Challenge from the President

Dear Elders and Sisters,

The Book of Mormon, combined with the Spirit, is the single most effective tool you have for doing missionary work.   Before being released, I was hoping for us to read the Book of Mormon one more time as a mission, but with all of the study assignments I have given you, I felt it may be too much.  However, in looking back at the mission, I realize that the most productive times we had, both personally and in helping others “Come To Christ,” were when we were reading the Book of Mormon together.  Therefore, with the 7 weeks that Sister Satterfield and I have left before we leave, we would like to invite every missionary to read in the Book of Mormon EACH and EVERY day.  You are probably already reading daily, but in an effort to unify us in the Lord’s work, will you please start today to read some select chapters (about 4 to 5 pages a day) and look for messages that will most help you serve as a missionary?  It was very difficult to choose which chapters to read for ALL are wonderful, but I have selected a few choice sections for us to read together before Sister Satterfield and I have to leave.   Nothing would please us more than to leave you more strengthened than you are even now.  Please let me know in your weekly letters some of the things you feel you are learning or “remembering” as you read the following chapters:

1 Nephi 1-20, 22

2 Nephi 1-4, 9-11, 27-33

Jacob 1-4, 6

Enos

Mosiah 1-6, 12-13, 15-18

Alma 4-8, 9-13, 24-26, 32-34, 36-42, 57

Helaman 5 and 12

3 Nephi 27

Ether 2-5, 12

Moroni 6-10

            I want you to know that Sister Satterfield and I have confidence in you.  You are all learning and growing and repenting and changing for the better.  Studying the Book of Mormon, after first praying and asking Heavenly Father to send the Holy Ghost to help you, is the single most valuable thing you can do now and the rest of your life to strengthen yourself.  As you read, look for and mark passages that will allow you to use the Book of Mormon in helping people find answers to their problems in that wonderful book.  The answers are all there—whether it is family problems, being mocked, the death of a loved one, financial problems, depression, whether or not to be obedient, who to turn to for help, etc.  Then get into the habit of taking them there, as you listen to their concerns.  Don’t be surprised if you use that very day, the things you studied earlier.  It’s REALLY true that when you do God’s work, you get His help.  HE is in charge of this work.

Go forward with FAITH! 

Sister Satterfield and I love you.

President Steven H. Satterfield