Elder Soares rededicates the Islands

President Lamprect's notes from Elder Soares remarks:

"Dear Elders and Sisters,

Greetings from the now dedicated island of Aruba. We have had a wonderful week with interviews and Zone Conference for the ABC Island zone. Today we were able to meet with the newly constituted Savaneta branch in their new building. What a great blessing it was. Elder and Sister Villanueva of the Area Presidency joined us in their meeting. There was a wonderful spirit there and we are excited for the future of that branch.

In the afternoon we were able to meet Elder Soares from the Quorum of the Twelve and his wife at the airport. What a great privilege it has been to be around them. We have felt their spirit and love. One of the great blessings has been to watch him interact with everyone. It reminded me of what I wrote last week about being in the moment. Every person he meets he treats with respect and dignity, making them feel special, and totally being in the moment with them. It was remarkable to see. You could see it on the faces of the people he was talking to that they felt loved and knew what a special moment they were having. When I have these experiences, it makes me know a little bit better what it might be like to be around the Savior.

Soon after they arrived, we traveled to the Oranjestad building where the dedication was to occur. There was just a small group invited to the specific dedication, composed of current leaders and their wives and members who are considered “pioneers” (who were some of the early, or influential members of the church on the island).

It was a powerful experience to bow our heads as Elder Soares gave the dedicatory prayer. I felt the power of the keys he holds, under the direction of the prophet of God, to dedicate the island for preaching the gospel and establishing the church. I look forward to getting a transcript of the prayer, but the words that really hit me were that through the dedicatory prayer, the keys have been given to open the door of sharing the gospel on the island. It was very visual to me. It was like you opened the door in a dark room and light flooded in. I feel like there are good things ahead.

As part of his remarks prior to the prayer, he invited all of us at this dedication of the island to re-dedicate ourselves to establish the church and build the kingdom of God. I felt strongly that there will be a day that people will look back and see that this day was a turning point in the growth of the church on Aruba.

We were then able to move into a member devotional for all the members on Aruba, with broadcasts to Curacao and Bonaire. It was a special meeting. Sister Lamprecht and I shared some remarks, including Sister Lamprecht having the entire ABC Zone stand and recite the Standard of Truth. She was prompted to do that because in the dedicatory prayer, Elder Soares prayed that no unhallowed hand would stop the work from progressing. I felt like it was a powerful moment in the devotional. I was proud to stand and recite it with our ABC Zone members.

We also heard uplifting words from Elder and Sister Villanueva and Sister Soares. Elder Soares was the final speaker. He taught with power, as you would expect an apostle to do, but also with great warmth and love. He shared many thoughts, but I wanted to share two things with you that stood out to me.

One of the major themes of his remarks was to study the words of our living prophet, specifically the last General Conference, where President Nelson encouraged us to “think celestial.” Elder Soares gave us two ways to help us think celestial. First, he spoke about the importance of studying the Book of Mormon each day. He spoke of the power of the Book of Mormon to change our lives if we study it and apply its teachings. He quoted President Nelson’s promises about the Book of Mormon, including if we read and study it every day, we’ll make better decisions every day.

He then shifted to a second way that we think celestial, which is to make and keep our covenants with God. He quoted the scripture from D&C 84:20, where we read that “in the ordinances thereof, the power of godliness is manifest.” Ordinances are how we make covenants with our Heavenly Father. Elder Soares went on to quote President Nelson about the power of covenants. I know you’ve heard me quote this many times, but it deserves being included again:

The reward for keeping covenants with God is heavenly power—power that strengthens us to withstand our trials, temptations, and heartaches better. This power eases our way. Those who live the higher laws of Jesus Christ have access to His higher power. Thus, covenant keepers are entitled to a special kind of rest that comes to them through their covenantal relationship with God.

He then said the following (I had to write it down because it was so powerful to me):

The rest we receive through keeping covenants is the power of Godliness manifest.

Do you see the amazing connection he made with D&C 84:20 and the promises of President Nelson? Rest in this sense doesn’t mean stopping and sitting on a chair. It means the ability to go forward in the face of challenges, to have peace, to be able to endure well, to not shrink, as Elder Maxwell would say.

I was thinking of our callings. This rest is what motivates us to get up in the morning, face adversity, keep moving forward as we set goals and make plans, and still put one step in front of the other with joy. It’s the most amazing thing we offer to our friends – the power to overcome the world and face all its challenges. It is how the Savior gives us His enabling power – as we make and keep covenants with Him.

It was an amazing opportunity to be taught by one of the Lord’s servants. It reinforced my testimony that the 15 men of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve are indeed prophets, seers, and revelators. Their keys and power are real. This is the Savior’s church on the earth. It will go forth in power and glory. “No unhallowed hand” is going to stop it.

It is our privilege and honor to serve with each of you in this great cause. As the prophet Joseph said in Doctrine & Covenants 123:17:

Therefore, dearly beloved brethren, let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed.

Have a great week. We love you. President Lamprecht"