Jesus Will Not Forsake Us, Weary Not

Q1. Do you need anything at this time?
A1. Yes my camera is not working the lens on it just shows black so when I take pictures its just black.

Q2. Who can we add to our daily prayer list or continue to pray for?  Prayer is the real deal!

A2. Prayer is indeed the real deal. If you could keep in your prayers D. R. and her family as well as L. G. that they may continue to progress through diligent study of the Book of Mormon.

Hoorah for Israel!!! Thank you for your many prayers in behalf of the L. Family. Late last night N. and one of his daughters Nh. 9 years of age were baptized and confirmed members of the Lord's church and received the most important gift in this life, that is the Gift of the Holy Ghost.

(photos courtesy of the Harding family)

It has been incredible this week to see the hand of the Lord in our lives and the lives of our investigators including the L. family dealing with challenging trials. Thanks to the ward and the the Savior we were able to help them see and feel the gospel principle and His promise to all of seeking for the kingdom of God and His righteousness first, and all these things will then be added upon us.  

Matthew 6:33

33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Blessings started to flow into their lives as a result of diligent study of the Book of Mormon and earnest, sincere prayer. It was a very humbling experience to see Nh. who was at one time unsure about being baptized change, lighting up and jump at the opportunity to be baptized with her father. What made it even more incredible is the great ward attendance at their baptism as the members of the ward came out in full support to celebrate this new beginning in all their lives and to show love for the L.'s. 

I have felt like Alma did in the 23 chapter of Mosiah verse 10:

Mosiah 23:10
10 Nevertheless, after much tribulation, the Lord did hear my cries, and did answer my prayers, and has made me an instrument in his hands in bringing so many of you to a knowledge of his truth.

Weary Not

If the way be full of trial, weary not;
If it's one of sore denial weary not;

If it now be one of weeping,

There will come a joyous greeting,

When the harvest we are reaping, weary not

CHORUS

Do not weary by the way

Whatever be thy lot

There awaits a brighter day

To all, to all who weary, weary not

If the way be one of sorrow, weary not;
Happiness will be the morrow, weary not;

Here we suffer tribulation,

Here we must endure temptation,

But there'll come a great salvation, weary not;

If misfortunes overtake us, weary not;
Jesus will never forsake us, weary not;

He will leave us never, never,

From His love there's naught can sever,

Glory to the Lamb forever, weary not

(“If the Way be Full of Trial, Weary Not,” Deseret Sunday School Songs (1909), no. 158)

President Harding and I both performed a baptism and confirmation which made it a really neat experience for us both. I never thought I would be put in this situation with such a valiant leader as he; I am just very thankful the Lord saw fit to place him in my life to encourage me to Weary Not, NEVER GIVE UP!

Love Elder Gautavai

The Gift of The Holy Ghost - Sanctifies and Keeps The Atonement Active In Us

Hello Family,

It's great to be be able to write y'all once again on P-day. We had such a great week filled with miracles and uplifting experiences that have helped my companion and I to really feel the Savior's love and His peace in our lives. Yesterday, we were able to have a baptism of a returning member/part member family. B. A. was baptized and confirmed yesterday evening surrounded by her immediate and ward families.

It was such a neat experience to see a young girl like her glow and be so excited about taking that first step enabling her to be together with her family eternally. She asked me to perform the confirmation.

Through daily scripture study, pondering, fervent prayer, much fasting, faith, President Harding's teaching and example, and the spirit, I have grown so much in knowledge of the gospel on the mission. I have learned to more fully realize the importance of the Holy Ghost and in particular the Gift of the Holy Ghost in our lives and the unmistakeable connection to our repentance and the Savior's atonement at baptism and more so beyond thus helping us endure to the end. The scriptures teach us that we are saved by the Grace of Jesus Christ, no question. The Savior through His atonement, and death and resurrection enable us to be cleansed from our sins and to be rescued from both physical and more importantly spiritual death. Spiritual death is brought on by sin. Baptism is the entry way to the Kingdom as well as accessing the fullness of the Savior's atonement where we receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. While the Savior makes it possible to be cleansed from sin through His suffering and atonement, it is the Holy Ghost that does the actual "cleansing," the scriptures refer to it as sanctification by the Holy Ghost. After all we can do to repent of our mistakes, the Savior's atonement kick's in and we can be sanctified, or cleansed by the Holy Ghost. What a blessing it is as part of the Godhead and plan of salvation that we can have the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost if we are worthy to let us know the atonement is active in our lives after baptism.

• 2 Nephi 31:17 “For the gate by which ye should enter is repentance and baptism by water; and then cometh a remission of your sins by fire and by the Holy Ghost.”

• Alma 5:54 “they have been brought into this church, having been sanctified by the Holy Spirit.”

• Alma 13:12 “Now they, after being sanctified by the Holy Ghost, having their garments made white, being pure and spotless before God, could not look upon sin save it were with abhorrence.”

• 3 Nephi 27:20 “Repent, all ye ends of the earth, and come unto me and be baptized in my name, that ye may be sanctified by the reception of the Holy Ghost, that ye may stand spotless before me at the last day.”

This isn’t just a Book of Mormon doctrine. The apostle Paul referred to it multiple times as well in the New Testament:

“That the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost.” (Romans 15:16) 

“But ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Corinthians 6:11).

Perhaps my favorite one does come from the Book of Mormon, however: “And after they had been received unto baptism, and were wrought upon and cleansed by the power of the Holy Ghost, they were numbered among the people of the church of Christ” (Moroni 6:4).

With this knowledge I believe the most important ordinance performed this night was, as in all baptisms, the confirmation. Confirming B.'s baptism with its accompanying first covenant allows B. to have the greatest and most important blessing we can have in this life, the gift of the Holy Ghost. Again this will help her (and us) endure to the end. 

So many great miracles are happening here in the mission field providing further evidence of the divinity of this work. The Lord doesn't ask us to labor by ourselves; or to do it by any other way than His way. As the prophet Isaiah wrote: the Lord's thoughts are not our thoughts, neither are His ways our ways..as the heavens are higher than the earth so to are His ways higher than our ways and His thoughts than our thoughts.

I bare testimony to y'all that this is the Lord's work and that He is at the head of this missionary army making the glorious climb up the mountain; where we are in a fierce battle against the Lord's enemy even the adversary, making the adversary our enemy as well. Consequently, there is only one intelligent thing to do; follow our captain and our leader and rescue those who are searching for the answers that come through the Restoration of the Gospel!

Have A Great Week!

Love, Elder Gautavai

Let Your Light Shine Forth

The elder was advised of his younger brother Rylee who also plays soccer for Bountiful High school winning with his team the 4A State Championship last week. Elder Gautavai similarly won a State title as a sophomore at BHS in 2008.

Hello on this wonderful Wednesday morning here in the GAM,

BTOWN'S "A TEAM"
Principal--Greg Wilkey
Vice Principal--Alan Smith
Vice Principal--Sue Baylis
BHS Police Resource Officer--Paul Cardall

2013 4A State Champions--Bountiful High School Men's Soccer Team

2008 4A State Champions--Bountiful High School Men's Soccer Team

That is so exciting to hear! WOW Bountiful back up where it should be, it's incredible to see the joy that has occured this last week back in Bountiful.

I'm writing you today as opposed to this past Monday because of our inspired captain and leader, President Harding who early sunday morning moved preparation day to today so we could focus on proselyting all memorial holiday weekend and day enabling us to contact as many individuals and families as possible.

Senoia, Georgia Memorial Day Parade--27 May 2013

Monday, we attended the annual Senoia City Memorial Day Parade and applied the principle of TALK WITH EVERYONE. Elder Perez and I were little taken aback at the vast amount of people who were at this parade and at first were kinda nervous to go out and talk with all the people there. Not to fear and recognizing our source of strength, we quickly said a prayer and asked for guidance and the strength to be able to stand as representatives of Jesus Christ at the parade and to find a family who we could invite to take the lessons and to learn of the restored gospel. Upon entering the crowds all heads turned our direction as we were the only ones in dress clothes despite the weather (being 80 degrees and very humid and all). lol We then proceded to strike up conversations with everyone, anyone asking them if they have heard of the restored gospel or the Book of Mormon, testifying to them of our Savior's atonement.

BTOWN Stripling Warriors/Fayetteville Zone "A Team"--Elder Perez, Elder Gautavai

It was neat to be able to stand out and let our light shine forth to everyone there. We were able to grab contact information from a few individuals who we will be following up with here shortly. We would have never had those wonderful experiences if it weren't for an inspired mission president leader and friend who is called of God to guide us up the mountain and to battle and push back against the enemy of our Savior Jesus Christ; making satan our enemy as well.

Exciting news: we will be opening up 6 new areas in our Zone next week bringing the total missionary count to 42 here in the Fayetteville zone. In our ward we will add sister missionaries. Each ward will have no less then 2 companionships to help member missionary efforts and to move the good work along. We will have 5 districts in the Zone from our original 3. Hoorah for Israel!!!

Love Elder Gautavai

And Seek Out The Righteous, Where'er They May Be

Purpose of Our Call to Serve

Mom's question (how each email letter begins to the elder..he responds in his letter)
Q1.  Would you like any snacks (i.e. energy/protein bars, jerky, fruit)?
A1.  Nope Im taken care of here in Whitewater as far as snacks and things.

Q2.  Do you need anything outside of food stuff?

A2.  I'm doing well as far as clothing and what not goes.

Q3.  Can you send some pictures?

A3.   I'll send them soon..sorry I have been slacking on pictures..haha

Q4.  Who can we continue to pray for or add to our daily prayer list?

A4.  You can pray especially hard for the L. family...as a mission we have 19 baptismal dates for this weekend...(4 of them being the L's) we are earnestly striving for this blessing and as missionaries know we will be able through the Lord's help, our obedience and hard work we can Make It Happen!

Hello Family!

The elder was advised of his younger brother Rylee's high school soccer season and how they are in to the state semi-finals with a potential of state final later in the week. The elder won a soccer State Championship as a sophomore at Bountiful High school.

lol that's wonderful to hear about Ry! good luck tomorrow and through the rest of the state tourney!

It is great to be able to communicate again at the begining of this new proselyting week. This last week we did a big push through the mission through Zone Training Meetings to become Certified Masters of Preach My Gospel to understand our Vision to Baptize, building a Culture where Miracles will happen and to become Expert Finders, Powerful Teachers, and Masters of Planning. Through all of this there will be specific certifications that each missionary will go through and pass off to Armor up and become everything for the Lord here in the GAM.

In our own proselyting area we continue to work hard with everyone we meet quickly and swiftly taking it all back to the restoration of the gospel and the power, spirit of the Book of Mormon. The Book of Mormon combined with the spirit is the most powerful resource in conversion therefore there isn't a conversation that goes by where we don't invite our brothers and sisters here in the GAM to read the Book of Mormon and to be baptized. I love the Book of Mormon! It is incredible to see the peace and happiness it brings into my life as i read it each day and begin to see that it answers every question of the soul!  It is clear that this is the key to opening up the windows of heaven here in the South.  

What has been really neat is to see the trust that we have built within the Whitewater ward. It reminds me so much of Sharpsburg and the growth that they experienced. Igniting and inspiring the leaders and members in the Whitewater ward (a very blessed and affluent area) to have the faith that there are people here, that have been praying for help, or needs answers to questions that are ready to recieve the restored gospel has been a great blessing in our lives.

Love, Elder Gautavai

The Most Important Thing, Work In The World

"If those who are going to preach do not go with that faith that pertains to eternal life and that spirit that is like a well of water, springing up into everlasting life, their labors will be vain." - Brigham Young

Hello Family,

It was great to see all y'all and to feel of the Lord's peace and blessings yesterday as we were able to connect through Skype.

May we never forget the Most Important Thing in the World -- that everyone receives a remission of sins, be endowed with power from on high, even the gift of the Holy Ghost, that we may "prosper" in all things both temporal and spiritual so when the time comes we may stand blameless before a loving Heavenly Father and be welcomed into His kingdom as one of his loyal, faithful, and mighty servants.

Moreover, that through our Savior Jesus Christ and his Atonement all things negative can be changed into a positive. Until everyone understands the truth we must proclaim this message; and the only way we can proclaim this message is if we open our mouths to share it. With out the restored gospel the atonement has no effect in our lives, until that is made clear this will forever be the most important work in the world.

Love, Elder Gautavai

Mother's Day - Love At Home

Church and Skype-ing. We are adjusting to the new Mother's day normal at least for the next two years with the elder and his younger brother Rylee soon to join him in the mission field (Jan 2014). So next Mother's day (2014) we'll have two calls/contact opportunities.

Special thanks to to bro. & sis. Mayfield and their family for opening up their home to the elder and his companion elder Perez for Sunday dinner and Skype. It was a joy to hear and this time see the elder again. The beauty and wonder of technology! In short he looked and sounded Fantastic! Wonderful! Great!

In our home was our family, Jr. Hamilton, Faaagi, and grandpa Gautavai. We spoke with him as a group and then he was able to visit with Rylee one-on-one.

The highlight of the Skype video call was singing "Love at Home" before saying our good byes. Needless to say, it was very spiritual and moving; leading to the shedding of tears by all! It was really cool!

Earlier in the afternoon we were blessed to be able to Skype video call with elder Gautavai in Wisconsin at Grandpa Gautavai's home next door. The elder is now on his 16 month and is an amazing missionary experiencing wonderful things! He like his cousin in Georgia are a great source of pride and joy for our family. Elder Gautavai looks wonderful and is totally engaged in his call to serve and representing the Savior. It's humbling to think of the elder as he is and the influences of his mother, grandma Gautavai and aunt Faaagi have had on him -- especially today as we honor our Mother's. He'll be wrapping up his mission not long after the next call (Christmas day).