History of the Church in Mexico

History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in MexicoSALT LAKE CITY — The history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Mexico goes back to 1875, when Brigham Young, then prophet and leader of the Church, sent Daniel Jones to lead a small group of missionaries to Mexico City and distribute brochures to Mexican leaders. One of these brochures about the Book of Mormon fell into the hands of Plotino Rhodacanaty, who after reading it wrote to President John Taylor – Brigham Young’s successor, to request more information about the Church.During the October 1879 general conference, President Taylor called Moses Thatcher, then the newest member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (the second-highest governing body in the Church), to start the proselytizing work in Mexico City. Plotino Rhodacanaty was the first convert.On 13 November 1879, Elder Thatcher and two missionaries organized the first branch (congregation) of the Church in Mexico City with Rhodacanaty as the branch president.Beginning with a group of 12 members and three missionaries, the Church started to expand slowly among the Mexican people. In 1886 the Church published a Spanish edition of the Book of Mormon to further the work of the Church in Mexico. The Book of Mormon is a record of the inhabitants of the ancient America and includes an account of Christ’s visit to and dealings with them.In the first days of the Church in Mexico, two faithful members, Rafael Monroy and Vicente Morales, became martyrs because of their beliefs. During the Mexican Revolution, Monroy was the president of the small congregation in San Marcos, Hidalgo, and Morales was his first counselor (assistant). On 17 July 1915 both were arrested by a group of revolutionaries and were told they would be released if they handed over their arms and renounced their strange religion. The two men declined the offer and were shot to death by the firing squad. They died in defense of their beliefs.Throughout the years, the Church reached all parts of the country. The first stake (similar to a diocese) was organized in Colonia Juárez, Chihuahua, in 1895. Sixty-six years later, on 3 December 1961, the second stake was organized. Currently there are 1,120,000 members of the Church in Mexico in 212 stakes.On 3 April 1976, under the direction of Church President Spencer W. Kimball, the construction of the Mexico City temple was announced. Ground was broken by Elder Boyd K. Packer, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. The temple was open for public tours from 8 September to 20 September 1983 and was dedicated on 2 December 1983 by President Gordon B. Hinckley, who later became the leader of the Church.During the April 1998 general conference, President Hinckley said: “I have been with many who have very little of this world's goods. But they have in their hearts a great burning faith concerning this latter-day work. They love the Church. They love the gospel. They love the Lord and want to do His will. They are paying their tithing, modest as it is. They make tremendous sacrifices to visit the temples. They travel for days at a time in cheap buses and on old boats. They save their money and do without to make it all possible. They need nearby temples – small, beautiful, serviceable temples.” As a result of this vision, he announced the building of more temples, 11 of which have been built in Mexico between the years 1998 and 2000.After 25 years of uninterrupted service, the Mexico City Mexico Temple closed its doors on 31 March 2007 for remodeling. It will open to the public on 20 October 2008 and be rededicated on 16 November 2008.

Security Letter - October 29, 2012

Elders and Sisters,
On Monday they will send that email to your family. Make sure that make it today so that they know all. Mail that it is very important for the conferences that come. So send it right now!

Thank you

Elder Smith

Secretario Ejecutivo

de la Misión Mexíco Cuernavaca

Dear Family of a Missionary in the Mexico Cuernavaca Mission:
We want to make you aware that at upcoming zone conferences in November representatives from the Church Security Department will be making a presentation to our missionaries regarding safety and security while serving in Mexico.  Please know that this security training is preventative in nature; it is not being provided because of specific issues in the mission.  While we acknowledge that we serve in a nation that has and is experiencing danger in many places, missionaries generally are not in areas, or with people that would put them in harm’s way.  We also know that these good elders and sisters are under the watchful care of a loving Heavenly Father.  Please be assured that we will always do our best to educate and protect our missionaries, and your children.
Sincerely,
President Bruce C. KuschSister Alynda Kusch


Mexico Cuernavaca MissionEstimada Familia de un Misionero de la Misión Mexico Cuernavaca,Les avisamos que en las próximas conferencias de zona durante el mes de noviembre representantes del Departamento de Seguridad de la Iglesia van a proporcionar una capacitación sobre el tema de la seguridad de misioneros en Mexico.  Se pueden asegurar que dicha capacitación es en su naturaleza preventiva; no la estamos recibiendo por causa de peligros o riesgos específicos.  Reconocemos que servimos en una nación que ha y está experimentando peligro en muchos lugares, pero los misioneros, por lo general, no sirven en estos lugares, ni frecuentan con personas que les pondrían en situaciones peligrosos.  También, tenemos la seguranza que nuestro Padre Celestial conoce a estos buenos misioneros tan fieles y que sirven bajo la cuidadosa vista celestial de Él.  Por nuestra parte, hacemos todo lo posible para educar y proteger nuestros misioneros tal como ustedes harán como sus padres.
Sinceramente,
Presidente Bruce C. KuschHermana Alynda KuschMisión Mexico Cuernavaca

September 24, 2012 - November 5, 2012

September 24, 2012

This week Elder Hessing and I are going to have a baptism with Pilar. Its also going to be really awesome because she is going to be baptized on Elder Hessing´s birthday. She has came to church every single Sunday so she’s pretty excited and knows that’s it true!

         This stuff is real!!!

This past week we went to have a lesson with Iker he’s the Joven that already believes in the Restauracion and the Book of Mormon. He just has to come to church and have some more of the lessons or Charlas. Also we went to have a lesson with his family and it hoped it was going good but His dad is a Borracho. He drinks twice a day or he gets hammered twice a day everyday and it is really sad. One day I guess I said something that really hit him because he told me in his drunk mind that I was his Angel…me dijo... Tú eres mi Angel. He also said to me that He chose me to be his Angel before we came to the Earth...but in a way that’s kind of true according to the Plan de Salvacion. The next day we went to check on him and see if he had been drinking and he hadn’t. He really is trying to get better and stay away from Alcohol!!! This stuff is real its super cool to see the change in people in only a couple of days. I hope all of y’all are doing good and keep reading the scriptures and saying your prayers because we know the truth and we should take advantage of it everyday that we can...I challenge everyone of you to talk to at least one person this week about the gospel and invite them to the capilla.                                

         Con Amor, Elder Park

October 1, 2012
BAUTISMO!!!
Familia!!! que paso
Ok this last week we had a baptism for Pilar and it went great. Elder Hessing baptized her because it was his birthday. It was super awesome to see her make that step and be baptized by someone holding the proper authority. It’s even cooler because the first time we met her we both said that she was super Chafa and that she didn’t want listen to us. But through out the charlas we saw a change in her. She started to read the scriptures and pray for forgiveness and answers! It was awesome to see her use the power of the atonement and be forgiven for all of her sins and mistakes in her last life.
Its going to be weird this next two weeks because in Transfers I could actually transfer to another area and have to start over with another companion and area...I think I´m going to be transferred but its all good. Cool thing that happened this past week is with Erik we made goals for him and of course we set his meta por the Temple in one year and he’s super excited about his Endowment and hopefully we can go depending on where we are in the mission. He already wants to do temple work for his familia in the temple with bautimos primero. But of course the City of Mexico Temple is closed for 1 month or something like that. It’s super cool to see how his entire life has changed and that you can see the joy in his life from this gospel. He has already invited 5 or more people to go to church and take the charlas with elders but all of his friends don’t live in our area!! But it’s ok I can forgive him.

Pues...Famila yo quiero compartir mi testimonio que este Evangelio es verdadero y esta Iglesia es la unica y verdadera iglesia en todo el mundo. Por medio el profeta José Smith tenemos El Libro De Mormon y el Sacerdocio. Con estas cosas sabemos la verdad y tenemos el Plentitud del Evangelio Eterno. Yo se que Jesucristo sufrio y murio para nostoros que podemos regresar con el despues esta vida y ser familias eternas. Les Quiero y yo digo esta cosas por la atoridad del Sacerdocio y un misinero de Jesucristo en el nombre de Jesucristo...
Amen.
Because ... Family I would like to share my testimony that this Gospel is true and this Church is the one and only true church throughout the world. Through the prophet Joseph Smith we have the Book of Mormon and the Priesthood. With these things we know the truth and we have a the everlasting gospel. I know that Jesus Christ suffered and died for us that we can return with the Him after this life and be eternal families. I want to and I say things by the authority of the priesthood and a missionary of Jesus Christ. In the name of Jesus Christ ... Amen.

Go COWBOYS, RANGERS, MAVS ... Go share the Gospel!!!

Elder Hessing, Pilar and Elder Park

October 8, 2012
La Conferencia General
This past week was general conference and we learned so much from the Apostles and the Profet. It was great to hear the news about the new age for the missionaries and I was really surprised about the sisters that they can go when they are 19 but our profet recieved Revelation so Its probably the right thing to do.
Ok to start out the Saturday session we went to the Capilla en Amilcingo but the computer wasn’t working so we had to Palmas to watch the session so we missed half of the first session. When we arrived in Palmas Elder Hessing wanted to watch it in English so we watched it in English I wanted to watch it in Spanish but it’s probably good that I could understand in it first in English haha. The work here in Amilcingo is really tough the people don’t really want to listen to us and it’s really hard to find nuevos that want to hear about the Restored Gospel...but I’m not worried I know that I’m suppose to learn something from this experience. The one talk that I just loved in Conference was the talk by President Eyring in the Priesthood Session, "Help Them Aim High". By President Henry B. Eyring It talks about the gfts of the spirit and how we all have gifts. It made me think about the gifts I was given and I’m going to receive through exact obedience...
The best think about this past was that I finished the Book of Mormon in Spanish on Friday. I didn’t understand a whole lot but I felt a whole lot more. Now I’m starting again in the Book of Mormon that you gave me Robbie. I’m going over it with a marker to count or underline the names of Christ. There’s a promise if you study the Book of Mormon in Spanish and underline all of the names of Christ you will become fluent by the time you finish... I hope that every one of you are doing great. Always remember to do the little things because in the end it makes all of the difference.
Tambien se que Thomas S Monson es el Profeta para nosotros y por todo el Mundo. Por medio sus palabras podemos entender mas de la voluntdad de dios. Las Escrituras son por nuestro provecho e instruccion! Pero para mi la cosa mas importante es que necesitamos orar a dios siempre...porque el es nuestro padre y el quiere escucharnos...
Translation:
I also know that Thomas S. Monson is the prophet for us and all over the world. Through his words we can understand more of the plan of God. The Scriptures are for our benefit and training! But for me the most important thing is that we need to pray to God always ... because he is our father and he wants to listen to us...
Mi Escritura de la semana Primer Nefi 13..40
Con Amor Elder Parque

                                                View from a member's home.

Oh by the way, I ate 'Crickets' the other day and they were Bien RICA!!! Very Good!

October 15, 2012
TRANSFERS
Ok so in this past change I´m now in....AMILCINGO still with Elder Hessing. I really like Amilcingo and it is a really nice place! The other thing is that we always get good food but not much because we really only have two meals every day. This past week was super hard though. Almost every lesson or cita with an investigator fell through so we have to try and find new investigators or escogidos or the people who are searching for the truth. The other thing I found out about Amilcingo is that missionaries stay in Amilcingo for a really really, really long time...there have been elders who have stayed here for 7 and 8 months...So maybe I’ll be here for a really, really long time. But whatever happens I’m fine with it.
My Spanish I hope its getting better. It’s super hard to see progress because I can’t see how much I have improved. I´m just trying my hardest to learn and only speak Spanish but it’s super hard to do that with a American comp. So really I’m trying to learn diligence and how to keep my self focused on what’s ahead and what I need to do...but also its hard because i don’t know a lot of words except in the gospel haha.
I’m starting to do push ups and workouts with the bands and everything but its super hard to do it in the morning. So what I do is throughout my studies if I’m starting to have sleep I’ll start doing some pushups or something with the bands for 2 or 3 minutes so I can stay awake and of course look good haha....DAD watch out I’m going to out pass you in push ups when you were in Chile. And Robbie I think I already out passed ya!. But I´m loving it out here...Ya it’s the hardest thing I have ever done in my life but for those moments of feeling the spirit and seeing some one make a covenant with Heavenly Father...that’s what its all about.
se que por medio nuestro labores y haciendos podemos recibir las bendiciones de Dios. Tambien algo que yo pense...es que Dios sabe mejor que nosotros...Entonces nuestro obetivo en esta vida es seguir la voluntdad de Dios y siempre tener la Fe en nuestras vidas...

       
Translation:
I know that through our work and haciendos we can receive the blessings of God. Also something that I thought is that God knows better than we do ... Then our goal in this life is to follow the plan of God and always have faith in our lives ...

          Con Amor Elder Park Disfruten las fotos

COMO JEFE I know that it doesn't translate in Spanish  but its still fun to sayI love TACOS!

                                     We had a visitor on Sunday for family dinner...

October 22, 2012
Nada
Here in Amilcingo is really tough...I really have to work hard to see results but I love it! The other elders are having lots of success and are having lots of baptisms but Elder Hessing and I still only have 2 in 3 months here in Amilcingo. But I’m not complaining. I’m trying to improve my Spanish every day by talking with other elders and always writing down words that I hear and don’t know so later I can find out what they mean and have a better vocabulary. I’m learning a lot here though and I’m really becoming better at everything with the language and all. Right now I’m in Mosiah in the old Book of Mormon that Robbie gave me and I’m underlining all words of Christ or names like that. It’s a promise that if you do that and really study it you will become fluent. But all together I have read the Book of Mormon 3 times...twice in English and 1 in Spanish and now I’m reading in Spanish again.
One thing that Elder Hessing and I are really good at are getting refrencias...yesterday we received seventeen and so maybe I’m suppose to learn how to do that also because we need all the help we can get. One thing that is really tough here is always we have citas that fall but I’m learning how to plan with back plans and what to do if something else happens. I love the challenge here though. This week I want to challenge all of you to have one missionary experience and invite them to come to church and nothing else. If they come to church you could tell the missionaries that this person isn’t a member and if they could talk to them…help out the other Elders in your ward.
One thing that i really can say is that Prayers are real!!!! They are always answered!!! The Scripture that I found this week that I love is this se encuentra en Mosiah capitulo 2 verciculo 24 y dice...Y en segundo lugar, el requiere que hagais lo que os ha mandado, por lo que, si lo haceis, EL OS BENDICE INMEDIATAMENTE. es una Promesa de Dios a sus hijos. Se que por medio de las escrituras podemos encontrar respuestas y con suelo. Por medio de las Escrituras podemos entender la voluntdad de dios y que el quiere por nosotros. Se que Dios Sabe todo y el sabe lo mejor para nosotros. Se que esta iglesia es la unica y verdadera iglesia en todo el mundo no otra iglesia tiene el sacerdocio de Dios... Les Quiero
Elder Park....estas fotos son chides

Translation:
Located in Mosiah chapter 2 verse 24 it says ... and in second place, he requires them to do the things that I have commanded you, by what, if you do, HE blesses you immediately, it is a promise of God to their children. I know that through the scriptures we can find answers. Through the scriptures we can understand the plan of God and what he wants for us. I know that God knows everything and he knows what is best for us. I know that this church is the one and only true church in the whole world… not another church has the priesthood of God ... I want to bless IMMEDIATELY. That is a promise of God to their children
Elder Park ... these photos are chidas

Volcano!

October 29, 2012
I'm doing great and Safe. They want us to send this because were going to have some changes in the mission...so don't worry MOM!

This is the letter we received from President and Sister Kusch:

          Dear Family of a Missionary in the Mexico Cuernavaca Mission:

We want to make you aware that at upcoming zone conferences in November representatives from the Church Security Department will be making a presentation to our missionaries regarding safety and security while serving in Mexico. Please know that this security training is preventative in nature; it is not being provided because of specific issues in the mission. While we acknowledge that we serve in a nation that has and is experiencing danger in many places, missionaries generally are not in areas, or with people that would put them in harm’s way. We also know that these good elders and sisters are under the watchful care of a loving Heavenly Father. Please be assured that we will always do our best to educate and protect our missionaries, and your children.
Sincerely,
President Bruce C. Kusch
Sister Alynda Kusch
Mexico Cuernavaca Mission 

I want like to tell y’all that everything is going great down here in Mexico. We have two investigators that are progressing for baptism very well. The dad is named Daniel y his daughter is named Rosario. They both have testimonies of the Gospel and the Book of Mormon. It’s really important they attended church that’s a first. Rosario I’m pretty sure is a safe bet for baptism because she has friends in the church and she told us that she has received a testimony and so she is doing really well. With her dad he believes in everything but the thing with him is that he isn’t married and so we would have to have him be married with his wife. But before that we would have to have his wife divorce her husband and the rest of his family are members...so there’s support.

The work here is getting better and we are finding out how to find and teach people. Were gaining the trust of the members and hopefully we will be obtaining some references soon. Right now I’m in Alma 7 in the Book of Mormon and its super cool about the story of Alma and Amulek. I feel like Amulek a little bit in scriptures because he talks about he has been called many of times but hasn’t always followed perfectly...but now he’s a good missionary and hopefully I can be a little bit like him if not better. My Spanish is ok I’m trying each day to obtain the gift of tongues by my studies and by talking in Spanish and really doing almost everything in Spanish...I know that the time will come when I will be able to talk and understand with everyone but for right its super tough. But that doesn’t matter right now...I know if I follow and do what I’m suppose to do I will be blessed spiritually and temporally. I hope that all of you are doing the little things that make the difference. READ PRAY ATTENDED CHURCH...most people over look these simple basic points but really by doing these points we will become converted to the Gospel of Christ.
Se que por medio de los cosas chiquitas vamos a tener un testimonio mas fuerte en el Evangelio do Cristo. Las escrituras no son registros de antiguos profetas...son palabras y ayuda en Nuestra vida. Realmente hay una razón que tenemos estas sagradas escrituras. También puedo testificarles que nuestras oraciones son escuchadas y Dios quiere que hablemos con el por medio oración sincera. Pues se que todo de esta Iglesia es la unica y verdadera Iglesia en todo el mundo....

          Elder Park

Translation:
I know that through the small things we are going to have a stronger testimony in the Gospel of Christ. The scriptures are not records of ancient prophets ... these are words that aid in our lives. Actually there is a reason we have these sacred scriptures. I can also witnessing that our prayers are heard and God wants to speak with us through heartfelt prayer. I know that all of this church is the one and only true church in the entire world....

November 1, 2012
Dia de los Muertos
Ok this past week was El dia de los muertos (The Day of the Dead). This day is like Halloween but on some serious steroids!!!! They prepare for these two days for almost 2 weeks and so it’s kind of a big deal here in Mexico. So what happened on this day…we going to our citas and trying to teach and talk about these things that we do...but almost everyone one of our investigators except Rosario because she is segura for this next week. But the entire town went to the panteon (cemetery) for the dia de los muertos. What they do is place flowers on the graves and place their ofrendas...and the ofrendas are what the person liked to eat while they were alive...wheter tamales,enchiladas,tacos dorados,spageti,mole, and other Mexican food especially fruits. So it was super cool to see everyone in the panteon. You would have loved it mom super cool!
So the work is going good. We are going to have a baptism for Rosario for the 16 of Noviembre and she’s super excited for this baptism. Her dad won’t be able to be baptized because he and his wife have a lot of work to do to be married before his baptism…but he will be baptized one day this is claro. Elder Hessing and I are learning how to work in Amilcingo now well at least better. We are finding more people and teaching more lessons. I feel like a pro teaching the First lesson. Or the Restauración. I’m trying my hardest to work hard and to learn all I can to be a better missionary and holder of the priesthood. It’s still tough but it’s always going to be tough but I’m glad to be able to work.
The food here is AMAZING it’s off the chain. I’m super glad I was called here and not some place like Argentina (Robbie) or somewhere in South America (Dad) haha but the food here is so much better. I’ve learned to love the spice of chiles a lot more now. NO pica no Rica. haha. I hope everything is going well in the good ol USofA. I’m going to have the Zone Conference on Wednesday and hopefully then I will have my package and my letters so yes mom I still haven’t received it yet but I believe I will have it soon.
se que todo es verdadero. Y realmente esto es todo. lean el discurso de el Elder Bednar se llama Convertidos al Señor. Este Discurso es bien bien poderoso.

Translation:

 I know that everything is true.  Read the talk from Elder Bednar. It is called "Converted Unto The Lord".  This speech is so powerful. BY ELDER DAVID A. BEDNAR

Con Amor

Elder Park Go COWBOYS!