ENTRIES OF A JOURNAL

Part 4

Tuesday, 11th November, 1997. Br. Fritzner Joseph came from Puerto Rico for a C.E.S. training meeting. It went very well. Br. Joseph helped us gain a vision of the most important things you need to have Seminary or Institute--

THE STUDENT, THE TEACHER & THE SPIRIT

He explained that Haiti recently formed a Stake because all leaders were former C.E.S. students who served missions and returned home to serve the Lord. Br. Joseph saw that the same could be true for Trinidad -- Seminary and Institute students would be the future leaders of the Port of Spain Trinidad Stake. C.E.S has taken off with great excitement and many teachers have been called to help the youths and young single adults find solace in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I noted that the Port of Spain Branch has surpassed the other Branches in this effort.

I can certainly testify that the same has been true for me---Seminary and Institute have given me a perspective of the Gospel that I never knew was there before. I feel confident in answering questions about the scriptures. I can bear my testimony to friends and family with all reassurance in knowing that I have been granted opportunities to inherit wisdom from the Lord. C.E.S. has really taught me how to appreciate the scriptures. I love the scriptures so much;

There was a period in my life when I was living on my own. It was a difficult spell for me because I had two jobs, one during the day and one at night, I had just come back from my mission and was trying to establish a home. I cared nothing for material objects and tried my best to live as a 'missionary'...although I was back home. One night after work I came home and found the door to my home open--

"Someone has broken in!", thought I as my heart started to pump with nervousness. There was only one thing on my mind now -- WHERE ARE MY SCRIPTURES, I HOPE IT WAS NOT STOLEN, OH LET IT BE HERE ! I entered my home to search for my scriptures and found it! It was not until the next morning that I noticed my television and a few other things were missing. I did not cry over the incident because I had what I wanted -- my scriptures.

"The scriptures that are never read will never help us"
(L. Tom Perry Ensign May 1985, pg 23).

Friday, 14th November, 1997. Pres. Alleyne left for Santo Domingo for a meeting that involved the North America Southeast Area Presidency and Elder Richard G. Scott of the Quorum of the Twelve. Pres. Alleyne sat with Pres. Mason and many other leaders; Stake and District Presidents. Pres. Alleyne shared some his feelings about the occasion;

"My invitation to the training meeting was a big surprise for me. I did not know that there was such a training meeting for District Presidents, but my invitation came by letter to Pres. Mason informing him that I was to be there. I was excited to go to the Dominican Republic, but what really made me happy was when I discovered that my instruction would be given by Elder Richard G. Scott and President John K. Carmack, our Area President. My wife accompanied me and she was equally delighted to be in Santo Domingo as she mingles with the wives of the leaders present for the meeting. When the meeting actually began I felt a comforting feeling from the Spirit and I knew I was truly in the presence of an Apostle of Jesus Christ. By Saturday 15th my heart was filled and I knew again without a doubt that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the only true and living Church upon the face of the Earth today. I have a strong conviction in the power of the Holy Ghost."

Based on the files of information Pres. Alleyne brought back with him I came to the realization that the main focus was on the family as en eternal unit. One special part from the 'Decisions to Implement' sheet I love is,

"We will teach the Doctrines and the Principles given by the Lord and His Prophets without discussing possible exceptions.".

As leaders and teachers there is a great temptation to put our own 'ideas' of how the Lord's Church should run and how His principles are to be understood, but it is not so -- we need to stick with what the Lord wants for us to do and not what we think.

Friday, 5th December, 1997. At the mission home the District Presidency, Branch Presidents, full-time couples, the assistants, the Masons and some of the wives of these leaders gathered for a special visit with Elder Loren C. Dunn and his wife, Sharon. I notice that Elder Dunn is rather tall and he utilized it in his BYU basketball season in his college days. Sister Dunn with tears in her eyes spoke of the blessing it was to be with us and she thanked us for the work we have already done here with the Church in embryo. She then bore testimony of the truthfulness of the Gospel. Around this time the Ishmaels from the Port of Spain Branch came in and found their seats in our circle of discussion. Sr. Mason introduce them and complimented Analisia Ishmael by saying,

"This is one of the best Sunday School teachers in Trinidad!"

Elder Dunn then opened the floor for questions. The couples were mostly asking questions about back home, but Presidents Alleyne and Mendoza were throwing out questions about the prospects of forming a Stake in Trinidad and other important Gospel principles. Elder Dunn responded with some great lessons from his mental log of experiences. Some I have mentioned below. Responding to a question about having a temple here: we need to have more members as it takes about 100 volunteer members to run a temple. He hopes all leaders are now endowed. In preparation for a Stake the leaders will have to be governed by the Spirit, lead by example and by faith. Leaders need to focus on the rules of the Gospel and not exceptions. The night ended with a few treats and our thanks to Elder and Sister Dunn for being with us and blessing our lives.

NOTES to 'Entries of a Journal' (for your information)

a. The idea copying the book on a photocopy machine came to pass based on the idea of having the 'History of the Saints' available for all. The book was sold for nine dollars TT (about $1.40 US). Six dollars to pay for the copying and three dollars TT towards fast offering. I made no profits from it except for the blessing and joy of seeing it available for all to become aware.

b. We were kind of amazed that Pres. Valantine did not work on a forming a District right away since he was being directed to do so.

c. Being set-apart for a calling means someone with authority such as the Branch President lays hands on your head and pronounces a blessing officially establishing the office to which you are to act in and how you are to magnify or greatly fulfill that task.

d. This is one of the greatest scriptures on sustaining your leaders;

"Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you".
(Hebrews 13:17, KJV Bible).

e. I was once asked by a nonmember if Christians like us can dance. Yes, I replied and explained that we have rigid standards on the type of music, dress, etc. Even in dancing we would be able to feel the Spirit and remember who we are. Dance areas are lighted so as to see well across the floor, while dancing there should be a healthy space between the couple and there is definitely no suggestive bodily motions.

f. Over the years I have seen many foreign full-time couples come here to serve a mission. Sometimes the idea of 'serve' is forgotten and instead they zealously try to implement their own ideas on how things should run based on their home ward. What happens as each couple leaves is another comes with 'new personal doctrine' that replaces his predecessor's ideas. However, I personally feel that if each visitor would first know the handbooks, doctrine and then understand the 'thinking' and demography of the people they could then serve them best by meeting their (the people) needs rather than their own ego. Above all the Spirit needs to be involved;

"And the Spirit shall be given unto you by the prayer of faith; and if ye received not the Spirit ye shall not teach."
(Doctrine and Covenants 42:14)

CONSIDERATION

"We can lead a horse to water,
but...make him drink ?
Oh no! 'By jove'!!!
...why to 'thirst equines'
...would We bring 'water',
and on the 'through'...fasten the cover ?"

(Timothy N. Niles, Profound Proverbs for Practical Living, pg.33)

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