September 1, 2011

Dear Beloved Family!
This week has been absolutely amazing! Guess who came to speak at the MTC! The one and the only Jeffery R Holland! It was so incredible to get to hear from him! I think this is the first time in my life that I have been so close to an Apostle! His speech was incredible. Here are some of my favorite parts!'

1 He reminded us that all of the important missionary work takes place in this dispensation! All the incredible stories in the Bible and the Book of Mormon mattered for some people and those missionaries but it never lasted long. Before now it has always ended in apostasy! This missionary work that we are involved in will be carried through into the millennium! Those people in the Book of Mormon largely fought for our benefit! So that we could carry on their work but this time succeed!

2 ¨We need more momentum, we need more success!¨ Elder Holland practically said that every missionary in the field needs to be working harder! Wow way cool! Sure!

3 People think that the missionaries are perfect. We represent the joy and greatness of the gospel to many people. He said people have the right to think we are perfect even though we are not, because of who we represent. However, We as missionaries (and and he specifically said return missionaries as well Alex) have no right to damage that reputation. He told a story of a man teaching a lesson and he asked an old 70 year old woman who she knew that was perfect. He was thinking she would first think of Christ and that would follow through his lesson. Instead the woman said- "the only two people who I really know are perfect were those two missionaries." Elder Holland said that we have no right to mess around with something that people give their lives for. He stated, struggling through tears, that the last life that was given was four hours prior to his talk. What a call to awakening in this magnificent calling!

4 He said some really interesting things about prayer. He showed all of the physical terms that are used to describe prayer. Wrestle, hunger, cried, mighty, both day and night. He said learn to pray in such a way that you will no longer be able to be restrained by the veil! Fight your way into the presence of God! That is literally what prophets in the scriptures have done! I am working on really learning how to pray.

5 He said that some of the best advice he had ever gotten was be the best you can possibly be at whatever you do. Right now I am a missionary. I will be the best possible missionary that I can be!

Before this magnificent talk I had the opportunity to sing for Elder Holland in the MTC choir. He said it was the best rendition of the song he had ever heard and I have to agree! (even though I have never heard the song before. After His talk however, to complete the spirit of the evening, There was a vocal duet. One singing and two signing. Probably one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen in my entire life. The lyrics of the song said- "make me more worthy of your love" Needless to say this two sister missionaries combined with the power of Elder Holland had many missionaries full out crying right there and even after.

This experience has effected everyone in my district! To the point where one missionary has become very quiet and read the entire Book of Mormon in about two or three days.

I feel as if the veil has become thinner lately. Personal revelation is easier to come upon than at any other time in my entire life. I understand more and it is so much easier to tell the plan of salvation in the same story as my own personal life. My favorite teacher Hermano Russel told us through tears the other day that he would trade us in a heartbeat for the sole reason of being able to receive personal revelation like a missionary again. I am working so closely with the Holy Ghost and even God in this work. This is absolutely incredible. I am doing my best to never let Elder Holland, the Argentineans or you, my family down!

My companion's name is Samuel Burton. He is from Washington DC but has been studying at the Air Force Academy.

Tell the Baileys I met Elder Nakamoto! He lives in my very same building. And thank you so very much for the pictures! I love seeing you all!

I love you all so very very much! So sorry but I was not able to send a letter home to you guys this week! I will try to do another written one next week! Glad you liked the letters! Thanks for the letters you have sent me!

Yours- Elder Jacob Edward Green