The Book of Mormon-the keystone of truth

God does exist! Many of us are raised to believe in Him and yet over time and through trials some of us doubt God or forget He exists. Life is filled with so much beauty but also much darkness. Why then,  when we experience difficult times, do we begin to doubt God or start to believe He does not exist? God is never the source of pain, confusion or distress. How do I know this? It is simple. I pray and read The Book of Mormon.

During these past two weeks, we have met a few people who don't believe in God either because they have had difficult experiences or they don't see the evidence.  The Book of Mormon is a witness that God is real and His son, Jesus Christ is our Savior.  This transfer, President Poulsen has titled it "The Keystone Transfer".  The Book of Mormon is the "keystone" or the "center" that holds the truth together.  In 2 Nephi 2:13 it states, 

 "And if ye shall say there is no law, ye shall also say there is no sin. If ye shall say there is no sin, ye shall also say there is no righteousness. And if there be no righteousness there be no happiness. And if there be no righteousness nor happiness there be no punishment nor misery. And if these things are not there is no God. And if there is no God we are not, neither the earth; for there could have been no creation of things, neither to act nor to be acted upon; wherefore, all things must have vanished away."

If you are searching to know if there is a God or if He really does know you, read The Book of Mormon. I can promise you nothing more than happiness, joy, peace and confidence. My companion and I would love to help you know how you can come to know God. Just send us an email.

The Book of Mormon only speaks truth because it is a book filled with revelation from God.  I know that Joseph Smith translated the Book of Mormon and yes he was a true prophet called of God. I am a witness to all that God lives! He answers me, He heals me and He knows me. You can experience this too, through The Book of Mormon.

I love you all and I know God is mindful of each of you. Just be mindful of Him and all of the blessings He has given you. All of the confusion and turmoil will be swept away as you act in faith and The Book of Mormon. I say all of these things in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Love, Sister Mikeila Aquino

"Always BE READY to Share the Gospel"

General Conference was amazing!  Hearing the prophet, apostles and general authorities speak to us all is so refreshing and reassures my testimony of my Savior.  I hope all of the members were able to watch or listen to General Conference!  Three new apostles were sustained; what an exciting time for the world! Our zone had the privilege to attend the Saturday morning session.  One of my favorite talks was "What Lack I Yet?" by Elder Larry R. Lawrence of the Quorum of the Seventy.  I invite everyone to read his talk. As you do, I urge you to ponder about what simple change the Holy Ghost has prompted you to make in your life to bring yourself closer to your Savior.

Sunday night our mission had the privilege of having John Schmidt, from the Piano Guys, perform for us! We were all really excited and everyone got their ipads out ready to record.  It was a nice finish to a long, wonderful General Conference weekend.  Well, a lady came walking into the theater and was looking around wondering what was going on.  Immediately, two sisters stood up and started talking with her.  Next thing you know they opened the Book of Mormon and started turning the pages, describing each picture.  Then all three of them left the theater. What a great example those two sisters were!  Even though it meant possibly missing the performance, they took the lady on a tour of Temple Square.  What a great lesson!  There are many who do not have a knowledge of the Gospel of Jesus Christ so we need to always be ready to share it.  It is my hope that you will take every opportunity you have to share the gospel, even if it might seem an "inconvenience" to you.  It is never an inconvenience to the Lord.  This is the work of Salvation!

I love the Lord's work.  I know that God does live.  I have a testimony that the Savior visited the Ancient Americas and He will come again.  I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Love,

Sister Mikeila Aquino

Saturday Morning Session of General Conference with my Zone

Happy 1 Year in the Mission

Love my MTC Companions!

South 1 District 3

So fun for Sister McDaniel and I to see Elder Reeves (now an RM) from the Tempe Mission

Prophet, Profeta, ศาสดาพยากรณ์

I apologize that I have not written for over a month!  There have been so many transitions and changes these last couple of transfers, but I am enjoying it!  Being a missionary in Tempe Arizona was life changing and an incredible experience!  I miss all of the friends and memories we made. Tempe will always have a special place in my heart! 

I have been back to Temple Square for a transfer and now starting another this week!  Last transfer I was in a trio with the beautiful sisters Sister Solorzano (from Peru/Spain) and Sister Chansriramee (from Thailand).  We served at Welfare Square.  I loved being with these two sisters!  Sister Solorzano taught me how to have more charity and Sister Chansriramee taught me the importance of patience.  I was a district leader and they both were so supportive!  The sisters in our district were all wonderful!  I am grateful I had the opportunity to get to know them.  This next transfer I am still with Sister Chansriramee and I am excited to learn more from her!  

I am excited for this weekend because it is General Conference again!  Three new apostles will be called!  General Conference is a time for everyone around the world to listen to a prophet of God.  I believe that God does call a prophet and apostles for our day, to give us direction just like during biblical times. 

One of the things I love about Temple Square is that tours and lessons are given in about fifty different languages!  Our Thai investigator, Lucy (name changed for privacy purposes) and her boyfriend were baptized last transfer!  This last summer some sisters were able to meet Lucy and her boyfriend during their visit to Temple Square.  They decided to stay in contact with those sisters to learn more about the restored gospel.  Well, Lucy is originally from Thailand and so the other sisters asked Sister Chansriramee to teach Lucy.  Now they are both baptized and very happy in life!

Thursday evening was filled with wonderful opportunities for us!  We were supposed to take an English tour but when we went to look for them we couldn't find them.  The sisters at the front desk then asked us to play God's Plan in Spanish for a family because no Spanish sisters were available. The granddaughter spoke English, but was only able to translate some things.  She was a member of the church, but her uncle and grandmother (visiting form Chile) were not.  From what Spanish I could remember from high school I was able to relate some things to them, but not really that much. Heavenly Father was definitely with us.  We invited them to meet with missionaries and they gave us their contact information so we can send missionaries to their home.

 That same evening we were already running late getting home for studies because we were taking tours, which is not a bad thing at all!  Well, as we walked by the reflection pool, we felt prompted to talk with this man sitting at the pool looking at the temple.  He was a member visiting for conference from Mexico for the first time!  In the middle of the conversation Sister Chansriramee asked him if he kept a journal, so that he could record his General Conference experiences.  He said he wasn't the best at keeping it, so we got talking about how pictures are a great way to keep a journal.  We also talked about social media and how it can be a tool to share the gospel.  He said he didn't really like social media.  Well, we explained how he could use it to do missionary work.  I told him that I was not a big fan of social media either because it is not always used in wholesome or productive ways. But, I shared that I keep a mission blog and how my companion in AZ and I used Facebook to share our testimonies and uplift the members.  We will be following up with him on this commitment.  I loved the training by the missionary department!  It has really blessed us!

These three experiences taught me the powerful and true principle that their is a modern day prophet of God on the earth today!  God speaks to all of us!  He speaks to Christians and non Christians.  He speaks to children and grandparents.  He speaks to all of us in our native language. He speaks to Lucy.  He speaks to the member visiting from Mexico.  He speaks to the part members family from Chile.  He speaks to me.  He loves and speaks to everyone and that has always been through a prophet of God.  I know this to be true, not because I have shaken President Thomas S. Monson's hand, but because I have prayed and listened to him.  General Conference was not established for just the believers, but also for those who need any direction in life.  I urge each and everyone of you watch and rewatch/read General Conference.  I promise all of you that the spirit of God will testify the truth to you.  Each of us is searching for something in life; through a man called of God you will find what you are looking for.  

You are probably wondering the translation of my blog title.  Prophet, Profeta, ศาสดาพยากรณ์

 It is the word prophet in English, Spanish and Thai.  This is to show that God does speak all of us! 

I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Love, Sister Mikeila Aquino

One last pic with Sisters McDaniel & Sinamban in AZ

My District this past transfer with our ZL

My companions Sister Solorzano & Sister Chansriramee at Welfare Square

Zone Activity at Cottonwood Canyon-where the granite for the Salt Lake Temple came from