Baptism in Braganca! + the city of Tomar.

On Saturday, December 3rd we drove 1hr10min to the Braganca branch to attend the baptismal services for Delton’s best friend also from Angola- Benvindo Teca, his name means “welcome”. The services started at 3PM and by the time we drove 15 minutes to the Castanheira Dam area it was 4:30PM. The outside temperature was 48 degrees. Jose Carlos baptized Benvindo.

The baptism was at the “Barragem de Castanheira” which means: Castanheira Dam.

Delton and his best friend Benvindo.

At the start of the baptismal services Delton was resting as he was not feeling well.

Due to Elder Worley being transferred Elder Reinales Fernandes  (born in Brazil but his family moved to Portugal 5 years ago) arrived in Braganca on Thursday, Dec. 1st and was able to participate in a baptism 2 days later!

Neto and Jamilly Celestino-The Braganca branch institute teachers. 

These photos from a few years ago show how much higher the water level was.

On the way home from the baptism we stopped in Murca to visit the Ternova family.

Nadia’s mother from Ukraine has arrived to stay with them until next summer.

We delivered an electric heater.

Anastasia displaying a recent drawing of hers.

The missionaries were tired!

Jose Carlos’s wife Dulce (Nuria’s mom) has recently taken over the operations of an existing  restaurant-“Restaurante Moderno” located in the center of Braganca about 5 minutes from the Church. We stopped by to deliver a poinsettia that had seen better days…

Restaurants close from 3-7PM

After District meeting on Wednesday, December 7th we ate lunch at Dulce’s restaurant.

Nuria, Kim & Dulce

Our small car can hold 7!

Christmas lights in Vila Real!

Seminary class on Friday, December 2nd-6 students!

On Thursday, December 8th we visited the city of Tomar on our drive to Lisbon. Tomar was founded by the Knights Templar, an elite fighting force and semi-religious order. This order was later abolished by the Pope. Each knight wore a white coat emblazoned with a Red Cross. Tomar is a pretty town built along the banks of the Nabao River. There are many narrow cobbled streets and traditional painted houses.

The Convent of Christ (Tomar Castle) was built by the Knights Templar in 1160 and is the main tourist attraction. It served as a defensive structure on the frontier between the Christians to the north and the Moors to the south. The defensive elements include medieval walls, battlements and towers; these fortifications aided the town to survive a siege by the North African Moors in 1190.  

It was a tender mercy that after driving in heavy rain for several hours the rain stopped as we arrived!

The “Charola” or round church located inside the Convent of Christ was built in the 12th century, to emulate the Church of the Holy Sepulcher (Dome of the Rock) in Jerusalem. Externally Charola is a 16 side polygonal structure, with strong buttresses, round windows and a bell-tower. From the inside the round church has a central, octagonal structure, connected by arches to a surrounding “walking place” or ambulatory. 

Inside the Charola.

A 3.5 mile long aqueduct “Aqueduto dos Pegoes” was completed in 1614 to bring water to the complex.

Church of Saint John the Baptist was built in the late 15th century.

Photos of the town.

    SCRIPTURE POWER

Do we have ears to hear and open hearts to understand?  The Gospel of Jesus Christ is very simple. We are asked to believe and repent.

“mine elect hear my voice and harden not their hearts” (D & C 29:7) “I will take vengeance upon the wicked, for they will not repent..my blood shall not cleanse them if they hear me not.” (D & C 29:17)

 

After the wicked were slain and while it was still dark “there was a voice heard among all the inhabitants of the earth, upon all the face of this land” Everyone heard Jesus say: “O all ye that are spared because ye were more righteous than they, will ye not now return unto me, and repent of your sins, and be converted, that I may heal you?” (3 Ne. 9:13)  The “more righteous” were told to “repent of your sins”. 

 

This group of about 2,500 righteous people had gathered to the temple. Similarly, to the righteous group that King Benjamin addressed “round about the temple” (Mosiah 2:6) King Benjamin explains: “this I do because they have been a diligent people in keeping the commandments of the Lord.” (Mosiah 1:11) And now, my brethren, I would that ye should do as ye have hitherto done. As ye have kept my commandments, and also the commandments of my father, and have prospered” (Mosiah 2:31)  

 

This righteous group “were also conversing about this Jesus Christ,” (3 Ne. 11:2) Even so, it appears that they were not  all spiritually prepared.

 

“And it came to pass that while they were thus conversing one with another, they heard a voice as if it came out of heaven; and they cast their eyes round about, for they [group 1] understood not the voice which they heard; and it was not a harsh voice, neither was it a loud voice; nevertheless, and notwithstanding it being a small voice it did piercethem [group 2] that did hear to the center, insomuch that there was no part of their frame that it did not cause to quake; yea, it did pierce them to the very soul, and did cause their hearts to burn. And it came to pass that again they [group 1] heard the voice, and they understood it not. And again the third time they [group 1] did hear the voice, and did open their ears to hear it; and their eyes were towards the sound thereof; and they did look steadfastly towards heaven, from whence the sound came. And behold, the third time they [group 1] did understand the voicewhich they heard; and it said unto them: Behold my Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased, in whom I have glorified my name—hear ye him. And it came to pass, as they [group 1] understood they cast their eyes up again towards heaven” (3 Ne. 11:2-8) 

 

“And it came to pass that when Jesus had said these words he perceived that there were some among them who marveled, and wondered what he would concerning the law of Moses; for they understood not the saying that old things had passed away, and that all things had become new. And he said unto them: Marvel not that I said unto you that old things had passed away, and that all things had become new. Behold, I say unto you that the law is fulfilled that was given unto Moses. Behold, I am he that gave the law, and I am he who covenanted with my people Israel; therefore, the law in me is fulfilled, for I have come to fulfil the law; therefore it hath an end.” (3 Ne. 15:2-5) 

 

Previously, in the darkness Jesus said: “in me is the law of Moses fulfilled.” (3 Ne. 9:17) Additionally, He explained:  “Therefore those things which were of old time, which were under the law, in me are all fulfilled. Old things are done away, and all things have become new” (3 Ne. 12: 46-47) 

 

Nevertheless, there were “some among them” that “understood not”. Perhaps, these are the same people described earlier as- group 1. 

 

In 3 Ne. 17 as Jesus heals every one it appears that initially not everyone was hearing/understanding /comprehending what was being taught but by the end of this chapter they all did.

 

Jesus transitions from speaking to the 12 disciples to the multitude and says:  “Behold, my time is at hand. I perceive that ye are weak, that ye cannot understand all my words” (3 Ne. 17:2) “the things which he prayed cannot be written and the multitude did bear record who heard him.” (3 Ne. 17:15) “And the multitude did see and hear and bear record; and they know that their record is true for they all of them did see and hear, every man for himself; and they were in number about two thousand and five hundred souls; and they did consist of men, women, and children.” (3 Ne. 17:25)

 

“And tongue cannot speak the words which he prayed, neither can be written by man the words which he prayed. And the multitude did hear and do bear record; and their hearts were open and they did understand in their hearts the words which he prayed.” (3 Ne. 19:32-33)

 

King Benjamin begins his discourse by inviting everyone to” “open your ears that ye may hear, and your hearts that ye may understand,” (Mosiah 2:9)

King Benjamin’s simple invitation is: “Believe in God; believe that he is, and that he created all things, both in heaven and in earth; believe that he has all wisdom, and all power, both in heaven and in earth; believe that man doth not comprehend all the things which the Lord can comprehend. And again, believe that ye must repent of your sins and forsake them, and humble yourselves before God; and ask in sincerity of heart that he would forgive you; and now, if you believe all these things see that ye do them.” (Mosiah 4:9-10) Believe and repent!

 

Alma describes a simple six (6) word invitation. “Repent, and I will receive you.”

 

“Behold, he sendeth an invitation unto all men, for the arms of mercy are extended towards them, and he saith: Repent, and I will receive you. Yea, he saith: Come unto me and ye shall partake of the fruit of the tree of life; yea, ye shall eat and drink of the bread and the waters of life freely;” (Alma 5:33-34)

From the time of Adam: “And the Lord God called upon men by the Holy Ghost everywhere and commanded them that they should repent; And as many as believed in the Son, and repented of their sins, should be saved;” (Moses 5:14-15)

 

 Jesus explains that the law of Moses has been fulfilled as a result of His suffering and atoning sacrifice. Therefore, what is required of us is to believe and repent. We cannot repent without first believing.

 

“For verily I say unto you, one jot nor one tittle hath not passed away from the law, but in me it hath all been fulfilled. And behold, I have given you the law and the commandments of my Father, that ye shall believe in me, and that ye shall repent of your sins, and come unto me with a broken heart and a contrite spirit. Behold, ye have the commandments before you, and the law is fulfilled.

Therefore come unto me and be ye saved;” (3 Ne. 12: 18-20)

 

The Bible Dictionary states: “Faith is a principle of action and of power, and by it one can command the elements, heal the sick, and influence any number of circumstances when occasion warrants (Jacob 4:4–7). Even more important, by faith one obtains a remission of sins and eventually can stand in the presence of God.” (“Faith”, Bible Dictionary)

 

“We change our behavior when the pain of staying the same becomes greater than the pain of changing. Consequences give us the pain that motivates us to change.” (Dr. Henry Cloud & Dr. John Townsend)

 

However, President Ezra Taft Benson said: “repentance means more than simply a reformation of behavior. Many men and women in the world demonstrate great willpower and self-discipline in overcoming bad habits and the weaknesses of the flesh. Yet at the same time they give no thought to the Master, sometimes even openly rejecting Him. Such changes of behavior, even if in a positive direction, do not constitute true repentance.

Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is the foundation upon which sincere and meaningful repentance must be built. If we truly seek to put away sin, we must first look to Him who is the Author of our salvation.” (“A Mighty Change of Heart”, Ensign, Nov., 1989)

Amulek repeats the phrase “faith unto repentance” four (4) times: “And thus he shall bring salvation to all those who shall believe on his name; this being the intent of this last sacrifice, to bring about the bowels of mercy, which overpowereth justice, and bringeth about means unto men that they may have faith unto repentance. And thus mercy can satisfy the demands of justice, and encircles them in the arms of safety, while he that exercises no faith unto repentance is exposed to the whole law of the demands of justice; therefore only unto him that has faith unto repentance is brought about the great and eternal plan of redemption. Therefore may God grant unto you, my brethren, that ye may begin to exercise your faith unto repentance, that ye begin to call upon his holy name, that he would have mercy upon you;” (Alma 34:15-17) In order to repent we must exercise faith in Jesus Christ.

Jesus declares: “because of their faith, and the repentance of all their sins, and their faithfulness unto the end. Now this is the commandment: [Repent, all ye ends of the earth, and come unto me and be baptized in my name,] that ye may be sanctified by the reception of the Holy Ghost, that ye may stand spotless before me at the last day. Verily, verily, I say unto you, this is my gospel” (3 Ne. 27:19-21) (see also Alma 13:10-11) Interestingly, the 17 word phrase in brackets is repeated word for word in Moroni 7:34.

Jesus said: “Behold, I have come unto the world to bring redemption unto the world, to save the world from sin.” (3 Ne. 9:21) This can only occur when we repent.

Samuel the Lamanite prophet taught: “And if ye believe on his name ye will repent of all your sins, that thereby ye may have a remission of them through his merits.” (Hel. 14:13) True belief always leads to repentance.

 

“And Ether was a prophet of the Lord; wherefore…he did cry from the morning, even until the going down of the sun, exhorting the people to believe in God unto repentance” (Ether 12:2-3)

The first step to repentance is to feel a remorse of conscience and “Godly sorrow” (2 Cor. 7:10) Indeed, “a sensitive spirit is a sign of a healthy conscience” (True to the Faith, “Conscience”)

 

 

President Ezra Taft Benson said: “Godly sorrow is a gift of the Spirit. It is a deep realization that our actions have offended our Father and our God. It is the sharp and keen awareness that our behavior caused the Savior, He who knew no sin, even the greatest of all, to endure agony and suffering. Our sins caused Him to bleed at every pore. This very real mental and spiritual anguish is what the scriptures refer to as having ‘a broken heart and a contrite spirit.’ (See 3 Ne. 9:20; Moro. 6:2; D&C 20:37; 59:8; Ps. 34:18; 51:17; Isa. 57:15.) Such a spirit is the absolute prerequisite for true repentance” (“A Mighty Change of Heart,” Ensign, Oct. 1989, 4).

 

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf explained: “Godly sorrow inspires change and hope through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Worldly sorrow pulls us down, extinguishes hope, and persuades us to give in to further temptation. Godly sorrow leads to conversion and a change of heart. It causes us to hate sin and love goodness. It encourages us to stand up and walk in the light of Christ’s love. True repentance is about transformation, not torture or torment” (“You Can Do It Now!” Ensign, Nov. 2013, 56).

 

Everyone is born with a conscience or Light of Christ.  Jesus Christ is “the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.” (John 1:9)  “I am the true light that lightest every man that cometh into the world;” (D & C 93:2) “the Spirit of Jesus Christ. And the Spirit giveth light to every man that cometh into the world; and the Spirit enlighteneth every man through the world, that hearkeneth to the voice of the Spirit.” (D & C 84:45-46)

 

 

“All people are born with the capacity to distinguish between right and wrong. This ability, called conscience, is a manifestation of the Light of Christ (see Moroni 7:15–19). Your conscience is a defense to help you stay away from situations that are spiritually harmful. When you obey the commandments and make righteous decisions, you experience peace of conscience.

When you sin, you feel remorse or guilt, just as you feel physical pain when you are wounded. This is the natural response of your conscience to sin, and it can lead you to repent.

Repentance and forgiveness renew your peace of conscience. On the other hand, if you ignore your conscience and do not repent, your conscience will be impaired as if it has been “seared with a hot iron” (1 Timothy 4:2). Learn to follow your conscience. This is an important part of exercising your agency. The more you follow your conscience, the stronger it will become. A sensitive conscience is a sign of a healthy spirit.” (“Conscience”, Principles of the Gospel)