Becoming All That Our Heavenly Father Wants Us To Be

Checking in from the elder's cousin in the Wisconsin Milwaukee mission on the BYU Football Fireside he attended Friday night.

Good Morning!

Hello hello! Thanks for your email!

I wasn't able to watch the game this past weekend, but I was able to watch the fireside via broadcast here in Wisconsin Rapids. Not going to lie, it was a little weird with it being a football team presenting a spiritual fireside, but I felt like the message I was supposed to get out of it came to me. Bronson Kaufusi and Bronco Mendenhall were the two speakers, and they did an excellent job. Coach Mendenhall testified that although the outcome of football games is very important, there will come a time when those things are not important. He testified that the purpose of our journey here on earth is only to return to a divinely appointed heavenly home with our Father in heaven and Jesus Christ. He also testified that this means that we should do everything within our power to win football games, but we should seek the best of both prospects; that is returning to live with our Father in heaven with our families, and also becoming the best we can with our talents. It was a great fireside.

Love, Elder Richard Gautavai

Ohhh It Is Wonderful!!! Wonderful To Me (And For Us)!!!

"NO OTHER SUCCESS can compensate for FAILURE in the home except for the ATONEMENT of JESUS CHRIST." -Neal A. Maxwell (Bruce Hafen, A Broken Heart)

The Gift (Atonement) That Keeps On Giving #AllGlory2God

Shines The Gospel Light of Truth and Love

Questions for the elder included in email from home today. The elder's response in his email.

Q1. (Mom) Thanks for the birthday wish and thought it made my night/day. I love it…I love you!!
A1. No problem!
Q2. Are you in need of anything at this time?
A2. Negative.
Q3. Who can we pray for this week in our daily prayers to help?

A3. The MISSIONARIES! Faith to Find!! 

Oct 30, 2013 GAM Zone Leaders and Sister Training Leaders Mission Council at the Mission Home Photocred: GAM

Greetings from down South,

The family looks great and as everyone continues to press forward on the journey of this life may we continue to know & feel the greatness of God in our lives! This is the Gospel of Jesus Christ in its fullest restored to the earth today through a prophet. This is the ONLY WAY to happiness and fulfillment, there is NO OTHER WAY!  

Missionary Dept Managing Director, Elder David F. Evans (Quorum of the Seventy) and sister Evans GAM Tour 

We have wrapped up another week of climbing, battling the forces of darkness, planning and preparing to make a charge up the mountain here in November. Can you believe its already November!? Tuesday we gathered in large districts to change 2 behaviors: (1) Making plans to talk with a whole lot more people then we currently are either through phone call or on the street contacts, planning and setting up more opportunities to teach. (2) To be able ask 
"Who do you know?" with everyone we talk to as well as developing the faith (principle of action) necessary to find and talk with everyone. The promise from the brethren is we will have more people to teach and bring many into the waters of BAPTISM as we do! President Harding, Elder Steele and I split to cover more ground. I took to the north to Cartersville presiding and overseeing training in district meetings for the day up there. 

I'll GO, I'll DO, I'll SAY, I'll BE what you want me to BE

Wednesday we had the Zone and Sister Training Leaders in the Mission home for mission council. There we had the opportunity to again train and make sure our leaders are making these behavior changes in their own individual areas. It has been my experience, and I believe it is so true the missionaries will rise and live up to the expectations set forth by the mission president & leaders of the mission. Where there is no vision the people perish admonished the Prophet Joseph Smith.

President Ralph R. and sister Sylvia Mabey Photocred: GAM

Friday before having lunch with the Mabey's, Elder Evans of the Quorum of the Seventy called to talk with Elder Steele and I along with President Harding. It was super nice of him to call and ask how we were doing and to talk with us about the feelings that we had when he came. You can imagine he is very busy being the literal Captain Moroni (as the executive director) of the missionary force and to want to talk with us was absolutely a treat! President and sister Mabey were in the ATL and came by for lunch which was also a huge thrill!! I love President Mabey and sister Mabey. He was his usual powerful-self, informing us of the work of salvation in the Bountiful Heights Stake. GREAT WORK! KEEP CLIMBING!

This upcoming week it's back to the temple for more Zone Training meetings wherein we will receive and be taught by the Father and the Son. The Temple has brought a light into my life that cannot be replaced needless to say we are looking forward to being in the house of the Lord this week. The following week brings transfer planning..time is sure flying!

Attached below is a Book of Mormon reading calendar for the GAM starting today (Nov 4) through the New Year. As we journey through the Book of Mormon, President Harding has asked that we invite our families to participate in the reading as well. There will be a sense of power that will come into your lives as we read together from it each day. The Book of Mormon is the only hope for the world that today continues to spiral out of control. May I invite you to always have a copy with you on your person!

In this battle for the souls of men may we find comfort in knowing that our Heavenly Father is at the head of this army. I love you family may we continue to press forward with faith, see the eternal vision, and pray for the strength to win each day!

Love, Elder Gautavai

Got Questions? Find Answers!!! - 'Nuf Said!!

For More Information and Free Copy of the Book of Mormon

The Family Is Ordained of God, Testifies of Jesus Christ

Weekly questions from included in today's email to the elder.  His response in his return letter/email:

Q1. Thanks for the update on Elder Evan’s visit..it sounds like it was very helpful and spiritually enlightening to move the work forward in the GAM. How was Elder Oaks visit?
A1. Being at the feet of a member of the 12 on Saturday was probably one of the most incredible opportunities ever.
Q2. Do you have pictures you can send?
A2. Yes I do
Q3. Are you in need of anything at this time?
A3. Negative.
Q4. That’s wonderful news about J!! What a blessing to part of God’s plan to bring salvation to him. Who can we pray for this week?

Greetings!

Wow! what a week, what a week!!..In case anyone has any doubts this is the gospel of Jesus Christ restored to the earth today through a prophet! I testify and offer the following: This is His church and there is no other church that He stands at the helm and leads. You can know of this by simply reading the Book of Mormon from beginning to end. Ever wonder why the gospel of Jesus Christ is taught in the Book of Mormon through a family (Lehi and Sariah)?! With challenges and experiences just like us?! To prove to the world that Jesus Christ Lives, that our Father in Heaven Loves us!!

Elder Dallin H. Oaks, sister Oaks, Elder Ulisses Soares, sister Soares, Elder M. Keith Giddens Mission conference

The highlight of the week was our meeting with Elder Dallin H. Oaks (Quorum of the Twelve Apostles), Elder Ulisses Soares (Presidency of the Quorum of the Seventy), and Elder M. Keith Giddens (Area Seventy) on Saturday. We gathered in Atlanta with the North mission together about 550 missionaries in attendance..THE ARMY OF GOD! While there each mission was able to take a picture with the brethren and shake their hands. I will send a picture of that soon.  

My thought today is taken from Elder Oaks remarks counseling us to "always have our line' in the water." Elder Oaks shared a personal story about fishing with his grand kids. He said upon returning home his dear wife often asks the question, "did you catch anything while out (for 4 hours)?" Kindly he tells her no and explains the reason for that is he is busy keeping his grandchildren fishing line's out of the trees, from them falling into the water and in general keeping them safe. Consquently he only has his line in the water for about 30-minutes total. 

He used this analogy applying it to us missionaries, however the counsel can be also be applied in all our lives, after all we are all fishers of men, correct? Many times we step outside and as we go through the things of everyday life thinking that we have our line' in the water but never acting on the prompting to share the gospel with everyone. He then told us it's just not good enough to walk around thinking that our lines' are in the water, but that we must ALWAYS have our "line in the water" searching for those who we can invite to, and back to the fold. SO TRUE!

Alma 53:20

Well thank you for your love and support I do feel it everyday out here! 

Till Next Week,

Love, Elder Gautavai

"Arise and Shine Forth, That Thy (HIS) Light May Be a Standard For The Nations.” D&C 115:5

Find out more about Mission Life at LDS.Org

LDS.Org - Hastening The Work of Salvation

Though a familiar messenger...It's about the Message he and all missionaries have been divinely commissioned to share and minister to a world in need!!!

Find out more @ LDS.ORG