Pics from Evora

Pics from Amadora

President Russell M. Nelson is a prophet

I know that President Russell M. Nelson is a prophet. I downloaded and listened to all his available talks that he gave at the BYU and some given in General Conference. It is interesting to see how the Lord has prepared him to be a prophet. Here are 3 examples:

1. Standing for what's right: He was working at a very prestigious hospital for a very prestigious doctor. He was at the annual Christmas party. As usual, alcoholic beverages were being served. He declined when offered. The head surgeon was infuriated and vowed to make his life horrible for the next year. He replied «Do what you must Doctor and I'll do what I must». He made the next year horrible for Pres Nelson. He had no vacation, the worst hours but it was worth it because he lived and followed the commandments of God.

2. The family: President Nelson is a great example for us youth today in our lives with his family. Just because he was a busy surgeon he did not put off his duties as a father. He has 10 children (9 girls and 1 son).  He raised that family while studying and trying to get his degree. That is an example that we need as young members of the church that it's still needed to have a family and education.

3. Faith: When he was still a young surgeon with his family, there was change in the stake presidency. He was interviewed by President Spencer W Kimball. In the Interview President Kimball said «Brother Nelson, everyone says you're the right man for the job, but they say you just don't have the time because of your job. Do you have the time?». President Nelson responded in the way that we should respond in times when we are tested. «I don't know about that but I have the faith». He was chosen as the stake president and served dedicatedly for many years.

The Lord has been preparing president Nelson for many years and now he is our prophet.

 

Elder Francis is dying and now I will be receiving elder Spees here in Evora. He is a friend of mine. We actually met each other before the mission at BYU. And now we will be mission companions.

The Savior loves all of us

«Na missão encontra e descobrem uma país que nunca vai encontrar de novo, só por causa de o que vocês estão a fazer.» That was said to me in Amadora around Christmas time.

As a missionary, you talk to a lot of people in different circumstances with a completely different culture than you understand. This past Saturday, we has an experience that made me stand back in amazement. We ended up having 3 lessons with 3 groups of people from very different socioeconomic classes.

1.The Portuguese family: First we taught a Portuguese family that was pretty much middle class. They weren't loaded but they were blessed. They lived in a good neighborhood. They had two great kids. They are worried with the bad influences in this world and just want their children to grow up safe by way of the master and they love Jesus Christ.

2. The Immigrant workers: They were from Brazil, like us they are strangers here in Portugal trying to figure out the difference between the Portuguese culture and their own. They have left behind family and friends in search of a better life and hope they can find it here in Portugal. They are very religious and great students of the bible with a huge testimony of that holy work and love of Jesus Christ. 

3. The college student: She is from a former Portuguese colony in Africa. She is here to learn and develop a better life here. She is studying in the world famous college in évora and fights daily to have bread on the table, energy in her house and good grades in the class room. She wants to make her mark. She is not very keen on following a religion but she loves Jesus Christ.

It's interesting how in all of these people come from those groups so separated but they all have the same love for their Savior. I love my Savior too and I know that he too loves us and wants to help us.

I really like the 2 new apostles.

I really like the 2 new apostles. I was actually interviewed by Élder Soares when he came to Portugal to do the mission tour of our mission.

President Nelson is the Prophet is this church. In his talk in the Sunday Morning session, it is impossible to deny the spirit that was felt. It was incredible to hear him talk with power and authority to show that he has been chosen of God. I loved his counsel that he gave to us to learn to recognize the promptings of the holy ghost. I am glad that we have a prophet today. He leads and guides us.

The summer before I went on my mission I had the opportunity to go to BYU and I took the class ''the Living prophets''. It studies the life and teachings of the current prophets and apostles. When I was in that class, I wrote a paper about the ministry of President Nelson, then the President of the 12 apostles. In studying his talks that he has given and his life I was able to see and feel the confirmation that God has called him to be a prophet in this dispensation.

 

With this guidance that he gave us this conference to learn to recognize the promptings of the holy ghost, I have one thought. There is no better way to draw closer to the spirit than through the Book of Mormon. It was written for us today. We can learn to recognize the spirit through reading the Book of Mormon. It restores truths that we can learn intellectually from it's pages and draws a man closer to God spiritually. 

Elder Fogg