With his permission, I added a couple of photos from flood clean up in Pajaro, CA
My friends, oh my friends,
I am back! I'm sorry for my leave of absence, much has transpired. I departed from Los Gatos, the jewel of Saratoga, and ventured back up to the promised land of Menlo Park, more specifically Palo Alto. Within my new area is Stanford University. I look forward to associating with the sharp, young minds of the rising generation. I've united with an old friend Elder Yonk to serve as companions. He works like an ox and we have great fun together.
I've already had many unique experiences thus far in Palo Alto. Fortunately, it seems the diversity in these parts is on par with Los Gatos so I still get to meet a unique variety of individuals. Many people I've met this week have been fasting for Ramadan! I greatly respect the deep faith of the people of Islam. There is also a strong Jewish presence here and I've enjoyed speaking of the Lord's promise to gather Judah with them.
I had some comical moments with a few individuals this week. A man called Jacky Dunsmore, who was utterly sloshed, tried to explain to us the importance of knowing our cardinal directions with frequent interjections to give us hugs and tell us he loved us or let us know how good he thought juniper smelled. Another young woman who answered the door, after a brief explanation that we would share a message about Christ to help her find peace and rest, mentioned that she did not share our beliefs. In order to understand what she meant, I asked whether or not she believed in Jesus Christ and she replied with a firm no. I then asked if she believed in God at all. Still no. Finally I asked what she did believe in, or what brought her hope. "Nothing" she replied dryly. "Well then!" I exclaimed, "It sure is good that we found you!" She then threw her head back, groaned loudly in exasperation, and slammed the door shut. Life without hope sounds dismal to me but, to each their own I guess…
The highlight of the week was a visit to our mission by Elder Brent H. Nielson, one of the seven Presidents of the Seventy. He was a man that somehow radiated with authority despite his gentle and soft-spoken demeanor. Assuredly, he was called of God. He gave marvelous instruction that invigorated our spirits and enlightened our minds as to what is happening and what is possible. Of the many things he shared, one that was particularly impressive was about the growth of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints since its humble beginnings in 1830.
The introduction of The Book of Mormon teaches us that, "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the Lord’s kingdom once again established on the earth, preparatory to the Second Coming of the Messiah." Of this Latter-day kingdom of the Lord the prophet Daniel prophesied, "In [those] days…shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all…kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever" (Dan. 2:44). Thus we see that the building up of His earthly kingdom in our day is an integral part of His work.
Within each of us there is the primordial and supernal call to be a part of something greater than ourselves. I testify that there is no work greater than God's! And I testify that He desires each of His children to take part in it with Him. The prophet Joseph Smith said of Zion, whatever place the people of God stand, "We may soon expect to see flocking to this place, people from every land and from every nation, persons of all languages and of every tongue and of every color, who shall with us worship the Lord of Hosts in His holy temple.”
There is no work as encompassing as the building up of God's kingdom. It is about bringing every soul, both the living and the dead, to the knowledge of the truth, that Jesus is the Christ and that only through Him can we find enduring peace in this life and everlasting joy in the life to come!
So please, come and see the marvelous work and wonder that is being wrought in this choice era of the earth's history! And once you behold its majesty, answer the call within yourself and join us in the greatest work of the eternities! I promise that when you do, you will be truly fulfilled and divine love will swell within you evermore.
Farewell for now,
All my love,
Elder Winegar
Songs
The Spirit of God—The Tabernacle Choir
High On the Mountain Top—The Tabernacle Choir
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