Hymn; Arnulfo Valenzuela

Congregational Hymn

The congregation unites to declare that we are willing to push forward in the cause of Christ with eagerness and haste. We'll be fixed in our faith. We'll preach hope, not despair; love, not hate.  We'll heed the words of Pres. Packer to go to the scriptures to unlock the key to personal protection. We'll make and keep covenants and let them change us as we endure the challenges of our day. We'll use our divinely approved moral influence lift others to higher ground. We'll proclaim the reason for the hope that is in us to all the world! (exclamation point)

 
Press forward,"to push forward or advance with force, eagerness, or haste" Saints, with steadfast "unwavering; firmly established; fixed" faith in Christ, true faith "...must be centered in Jesus Christ in order to produce salvation)
With hope's bright flame alight in heart and mind hope must be "on fire" in your heart and your mind; you not only think it but you feel it so you will act
With love of God and love of all mankind."...on these two hang all the law and the prophets" (ref)

(Chorus)
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! song of praise to God

Press forward, feasting on the word of Christ.You cannot move forward along the path without daily partaking of the Word of God.
Receive his name, through baptism and temple covenants rejoicing in his might. "I can do all things, through Christ..."
Come unto God; find everlasting light. There is no other way.

Press on, enduring you have made covenants for life in the ways of Christ.  as you keep your covenants, you will be thinking and acting as you have learned the Savior would
His love proclaim Gratitude for His love is what motivates our every good thought or deed thru days of mortal strife. No matter how dark the world gets, our message shines bright and clear.
Thus saith our God: "Ye have eternal life!" Those are the words we all seek to hear by having our calling and election made sure.

2 Nephi 31:20, Helaman 3:28-30 

Small and Simple Things

By Elder Arnulfo Valenzuela
Of the Seventy

Let us reach out to others with faith and with love.

My beloved brothers and sisters, just a few weeks ago I was at the missionary training center in Mexico City to share a message with the missionaries. My wife and I purposely arrived several hours early. As we explored the beautiful gardens and well-kept streets of the MTC, we couldn’t help but notice the happiness that radiated from the faces of hundreds of young elders and sisters, each focused on acquiring new language skills and learning to better appreciate his or her purpose as a missionary.  We must all let happiness radiate from our souls. How can we preach the gospel of happiness if we are not happy ourselves?

As I paused to fully take in this remarkable sight, I reflected upon the words of Alma when he commanded his son Helaman to keep a history of his people as part of the records which had been entrusted with him and to keep all these things sacred so that they would one day go forth unto every nation, kindred, tongue, and people. This "one day" is here:)

Alma then told him:

“Now ye may suppose that this is foolishness in me; but behold I say unto you, that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise.We may be the "small means"; or it may be some small word or deed. Do not discount what God can do with you if you are willing to just go about your day in love, and have faith that He can use you.

“And the Lord God doth work by means to bring about his great and eternal purposes; never lose site of the fact that it's all about His purposes and by very small means the Lord doth confound the wise and bringeth about the salvation of many souls” (Alma 37:6–7) in this verse he adds "very" to small means. Think of all the "small" things the Lord used to teach "great" things...the widow's mite; the mustard seed; the boy prophets Samuel, David, Joseph, Joseph Smith, etc.

The innocence and youth of our missionaries exemplify the Lord’s way—that those who are humble may “invite others to come unto Christ That is the condition; humility. That is why God often goes to the young first by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end” That's what we preach...(Preach My Gospel: A Guide to Missionary Service [2004], 1).

As members of the Church, we are able, through our own small and simple things, to “[convince] many of the error of their ways” and help bring “them to the knowledge of their God unto the salvation of their souls” (Alma 37:8). Hopefully, they are more "convinced" by what they understand/read/see than us "convincing" them with our words.

On one occasion I accompanied a stake president and bishop leadership can do small and simple things..to visit a less-active member. We taught him, in a very simple way, about the blessings of the Sabbath. We expressed to him our sincere love. He responded, “All I needed was to have someone come and give me an abrazo,” or hug. I immediately stood up and embraced him. The next day was Sunday. This same brother came to sacrament meeting with his entire family.  Yep. Hugs for everyone:)

During a visiting teaching visit, Martha, a member of our ward, told my wife and her companion never to come back again. She had decided to stop coming to church. One of the visiting teachers asked Martha if they could sing a hymn together this one last time, and she agreed. As they sang, something special happened. Little by little, the Spirit began to fill the room. Each of them felt it. Martha’s heart began to soften. With her eyes filled with tears, she expressed to her visiting teachers the feelings of her heart. At that moment, she realized that she knew that the gospel was true. She now thanked her visiting teachers and expressed a desire for them to return. From that day forward, she received them with joy.

Martha began to attend church with her young daughter. For years they attended regularly, with Martha never losing hope that her husband might eventually choose to join them. At last the day came when the Lord touched his heart, and he began to attend with them, as did their other daughter soon thereafter. This family began to feel the true joy that comes from having gospel blessings in their home. Martha has since served faithfully as our ward Relief Society president, and her husband has served well in several callings within the stake. All this began with the singing of a hymn, a small and simple thing that touched Martha’s heart. visiting teachers can do small and simple things

Naaman was a captain of the host of the king of Syria, an honorable man, a mighty man in valor, but he was also a leper (see 2 Kings 5:1). After being unsuccessful in receiving a cure from the king of Israel for his leprosy, Naaman went to the house of Elisha, the prophet. Elisha sent a messenger out to him, saying:

“Go and wash in Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean.

“But Naaman was wroth, and went away, and said, Behold, I thought, He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the Lord his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper. …

“And his servants came near, and spake unto him, and said, My father, if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it? how much rather then, when he saith to thee, Wash, and be clean?

“Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God: and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean” (2 Kings 5:10–11, 13–14). servants can do small and simple things (take this one into the workplace)

Our prophet, or Jesus Christ has asked you...same thing...President Thomas S. Monson, has invited us all to go forth and rescue our brothers and sisters. He said: “The world is in need of your help. There are feet to steady, hands to grasp, minds to encourage, hearts to inspire, and souls to save. The blessings of eternity await you” (“To the Rescue,” Ensign, May 2001, 48; or Liahona, July 2001, 57). The blessings may come as a reward for obedience; as inspiration on who to rescue, or how to rescue, or when to speak, or where to go; or a the joy that is yours forever for bringing a soul to Christ.

I testify that many of those who need our help are there waiting for us. They are ready I heard one estimate of 70 million who are ready and waiting! (I'm thinking China, India... but also right here) for their valiant brothers and sisters Is this you? to reach out to them and rescue them through small and simple means. Is this message clear to you yet? Small. Simple. Do not be overwhelmed by this commandment. God can use the small and simple means you are able to give. He will magnify them into great things by your faith. I have personally not asking you to do anything he's not doing... spent many hours visiting less-active members of the Church whose hearts have already been softened by the Lord, who are now ready to receive our testimonies and our sincere expressions of love. When we reach out and invite them, they will return to the Church without hesitation.This is a big promise! It is tempting to think that less-active people have already been contacted and have "made up their mind"...but things happen; hearts can change...especially now. We should be checking again.

Let us reach out to others with faith and with love. Faith in the promises of the Lord; faith that your small and simple ways can produce great results; love for the Lord and your fellowman Let us remember the promise of the Lord:

“And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father!

“And now, if your joy will be great with one soul that you have brought unto me into the kingdom of my Father, how great will be your joy if you should bring many souls unto me!” (D&C 18:15–16).

You can labor long and hard; even all your days ( your whole life) and it will still be worth it! Even if you only find one soul in a whole lifetime.

I bear witness of the love of the Lord toward all His children. He wants them all back. Do not judge who will say yes or who will say no. All are equal in His sight. I know He lives and that He is our Redeemer. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

IMPERATIVES

• Let happiness radiate from your soul
• Preach the gospel through your own "small and simple" ways and means
• Express your love to others; sometimes all they need is a hug
• The prophet (and therefore the Lord) has asked you to go out and rescue people with faith and love
• The world needs you to:
• help steady their feet; 
• grasp their hands; 
• encourage their minds; 
• inspire their hearts; 
• save their souls
•  Be valiant and seek out those who are ready and waiting. All can do this regardless of position in the church or workplace.
   

DOCTRINAL INSIGHT

•  The Lord God doth work by means to bring about his great and eternal purposes; and by very small means the Lord doth confound the wise and bringeth about the salvation of many souls

PROMISES

• I testify that many of those who need our help are there waiting for us. They are ready
• Hearts have already been softened by the Lord and these people are now ready to receive your testimony and your sincere expression of love. When you reach out and invite them, they will return to the Church without hesitation.
• "And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father! 
• “And now, if your joy will be great with one soul that you have brought unto me into the kingdom of my Father, how great will be your joy if you should bring many souls unto me! 
• The blessings of eternity await you.

WARNINGS