Elder CJones: La Familia--Una Bendicion de Dios

En verdad, siento que es más sencillo cuando hablo en Español.

La Familia es algo que me ha dado bastantes bendiciones en mi vida. Durante la mision es cuando yo he compredido la importancia de la familia por mi y por Dios. Amo a mi familia mucho y sé que me ayudan en todo, me han dado animo y la qyuda en la mision y en la vida.

Pues, algunas personas me preguntaron de la mision. Nosotros empezamos nuestros servicios a la iglesia a la 1 cada semana. Tenemos algunos investigadores y siempre contactamos y fijamos actividades a encontrar mas personas. Estamos ayudando una familia para bautizarse esta semana. Oren por nosotros y que el Espiritu pueda tocar sus corazones.

Mi peso ha cambiado mucho, estoy bajando lentamente, tengo como 200 libras. El clima es interesante, a veces hace frio y otros días hace calor. Yo estoy bien fisicalmente, saludable y bien. Mi piel no ha cambiado mucho desde el verano, pues eso creo yo.

Entere estas semana hemos visito mas personas dispuestos a escuchar por año nuevo y que quieren cambiar sus vidas.

Quiero invitar a todos a escuchar en martes a nuestro profeta Presidente Nelson, y invitar a algunas personas que necesiten bendiciones, para que puedan intentar a buscar su proposito en la vida.

--
Elder Corom Jones


Translation:

Truthfully, I feel it is easier when I speak in Spanish. 

The family is something that has given me many blessings in my life. It has been during my mission where I have come to understand the importance of family for me and for God. I love my family very much and I know that they help me in everything. They have given me encouragement and help in my mission and in life.

Well, some people asked me questions about the mission. We start our church services at 1:00 p.m. on Sundays. [Right now] we have some investigators and we always [try to] contact and set activities to find more people. We are helping a family to be baptized this week. Pray for us so the Spirit may  touch their hearts. 

My weight has changed a lot. I am slowly losing weight. I'm like 200 pounds. The weather is interesting, sometimes it's cold and other days it's hot. I am in physically good and healthy condition. My skin has not changed in my tan color much since summer, at least I don't think so.

During the week, we visit more people who are willing to listen for the new year and who want to change their lives.

I want to invite everyone to listen on Tuesday to our prophet President Nelson, and invite some people who need blessings, so they can try to find their purpose in life.

Elder CJones: No Manches es 2018!

Talking with the Fam: Christmas 2017~!

I can't believe we are in 2018! It's crazy to think that I left for my mission in 2016.

I had a great holiday! I have the wonderful chance to talk with my family and enjoy the holiday season in Mexico. I know that this season is here for us to remember Christ and the gift that He is for us as we continue to work hard.

We had a baptism this last week, Julia. She is a lady that we found a couple weeks ago and she is doing really well in her progress in the Gospel and in life. She is the first convert baptism for my companion!

With the lack of time today, I don't have much to say, but know that we have started a new year, now is a time to think and be better, we should always look for how we can always get better in our lives!

--
Elder Corom Jones

"Wherefore, whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which hope cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast, always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God" (Ether 12:4).

NOG!!!

Elder CJones: Training

"And ye are called to bring to pass the gathering of mine elect; for mine elect hear my voice and harden not their hearts;"  -Doctrine and Covenants 29:7

Today I have a little time to write today because my new companion came yesterday. Because he has a little time to write his family after his trip, I have a moment to write, too. I met my companion yesterday. His name is Elder Pogue and he is from Alaska. He is really cool and knows a little Spanish. We will be starting almost new in the area because we had to drop a lot of our investigators from before. I don't have much time today but I will talk a lot more next week!!
--
Elder Corom Jones

Elder CJones: #LightTheWorld

"Christmas, my child, is love in action."
-Dale Evans

As we begin the Christmas season, I would first like to invite all of you to start serving the finding ways that you can share the Gospel and the Spirit of Christmas with other people. I know that as we continue to bless the lives of other people, god will bless us personally and He will shine His light through your acts.

I love this time of year, it's more difficult here to feel in the Spirit with really hot days but Christ is in every part of the world. I know that this is a time of the year when a lot of people are stressed with the things that happen at Christmas, we can all be the answer to the prayers of the people around us during this Christmas season.

When we think about Christmas, we should think of Christmas and the great life that he brought into the world. In the Book of Mormon we read that the sign of his birth was a literal life-saver to many of the people in the Book or Mormon.

"Now it came to pass that there was a day set apart by the unbelievers, that all those who believed in those traditions should be put to death except the sign should come to pass, which had been given by Samuel the prophet.

Now it came to pass that when Nephi, the son of Nephi, saw this wickedness of his people, his heart was exceedingly sorrowful.

And it came to pass that he went out and bowed himself down upon the earth, and cried mightily to his God in behalf of his people, yea, those who were about to be destroyed because of their faith in the tradition of their fathers.

And it came to pass that he cried mightily unto the Lord all that day; and behold, the voice of the Lord came unto him, saying:

Lift up your head and be of good cheer; for behold, the time is at hand, and on this night shall the sign be given, and on the morrow come I into the world, to show unto the world that I will fulfill all that which I have caused to be spoken by the mouth of my holy prophets.

Behold, I come unto my own, to fulfill all things which I have made known unto the children of men from the foundation of the world, and to do the will, both of the Father and of the Son—of the Father because of me, and of the Son because of my flesh. And behold, the time is at hand, and this night shall the sign be given.

And it came to pass that the words which came unto Nephi were fulfilled, according as they had been spoken; for behold, at the going down of the sun there was no darkness; and the people began to be astonished because there was no darkness when the night came.

And there were many, who had not believed the words of the prophets, who fell to the earth and became as if they were dead, for they knew that the great plan of destruction which they had laid for those who believed in the words of the prophets had been frustrated; for the sign which had been given was already at hand.

And they began to know that the Son of God must shortly appear; yea, in fine, all the people upon the face of the whole earth from the west to the east, both in the land north and in the land south, were so exceedingly astonished that they fell to the earth.

For they knew that the prophets had testified of these things for many years, and that the sign which had been given was already at hand; and they began to fear because of their iniquity and their unbelief.

And it came to pass that there was no darkness in all that night, but it was as light as though it was mid-day. And it came to pass that the sun did rise in the morning again, according to its proper order; and they knew that it was the day that the Lord should be born, because of the sign which had been given.

And it had come to pass, yea, all things, every whit, according to the words of the prophets.

And it came to pass also that a new star did appear, according to the word.

I know this gospel brings life and light to the world and to the people who understand the true meaning of CHRISTmas.

--
Elder Corom Jones

#LightTheWorld

Elder CJones: It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

This week I bought a little Christmas Tree and Lights!!

I had a really good week this week, we had our normal monthly mission training with the zones of Rio Bravo and Reynosa. We learned about how we can baptize more people every month, as a mission we are working to baptize 300 every month and 5 for every companionship, we are working hard to do what we can and baptize the people that are ready to change their lives!

We are teaching some really cool people.

The Hernandez Family is working to get themselves married so they can be baptized, Alan and Raquel, she is the lady that cut my hair a couple weeks ago. Pray for them that they will be able to get married and have a little more desire to get the things they need to so they can have this happiness in their lives.

We are also working with Sandra. She is from the United States and she understands English really well, so we teach in both English and Spanish. When we need to explain something better, I do it in English, but most of the lesson is in Spanish. She is really cool and is having a lot of family problems but we are explaining the importance of the Plan of Salvation.

I love this work, we are doing the right when we are following the Lord!!

Elder CJones: Back in Rio Bravo

Well, I am back in Rio Bravo. Finally a Senior Companion as well as a District Leader!

My new Companion, Elder Nava, is from Ciudad Valles, San Luis Potosí, México. He has about 3 months here in the field. He likes to relax and drive cars. We get along really well. The other elders in my district are Elder Cruz and Elder Chavez they are both from Mexico.

Well, our P-Days are really busy and I will try to send a longer email next week!
Love you all!

--
Elder Corom Jones

Elder CJones: Messages From Home and Other Blessings

"Anyone who imagines that bliss is normal is going to waste a lot of time running around shouting that he's been robbed. The fact is that most putts don't drop. Most beef is tough. Most children grow up to be just ordinary people. Most successful [lives] require a high degree of [toleration]."
-President Gordon B Hinckley quoting Jenkins Lloyd Jones

Some weeks are hard and others aren't.

Some days get hard and others are days when people want to listen.

The mission is most definitely the hardest thing I have ever done. It's not easy but it's do-able and worth it.

These past weeks have been the difficult type--not easy with my companion, with the people, and with the branch that I'm serving in. The mission is difficult. But, this week I, for sure, got a testimony of families.

Our goal in the mission is to teach about families. Families are so critically important because they are so important to God. We haven't found a lot of families to teach. But, I know one of the reasons why we have families-- that that's so we can support one another.

Since the beginning of the mission, I have not failed to get a letter from my brother Zeram, as well as both of my parents. I've noticed that my family is the one, constant support for me. My family is so important to me and I have gained a stronger love for my family as I have been out here.

Through the hard times family members can support one another. Last week, I got a letter from Zeram, and as usual, his letter was filled with something powerful. He wrote: "Can't wait to hear from you!! I know you are doing amazing things!! You are setting an example to everyone. A lot of people ask how you are doing and look up to you. Love you and wish you a great and spiritual week ahead!!"

From a General Conference Talk, President Gordon B. Hinckley said,

We see some around us who are indifferent concerning the future of this work, who are apathetic, who speak of limitations, who express fears, who spend their time digging out and writing about what they regard to be weaknesses which really are of no consequence. With doubt concerning its past, they have no vision concerning its future.

Well was it said of old, 'Where there is no vision, the people perish' (Prov. 29:18). There is no place in this work for those who believe only in the gospel of doom and gloom. The gospel is good news. It is a message of triumph. It is a cause to be embraced with enthusiasm.

The Lord never said that there would not be troubles. Our people have known afflictions of every sort as those who have opposed this work have come upon them. But faith has shown through all their sorrows. This work has consistently moved forward and has never taken a backward step since its inception. I think of the boy Joseph persecuted and ridiculed by those his senior. But the pain of the wounds of that persecution was tempered by the declaration of Moroni, who told him that God had a work for him to do; and that his name “should be had for good and evil among all nations, kindreds, and tongues, or that it should be both good and evil spoken of among all people” (JS—H 1:33).

I know that we were sent in our families for a reason. One of those reasons is that a family is just a simple support system! I love my family and hope that we all can grow a love for our families!!

--
Love you all!
Elder Corom Jones

"Life is like an old-time rail Journey --delays, sidetracks, smoke, dust, cinders, and jolts, interspersed only occasionally by beautiful vistas and thrilling bursts of speed. The trick is to thank the Lord for letting you have the ride." -Gordon B Hinckley quoting Jenkins Lloyd Jones

Elder CJones: Agency and Action

"Infuse your life with action. Don't wait for it to happen. Make it happen. Make your own future. Make your own hope. Make your own love. And whatever your beliefs, honor your creator, not by passively waiting for grace to come down from upon high, but by doing what you can to make grace happen... yourself, right now, right down here on Earth." -Bradley Whitford

This week was a lot better than the last because it was full of action and less reaction. I am not perfect and I did react a lot. But I was a lot better this week. One thing I have been learning out here is that I am not even close to being humble. The Lord is constantly humbling me to be a better person.

Last week, I shared a little bit about action and that we need to act in place of reaction. This week, I studied that subject a little more and I have been trying to apply more to my life. I am studying the subject a lot more and I would like to share my testimony about agency.

Adversity seems to be a bad thing. Adversity is a trial or hardship that we encounter during our lives. In the truth, adversity is a blessing. "Opposition will not be allowed to overcome us." The Lord gives us trials to see how we will act and if we will be humble enough to learn from our problems and circumstances. “It is not on the pinnacle of success and ease where men and women grow most. It is often down in the valley of heartache and disappointment and reverses where men and women grow into strong characters.”

The mission brings a lot of trials. It's the hardest thing I have ever done. 24 hours a day we work to bring and find people that want to have these grand blessings. Sometimes I question why I decided to do this, I could be back home: driving (I miss that a lot), shopping, chilling, watching basketball, with family, hiking, there are countless things. But I know this mission was my choice and I am glad I made it. This is my choice and no one else's. Through the trials I have had here, I know I have grown. I know I have progressed in these past 195 days. My testimony has been strengthened through the trials and hard times. I am excited to see what life has it store for me.

"An old cowboy said he had learned life’s most important lessons from Hereford cows. All his life he had worked cattle ranches where winter storms took a heavy toll among the herds. Freezing rains whipped across the prairies. Howling, bitter winds piled snow into enormous drifts. Temperatures might drop quickly to below zero degrees. Flying ice cut into the flesh. In this maelstrom of nature’s violence most cattle would turn their backs to the ice blasts and slowly drift downwind, mile upon mile. Finally, intercepted by a boundary fence, they would pile up against the barrier and die by the scores.

“But the Herefords acted differently. Cattle of this breed would instinctively head into the windward end of the range. There they would stand shoulder-to-shoulder facing the storm’s blast, heads down against its onslaught.

“‘You always found the Herefords alive and well,’ said the cowboy. ‘I guess it’s the greatest lesson I ever learned on the prairies—just face life’s storms’”

For the moment, we may have a difficult situation like the winter blizzards, but we have two choices at that point: to act like the Herefords, or be acted upon like the other cattle. We can choose to tough it out and show God that we can do it as well, learn something about ourselves along the way. Or, we can turn away and let somebody or something else decide how we will act and follow the fiery darts of the adversary. “When we are pushed, stung, defeated, embarrassed, hurt, rejected, tormented, forgotten—when we are in agony of spirit crying out ‘why me?’ we are in a position to learn something”

--
Elder Corom Jones

(See "Adversity" speech from Dallin H. Oaks for these quoted references)

"Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong." -2 Corinthians 12:10

Elder CJones: Rio Bravo Pride

"I am pretty sure that church sleep is among the healthiest of all sleeps."

-President Dieter F Uchtdorf

Rio Bravo is honestly the pride and joy of the mission, this area, even though it's hard, it is one of the coolest area to serve in the mission.

My new area is called Condesa. It is a lot smaller than my last area and there are a lot less people to teach. I am serving in a branch with about 70 members, if that. My new companion is from Chiapas, Mexico. His name is Elder Hernandez. He is a really cool guy and we love to work together to get our work done. He has been out for 7 months.

My Spanish is progressing a lot. I live in a house with 3 other Mexicans so I just have to speak Spanish, I understand 95% and can express myself about 75%. I love this area, and as I said and I really miss my other area. My friends over there are baptizing and working hard with my old investigators. There are four elders in my area, Elder Mendoza from the DF, and Elder Gomez from Puebla. I live in a really nice house. It's a duplex. We are in walking distance from the border of the United States and Mexico. It's really cool and I love it.

This week, I have been studying covenants and there are some great ones in the Book of Mormon that teach us of the blessings of covenants when we keep them. Let's look at one covenant found in Alma 24:

I thank my God, my beloved people, that our great God has in goodness sent these our brethren, the Nephites, unto us to preach unto us, and to convince us of the traditions of our wicked fathers.

And behold, I thank my great God that he has given us a portion of his Spirit to soften our hearts, that we have opened a correspondence with these brethren, the Nephites.

And behold, I also thank my God, that by opening this correspondence we have been convinced of our sins, and of the many murders which we have committed.

And I also thank my God, yea, my great God, that he hath granted unto us that we might repent of these things, and also that he hath forgiven us of those our many sins and murders which we have committed, and taken away the guilt from our hearts, through the merits of his Son.

And now behold, my brethren, since it has been all that we could do (as we were the most lost of all mankind) to repent of all our sins and the many murders which we have committed, and to get God to take them away from our hearts, for it was all we could do to repent sufficiently before God that he would take away our stain—

Now, my best beloved brethren, since God hath taken away our stains, and our swords have become bright, then let us stain our swords no more with the blood of our brethren.
Behold, I say unto you, Nay, let us retain our swords that they be not stained with the blood of our brethren; for perhaps, if we should stain our swords again they can no more be washed bright through the blood of the Son of our great God, which shall be shed for the atonement of our sins.

And the great God has had mercy on us, and made these things known unto us that we might not perish; yea, and he has made these things known unto us beforehand, because he loveth our souls as well as he loveth our children; therefore, in his mercy he doth visit us by his angels, that the plan of salvation might be made known unto us as well as unto future generations.

Oh, how merciful is our God! And now behold, since it has been as much as we could do to get our stains taken away from us, and our swords are made bright, let us hide them away that they may be kept bright, as a testimony to our God at the last day, or at the day that we shall be brought to stand before him to be judged, that we have not stained our swords in the blood of our brethren since he imparted his word unto us and has made us clean thereby.

And now, my brethren, if our brethren seek to destroy us, behold, we will hide away our swords, yea, even we will bury them deep in the earth, that they may be kept bright, as a testimony that we have never used them, at the last day; and if our brethren destroy us, behold, we shall go to our God and shall be saved.

And now it came to pass that when the king had made an end of these sayings, and all the people were assembled together, they took their swords, and all the weapons which were used for the shedding of man’s blood, and they did bury them up deep in the earth.

And this they did, it being in their view a testimony to God, and also to men, that they never would use weapons again for the shedding of man’s blood; and this they did, vouching and covenanting with God, that rather than shed the blood of their brethren they would give up their own lives; and rather than take away from a brother they would give unto him; and rather than spend their days in idleness they would labor abundantly with their hands.

And thus we see that, when these Lamanites were brought to believe and to know the truth, they were firm, and would suffer even unto death rather than commit sin; and thus we see that they buried their weapons of peace, or they buried the weapons of war, for peace.

This was just a small covenant that the Lamanites made to show God that they wanted to change. What they didn't know is all the blessings that were being prepared for them because of the covenant they were making.

And it came to pass that their brethren, the Lamanites, made preparations for war, and came up to the land of Nephi for the purpose of destroying the king, and to place another in his stead, and also of destroying the people of Anti-Nephi-Lehi out of the land.

Now when the people saw that they were coming against them they went out to meet them, and prostrated themselves before them to the earth, and began to call on the name of the Lord; and thus they were in this attitude when the Lamanites began to fall upon them, and began to slay them with the sword.

And thus without meeting any resistance, they did slay a thousand and five of them; and we know that they are blessed, for they have gone to dwell with their God.

Now when the Lamanites saw that their brethren would not flee from the sword, neither would they turn aside to the right hand or to the left, but that they would lie down and perish, and praised God even in the very act of perishing under the sword—

Now when the Lamanites saw this they did forbear from slaying them; and there were many whose hearts had swollen in them for those of their brethren who had fallen under the sword, for they repented of the things which they had done.

And it came to pass that they threw down their weapons of war, and they would not take them again, for they were stung for the murders which they had committed; and they came down even as their brethren, relying upon the mercies of those whose arms were lifted to slay them.

And it came to pass that the people of God were joined that day by more than the number who had been slain; and those who had been slain were righteous people, therefore we have no reason to doubt but what they were saved.

And there was not a wicked man slain among them; but there were more than a thousand brought to the knowledge of the truth; thus we see that the Lord worketh in many ways to the salvation of his people.

Not only were they shown that blessing directly after, they were shown many, many blessings afterward. In Alma 53 we read:

And now behold, I have somewhat to say concerning the people of Ammon, who, in the beginning, were Lamanites; but by Ammon and his brethren, or rather by the power and word of God, they had been converted unto the Lord; and they had been brought down into the land of Zarahemla, and had ever since been protected by the Nephites.

And because of their oath they had been kept from taking up arms against their brethren; for they had taken an oath that they never would shed blood more; and according to their oath they would have perished; yea, they would have suffered themselves to have fallen into the hands of their brethren, had it not been for the pity and the exceeding love which Ammon and his brethren had had for them.

And for this cause they were brought down into the land of Zarahemla; and they ever had been protected by the Nephites.

But it came to pass that when they saw the danger, and the many afflictions and tribulations which the Nephites bore for them, they were moved with compassion and were desirous to take up arms in the defence of their country.

But behold, as they were about to take their weapons of war, they were overpowered by the persuasions of Helaman and his brethren, for they were about to break the oath which they had made.

And Helaman feared lest by so doing they should lose their souls; therefore all those who had entered into this covenant were compelled to behold their brethren wade through their afflictions, in their dangerous circumstances at this time.

The Lamanite parents were examples to their children. And in turn, the children made a covenant, too.

But behold, it came to pass they had many sons, who had not entered into a covenant that they would not take their weapons of war to defend themselves against their enemies; therefore they did assemble themselves together at this time, as many as were able to take up arms, and they called themselves Nephites.

And they entered into a covenant to fight for the liberty of the Nephites, yea, to protect the land unto the laying down of their lives; yea, even they covenanted that they never would give up their liberty, but they would fight in all cases to protect the Nephites and themselves from bondage.

Now behold, there were two thousand of those young men, who entered into this covenant and took their weapons of war to defend their country.

And now behold, as they never had hitherto been a disadvantage to the Nephites, they became now at this period of time also a great support; for they took their weapons of war, and they would that Helaman should be their leader.

And they were all young men, and they were exceedingly valiant for courage, and also for strength and activity; but behold, this was not all—they were men who were true at all times in whatsoever thing they were entrusted.

Yea, they were men of truth and soberness, for they had been taught to keep the commandments of God and to walk uprightly before him.

Now after many years of battle and war, carnage and bloodshed, this is the result of keeping that covenant:

And those sons of the people of Ammon, of whom I have so highly spoken, are with me in the city of Manti; and the Lord has supported them, yea, and kept them from falling by the sword, insomuch that even one soul has not been slain.

But behold, they have received many wounds; nevertheless they stand fast in that liberty wherewith God has made them free; and they are strict to remember the Lord their God from day to day; yea, they do observe to keep his statutes, and his judgments, and his commandments continually; and their faith is strong in the prophecies concerning that which is to come.

I testify that the keeping of covenants truly brings us blessings. We will find no other joy than when we follow diligently in keeping to our covenants as children of God. We can only become great like those 2,000 stripling sons if we keep our covenants.

--
Elder Corom Jones

"God’s greatest reward goes to those who serve without expectation of reward."
-President Dieter F Uchtdorf