The Other Side

Dear Family and Friends,

I am so full of joy and happiness from this last weekend. I know a little better what Nephi felt when he said that He was filled with the Holy Ghost and could not be touched. Not saying that I couldn't be touched, but there were many experiences that were very spiritual and dealing with the other side of the veil this weekend. These are truly the experiences that "fill our Lamps with oil." I wish that I could share the feelings and witnesses gained as a result but alas I cannot. But I can share the experiences that brought them about, and show you how you too can have the "oil" filling your lamp.

First off, Great news! Lisa got baptized on Saturday! She asked me to talk about the Holy Ghost, and let me tell you I might as well have filled the font too, because it was a very powerful spirit that was there. I am so grateful to have had the chance to be part of her journey, and this is only the beginning! Later we had a powerful lesson with Nelly and Jose who are preparing to be baptized this coming Saturday!! Lisa also asked me to come to the confirmation circle in her ward. (A little clarification, Lisa was originally taught by Elder Christensen and I, then passed off to the Ladera sisters, so she was subsequently, taught, baptized and confirmed in their ward.) That was my first opportunity to be part of a confirmation circle and again I was overwhelmed with the Love of our Savior and His Spirit. In our ward we had the opportunity to help bless a baby in the O'Connor Family. Brother O'Connor is just like a brother to me and it was such a great experience, especially since I was not able to be there for my newest nephew Lokk's blessing. We then had the chance Sunday night to give another blessing (That's like 11 this weekend) at the Yazi's home. They have recently started taking temple preparation classes in order to receive their endowments and perform ordinances for their close family who have passed on. This was one of the most powerful blessings I have been privileged to experience and be the mouthpiece for, and again this is only the beginning! I have so much to look forward to, as do we all!

The Lord is so good to me. I have great need to express my nothingness and my gratitude for everything he has done for me. I have been blessed with all of you as family and friends. I have been blessed with a loving mother and father. I have been blessed more abundantly than I deserve. And as King Benjamin says, even if I were to labor ALL my days and give all that I am to serve the Lord, yet I would be an unprofitable servant. But the Lord asks us to do something that we can all accomplish. That is to come to him with a broken heart and a contrite spirit and he will mold us into what he truly wants us to be. That I know to be true. Don't let fear or doubt keep you from the blessings your father has for you. Only let yourself submit to obedience and then you will be able to be what he wants you to be.

I love you all, and I wish you the best week, as this will undoubtedly be the best so far of my mission, respectively, as the ones to come will be even better yet.

--

​Love,​

 Elder McGarry

Lisa, Right after the Baptism​

Elder Hardy's mirror selfie or wait... Guard dogs on the ROOF?? What? Only New Mexico I guess... Good times.

Finding

Dear Family and Friends,

Another great week down here in the desert southwest. There has been a little snow, but nothing to get too worked up about. If you want to don anything with it you have to do it before 10:00 am and as you know, there is not even enough time to do the things I already need to do, so I'll just have to build a really big snowman when I get home. As for the work here in New Mexico, we are seeing serious measurable progression. We have 6 investigators with a baptismal date and two weddings coming up! I am so excited to see the next few weeks and how they will pan out. It's already half way through my third transfer and I can't believe it. I just got here.

This weekend I am so excited to go to Lisa's baptism. Elder Christensen and I had the honor of teaching the first two lessons she ever had with missionaries. The Zone leaders gave us a referral for her and told us she was in our area... turns out she wasn't. So even though a mistake seems to be a mistake, it never is. She asked me to speak about the Holy Ghost at her service and I am honored. As for other news, Nellie and Jose are going to get married, before Valentine's day and be baptized on Valentine's day. That is the plan for right now, and they are so excited. Jose is beaming every time I see him and he really is so ready. He has been drinking coffee for Years, we had one lesson with him on the word of wisdom, and he hasn't touched it since. That was a miracle in itself. I can't wait!

So my thoughts are beginning to be turned more toward finding. In my purposes that means finding new people to teach, new children who God has prepared to receive his gospel. But that may not be the case for all who are reading this. So for finding I'll touch on another aspect. In stake conference there was a big emphasis on missionary work. Our Mission President shared 3 phases of missionary work. The first is full-time missionary's efforts: Finding teaching baptizing. The second is the ward: Feeding missionaries, giving rides, coming to lessons, visiting and home teaching. The third is All of us: The ward is finding, helping set up teaching, fellowshipping, inviting people by their own choice to learn more about the restored gospel. I can say that this is not a new idea. The church has emphasized every member a missionary for years. But I can add this testimony. I have seen in the area that I am working, since coming and inviting people to participate and them responding with vigor and willingness, I have seen the miraculous power that comes from that third phase. How do we achieve it though? Only through deepening our own personal conversion! The "Primary answers" are not just a response to give when asked a gospel related question. They are truly simple things that we can do that have a profound influence in our lives. The Lord asks so little of us, let us not be "forgetful hearer[s], but doer[s] of the work." James 1:21. If Joseph Smith, had only read the verse in James 1:5 and not followed the council given in the rest of the chapter, he would not have had the chance to partake of the path that he did. But we all have this same opportunity to seize the blessings that God has for us right now, if we only DO the things he has asked. Act in Charity and have faith enough to show to our Father and the World that he is a God of Miracles Today, as he was yesterday, and as he surely will be, forever and ever.

I love you and pray for you. Have a great week!

Elder McGarry

 

Elder Hardy, Steve Whyrick and Me

Atrisco High School in our area is where the opening scene from Avengers was filmed. Fun Fact