An Apostle in Portugal, Aveiro & Nazare Beach

Elder Ulisses Soares an Apostle came to Portugal this week! He held meetings 4 days in a row. The first scheduled meeting was on Thursday, September 8th. This was planned to be held in Porto where he served as mission president 20 years ago when there was a separate mission in Porto. Due to a delayed flight he conducted this meeting from Lisbon. 

Friday was a meeting for the Young Adults ages 18-30. Saturday from 10-12 was a meeting for all the missionaries serving in Portugal. Humble Elder Soares, held this meeting in English! We understood every word! Saturday from 1-5 was a leadership meeting. Sunday, from 10-12 is a conference for all of Portugal. 

                                           Elder Ulisses and sister Rosana Soares.

Elder & Sister Soares with President & Sister Barcellos

Our entire mission with Elder & Sister Soares. 92 elders, 61 sisters + 6 senior couples. Additionally, there are 4 couples (not in this photo)  that serve in the temple.

We are seated on the front row 3rd & 4th from the left.

Elder & Sister Soares with the 4 temple missionary couples.

After the group photo Elder Soares greeted each of the missionaries.

We stayed in Aveiro on Thursday, September 8th. Aveiro is on the west coast of Portugal and is distinguished by its canals navigated by brightly colored boats.

                                              This is a view from our hotel window.

Kim, is looking out of the open window of our room on the top floor of Hotel Aveiro Palace.

After leaving Aveiro on the way to Lisbon we stopped at Nazare which is known as the location of the largest waves ever surfed. The waves are about 100’ high!!

In addition to an area with enormous waves there is also a very nice sandy beach.

We arrived in Lisbon on Friday, September 9th in time to help prepare 180 ham and cheese sandwiches for the missionaries. Afterwards we went to dinner with the other couples.

 

On Saturday, September 10th after the missionary meeting with Elder Soares we attended the temple with E/S Daniel and Dianne Erickson.

This sister is from Beira, Mozambique and is wearing a traditional dress.

After attending the temple on Saturday, September 10th we were able to watch the baptism of Rockwell Brian Hoffmann.

                                             SCRIPTURE POWER

Jacob asks: “why not speak of the atonement of Christ and attain to a perfect knowledge of him..?” (Jac. 4:12)

The word “atonement” (or any form of the word) appears only once in the New Testament. (Rom. 5:11)

The Old Testament states:“For the life of the flesh is in the blood:… for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.” (Lev. 17:11) 

“And Moses took half of the blood, and put it in basins; and half of the blood he sprinkled on the altar. And he took the book of the covenant, and read in the audience of the people: and they said, All that the Lord hath said will we do, and be obedient. And Moses took the blood, and sprinkled it on the people, and said, Behold the blood of the covenant,” (Ex. 24: 6-8)

However, King Benjamin explained: “the law of Moses availeth nothing except it were through the atonement of his blood.” (Mosiah 3:15)  “salvation was, and is, and is to come, in and through the atoning blood of Christ,” (Mosiah 3:18) Indeed, “blood cometh from every pore, so great shall be his anguish for the wickedness and the abominations of his people.” (Mosiah 3:7)

Elder Neal A. Maxwell said: "So it is that real, personal sacrifice never was placing an animal on the altar. Instead, it is a willingness to put the animal in us upon the altar and letting it be consumed! Such is the “sacrifice unto the Lord … of a broken heart and a contrite spirit,” (D&C 59:8)" (April 1995, Deny Yourselves of All Ungodliness)

 

In Sacrament meeting we can have an experience like this as we apply the atoning blood of Christ:

 

“And they had viewed themselves in their own carnal state, even less than the dust of the earth. And they all cried aloud with one voice, saying: O have mercy, and apply the atoning blood of Christ that we may receive forgiveness of our sins, and our hearts may be purified; for we believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who created heaven and earth, and all things; who shall come down among the children of men. And it came to pass that after they had spoken these words the Spirit of the Lord came upon them, and they were filled with joy, having received a remission of their sins, and having peace of conscience, because of the exceeding faith which they had in Jesus Christ who should come” (Mosiah 4:2-3)

 

The resurrected Savior taught: “I am the light and the life of the world. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end.  And ye shall offer up unto me no more the shedding of blood; yea, your sacrifices and your burnt offerings shall be done away, for I will accept none of your sacrifices and your burnt offerings. And ye shall offer for a sacrifice unto me a broken heart and a contrite spirit. And whoso cometh unto me with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, him will I baptize with fire and with the Holy Ghost,” (3 Ne. 9:18-20)

 

Elder Bruce C. Hafen said: “The Broken Heart has a double meaning: first, the breaking of Christ's heart at the moment of his death on the cross, when he voluntarily gave up his life in the final act of the Atonement's drama; second, the broken heart and contrite spirit the Savior asks each of us to place before him on the altar of sacrifice. Through the breaking of his heart and ours in these two interactive senses, the full blessings of the Atonement are realized in our individual lives.” (Bruce C. Hafen, “The Broken Heart: Applying the Atonement to Life's Experiences”, 27.)

Oh, dearly, dearly has he loved!

And we must love him too,

And trust in his redeeming blood,

And try his works to do. (“There Is a Green Hill Far Away”, #194)

We can more fully experience the blessings of the Atonement as we take Christ’s yoke upon us.

“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matt. 11: 28-30)