"A Babe On Its Mother's Lap"

Joseph Smith told a small group of Priesthood holders that they could not comprehend more concerning the destinies of this Church and Kingdom than a babe upon its mother's lap. (TPJS, p. 630)

Recently we traveled to the westernmost boundary of our mission where we received permission from the First Presidency to form a District out of the three branches there.  A District would be like a little Stake for them.  The members there were so excited.

The Spirit was so strong in the meetings there.  I am always amazed at how one can feel the same spirit that you would feel in a huge Stake Conference or even in a General Conference even in a small meeting held in a building that for the most part looks to me like a garage.



The miracle of this work is that we know that no matter where we go in the world or how small the congregation might be we can feel the same presence of the Holy Ghost at our meetings. This is because the Savior promised that wherever two or more are gathered in His name there He will be also. And those things done in His name and by His authority are ratified by His same Spirit.

Here are a few images of some of  those wonderful people who were gathered together there.

Above is David with one of his counselors and the new District Presidency and the Branch presidents.

Some of the great young men in the branches there.

And we always love to see our friend, Gilvan.  He is the young man who is the only member in his family and who ran up onto the stage to hug us at the EFY last year.

The Priesthood Holders (future ones in and next to the baby seat) 

The  Beautiful Sisters and Young Women

One of the great new converts there (If I look kinda sweaty here it is because it had to be 110 degrees fahrenheit in there. But it really was the Spirt of God like a fire that was burning ) 

One of the precious children

The whole group. See if you can spot President Lisonbee

Recently we also had our yearly mission tour.  Elder Mazzagardi from the Area Presidency came this time.  He is the one I told you about who has Italian roots and goes to Italy each year.  We had so much fun talking about Italy. But I digress.  I can easily digress when someone mentions Italy!

Elder Mazzagardi opened up the Salvador Brasil mission 25 years ago.  He found and lived in the house that we are living in now. He has some amazing stories.  He told our missionaries about when they only had a little struggling branch in one of the cities here in the state of Bahia and when the missionaries arrived there the local newspaper printed the headline, "The Devils Have Arrived!"  Of course the missionaries thought the work was doomed there after that.  But President Mazzagardi instructed them to just keep doing what they were taught to do and to love the people and follow the Spirit.  Today there are 11 Stakes in the state of Bahia and two missions, one of which is ours. It appears that the babe on its mother's lap that Joseph Smith referred to must have been part Brazilian!
Joseph went on to say to that same group: " You see only a handful of Priesthood here, but this Church will fill North and South America, it will fill the world."

One of the two meetings on our Mission Tour

David with President Mazzagardi

Me with Sister Mazzagardi

Until next time- Onward, ever onward!