As our family learned about the passing of President Hinckley, we were saddened because of the loss of the tremendous leader and example of a disciple of Jesus Christ that he has been to all of us. His wit and humor were very contagious. His love for people knew no bounds. We knew that he was not going to be with us much longer because of his age, but the reality of his passing is still very shocking and difficult.We also rejoice for the same reasons. The fact that he was a tremendous leader and an example of a disciple of Jesus Christ are the reasons that we also celebrate his life. And the reality that he has now been reunited with his dear eternal companion, Marjorie, brings us even greater joy. He has set a great example for us to follow!
He has helped the Church continue to expand globally. He has brought the blessings of the temple to more people than anyone else in history. He has helped to expand the humanitarian effort to touch the lives of millions who are not members of our faith. And he has helped all people of all races, religions, and nations to better understand the gospel of Jesus Christ and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
His death has caused me to reflect on the blessings that I have received from the gospel of Jesus Christ. And as I reflect, I realize that the most important thing I can do is to carry on the legacy of President Hinckley by continuing to share the gospel and being a good neighbor.
I am grateful for the blessing of having a great Genesis Group presidency. President Harwell, President Howell, and President Gist are great examples to me of love, testimony, and sensitivity to the needs of others. I have watched them and learned a lot from their examples.
President Harwell recently mentioned that you could not ask for a better executive secretary than Brother Randy Cutliff, and I concur 100 percent. It is amazing to watch him in action.
I am grateful to all of you who work so diligently in your callings in Genesis. It would take me another twenty pages to begin to enumerate all the good things that you do.
Brother Darius Gray and Sister Margaret Young have produced an incredible documentary, Nobody Knows: The Untold Story of Black Mormons, that is getting a tremendous amount of attention. Brother Gray has also produce a DVD with Marvin Perkins, Blacks in the Scriptures, that has helped many to find answers to questions regarding Blacks in the scriptures and the priesthood. These are great resources to help all of us come unto Christ, gain greater understanding, and love and serve one another better.
As the Genesis Mission Leader, I have had the wonderful opportunity to see many individuals and families come into the Church in the last year. I have been blessed with the opportunity to teach with our full-time missionaries. To me it is incredible to witness the power and love that the missionaries have as they teach the gospel to those who are seeking the truth. As they have prepared themselves to teach with the Spirit, I have witnessed miraculous changes in the lives of individuals as they have come into the Church. The key has been Preach My Gospel. As the missionaries have used this great resource, it has helped them to have the Spirit of God as they teach His children. As I have studied Preach My Gospel, it has helped me to become a better member-missionary and to be better prepared to assist our missionaries in teaching and finding those who are seeking answers to their challenges in life.
I am grateful for the all the missionaries from Genesis that are serving all over the world. They have done so much to advance the Lord’s kingdom here on earth!
Amram Musungu, a member of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, was instrumental in helping more than thirty-five fellow Africans who came to Utah as refugees to be baptized into the Church during the last six months of 2007. The beautiful part about these conversions is that most of them have been entire families. They have been families of three and more. What a wonderful Spirit there has been at these joyous baptismal services. Amram has been a great example to me of one who truly loves the Lord and desires to share the message of the gospel with others. Mary and Thomas Allen have also been instrumental in assisting Amram with the new members.
Burnie Hill, one of our Genesis missionaries, has been fearless in sharing the gospel with friends and complete strangers alike. He has been able to help several individuals enter the waters of baptism. His love of the gospel, of music, and of his brothers and sisters is very evident at our monthly Genesis meetings.
James and Marguerite Driessen have also been very involved in missionary work. They sent the Black in the Scriptures DVD set to a missionary serving from their ward to help him answer an investigator's questions and concerns, which resulted in her baptism.
In August 2007 Bill Johnson, who grew up with heavyweight champion Ken Norton, was baptized. He bore a wonderful testimony at our Genesis Missionary Program last year. He has been a great example to me of one who gives great service to others in the community.
In December, Terry Harris—a professor of psychology at Salt Lake Community College—was baptized. He knew Jerri Harwell, who also is a professor at SLCC, and I presented him a copy of her book, Leaning on Prayer. He was very impressed with her story. I also had the wonderful opportunity to teach Terry with the missionaries, and I am very grateful for the experience and the many things that he taught me by his example and testimony.
There were many more people that came into the Church last year, and I apologize for not mentioning their baptisms. It seems that as the years grow long my memory grows shorter. Please let me know of others who were baptized last year.
Dear brothers and sisters, I feel that there are going to be some incredible experiences for us during this year 2008. With the 30th anniversary of the revelation on the priesthood and what is happening in the political arena, we will have more opportunities than ever to share the wonderful gospel of Jesus Christ. There will also be events that will soften the hearts of people to prepare them to receive the blessings of the gospel. Let us prepare ourselves every day and open our mouths to spread the good news of the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Thank you for your wonderful examples. I look forward every month to the first Sunday when we meet to bear testimony and worship our Savior Jesus Christ. It is difficult to put into words how important Genesis is to me.
In the Matthew 20:1-16, the Lord gives the Parable of the Laborers of the Vineyard:
"For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard.There are still many that are waiting to be called, and we are actually well into the twelfth hour. We are the laborers who have been called in His vineyard, and there is still a tremendous work to do.
"And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard.
"And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace,
"And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way.
"Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise.
"And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle?
"They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive.
"So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first.
"And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny.
"But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny.
"And when they had received it, they murmured against the good man of the house,
"Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day.
"But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny?
"Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee.
"Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?
"So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen."
May the Lord bless you as you labor in His vineyard!
Love,
Michael Rice