Dear Sisters and Elders,
What a wonderful time of year! The Christmas decorations are up. We are singing Christmas hymns in Church (a positive new thing for an American who is used to singing Christmas songs beginning in December!). And now, we have the opportunity to hear and see a living prophet of God, living apostles and other leaders who have been called by God. Isn't this the message that we bring to the world? ..."One important way that God shows His love for us is by calling prophets..."
Sister Ostler and I have watched or listened to every session of every conference since we were married 35 years ago. Our children have done the same. In those early days conference lasted for three days instead of two and we could only hear it on the radio. For the last 10 years I have attended in person (in Salt Lake City) sessions of almost every of conference. Conference has given our family the spiritual strength and the teachings we have needed to center our lives on Jesus Christ and to resist the temptations of the world. Many of the truths and principles I live my life by have come from things I learned in general conference. For example, President Monson's teaching: "Never let a problem to be solved become more important than a person to be loved." has changed my life.
I invite you to start now with the lifetime habit and pattern of listening to our leaders, taking notes and following what they teach us. I testify from personal experience that Doctrine & Covenants 1:38 is true: "What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and though the heavens and the earth pass away, my word shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled, whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants it is the same."
I invite you to attend the broadcast of every session of conference this coming weekend. After explaining what is happening, invite investigators, less actives and others to come and see for themselves. Take notes on the things you learn. Apply them in your life.
Now I must confess that I have already watched part of general conference this weekend. It is fantastic! Here are just a few snapshots of the great teachings:
President Monson used the great analogy of a ship to teach us: "Like the vital rudder of a ship, we have been provided a way to determine the direction we travel. The lighthouse of the Lord beckons to all as we sail the seas of life. Our purpose is to steer an undeviating course toward our desired goal-even the Celestial Kingdom of God. A man without a purpose is like a ship without a rudder, never likely to reach home port. To us comes the signal: Chart your course, set your sail, position your rudder and proceed."
President Uchtdorf: He recounted what happened at the last supper of Jesus and His apostles when He said that one of them would betray Him, and they each asked "Is it I?"
"In these simple words, 'Lord is it I?' lies the beginning of wisdom and the pathway to personal conversion and lasting change. We must approach our Eternal Father with broken hearts and teachable minds. We must be willing to learn and to change. And oh, how much we gain by committing to live the life our Heavenly Father intends for us. We must put aside our pride, see beyond our vanity and in humility ask, 'Lord, is it I?'"
"And if the Lord's answer happens to be 'Yes, my son/daughter, there are things you must improve, things I can help you to overcome," I pray that we will accept this answer, humbly acknowledge our sins and shortcomings and change our ways to becoming better husbands/wives, better fathers/mothers and better sons/daughters. May we from this time forward seek with all our might to walk steadfastly in the Savior's blessed way-for seeing ourselves clearly is the beginning of wisdom."
So, enjoy the upcoming spiritual feast!
Sister Ostler and I want you to know that we love you. You are our precious sons and daughters, our fellow servants of the Master, our friends. We pray for you. We fast for you. We rejoice in your goodness and we pray that you will be given "eyes to see" the how great you really are.
Let's consecrate our lives to the Lord. Let's give up every little disobedience. Let's put our lives in order so that the Lord can bless our loved ones. Remember: "There are two evils in the world: Sins and Time Wasters."
With love and confidence in you,
President Ostler
President Ostler
Philippines Manila Mission
Pictures From Zone "Family Afternoon"
This zone is one of the most unified zones. Note the matching ties. We love the way the missionaries find to promote unity. This zone had a printed agenda for the family afternoon activity. It was planned out in every detail weeks in advance. AMAZING!
