Elder Juan C. Alarcon

Throughout my life I have had many great opportunities to share my talent of playing the organ and piano. I have played for important events at the high school and university levels. I have also been part of special celebrations in my community back home but nothing compares to the joy I have had as I've shared my talents with my fellow brothers and sisters in my mission. I have had the opportunity to lead the Mission choir in a couple of firesides and the joy and blessings those firesides have brought me is unmeasurable.

 

We are taught in the scriptures, "For my soul delighteth in the song of the heart; yea, the song of the righteous is a prayer unto me, and it shall be answered with a blessing upon their heads." (D&C 25:12) I have seen this scripture come to pass. I have received greater joy, peace and everlasting happiness while serving my Heavenly Father through music. I believe that you get closer to our Heavenly Father through music. It is important to surround ourselves with good and uplifting music so we can be in tune with the Spirit. When we are in tune with our Heavenly Father and the Spirit, the harmony that we create will be heard through our actions. I testify that music has
the potential and ability to change lives. I testify that Heavenly Father uses music to carry out the restored gospel message. I testify that any good music is inspired of God and all those who sing, perform, and write it are inspired men and women. I know that Jesus Christ lives and am thankful for the talents He has given me.

Elder Juan C. Alarcon

 

 

Elder Deano Motes

I never was really all that positive that I was going to serve a mission growing up. I kind of just went to church on Sunday and that was about it, I never really put too much effort into reading my scriptures or saying my daily prayers. So as I got older and temptations became stronger, and without the gospel having a real big influence in my life I started to veer off of that "straight and narrow path." There came a point where I needed to decide what type of person I was going to be. And with the memories of people along the way of telling me what great potential they saw in me (and some encouragement from my parents) I slowly but surely started making changes in my life. I started making things a priority, that should've been a priority in my life a long time ago, a part of me. In simple terms, I began to be more obedient to God's commandments. With that I began to receive the blessings that come with obedience and there was a happiness about me that I couldn't explain. Opportunity after opportunity kept coming my way.

I knew God wasn't just giving me these blessings, He was leading me to something more. I started to notice that all my friends were getting ready to go on a mission, and I couldn't help but realize that serving a mission was the next step in doing what God wanted me to do. So with a lot of long talks with friends, after really sitting down and reading from the Book of Mormon, and praying and getting an answer that it was true, I knew that God had prepared me to serve a mission. There was a lot I was to leave behind but, knowing that God had blessed me with all those things in the first place made it that much more important for me to make my decision to serve a mission. I put in my papers, got my call, cried in front of all my friends and family, and within a month I turned 18 and was getting set apart! I'm a missionary now and I love this gospel. I know that obedience is the only true source of happiness in this life and that as we read and pray we can receive heavenly guidance from a loving Father in Heaven.

I leave these things with you in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Elder Deano Motes

Welcome to the blog!

Have you ever seen those young women in skirts and young men in white shirts and ties walking around your town with the same little black name tags on? I'll be surprised if you haven't! We are everywhere! We are the missionaries for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. We are representatives of Jesus Christ. Have you ever wondered what we young people do all day? Most people think we should be in school or out with our friends. However, we serve Jesus Christ all day. Our sole purpose as missionaries is to help others come unto Christ 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. Still wondering why a bunch of 18-26 year old young adults would still choose to dedicate 18-24 months of there lives to this? Well, read our posts and experience the miracles that happen to us and those we come in contact with, everyday!