"Save it be one Soul. . . ."

In Section 18 of the Doctrine and Covenants, we read:

"And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father!" (D&C 18:15)

Almost 44 years ago, I began serving as a young missionary in the California Central Mission of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. While serving in Merced, California (my last area) , we were introduced to a young man named Kevin Hill, who wanted to learn more about our Church. As a first year student at a local college in Merced, Kevin made friends with a young woman who was a new Church member. My companion (Elder Kenneth Cogdell) and I were able to teach Kevin the Gospel. He was baptized, and almost immediately thereafter left California to attend the United States Air Force Academy. I saw Kevin at Thanksgiving of 1972, after I had returned home, and then lost contact for more than 35 years.

A couple of years ago through Kevin's efforts, we again made contact. Today, I received notice via Facebook of the following post by Kevin:

"42 years ago today I joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and it was one of the best decisions of my life. David Berrett was one of the Missionaries that baptized me. As I have continued to read the Bible, old and new testaments, the Book of Mormon and other books and scriptures it amazes me how all the parts fit together. I have loved serving in the Church in various callings and I have been so blessed in so many ways. I would not trade any of our 9 kids or 10 (1/2) Grandkids and the blessings that they give me. I have had more joy, happiness and hope than I ever had before. I am also thankful the young lady, Linda Thornhill, that introduced me to the Church and wish her well."

Now, "the rest of the story."

While it might be possible to consider Kevin "just one" person whom I had the privilege to teach and see baptized, this would be an error. About a year ago, I asked him about the consequences of his baptism. You can see from the quote above, he and his wife have 9 children and 10 (and counting) grandchildren. That makes 20 Church members from his baptism. (I am assuming that his wife already was a Church member, so we do not count her.) One son served a mission, working with at least 44 people who were baptized. Another son worked with more than 23 people who joined the Church. One of their daughters worked with 5 people who were baptized. And, at the time Kevin gave me these statistics, he and his wife still had two sons planning to serve missions. By Kevin's count, that is 92 people who are know to have come to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from "only one." Undoubtedly there are more, as Kevin served for a time as a ward mission leader and has done his best to be a member missionary.

Now, as I and my companion of 40 years serve another mission, we remind our missionaries of the consequences of each person who is baptized. One person who joins the Church is never just one. I think this is what "establishing the Church" looks like. I am grateful for Kevin and for his constant persistence in developing and maintaining his testimony. I am grateful for having been of some small benefit in helping start this wonderful miracle.

Working for Miracles

We have been inviting our missionaries to induce miracles by improving their obedience and being cleansed every whit from sin. Recently I received a letter from one of our obedient missionaries who shared a wonderful experience:

"We met one brother whose name is Srinivash by ITL ["Inviting to Learn"]. We did a follow up with him and fixed an appointment with him for last Sunday. We went and visited him. He told us that he is waiting for us from three days onward. He said 'I'm from Hindu background but I gave commitment to Jesus Christ that I will follow him. I waited for the right time from last year onward. I'm very happy to meet you." He said 'I'm ready for baptism because I believe Jesus Christ.' He told us and we went to his home. Not only he was there but his family - his mother and his brother and his sister in law. He is so good and he went to church before. They all are Hindu background but they believe Jesus Christ. We shared the message with them. They said they like this message. They feel so happy and thanked us for coming to their home. We like to visit again. Also we feel so happy because we met that time 4 investigators with their relative also . We never expected there will be four souls for us to meet. We are happy for this miracle which happened. We will follow up with them."

We are excited that we have the opportunity to help build faith in our missionaries and also to help establish the Lord's Church.

Dedicated Missionaries

Power cuts often occur in some cities in southern India, making evening activities difficult. However, dedicated missionaries find a way to accomplish all things, like their evening planning session so tomorrow can be productive.

Planning by candle light

Easter Testamony

This Easter season, we take the opportunity to affirm our personal testimonies of the reality of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. We are grateful for the fact that our mission gives us the opportunity to join with all of our missionaries in declaring: “He lives.”

We know that the resurrection of Jesus was an essential part of His sacrifice and vicarious suffering on our behalf and on behalf of all of Heavenly Father’s children. We join with the poets in declaring;

I stand all amazed at the love Jesus offers me

Confused at the grace that so fully He proffers me.

I tremble to know that for me He was crucified,

That for me a sinner he suffered and bled and died.

I marvel that He would descend from his throne divine

To rescue a soul so rebellious and proud as mine,

That He should extend his great love unto such as I,

Sufficient to own, to redeem, and to justify.

I think of His hands pierced and bleeding to pay the debt!

Such mercy, such love and devotion can I forget?

No, no, I will praise and adore at the mercy seat,

Until at the glorified throne I kneel at his feet.

Oh, it is wonderful that he should care for me

Enough to die for me!

Oh, it is wonderful,

Wonderful to me.

(Hymns, #193)

He is risen! He is risen!

Tell it out with joyful voice.

He has burst his three days’ prison;

Let the whole wide earth rejoice.

Death is conquered; man is free

Christ has won the victory.

Come with high and holy hymning;

Chant our Lord’s triumphant lay.

Not one dark-some cloud is dimming

Yonder glorious morning ray,

Breaking o’er the purple east,

Symbol of our Easter feast.

He is risen! He is risen!

He hath opened heaven’s gate.

We are free from sin’s dark prison,

Risen to a holier state.

And a brighter Easter beam

On our longing eyes shall stream.

(Hymns, 199)

We love this season. We joyfully join with all Christendom in celebrating the hope which comes to all of us because of the atonement and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

We invite all persons to share in this hope and to receive His love and grace.

With love,

The Berretts

Zone Conferences

19 Apr 2014 - found an error. I had the wrong picture for Hyderabad Zone. That now is corrected.

Each quarter we conduct zone conferences with our missionaries. As part of the conference, I try to interview each missionary.

This week, we have been on the road to conduct three conferences for five zones. It has been a rigorous schedule, with three conferences, and many missionary and member interviews in each city.

Hyderabad Zone 

On Sunday evening, we traveled to Hyderabad, where we had our first zone conference on Monday.
 Our emphasis for this quarter is on recognizing the Spirit to aid missionaries in their work. We did some scripture study exercises, and some practice teaching situations. I shared the following experience from two of our missionaries, which illustrates recognizing the Spirit. (I have edited the story slightly to smooth out the English and to protect privacy.)

So last week, on Tuesday, we started our day with effective companionship study and personal study. But I was thinking about the zone training meeting and about what you said that "we need to learn to recognize the spirit." As I was thinking about that I was praying for the help. We left the apartment and our first appointment cancelled. The whole day all our appointments got cancelled. We didn't know what we need to do. At that time, I was thinking like ok, we can go and meet the branch president. We called him and he said he is not free. I was about give up, but a strong feeling came to me saying "go for finding." But we know tracting won't be effective. But I followed that impression and we started to walk, finding Christian homes. As we did, I felt like I need to talk to a brother who was standing outside of his home. I went and spoke to him. He said he is not Christian. We left that home and continued to walk, not knowing where we are going. But I was sure that we were guided by the spirit. After walking for long time we turned to each other and I said "I think God wants us to be more humble." My companion said "its true." Then in my heart I said a prayer like "Father I'm sorry for the things I have done. Please help us." As I finished my prayer, I heard a voice from the next building. A brother called us like "Hey brothers, over here. Are you from the Church of Jesus Christ?" We said "yes." Then he took us to his home. At first we felt uncomfortable because he was drunken on that time. But we shared a small message with him and got a return appointment. On Friday, we got a chance to meet with him. As me and my companion shared restoration of the gospel with him, we felt the spirit so strong and we understood that he is prepared by the Lord. Now, I understand more clearly how the spirit directed work will be. I'm so grateful for this experience

This is exactly the understanding we are trying to help each missionary reach.

On Tuesday, we traveled to Visak for a very uplifting meeting of the combined Visak and Rajahmundry Zones. I did some missionary interviews on Tuesday, followed by several hours of member interviews. 

Rajahmundry and Visakhaputnam Zones

Wednesday after Zone Conference, I finished missionary interviews, conducted a few more member interviews, and then we traveled to Chennai.

On Wednesday, we enjoyed a wonderful conference with the combined Chennai and Coimbatore Zones, followed by some missionary interviews and more member interviews. When we have districts, and not stakes, most of the interviews which would be done by the stake president have to be done by the mission president (or one of his counselors).

Chennai and Coimbatore Zones

Friday brought more member interviews, 8 missionary interviews, and travel back to Bangalore.

Next week we will finish the conference schedule by meeting with our Bangalore missionaries.

Terry (Sister Berrett) is a great help in our doctrinal teaching, in working with the missionaries on health and apartment cleanliness. This round of conferences, we have been encouraging/instructing the missionaries to have a small "emergency" supply of medicines sufficient to treat a few days of the most common ailments (pains, diarrhea, colds, and bacterial infections). While I am interviewing missionaries about their spiritual and emotional welfare, she often is discussing their physical well-being. She often will have several missionaries lined up to see her.

We both are able to keep very busy and involved. We really enjoy meeting with our missionaries and the members around the mission.

I think we will not have much trouble sleeping tonight.

Our Visit to Coimbatore

On 12-16 March 2014, we went to Coimbatore to work with the missionaries and to attend Church in one of the branches. The only challenge is that when the branch president learns that we are coming, he usually plans on us being the speakers. Terry is becoming quite good at speaking in Sacrament Meeting, often without much notice.

Another great benefit of our visits to the districts is that I am able to interview members of the Church, usually for temple recommends or for recommendations for full time missions.

On Thursday, I worked with two sets of missionaries in Coimbatore. I attended the Weekly Planning session on Thursday morning with one set of missionaries. While I was doing this, Terry inspected the apartments of the other missionaries in town. Then Thursday evening we went on three appointments with one of our sister missionary companionships.

These family visits were wonderful. The first was a teaching appointment with the wife of a member of our Church. Husband has been a Church member for several years. His wife now is wanting to learn more about the Church.  The missionaries told us that we were going into the "slums" for this appointment. That meant that we walked down a dirt path to a concrete building where the family lived in a two room place. We entered from the outside into the bedroom. Husband and wife sat on the bed and the missionaries, Terry, and I sat on a bench across from the bed. There was a small kitchen adjacent to the bedroom, and that was their home. I believe the water "faucet" was someplace outside the home, either at the top of he dirt path, or partway down the path, in front of another residence. They seemed quite happy and very comfortable.

The second home we visited was of a member family who the missionaries have been visiting to help with reactivation. I visited the same family about six months ago. We talked about their efforts to be financially ready to attend the temple. Both husband and wife work, though he is starting a new business - construction and remodeling work. The wife is a lecturer in a school. They also live in a two room apartment.

The third home was of some recent converts. Father, Mother and two sons. This family invited us to their two room place, also at the end of a dirt road. They did appear to have an indoor bathroom. We were late getting there, and they had prepared dinner for their guests. The hospitality was most gracious. There was a wonderful spirit in the home.

The next day, we scheduled to travel up into the hill country to a village called Ooty. It has been a place of refuge from the heat for hundreds of years. The road climbs into the mountains, providing some wonderful views. 

 At one point we stopped at an overlook on a very large canyon. We had our picture taken, even though we are not in "missionary attire."

 On our way out of Coimbatore, we passed a man who operates a laundry business. Here you can see him ironing shirts. If you look to his right, you can see his iron. He keeps it hot with charcoal. You can see some burning on a mat on the ground in the bottom left of the picture.

Ironing clothes

 All around Ooty we saw many hillsides covered with tea plants. In several places we saw workers clipping the tea leaves from the top of the bushes.

Harvesting Tea

In Ooty we stayed in a hotel which was first built in 1829. The room where we stayed was constructed in 1840, as I recall. There was a fireplace, which we used, as the temperature in the mountains was much cooler than in the areas where we usually work.

While in Ooty, we went to their local park. There were many displays of flowers. We attended on Saturday, so there were many families and groups of friends. Here are several girls who came together to the park.

In the park, we saw a woman who was sweeping the grass. In India they do not rake the leaves, they simply sweep them.

Early Saturday morning, we went to Mudumalai Tiger Reserve, which is about 1.5 hrs drive from Ooty, over the mountains. We did not see any tigers, but we saw:

Wild Peacocks

Peacock with his tail fanned

Guar - Wild buffalo

Wild Elephant

Herd of Wild Elephants

We also saw deer, wild pigs, monkeys, and many very colorful birds.

We had a wonderful weekend, mixing a day or two in the hills, along with a couple of great days with the missionaries.