THIS is a week for people who are EXCITED about the Savior and General Conference!!!!

Dear Family and Friends,

I love you all so much!! It is so great here in Barcelona!! I am learning so much!!!

My new companion is Élder Farley! He is from Orem, Utah, and is full of faith!! We are seeing tons of miracles here in Barcelona!! We're working hard, and doing our best to follow the Spirit!!

My previous companion Élder Sorensen is doing better!! He is now serving in Cornellá, which is closer to the hospital. He is incredible!! His example taught me about the 4th Missionary -- this is a talk by Lawrence Corbridge that, if you haven't read, you need to read!! It is absolutely amazing!! It gives an insightful view on the kinds of missionaries/members that there are, and that we can become.

Our friend Andrés is so wonderful!!! He is preparing to be baptized this Saturday!! He is absolutely incredible. The changes that are happening in his heart are truly miraculous. I know that when people humbly search for the truth, they will find it, and the truth will change them.

I just want to take some time to talk about what is so special about this weekend.

http://www.mormon.org/easter

This video said it for me. Please watch it. Please share it. It is the truth, and it will make the change if we really consider what it means for us.

Please read, slowly, for the next full minute, the lyrics of a favorite primary hymn:

How could the Father tell the world of love and tenderness?

He sent his Son, a newborn babe, with peace and holiness.

How could the Father show the world the pathway we should go?

He sent his Son to walk with men on earth, that we may know.

How could the Father tell the world of sacrifice, of death?

He sent his Son to die for us and rise with living breath.

What does the Father ask of us? What do the scriptures say?

Have faith, have hope, live like his Son, help others on their way.

What does he ask? Live like his Son.

This week, my friend Andrés has chosen to begin to "live like His Son". What a blessing for him and for his family!!!!

This week is going to be wonderful!!! Being a missionary is the BEST THING EVER -- I LOVE THIS!!!!!!!!!! THIS IS "A MARVELOUS WORK AND A WONDER" (Isa 29:14!!!!!!!!!!!! 

In another sense, this Easter weekend is the perfect time to wonder... "What do I need to do to better live like God's Son?" The event that occurred this week 2000 years ago still cause wonder today, and have a significant power in helping us find answers to questions that we are still wondering about today.

https://www.lds.org/church/events/april-2015-general-conference?lang=eng

This week, will you search for answers of your own in General Conference? I'm excited to hear your what answers you received in your emails next week. I hope that you find what you´re looking for!!!

Heavenly Father is SO aware of you!! He loves you so much!!! I love you so much!!!

Love,

Élder Zubeldia

We went bowling on P-Day

Abraham 3:17 "there is nothing that the Lord thy God shall take in his heart to do but what he will do it."

Dearly Beloved Family,

I love you so much!!! I am doing super great! But what's more important is how my companion is doing: the friendly doctors are helping us out!! The medication and rest is really helping my companion; he is in a lot less pain! We aren't really supposed to do too much so that we don't make my companion's medical problem worse; but we're managing! I love how he is being on-purpose in the piso (our apartment)! He is trying to become the person he wants to be after his mission: he is analyzing himself, setting goals, and doing the best he can to improve! He is such a good example!! I feel like both of our mindsets are changing, and that our perspective is expanding. Heavenly Father teaches us ALL the time!!!

"Living the Gospel" is becoming such a meaningful phrase. Disciples of Jesus Christ live His Restored Gospel. Disciples actively seek guidance the Holy Ghost. Disciples are voluntarily and unconditionally obedient. Disciples love other people and seek happiness in service. Disciples have less "down-time" because they are enthusiastically doing something. Living the Gospel helps us to strengthen our personal relationship with Heavenly Father. Living the Gospel is the most fulfilling way to live!! I love being a missionary because I get to help other people live the Gospel and learn to live it better myself!!

Our friend Andrés is developing a lasting conversion. This Buddhism-sympathyzing Catalán is becoming a humble disciple of Jesus Christ. He initially agreed to be baptized to be more united with his wife (member), but now he is excited for baptism to follow the Lord and to gain the blessings of the Temple for himself and his family on the other side. The Spirit is working miracles constantly in the hearts of people here!! Last transfer we were very close to resting him, but then he began to read the Book of Mormon, pray, and come to church. Now he's excited to pay his tithing and prepare for the temple!!!! This work is so much bigger than I am, and so precious and wonderful!!

This week I learned about the power of positivism. I suggest reading Numbers 13 & 14; yes, from the Old Testament. We've been talking and studying a lot about capturing the vision of our Prophet Thomas S. Monson as a District, and we had made a District goal to use our own Liahonas to figure out how to "hasten" our ward's journey to the "promised land". Our Mini-MTC was planned with this focus, and we used videos from the "Hastening the Work of Salvation" webpage. The ward leaders who came murmured and made it seem like we were permanently stuck in "the desert", but the Spirit touched their hearts!! Our ward council yesterday was the meeting I've been dreaming about for months!! Hermano Herráiz, the former Stake President of Barcelona, made an incredible PowerPoint, and really nailed the negativity (again, see Numbers 13-14, the positive and negative reports, God's response, and the long-term consequences!! Notice how interesting it is that Israel wasn't allowed to go to the Promised Land until they were united in their positivism!!). Then Hermano Arcos, the former Bishop, shared an inspiring story of his primary-age son who is having success sharing the gospel at school!! Members who had been pouring negativity into the ward's progress felt the Spirit, and began pouring positivity back into the discussion!! They set goals, made plans, and were lifting their vision; THE MISSIONARY EFFORT IS TURNING INTO THE WARD COUNCIL'S EFFORT!!!! They've caught the vision of the Prophet, and we're becoming more united, which means that we WILL see the Lord's promised blessings!! This was the miracle of the month!!!

"With increased vision comes increased motivation" -Elder Tad R. Callister

The Lord has said, "Behold, I will hasten my work in its time." (D&C 88:73). He has asked us to participate in the Work of Salvation; and that means all of us. The Lord of the Harvest will Hasten His Work when we all unite with Him in His vision.

This week, please consider what the Lord is asking of us: https://www.lds.org/training/wwlt/2013/hastening?lang=eng

I know that Heavenly Father will inspire you with ideas as you seek to capture the vision He has for you and the people you know. It's happening here, and it will happen anywhere honest people seek. (Matt 7:7-8)

I know that Heavenly Father listens and answers our prayers. I know that this is the Lord's work. I know that there is power in positivism (faith) and in unity. I know that the Lord will bless and guide us as we seek to catch, share, and fulfill His vision for us.

Love,

Élder Zubeldia

Discipleship :)

Dearly Beloved Family,

I love you so much!!!!!

Haha, well, this week we didn't really get to leave the piso (our apartment), unless we were going to the hospital, or going to church. My companion is doing fine, today we went to the hospital to check up on some results, and now he is taking some medication. Everything will be fine! :) I'm doing my best to take care of him. We are learning a lot from our studies, the talks we listen to, and the conversations we have about the gospel.

And though we didn't get to go out to work, wouldn't you know it, miracles still filled the week!!! After my companion's operation, we were sent home by taxi. We began talking with our nice Catalán driver Jorge, and the conversation turned to missionary work, of course. This man believes in God, but is very anti-religion, because of negative experiences in his childhood, etc. He also has a neighbor who is an evangelical pastor, who is always trying to argue with him, apparently. He told us that he had seen lots of missionaries, and that he lives in the same apartment complex as some "girls" of our church. The other day, as he was carrying in his groceries, they saw him, and quickly helped him with his bags. They left a really positive impression on him, and he thought about it later. I am convinced that the act of service of those Sister missionaries prepared Jorge to listen to us. (Thank you Sister Missionaries who are always on-purpose and atentas to opportunities to serve others!!) Although he wasn't at all predisposed to trusting people from a church, he listened attentively to the message of the Restoration of Christ's original church through Joseph Smith, a modern prophet. We listened to his objections, and bore our testimony of the Book of Mormon, which he accepted, committed to read, and to ask Heavenly Father if it really is true. I am so grateful for the Holy Ghost, who really does touch the hearts of others, and who helps us feel Heavenly Father's strength and loving guidance. Even though we were in a taxi, sharing a conversation with a stranger, driving through hectic traffic, we all felt the Spirit, and Jorge is that much closer to having the full blessings of the gospel of Jesus Christ in his family's life.

I love being a missionary!!

I would love to hear about the invitations that you've extended!! How are your friends doing? What did they say?! Read Ch 11 of Preach My Gospel if you're having trouble inviting. I promise that Heavenly Father will bless your efforts to share the gospel as you act in faith.

I know that Heavenly Father loves us. I know that Jesus Christ made it possible for me to be forgiven. I know that Joseph Smith saw God face-to-face. I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God. I know that Heavenly Father hears and answers my prayers.

I love you!!

Élder Zubeldia

P.S. This video is beautiful, and it teaches some important principles. We can learn from the example of Moses that is found in the Pearl of Great Price. You might find it interesting to watch this video with a friend; it might be interesting for them to understand a little more about what we mean by someone who is a prophet, and be interesting to consider that we have a prophet today. :) https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2011-03-50-i-am-a-son-of-god?lang=eng

The Holy Ghost, also called the Comforter

Dear Beloved Family,

I love you so much!!! :D

I'm sorry that we're writing today instead of yesterday; my companion was in pain, and we had to return to the piso and not leave for the entire afternoon, again. My companion is getting his procedure tomorrow. He's suffering, and I hope that it ends, soon. I wish I could trade situations with him, so that he wouldn't have to struggle so much.

I'm doing fine, though. I really wish we could work more, but I know that the Lord is just giving me this opportunity to teach me and to help me grow. I got to go on an intercambio with my friend Élder Hachenberger on Saturday that made up for the whole week: we didn't waste ANY time, and we saw SO many miracles!! We taught literally dozens of people, from all over the world, gave two priesthood blessings, invited people to be baptized, and felt the Spirit all afternoon with people!!

One experience from this intercambio happened when we were heading to an eating visit with a member in these Élders' area. We got a call from the member telling us that the Sister Missionaries were also coming to the visit. In our mission only one set of missionaries should be in a visit at one time; it's a way for us to be effective by being in as many places as possible. Also, we aren't supposed to visit members who are outside of our area... Haha. Anyways, we had a little problem. My companion wondered if it would be okay to go to the visit with the Sisters. After a short discussion, we decided to be obedient, and we made calls to resolve the situation. We were not going to waste any time, and so we decided to sit on a bench by the Metro exit, on a street corner, and begin our language study before our next visit. I was praying to know what I should do for language study, and I began to run through options: vocabulary, or pronunciation, or reading the Book of Mormon out loud in Spanish, or the Liahona, or memorizing a hymn in Spanish...?... and then I felt the Spirit. My companion and I decided to pull out our hymnbooks and sing hymns right there on that street-corner bench. I had left my bag on the floor in front of me, and decided to leave my hat on it, facing up. We were having a blast, singing hymns of the Restoration as people walked by, when a man pushing his toddler in a toy-scooter drops a few euros in my hat!! We jumped up, ran up to the man, laughed some, and told him thanks but that we can't accept his money. I asked him if he had heard the song that we were singing ("Praise to the Man") before. When he said yes, we looked at him doubtfully, and asked if he was sure. "Yes, of course I have, I'm a member of the church." 8D We began talking with him, and we found out that he was from Chile (he looked Spanish to me), that he had been baptized 18 years ago when he was 17, and that he had been inactive ever since coming to Spain. He is married, and nobody in his family here is a member of the church. We walked with him, and he told us that just four days earlier his wife had had a stroke, and that she had just come home earlier that day. She was still in major pain, and their little family was struggling. We went up with him into their home, and found that a member who was in my ward in Sabadell (a town I served in a year ago) was in their house!!! They are friends, and we are friends, and the day we miraculously meet this Chilean family happened to be the same day that my friend from Sabadell had also felt prompted to pay them a visit!!!! We didn't want to take too much of their time (obviously, the lady was in pain and needed rest), but they wanted to know about priesthood blessings, and then they asked us for one. As we left, there was a feeling of peace in the home, and the tears in the lady's eyes and her smile told us that she was feeling the Holy Ghost.

Heavenly Father had us all in the right place at the right time. I know that when we are trying our very best to be obedient to the Gospel (or even mission rules that might not always make sense to some people), Heavenly Father will guide us, and work through us, to meet the needs of others.

Later the next day, I found this personal study activity at the end of Chapter 4 of the Preach My Gospel manual:

Study and ponder the following counsel. How does it relate to your daily proselyting activities?

“Tell the brethren to be humble and faithful and be sure to keep the Spirit of the Lord, that it will lead them aright. Be careful and not turn away the still, small voice; it will teach them what to do and where to go; it will yield the fruits of the kingdom. Tell the brethren to keep their heart open to conviction, so that when the Holy Ghost comes to them their hearts will be ready to receive it. They can tell the Spirit of the Lord from all other spirits — it will whisper peace and joy to their souls; it will take malice, hatred, strife and all evil from their hearts, and their whole desire will be to do good” (quoted in Juvenile Instructor, 19 July 1873, 114).

The Prophet Joseph Smith gave this counsel to Brigham Young in a dream almost three years after Joseph Smith's death. If you were in Brigham Young's place and received this counsel, what would you do?

...

I love being a missionary!!! I invite you to consider how the Holy Ghost makes us feel.

---

There was also a personal miracle that came in a quiet moment in the piso. While my companion slept, I was really feeling discouraged, and was beating myself up for things that are outside of my control. I realized that I wasn't feeling the Spirit, and caught hold of that prompting, and began to write down my feelings in my journal. It was a private prayer with Heavenly Father; and He answered me. My hand started to write His response to me, as if on its own, and I began to feel the discouragement be replaced by a warm, comforting feeling. He told me that He knows what I'm going through, and that He has a purpose in mind for me. He told me that He loves me, and that He's happy with me. I felt a thrill rush from my head to my toes, and I felt full of gratitude and joy. That saved my day, and when we were able to leave the piso even for an hour, I got to share my testimony with people and invite them to feel the same way by preparing to be baptized. I know that when we are living the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ, we can feel His influence in our day to day lives.

I live for those feelings, and I want to love, follow, and serve my Father and Savior so that I can feel their loving embrace, forever.

Everyone deserves to feel the love of Heavenly Father and our Savior, always. When members receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost by someone holding the proper authority, after having been baptized by the same, then they CAN feel it always!!! That's another reason why baptism, and living the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ, is so important!!

Here's another quote from Preach My Gospel that I've been studying this week, that really explains well why living the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ is such a joy:

Individuals and families begin to follow Christ as they exercise faith in Him and repent of their sins. They receive a remission of sins through baptism and by receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost from one who has authority from God to perform these ordinances. They then endure to the end, or, in other words, they continue throughout their lives in exercising faith in Jesus Christ, repenting, and renewing the covenants they have made. These are not just steps that they experience once in their lives; rather, when repeated throughout life these principles become an increasingly rewarding pattern of living. In fact, it is the only way of living that will bring peace of conscience and enable Heavenly Father’s children to return to live in His presence.

Would you like to feel the Holy Ghost more continuously in your life? Why don't you ask the missionaries? They can help you!

https://www.lds.org/pages/mormon-messages?lang=eng#daily-bread-pattern

https://www.lds.org/pages/mormon-messages?lang=eng#daily-bread-experience

https://www.lds.org/pages/mormon-messages?lang=eng#daily-bread-change

Please watch these videos. They explain how you can feel the Spirit more in your life.

If you are a member, will you please share these videos with someone that you know this week? Will you invite them to talk with the missionaries?

If you are not a member, will you ask the missionaries how you and your family, specifically, can feel the Spirit more often in your home?

I promise that as you make feeling the Spirit a higher priority in your life this week, you will feel happier, less-stressed, and you will be blessed in your work, school, and home. I know that this is true, because it happens to me, and to my friends here in Spain.

I know Heavenly Father is aware of your feelings, knows your name, and loves you more than you might imagine. He will make it apparent to you this week as you accept and act upon the invitations that I've felt prompted to give you. I know that this Gospel and Work are true!!!

I love you!!

Élder Zubeldia

Love and Strength -- Gifts from a loving Father

Beloved Family,

I love you so much!!!

Quick follow up: Did you invite someone to listen to the missionaries this past week?!?!?!? ... :)

I hope to hear back from you this week about your experience!! Will you please write to me this next week about the invitation you extended? (If you didn't, don't worry, you have another whole week!!)

Sharing the restored gospel with people, feeling the Spirit with people hearing about the Restoration for the first time, is such a wonderful blessing. As you all know, "Nothing happens in missionary work until you find someone to teach" (Preach My Gospel, chapter 9). In our mission, we pray and work with faith to find people who are prepared to accept the restored gospel. We mostly find people to teach by working through the members (as our Prophet Thomas S. Monson has asked us to do -- speaking of which, you should check out the "Hastening the Work of Salvation" webpage!! https://www.lds.org/training/wwlt/2013/hastening), and by doing our best to talk with everyone (or always be talking with someone). We also teach free English classes (a basic level, and a conversation class); have organized Ward Movie Nights (the ward has really taken off with this activity, and has made it a success!!!!!! 50 people came Sunday afternoon!!!!!! We were approved to watch "17 Miracles", and everyone was in tears!! I was so impressed by the unity of their desire to build Zion.); and we're running a Ward-level Mini-MTC (the ward is also helping this initiative to take flight!! We have it organized into districts with assigned District Leaders to help people during the week!!). We try and do all that we can to share the restored gospel, effectively, with more people.

Why do we share the Restored Gospel? Elder Dallin H. Oaks said: “We do not preach and teach in order to ‘bring people into the Church’ or to increase the membership of the Church. We do not preach and teach just to persuade people to live better lives. … We invite all to come unto Christ by repentance and baptism and confirmation in order to open the doors of the celestial kingdom to the sons and daughters of God. No one else can do this” (“The Purpose of Missionary Work,” missionary satellite broadcast, Apr. 1995).

I'm coming to understand the truth and significance of the fact that we really do have living prophets today. I know that living the gospel gives us access to the power of the Atonement; to forgiveness, to strength, and to the perfecting influence of the Holy Ghost. That's why we invite people to be baptized every day -- everyone deserves to have the Gospel in their lives.

I love being a missionary!!

Early on in my mission I had knocked a lot of doors, but I eventually came to the conclusion that it wasn't as effective as other ways of finding. This week the Lord taught me that when we are doing our best to share the gospel out of love and faith, He will bless us with miracles (even when we're knocking doors in apartment buildings in modern Spain!) On Saturday we took a new member, who just barely passed her 1 year mark since her baptism, to a visit with some new friends (Jose Manuel and his wife Alta Gracia, from the Dominican Republic) that we had met a few days earlier in their parked car. We went to the visit, and it turned out that our new friends had moved out of that apartment a few months ago; they weren't there, and we arrived during mediodia on a Saturday (not the best time to have strangers come knocking on your door). The man at the door (Méndez) seemed nice, despite his intimidating stature, and after talking with him for a bit, we asked if we could go in to share what we believe. It worked!!!!!!!!! We made friends with the family, and though they didn't come to church, they felt the Spirit, accepted the invitation of Moroni, and so are that much closer to living the restored Gospel!!! It was a huge miracle for us, and for the member who got to experience this tender mercy with us!!!

This week has been super great!! I feel like I'm learning so much from the Lord on the mission!!! He is teaching me a lot about strength and love.

Here are some scriptures that I've been pondering on these past few days.

Real Strength, Alma 26:12 "Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things; yea, behold, many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise his name forever." Mosiah 24:12-16 "And Alma and his people did not raise their voices to the Lord their God, but did pour out their hearts to him; and he did know the thoughts of their hearts. And it came to pass that the voice of the Lord came to them in their afflictions, saying: Lift up your heads and be of good comfort, for I know of the covenant which ye have made unto me; and I will covenant with my people and deliver them out of bondage.  And I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do that ye may stand as witnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions.  And now it came to pass that the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea, the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord. And it came to pass that so great was their faith and their patience that the voice of the Lord came unto them again, saying: Be of good comfort, for on the morrow I will deliver you out of bondage."

Real Love, Moroni 8:16 "I fear not what man can do; for perfect love casteth out all fear.", 1 John 4:18-19 "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.  We love him, because he first loved us." John 13:34-35 "A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.  By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another". John 14:15 "If ye love me, keep my commandments."

Both Real Love and Real Strength/Faith are gifts from God. Another thought that we had today in companionship study: Belief is to Faith what Love is to Charity. Faith is Belief so strong that it leads to Action. Charity is Love so strong that it leads to Service. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is absolutely incredible!!!

I would like to share with you that I know that our Heavenly Father knows each of us by name, and that He loves us dearly. I know that Jesus Christ understands exactly what we're going through; that the Gospel He taught, and the Zion He established is true and will make our lives happier. I know that God restored His Gospel and His Zion through the prophet Joseph Smith Jr, and that God speaks to us through living prophets today. I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God, and that it has great power; it was written for our day.

I know that Heavenly Father answers our prayers, that we can receive answers for ourselves, and that our friends can receive answers for themselves.

They need to receive an answer for themselves, so that they can begin to enjoy the full blessings of living the restored Gospel in God's Zion today. You have friends or family members that need to receive an answer for themselves.

Here is a beautiful video of someone who went through a process to get an answer for himself: http://www.mormonchannel.org/watch/series/mormon-messages/the-hope-of-gods-light

Will you share your testimony, along with this video, this week to someone?

Will you please invite them to discover the truth of these things for themselves?

I know that Heavenly Father will help you feel greater peace, and will help you in your efforts to share and invite this week. I know that He will, because He does this for me every day. I love Him, and I know He loves me. I know He loves you, too.

I love you!!

Élder Zubeldia