Moroni's Thought

I met a wonderful man named Moroni in my 4th area. You can learn about him by watching a video called "Step 5: Confession-Moroni's Story about Drug Addiction Recovery" :)

He truly is an incredible person and is one of the best member missionaries I know. Here is a thought that he shared with my companions and I alongside his friends.

The rest of the post is my written transcription of what Moroni has shared several times. Each time his thoughts were shifted depending on his audience. I did my best to merge and mold them into one.

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I do not want to go on judgement day to the judgement bar of God to find my friends turning to me and asking me questions I never want to hear. 

"Moroni. You knew about all of this? And you didn't tell us? Moroni, why didn't you tell us? This could have helped us so much down there." 

I might stutter out a response saying something like, 

"Well, I just didn't think you would be interested, and I was worried I might offend you."

To which the response comes,

"You didn't think we would be interested in all of this? In dwelling with God and our families forever? You didn't think we would be interested in having the Priesthood, the very authority and power of God itself, in our lives? And why would we get offended at you offering us something so wonderful that has helped you so drastically in your life? If we would have, we certainly shouldn't have."

I do not want that hanging over my head. I do not want God or my friends to ask me why I didn't help *insert one of Moroni's friend's names here* become worthy of the Priesthood they hold or *insert one of Moroni's friend's names here* prepare for the ordinance and covenant of baptism.

And so I share what I know and treasure. That Jesus is the Christ and is our Savior. And that His Church has been restored on the earth again. That it has changed my life and can change every single individual's.

Arian's Prayer

Arian is this cool 8-year old who is preparing to be baptized in my last area (Rock Springs, Wyoming).

We met with the whole family many times to help Arian prepare to be baptized and help the father prepare to be the one to baptize him. 

I actually got to participate in being in the circle when the father was given the Aaronic Priesthood. An awesome experience I got to have right before I left the area.

Anyhoo, Arian, in a prayer once, said something that I thought was kind of profound.

He's just an 8-year old, but what he said caugt my attention.

As he was praying he said, "Thank you for saving us every day."

Frequently when I think about the idea of being saved, I think of it more as a singular event. But, in reality, Jesus Christ saves us every day. Because we make mistakes every single day. And if even one of those days was not covered, we would not be able to return back to our Father in Heaven. 

Jesus Christ really does save us every single day. And for that, we should be grateful. Just like Arian is.

James's Comment

James is this awesome 9-year old from one of my favorite member families ever. He read the Book of Mormon with his dad when he was 7. His testimony of its truthfulness grew and he decided to be baptized when he was 8.

Watch out for this kid while playing board games! He's got a few tricks up his sleeve; he's no joke in the game of Secret Hitler. One P. Day when we were playing Secret Hitler with him, his mom, and his dad, James made a comment that caught my attention.

We frequently taught one of our friends who was not a member at their household. James often joined in for the conversations. That friend of ours decided to make covenants with God. They were baptized and confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

While playing a game with James, he said something to the effect of, "I think it's really cool what you guys did. You got someone who wasn't coming to church at all and helped them come to church to the point where they were even baptized!"

I overlooked the comment at first and simpled agreed with him. But the more I thought about it, the more cool it became. The thought of getting people who don't come to church to go and eventually be baptized is such a common thought amongst missionaries. It's what we try to help people do every single day.

And because of that, it's become so normal. You forgot how wonderful that thought truly is. Because it is really cool. We are helping people change their lives. We are helping people draw closer to God and their Savior. We are helping people make covenants with their Father in Heaven. And we do it every single day.

James, you are oh so right. It is really really really cool what we had the chance to do. And what I have the chance to do for these two years of my life.

I LOVE being a full-time missionary. I've never been so consistently and resiliently happy in my entire life.

Nearer To Thee

At the start of each year, my home ward does this thing where the missionaries write short talks and then one of the parents of the missionary reads them to the congregation. It's a great time. This is mine for this year. 

I was asked to focus my talk on "how the members of the Fallon Second Ward can draw closer to our Heavenly Father during this upcoming year."

It's kind of comical because a couple-few weeks later, after some boundary changes, the ward I am now in is the Fallon Third Ward.

Also due to the ward change, I'm unsure when, or even if, our talks will be read. Regardless of what takes place, here is my talk.

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Hello!

I'm under the impression currently that by the time this letter is read, our ward boundaries will have been changed. So that’s kind of weird. We’re not even the 2nd ward anymore. 

I thought I would have my mom introduce me real quick through means of her reading the words I have written.

I'm Elder Alexander Perazzo. I've been a missionary for almost 15 months now, which is wild. And I'm currently serving in the Utah Salt Lake City Mission, which was my original assignment. Our mission also includes most of Salt Lake and various surrounding areas, such as Midvale, Murray, Holladay, and Rose Park. It also includes the southwest 1/6th of Wyoming.

I started off by spending 10 and a half months in two areas both near Sugarhouse. I have been serving in Rock Springs, Wyoming for the past 4 and a half months, although I just got transferred back to Utah and am currently in my new area covering the Holladay YSA and the Olympus Stake. I actually happen to cover the ward of a member many of you will recognize; Becky Jamieson, my cousin.

I have loved my mission and the experiences/people I've been able to have/meet :)

I was asked to give a few thoughts on how we can draw closer to our Father in Heaven in this new year.

I have grown closer to my Savior and my Father in Heaven more so in the first year of my mission than at any other year I’ve experienced during this earthly life.

I think that is, primarily, for 3 reasons.

Reason #1

I have a consistent and large amount of time set apart for personal study almost every single day and my routine of saying prayers every morning and night, alongside other times during the day has been more constant and fervent than ever before.

Missionaries have 1 hour of personal study almost every single day of the week. It’s a beautifully sacred time where we get to immerse ourselves in the scriptures and the words of the living prophets.

I am not saying that you need to find an hour or even a half an hour of time to study the scriptures every day. That is simply not reasonable for many people.

What I am saying is that there is power in prayer. There is power in the scriptures. As Joseph Smith said, “I told the brethren . . . man would get nearer to God by abiding by [the Book of Mormon’s] precepts, than by any other book.”

If you make those two simple things a priority in your life, everything will run smoother. Trust me. Make a sacrifice. You’ll gain far more than you’ll give up. 

“Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Matthew 6:33)

Reason #2

Trials, difficulties, and being simply uncomfortable is an abundant thing on a mission.

Missions are hard, believe it or not. But through trials, we grow. This is why life is so difficult. It is to prepare us for our future; our future both in this life and in the life after.

However, remember what Elder Eyring said in the past General Conference, “Now, even with such blessings promised through tribulation, we do not seek tribulation. In the mortal experience, we will have ample opportunity to prove ourselves, to pass tests hard enough to become ever more like the Savior and our Heavenly Father.

Rely on Christ during your difficult times. For me, doing so is when I grow the most.

Reason #3

I’m sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ and His Restored Church with others.

I asked my previous companion, Elder Townsend the question this talk is based on. “In one or two sentences, how can we draw closer to our Heavenly Father?” His almost instant response was, “By helping others to do so.”

This principle is oh so very true. And I think it’s another reason why I’ve grown so much closer to my Savior and my Father in Heaven during my mission. Because I’m constantly trying to ‘invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel.”

It is such a beautiful thing to see people’s faith in God, Christ, and Christ Restored Church grow.

As we help others, our faith too will increase.

In regards to sharing it with other members of our Church, especially those of us with member families:

Be an example to your kids or siblings or even your parents. Share a favorite verse you found and an insight you had. Encourage your family to say prayers together or read the scriptures together. Start doing family prayer and scripture study alone, if you have to. Your family will soon join you.

In regards to sharing it with those not yet a part of Christ’s Restored Church:

I love what Elder Uchdorf says about sharing the gospel in normal and natural ways. “If someone asks about your weekend, don’t hesitate to talk about what you experienced at church.”

He, at another time, says,

“In fact, the gospel will be such an essential, precious part of your life that it would feel unnatural not to talk about it with others. That may not happen immediately—it is a lifelong effort. But it will happen.”

People are far more prepared to hear the truth of the Restored Gospel than many times we think they are. Please, share the gospel with others. Help the missionaries in your ward and ask them to help you in your efforts to share the Gospel. Ask your friends if they would be willing to hear more about your faith and how it can help them. You will grow nearer to God if you do so.

I know now more than ever before that this is Christ’s Restored Church. That Russell M. Nelson is a prophet on our earth today. That Christ did Atone for us, and that God is our loving Heavenly Father.

I bear witness of these things in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Hope is Sometimes Misunderstood

This is pretty much the talk I gave in the White Mountain ward on the 3rd of January, 2021.

You'll see in the talk, parts of it weren't written out but are more like [bear testimony about ______].

I didn't read it verbetim (except quotes, of course). I added many things here and there and took out a few things along the way. I don't like to just read straight from the page when I give talks. I reviewed my talk several times beforehand (both outloud and just reading the text) allowing me to just need reminders of what to talk about, rather than reading specific words off from a page.

But the basis of the talk, at least, is here for you to read :)

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-I'm the youngest of 5; they’re the best.

Diary Farm; Parent teach (Dad retired as a Theater/World History teacher, mom subs); I want to teach math

I pray that my words today alongside the words of many great prophets from our day and from the times of the scriptures will uplift you and bring you strength at the beginning of this new year.

I think, quite often, when people are posed with the question to say, in one word, what the Gospel of Jesus Christ means to them, or what the Atonement of Jesus Christ means to them, or what having the Restored Church of Christ means to them. I feel the most common word chosen is 'hope'. 

There are a lot of things we hope for. I searched up the word "hope" in my emails the other day trying to look for a specific email my friend sent me that I wanted to quote here. And I didn't realize just how frequently I use the word hope and how frequently I hope for things.

I hope you're doing well.

I hope your birthday was fantastic.

I hope this voice recording works.

I hope this helps.

I hope you're having a blast.

One in particular I found that I think is quite comical. Elder Townsend one day saying, "I hope this doesn't shatter everywhere" as he proceeds to throw a burnt-out lightbuld, which misses the trashcan and then shatters everywhere.

There are a lot of things that we can hope for, but more often it feels like a wish rather than "believing and expecting that something will occur," and having "an abiding trust that the Lord will fulfill His promises to you." which is what Preach My Gospel defines ‘hope’ as.  

Gospel topics says,

“The word hope is sometimes misunderstood. In our everyday language, the word often has a hint of uncertainty. For example, we may say that we hope for a change in the weather or a visit from a friend. In the language of the gospel, however, the word hope is sure, unwavering, and active.” 

Finding things to hope for never seems to be the problem. There are many things each one of us long for. There are many things each one of us yearn for. 

And, I think, especially as we all head into this new year, there’s a lot of things we want to hope for.

Exactly as Elder Holland said back in April 2020 General Conference in his talk "A Perfect Brightness of Hope, which I will quote a couple times today,

“Many in this audience today have deeply personal hopes: hope for a marriage to improve, or sometimes just hope for a marriage; hope for an addiction to be conquered; hope for a wayward child to come back; hope for physical and emotional pain of a hundred kinds to cease.”

But how can we make sure our hope is a “firm hope” and a “lively hope” as talked about in the scriptures? (Alma and in 1 Peter)

And where can we find this hope?

Elder Uchtdorf said back in October 2018 that, “This hope is found in the transformative power of the gospel of Jesus Christ and in the Savior’s redemptive power to heal us of our soul-sickness.”

[Bear testimony about how important the Atonement of Jesus Christ is and how it makes sense that it's the source of our hope]

It was cool for me to come across 1 Timothy 1:1 which, when talking about Christ, says "Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope;"

[Jesus Christ really is our hope]

So, I think, one of the best ways we can increase in our hope is by increasing our faith that Jesus Christ really is our Savior and Redeemer

And as gospel topics says, “We increase in hope as we pray and seek God’s forgiveness. In the Book of Mormon, a missionary named Aaron assured a Lamanite king, ‘If thou wilt repent of all thy sins, and will bow down before God, and call on his name in faith, believing that ye shall receive, then shalt thou receive the hope which thou desirest’ (Alma 22:16). We also gain hope as we study the scriptures and follow their teachings.”

I know this principle to be true. And I wanted to highlight that last line. “We also gain hope as we study the scriptures and follow their teachings.” 

As missionaries we have an hour to ourselves each morning where we have the chance to study. And I find myself very frequently getting ‘distracted’ per se by various other things. There are so many things to study and read that I frequently fail to turn to the simple wonderful teachings in the Book of Mormon and other scriptures.

Simply reading a chapter, or just a few verses, from the Book of Mormon can, perhaps, be the most important part of your daily studies. 

Your hope and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ will increase as you do so, I can promise that.

I wanted to share a scripture that highlights both having hope and also reading from the word of God.

2 Nephi 31:20 states, “Ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life.”

I wanted to highlight more blessings of having and developing hope. This is one of my favorite things to do because it gets me excited to continue 'trying to be like Jesus'.

1 John 3:3 states,

"And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as [Jesus Christ] is pure."

And in Proverbs it reads,

"The hope of the righteous shall be gladness." Proverbs 10:28

Preach My Gospel shares a lot of them with us.

It says,

"It is manifest in confidence, optimism, enthusiasm, and patient perseverance. When you have hope, you work through trials and difficulties with the confidence and assurance that all things will work together for your good. Hope helps you conquer discouragement. 

           

Life is not easy. It is not meant to be. I believe my companion is also planning on using this scripture, but it’s so good I thought it might as well be used twice. Although life is not easy, “Whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which hope cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast, always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God”

That scripture can be found in Ether 12:4.

[I didn't end up using the scripture because I was running out of time. I just referenced it]

I know that as we increase our belief and faith in God, our hope for a better world will increase.

And as we put our trust in our Savior, the power and strength we receive through Christ's Atonement will increase; we will feel a difference.

I remember back in the MTC and in my first transfer; those were the hardest times on my mission. I felt inadequate; I felt lots and lots of fear, which is the opposer to faith and hope; I would frequently have mental breakdowns. Almost every time I would knock a door, I would secretly wish no one would answer so I wouldn’t have to talk to anyone.

And moments like those certainly still take place. But I have grown so much since then. And I believe that is because we, as missionaries, are constantly surrounded and nourished by ‘the good word of God’ and the strengthening power of the Spirit through the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

But a mission is not the only place we can receive that power through the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

There’s a reason we as a church do our best to partake of the sacrament every week. There’s a reason we are encouraged to hold daily scripture study and prayer.

And, with the Gift of the Holy Ghost, we can constantly receive guidance and comfort and hope through the Spirit.

Romans 15:13 testifies of this saying, "Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost."

I would like to close with the testimony of Elder Holland alongside mine.

Elder Holland said, Because the Restoration reaffirmed the foundational truth that God does work in this world, we can hope, we should hope, even when facing the most insurmountable odds.

That is what the scripture meant when Abraham was able to hope against hope—that is, he was able to believe in spite of every reason not to believe—that he and Sarah could conceive a child when that seemed utterly impossible. 

He continues by saying,

I testify that the future is going to be as miracle-filled and bountifully blessed as the past has been. We have every reason to hope for blessings even greater than those we have already received because this is the work of Almighty God, this is the Church of continuing revelation, this is the gospel of Christ’s unlimited grace and benevolence.

There is reason to hope. I know more deeply now than I ever have in my life that Jesus Christ is our Savior and that our Father in Heaven loves us with a love we cannot yet comprehend.

[Bear testimony of how I've seen how Heavenly Father has a plan for each one of us individually]

I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, my Savior. Amen.