Elder Christofferson Speaks to the Missionaires

Yesterday, August 31, 2012, a missionary conference was held in Lima. I would estimate that there were over 900 missionaries in attendance.  It was an amazing sight to see all these young men and a few young women gathered in such a small place.  They had traveled from a radius of about 300 miles.  So, many more missionaries were unable to attend. Some were in the Peruvian Jungle or high in the mountains teaching the gospel.

Elder D Todd Christofferson was the main speaker. He discussed the more you read the scriptures, the more you will recognize the Voice of the Lord. He told the missionaries how important this principle is and that they have a promise from an Apostle that this principle is true.  He continued by talking about when the missionaries knock on doors they are offering repentance and are teaching in the Name of Jesus Christ. Missionaries need to be Holy to use Devine Authority. When they are worth they have the power to testify and teach about repentance and revelation. This is life changing for the Peruvian People and the Missionaries.

Elder Christofferson reminded the missionaries of their special gift to learn the language, a gift to have charity and the Pure Love of Christ. Love is at the center of a missionaries heart and God will answer prayers, provide a special language their heart to feel the Holy Ghost. If missionaries will follow this throught out their lives, the guidance of that voice will be there for the future. He then thanked the missionaries for their service and blessed them with love and appreciation for their sacrifice. 

History of Church in Peru

During the late 1850s Parley P. Pratt visited Lima and other parts of South America and advised President Young of the area.  Chili was in the middle of a Civil War and little could be done there, but Elder Pratt commented that Lima and Peru seemed to have a receptive spirit.  It took several months for Elder Pratt to travel from Salt Lake to California, then two months to sail to South America, more than two months to sail back to California and they a long hard wagon trip back to Salt Lake.

Here we are today with over 500,000 members in Peru and millions more in South America.  This is just a little part of the world, but the Church is rolling forth.  To think of the work that is being done, the contact being made and the number of Peruvians learning of the Church is a fulfillment of Isaiah and other scriptures.  These young people are a fulfillment of the first verses of Isaiah 18.

Mothers, and families of these young men and women have sacrificed to send these young people across the world to teach the gospel. Today they travel as ambassadors by sea, beyond rivers and go swiftly as messengers to nations of the world.  It is a wonder to be part of this.