVER a question is asked I would respond with the Book of Mormon. How exciting this is to have a greater and deeper appreciation and love for the Book of Mormon!

We were in another lesson earlier this week where it began with a bit of negativity. We quickly opened up and began reading with the family in the Book of Mormon. We shared with the father a background on the Book of Mormon. Immediately the focus and the spirit changed in the room. He felt a peace, an excitement to learn, and eagerness to know what was inside. 

There is POWER in the Book of Mormon. Oh how I wish I would have known this when I was in High School. Answering and responding to all those questions from friends day after day with the Book of Mormon. "You can come to know and understand why I don't drink coffee by reading the Book of Mormon."

I have also come to appreciate and respect fathers! How I am so grateful for them and the crucial role they play in our lives. We shared a brief scripture with a family last night. The father of the home shared with his children a critical principle that we had no intention of sharing. The spirit filled the room with great intensity! It allowed us to see and feel a greater measure of our Heavenly Father's love for us. How we must respect, appreciate and love our earthly father and our Heavenly Father. 

The work of the Lord is incredible! There is a great urgency in preparing for the Second Coming of the Messiah. I can feel it in my bones and it drives me every day! I know the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is his kingdom here on this earth. 

Sincerely, Sister Davis

I love this family!

We had the great opportunity and tremendous blessing to attend the Baldea's sealing!!!

"...FOR CHRIST WILL SHOW UNTO YOU, WITH POWER AND GREAT GLORY, THAT THEY ARE HIS WORDS..." 2 Nephi 33:11

FAMILY TIME! 

HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY JORDAN!!!!! It is a grand a special day. The day to celebrate when you met mom and dad! When Grandma and Grandpa became Grandma and Grandpa! The day you began setting the example for generations of children to come! Thank you for always being the example to us all! 

I am happy to hear that the blue is still true! But something is more true than blue.

Mark: He wants to find the truth. He has searched long and hard. We had the opportunity this past week to share our firm knowledge of what we know to be absolutely true. We know something that some doctors, theologians, lawyers don't know. This is a favorite quote from President Henry B. Eyring.

"Well, the danger may be hard to see, but it is real, both for them and for us. For instance, at some moment in the world to come, everyone you will ever meet will know what you know now. They will know that the only way to live forever in association with our families and in the presence of our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, was to choose to enter into the gate by baptism at the hands of those with authority from God. They will know that the only way families can be together forever is to accept and keep sacred covenants offered in the temples of God on this earth. And they will know that you knew. And they will remember whether you offered them what someone had offered you." 

Obeng Family: Three fantastic lessons this week!!! The kids, ages 8 and 9, were outstanding. They understood. They knew and felt something different. The mother expressed after, "I love the feeling I have felt tonight. I want to continue to have this in my family.”

Janet G: We saw a family down the street walk into their home before we could catch them. We decided to approach the home and knock on the door anyways. The mother answered and expressed her friend was a member of the church. She has shared quite a bit with her about the church, but never invited to do anything really. We invited Janet to see the building. She sent us a text the other day mentioning how the one thing she feels missing is family worship time. She wants and desires this for her family! How wonderful! 

"The Fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance." Galations 5:22-23. 

Brother Peterson: This is the gentlemen I may have mentioned some weeks back. He went from slamming the door on the missionaries just a few months ago, to being ordained as a priest this past Sunday. As he arises from the chair he asks, "So what do I need to do to obtain the Melchizedek priesthood?" His countenance has completely changed and he has gone from being quick to anger to being gentle with every person. Alma teaches, "...he changed their hearts; yea, he awakened them out of a deep sleep, and they awoke unto God..." Alma 5:7. His wife (who is not of our faith) attended church and was able to witness the ordination! WOW What an incredible experience! 

We visited the Romney family this past week! The moment we entered their home they began discussing all those people they are working with and how they are branching out to share the gospel with those they may not even know at this time. Brother Romney mentioned how occasionally he has asked his friends if he could show them a cool app. He downloads the free Mormon Channel app onto their phone and shows them a video or two. And that was just one idea alone. How powerful the spirit can be in our lives to drive our desire to share the gospel in any possible way. 

I was asked to speak in a couple of weeks on "Standing Fast in the Face of Adversity." If any thoughts come to mind as you hear this, I would love to hear them. 

I love each one of you. Thank you again for your prayers day after day. Your love and desire to follow our Savior. Thank you. You are shining examples. I have always wondered and worried about the future. Who will I look to as an example? Who will allow me stretch? Who will push me a little farther? It has been right in front of me this whole time. My family! Thank you. I will always have each one of you to help me grow. 

Always, 

Sister Davis

Another picture from the Boerne Parade last week...this is our district

"...YE HAVE COME TO A KNOWLEDGE OF THE GLORY OF GOD…" Mosiah 4:11

FAMILY!

What a tremendous week filled with so much rejoicing! With the restoration of the gospel, what more do we need to rejoice!?!

Dominic: We stopped to grab a bite to eat at Taco Cabana. As we ordered the cooks asks, "Are you Missionaries?" We replied, “Why yes, of course.” A few minutes later we sat down with our food and he came over to us, saying, "Do you have a Book of Mormon on you by chance?" We said, “Why yes, of course!” And he continued, “My wife is Catholic, I was raised LDS. I remember all the good times as a child and all that the church did for me when I was young. I fell away shortly after my childhood. But I have been sharing with my wife all about the church lately. I thought it would be perfect to show her a Book of Mormon. She would love this. I really want to raise my kids LDS because I remember how wonderful it was to be raised in the church." We asked if we would like a visit from the missionaries to teach his whole family. He said YES!

Obeng: We stopped by to see a potential. We knocked on a door on the same street. An African father answers the door. He asked a few questions about accepting blacks into the church. We shared with him some scriptures in the Book of Mormon that speaks of this. He mentioned that his wife is friends with a "Mormon family" and the kids play soccer together. We invited him to have a lesson with this family that lived just around the corner, the Murry's. We will be seeing them this evening!

Shanari: A few weeks ago we stopped at a gas station for a pit stop. As we walked out a worker was putting ice into the ice chest freezer where you buy ice. We asked if we could share a card with her. We then invited her to hear our message. She said YES! We were able to meet with her just yesterday! (ironically enough in a Starbucks)  As we taught the restoration we felt it was nothing Sister Barrick or I said or did, but that the Spirit was so strong and pierced her heart. She accepted the invite to pray about Joseph Smith! She accepted the invite to come to church! She accepted to be baptized on September 27th! She will be attending the YSA ward because she is in her 20's but we couldn't be more excited for her!

A few months ago President Slaughter said we need be out in shops, stores, gas stations, events etc. As we talked with families this week we shared with them in Preach My Gospel all about the "Go About Doing Good" section, and about Charity and Love. How powerful it has been to seek out opportunities to serve, to have compassion and love for not just those inside the church and those we are already friends with but most importantly with those who are strangers, those who don't know about the gospel, those who don't have the great blessings we have.

I wish I could share more but we are short on time today! 

Much love for each one of you! I can tell school season has begun! Time is crazy. Best wishes with all the work!

Always,

Sister Davis

We were a part of the Boerne Parade! We got to hand out cards and candy and see hearts touched, kids enthralled and parents and others asking questions and being sincerely curious! We ARE a peculiar people! and people not only wonder, but really do want to know why we are different! That's the power of God and it changes lives!