May 16, 2016 Best sacrament meeting I've had so far on my mission!!!

Using the cards I made for our activity

Hey guys!! Well its been another great week here in Lirquén. And probably one of if not THE MOST spiritually uplifting sacrament meetings I have been a part of in the mission.

Last minute I got called to teach the gospel principles class (which is very very very common) haha and it went well. But in the sacrament meeting the talks were outstanding! A young man preparing to leave on his mission gave a talk on "Iré y Haré" ("I will go and do") and then there was a talk about charity. That really touched me. The sister recounted the story of President Gordon B. Hinckely when he was a young kid. And he and his friend were talking down this dirt road I think, when they saw an old worn out coat and pair of shoes, and they realized they were of this really poor guy who I think was bathing in the lake or something I dont really remember... but the friend suggested that they hide his clothes and wait in the bushes to see the expression on the old mans face when he would notice his clothes were gone. Then the young Gordon Hinckley knew that that would NOT be a good idea, so he suggested that they put a silver dollar in each of the shoes and then hide and watch the old man. So they did that, and eventually the older man came back around for his clothes and when he put his shoes on felt something hard inside and pulled it out to discover a silver dollar. And he was so surprised and then found the other one, and openly prayed and gave thanks to God for that mysterious blessing! then the young gordon said to his friend "now don´t you just feel good inside??" ha man I love that story so much! So thats a good example for all of us to strive to have CHARITY. because we truly are nothing if we dont posses the pure love of God.

Then the former bishop gave one of the most outstanding talks on missionary work I have ever heard. It was so pure... because he said basically "well... when they assigned me to talk on missionary work it made me really nervous. Not because im not familiar with the topic, but rather because I know that ALL THE MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH are familiar with the topic. And so after praying and trying to find direction on what I should speak on... I have decided NOT to prepare a talk at all." hahaha (only the veterans can do that!!) and he basically just recounted the story of Cornelius found in Acts 10. And the truth is... I didnt really even know that story, but its super cool. And I encourage you all to study that chapter. It talks describes Cornelius in this way:

 2 A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway.

 And by the way he was a gentile (non member) and anyway after a couple angelic visitations one on his part, and the other on the part of Peter the prophet, they end up meeting eachother, and Peter learns a strong lesson that he needed to preach the gospel to the gentiles. Because like it says in verse 15:

 15 And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.

 Or in other words he should not judge if someone was ready or not to receive the gospel. (by the way its probably a little confusing reading this, thats why you gotta study acts 10!!! ha) anyways... Bishop Osses talked about how "We all know people like Corenlius who are good, God fearing, selfless, service orientated people who simply dont have the truth of the restored gospel. And the members are the ones that need to take them to Peter (the missionaries) SO THAT THEY CAN BE TAUGHT THE TRUTH!!ç

It was really touching! other than that.... everything is going well here. 2 more weeks until the transfer and so I just wanna work hard and actually I would prefer to finish my mission in this sector if thats in agreeance with the Lords will! But who knows whats gonna happen?

Have a super great week!

con mucho amor

Elder Hartvigsen



May 9, 2016 Post conversation from yesterday on Mothers Day


hey guys! so yeah it was super fun to talk yesterday, the truth is... I don't really have much more to say another than what was said yesterday. umm... I am reading Jesus the Christ again, and like I said its super cool!!

One awesome thing I was reading is how Elder Talmage absolutely condemns the theory that people have of Adam and Eve breaking the law of chastity, and that was the reason for the fall of adam. He says "The human race was not born from fornication. That theory is an abomination!" He actually talks about how it was really a disobedience to the word of wisdom. Because they had taken something into their bodies, that was not good for them. Simple, but true... aka. the forbidden fruit.

(and this next thing he said hit me hard, because of the belief in the Jehovah´s witnesses church that Adam wasnt a prophet. And wont be saved, because of his great sin that made us all be born into this sinful world etc. etc. its a pathetic belief I know!) but what Elder Talmage said was "our first parents were pure and noble. And the day will come that we will cross over the veil and really understand who they were, and come to appreciate what they did." something like that. but it stuck out to me because they ARE pure and Noble! And the fall of adam was necessary so that the entire plan of redemption could be brought to pass! "All things are done, in the wisdom of him that knoweth all things"

also... "Adam fell that men might be, and men are that they might have joy!"

This church is true. The gospel is wonderful and changes lives. And there ARE people out here in Chile waiting to here this wonderful news. Its just hard to find them!!!! Pray that they can be found :)

Love you all

Elder Hartvigsen