And the new President is…

There is so much focus on the US Presidential election right now that the world has not taken much notice of the calling of a new worldwide president. Since I have, in previous blogs, spoken plenty on the need for a prophet in our day, I just wanted to mention that it was announced a few days ago by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints that Thomas S Monson has succeeded the late Gordon B Hinckley as the new president of the 13-million-member faith, with Henry B Eyring and Dieter F Uchtdorf as his two counselors. Read the whole story here.

I sincerely pray that God’s blessings and inspiration will be with these men, whom I admire very much. I have followed their lives closely, and I see three persons with humble hearts, willing do whatever it takes to serve the Lord by serving mankind. This is what they have dedicated their lives to doing - 24/7. I encourage all of you to listen to their counsel. They won’t lead you astray. I promise. And as I mentioned before, a good way to see if someone is really speaking for God, you just have to test their words. Then you’ll know.

I don’t want to give a long sermon again, but I just want to add, shortly, how grateful I am to belong to a Church where there can never be any bickering or contention as to who will be the next leader of Church. There is a set pattern that eliminates “any trace of internal lobbying for position or rank”. The Church has a system that simply does not encourage “personal aspiration for leadership”. Learn more about this great Order of Succession in the Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

God bless…

Louis

President Gordon B Hinckley has passed away

The saddest news just reached me: Our beloved prophet, Gordon B Hinckley, has left us at age 97. For twelve years he has been the most exemplary leader for the Church, and he will be missed. Here is the full story:

http://newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/

On hearing the news my first instinct made me just kneel and thank God for letting us have president Hinckley with us for so many years. Words cannot describe how much he has touched the hearts of millions, including my own. I hope we can build upon the legacy he left behind.

In this state of mixed emotions I shed a lot of tears; I am sad, and feel a great void, because of his passing; but there are also tears of gratitude for what he has accomplished, and also happiness that he now has come home to God, and will be able to meet his dear companion, Marjorie, again. That is my faith and my conviction.

Our Prophet, Gordon B Hinckley, President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints

Mormon Missionaries Forgive Attackers

For those who read the sad news in an earlier blog, Skinheads Assault Mormon Missionaries, about my nephew and his companion who are serving as missionaries for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, there’s this article from Bolton News that might interest you.

Both of the young Elders impress me. To be a part of such a beating, and then to unconditionally forgive your offenders, I think that exemplifies charity, the true love of Christ.

From what I understand Elder’s Herrey and Woolsey are feeling better and are happy in continuing their work, teaching the gospel of Christ - the gospel of peace. Of course, happenings such as this leave a mark on the soul, so it’s just my wish that we keep praying for them, that the Lord’s strength will keep them and guide them always.

Brother Louis

Skinheads Assault Mormon Missionaries

I was reached by chocking news today. My nephew, who is serving a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, was together with his companion assaulted cruelly by a band of ten skinheads in Bolton, England last night. While the two missionaries were severely battered a vehicle passed by with flashing light, scaring off the offenders. “Without the arrival of the car we probably wouldn’t have survived,” my nephew told his father, seemingly aware of the gang’s fatal intention. Currently he and his companion are in the hospital being treated for multiple injuries.

Naturally, my brother and his family are in a state of emotional turmoil right now. And although not parents of the victims, me and my wife’s hearts are turned to Sebastian, whom we love so dearly, and to his companion. We honor them for their bravery and pray for their fast recovery.

Sadly, persecution has always been geared toward our Church. From the very beginning, verbal and physical abuse was the constant companion of each Church members. And even though mob violence against us has subdued over the years, it has now begun to escalate again, especially against missionaries.

The tragedy is that this violence is being fueled by more and more anti-mormons who stop at nothing to discredit the Church, always through untruthful rhetoric. I won’t bring up all their reasons here today, but suffice it to say that I feel ashamed of these fellow “Christians” who use more energy in slandering other faiths than in building up their own.

God bless you, Elder Sebastian Herrey. I know that not every day of our “Good Life” is a good day. But it is my prayer that the Lord will help you gather strength, not fear, from what happened. I know He will.

Uncle Louis