SETTING APART

August 15, 2017

Sadie’s setting apart blessing from President Castillo

This entire evening with the Stake Presidency and our Bishopric was REMARKABLE in every way.  The Spirit in our home was very strong and everyone felt a deep love for you, Sadie. 

President Castillo’s blessing:

·      You will be a light to the pioneers in the country.

·      You will continue to have a powerful witness that this call is from your Heavenly Father and you will be able to rely on those impressions you have had.

·      You will bless the members and new converts and help them to get excited about living the gospel.

·      You will connect with the pioneer members of the church in Cambodia and also have a great connection with the youth there – both long time members and new converts.

·      You will be blessed with a love of the language.  He blessed you with the gift of tongues.  You will be able to learn the language and use it throughout your life. 

·      You will go forward as a missionary with power and authority. 

·      He blessed you with health and that your body will be strong and be able to recover quickly from natural aliments.  Receive priesthood blessings to help you with health concerns. 

·      Listen to the directions given by your mission president and his wife regarding the care of food and water. 

·      You will be able to use power and authority as you teach and serve.

·      He blessed you that you would be a leader in the mission, both to the sisters and the elders.  Be obedient as you lead.

·      Live close to the Spirit

·      Be bold as you live by the Spirit.  Be bold especially in your first area to keep both you and your companion safe.  Listen to the Spirit.

·      You will have power in learning the Cambodian language as you are blessed to teach those you serve in their native language.

·      Teach by word and example about eternal families and the ways you have been blessed. 

·      You will be a light. 

·      You will have an instant love of the people and the culture and the language and the history of Cambodia.

·      Use the Spirit and come close to the Spirit every day.

President Castillo shared some thoughts on how the covenants bind us as an eternal family and can be felt and are real and tangible.  He talked to you about Doctrine and Covenants 31:4 and how you should declare the things that have been revealed to the Prophet Joseph Smith.  The restoration is real and Priesthood keys are on the earth.  He talked about how the goal of mortality is to learn to focus outward and do the will of the Father always.  This is the perfect example that the Savior set for us.  He encouraged you to make the decision every day to put others needs ahead of your own.  He promised you that you would be a very powerful missionary as he could feel that with the blessing he gave you. 

President Zimmerman talked about Jacob 5:70-72 and how as the servant of the Lord (The Prophet) asks the Lord of the Vineyard (The Savior) if he can go out one more time to serve.  The servant gathered others to help him.  You are one of those helpers and this gathering is what you will be doing as a full time missionary.  The Lord always labors with those who serve Him.  Joy is found in laying up fruit unto the Lord.  He also referenced Doctrine and Covenants 109:22.  Your covenants worthily kept will give you access to the Savior’s power in your life to serve Him.  Angels will be your associates.

Dad challenged you to serve your Savior on your mission with your whole heart and whole mind.  He encouraged you to teach with power and authority through your mission president’s keys and your obedience and worthiness.  He testified of his testimony of the reality of Heavenly Father, the Savior and the Holy Ghost.  He testified of a living day prophet and the Book of Mormon.

I shared my testimony of the simple truths of the gospel and how their truthfulness distills upon us as we live them.  I shared my testimony that we have the gift of learning from the Master Teacher as we love and serve the Lord.  We can call upon His power to bless us in our efforts as we serve Him. 

Brother Feller talked about how he is certain that Sadie Stratford serving with the Lord is a powerful force that can accomplish anything,  He shared 2 Nephi 2:6-9 and how important it is to make these truths known to the inhabitants of the world that they too can rely on their Savior to help and lift them.