Week 98 - Betio 1st, Tarawa (Companion: Elder Sheffield)

"Hey mum,

I'm sorry but I just got a computer right now, and it's time to go home and teach some lessons, but i'll let you know the work here is amazing, we should be getting a new investigator tonight, we have so much work right now. I'll see you in 3 weeks."

And that was all I got this week, although he did send emails to his bother Rhys who received his mission call last Monday. Rhys has been assigned to labour in the Korea Seoul mission, reporting to the MTC Provo on 31st October 2017. Elder Berends leaves Tarawa on 21 August and gets home 22 August 2017. We will have two and a bit months all together.

Week 97 - Betio 1st, Tarawa (Companion: Elder Sheffield)

Not much in the email this week ... he is certainly starting to feel the separation from the Kiribati people already.

"My week is great, had another baptism on Saturday, Nei Tekai. We have so many teaching appointments, I'm working with Elder Sheffield. Pdays are for visiting recent converts in my old area. Work here is going great, I'm glad I'm finishing this way. And I'm so excited to hear about Rhys's calling.

Week 96 - Betio 1st, Tarawa (Companion: Elder Sheffield)

Oi,

What's up? This weeks been great. There are some changes in Betio, since Elder Kitchens leaving there was a transfer that went down. Elder Tiakia is now with Elder Sagapolu and I'm with Elder Sheffield (from Utah). He's actually a missionary from Marshall Islands but moved over to this side of the mission 3 months ago. 

It was really sad watching Elder Kitchens leaving, it was hard for him. 

Lots of work here in Betio, keeping myself busy. Still struggling with the ward but little by little. We did finally get a new Ward Mission Leader, he's awsome, just moved from Temaiku. I'm excited to work with him. 

I'm sorry, losing the desire to email, but don't worry, I've been keeping my journal up to date. I'll tell you all about it in 5 weeks. 

Vaughan!! Happy birthday, it's Independence day here in Kiribati, so we've been celebrating over here as well. 

Love you all. I have 1 bubuti... please don't make a banner for when I get home. 

Elder Berends 

Week 94 - Betio 1st, Tarawa (Companion: Elder Taylor)

Hey family,

So I'm super relieved that BYU-H application is over and done with, now I can get right back to work here in Betio 1st. The new ward is going fairly well, there is so much work here except the ward has a similar problem to Betio 3rd ward, little support for missionary work. We still haven't got a ward mission leader and its been 4 weeks now! As for the work, it is awesome, I'm hoping to have baptisms lined up for the next 7 Saturdays starting from 1st of July. 

So we had a baptism on the 1st of July, Harriet a 15 year old boy who is a student at Moroni High School. This coming Saturday we'll have 2 of our people baptized, Nei Meere (who is also a student at Moroni, and her Dad was a Branch President in an outer island) and Nei Uente (21yrs). 

So Nei Uente has had lessons a long time ago but was never baptized because of her family being very strong Catholic's, mainly her mother (father is absolutely fine with it, he's actually had lessons as well). We picked her up over a month ago and she was happy to listen again, but a couple of weeks ago she got in to a fight with her mother and was forbidden to take lessons with us again. she came to the house to tell us what happened, it was pretty disappointing. 

However, that same day she then heard from people that her real Mother and twin brother who she hadn't seen for years had just arrived in Betio from Maiana. She went to go visit them and told them what had happened between her and her step mother, when her real mother and twin brother heard they started to laugh... It turns out that her mother and twin brother had just join the church only months before in Maiana! So Nei Uente that night came to the chapel to tell what happened and said she's now determined to continue her lessons and be baptized. It was definitely an answers to prayers.

 

In weeks to come we have others lined up for baptism, Taareti, Tooreti, Tekai, Ueatau, Rutia and many other new investigators. We also have some couples that we are working on, Baiteke and Nei Bunterenga. We just have to get them married and finish their lessons. Tiiu and Nei Jiji is another couple, Nei Jiji just gave birth to a baby girl last week so we haven't had a chance to teach them for a while but we visited them in the hospital. Also have 2 other couples we literally started teaching this week we'll see how they go. 

So yeah, plenty of work to keep me busy.

Other news is we moved house. We moved from the Betio 3rd chapel house to a huge brick house that is closer to our area. It's a house that the mission has just started renting so we get to break it in. Funny thing is it's bigger than our house in Brisbane (67 Galsworthy) with 3 huge rooms and an even bigger living room. It has 3 queen size beds and 2 normal beds, all of which we do not use. We all just sleep on the living room floor. It's still us 4 elders working in Betio, Elders Kitchen, Tiakia, Taylor and I but Kitchens is leaving next week for America so there'll be a change soon. 

Alright, I think that's it.

Love Elder Berends

Week 91 - Betio 1st, Tarawa (Companion: Elder Taylor)

Hey fams,

It was funny hearing about Dad's and Rhys's hunting trip, also a bit worried about Mum's trip to the hospital but I'm glad everything is fine. And Vaughan... I love you too. 

Things have been good this week, Its been a little bit of a struggle since we are new to the ward, not yet familiar with people, however, having dinner with families will help out there. Currently we have very few investigators, so we have been doing a lot of tracting. 

We had some great success in this one house. We were originally going to teach just this one couple, Ten Jihu and Nei Jiji. We introduced our selves, explained a little of what we do as missionaries, l opened in prayer and started teaching. As we just got started teaching we had two girls walk up to the house with one saying "This girl wants to take lessons". The other was a less active member. So I was like "No problem". I thought it was important before we continued the lesson we already had going with Jihu and Jiji, that we introduce ourselves to the the new comer, who's name was Nei Bunterenga. After introductions we were about to continue the lesson when the less active girl comes back with another guy who wants to listen to the lesson, so for the third time we introduced our selves and finally got on with the lesson. We all got on well with each other and they invited us back for lessons as well as dinner on Tuesday night. It was sweet, and they're all couples and that's what we want. 

So yeah, that's how the work is right now, it's not hard finding people who are happy to listen, the only problem is finding people who want to investigate . Just wish we received more referrals from members, which is tough since we don't know the members yet. Little by little.

So i'll see what I can do about Grandad's birthday thing, i'll send it next week. A'ight, love ya'lls

Elder Berends

Week 90 - Betio 1st, Tarawa (Companion: Elder Taylor)

Hey,

So there's changes in Betio right now, Betio 3rd right now has no missionaries and Elder Taylor and I have been moved to Betio 1st ward and we are 'white washing' (both of us are new to the area). I wasn't very happy about that but there are reasons ... I'm not going to be trunky. We don't sing "I'll go where you want me to go dear Lord" for nothing, and as usual I'll fall in love with my new area, just got to get through the first few weeks of not knowing anybody. 

The work here is great, we have plenty of investigators .... 

So yesterday was the first time at church in our new ward, Betio 1st, it was fast and testimony meeting so it was a perfect opportunity to introduce myself. After church was ward council which gave me some confidence in the ward and the bishopric. I actually mentioned one of our investigators, Kiaiai (who's 69yrs old) in our meeting and Bishop along with 2 other priesthood leaders offered to come with us and visit him that afternoon. It was a great lesson! I'm excited for what there is to come. 

So that's the update of what's going on in Betio. I'm so happy to hear that Rhys has his papers in, so stoked man! The mission will teach you a lot. 

School stuff... I've prayed about it and I don't think a film course is what I should do, so my only idea is business, and BYU Hawaii sounds sick. An interesting place with plently of opportunities to make some sweet films for fun. So the dream is studying business or something else at BYU Hawaii. I don't really need anything right now in parcel thanks. 

That's all,

Elder Berends

Week 88 - Betio 3rd ward, Tarawa (Companion: Elder Taylor)

Hey,

So time is flying and it is ridiculous and scary. Anyways, I've had a good week in Betio, as usual, I have fallen in love with my new area and it looks like that i'll be here till I have a very special transfer... transfer to Brisbane. We got lots of new investigators this week, there is so many people in Betio. 

Highlight of this week was the Area Conference we had on Sunday. We just found out about it on Thursday and there were rumors going around, (that we totally believed) that it was an "emergency" world wide conference. We heard from other missionaries that the apostles had been sent around the world to deliver a message but we had no idea what the message was. Everyone from Kiribati thought it had to do with the "war" between America and North Korea but all the missionaries knew there was no war so we thought it was either the Prophet had passed away or it was the call to Zion. Turns out it was neither and just a pacific area conference. It's pretty funny what kind of rumors can go around this country. 

We watched the area conference on video at the stake center. It was great to see everyone from my old ward again. Tiaon and Aabi are still going strong. Also bumped into this couple that were reactivated in Teaoraereke, Kaong and Nei Aribeta. They had just adopted a baby boy who is 3 months old and they named him Berends! It's scary having someone named after you, the pressure of keeping that name respected, but super happy as well, they are so strong in the church now and Kaong is now the ward clerk! 

So my new campanion is Elder Taylor and he is from Minnesota, USA, he's been out for 8 months now. 

And that's awsome Rhys! Papers are in. I hope you are all happy and healthy. 

love Elder Berends

                                  baby Berends

Week 85 - Betio 3rd ward, Tarawa (Companion: Elder Taylor)

Hello,

I am in Tarawa now, so I was told Thursday night, the day before my flight, that I would not be returning to Abaiang after Stake Conference. Was not happy. But anyways.

To soften the blow of leaving Abaiang I was welcomed by my new ward in Betio 3rd. It was almost like I had already worked in that ward before. And what cheered me up even more was being able to see everyone from my old ward in Teaoraereke 2nd during the stake conference we had on Sunday. Tiaon received the Melc. priesthood! Itwas great to see Tiaon and Aabi's family again, one of their children, Eeri, snuck up behind me and said "Elder Berends, ko roko ningai?!" (when did you arrive?) I also saw many others recent converts, Nei Tebwebwe, Nei Maggie. Other Recent converts received the priesthood, who I didn't get to see baptized. It was a great Stake Conference.


However, very sad to have left Abaiang with out getting a chance to say goodbye. All good though, there is a reason for it. Anyways, that's all for now, next week I'll try send photo's, I forgot to bring the sd card adapter.

Love you's

Elder Berends

Week 84 - Abaiang (Companion: Elder Sagara)

Hey, 

Sorry I didn't email for the last 2 weeks, the week before the phone we were using ran out of data and last week we had a service day all day.

Anyways, it's been a good 2 weeks. 2 Mondays ago we had one of our investigators married in Tabontebike (end of the beach), Kiraua and nei Meeriin (our investigator). It was a good marraige, and the week after on Saturday she was baptized. Meeriin was actually a KPC minister back in the day which came as a surprise to me for how well she accepted the restored Gospel.

We also had Easter, definitely felt more obliged than usual to bear witness of the Savior at all times, all places and all things. The Tuarabu branch hired a truck and had church at the Borotiam unit maneaba on Easter Sunday so that was fun.

So I have sad news... I'm getting transfered D: so apparently it's not for a while but the APS called me on Tuesday to tell me I was coming in, which we already knew as stake conference is coming up. I asked them if I was coming back to Abaiang and they said no, so I assumed that when I come in for conference I would just stay in Tarawa. So I let members know and they started preparing a going away party, however, zone leaders gave us more info this morning and its true that I'm transferring but not for a while and I will return to Abaiang after conference, so that's awkward. Anyways, I'll be transferring to Betio and will be working with an Elder Taylor.

Kind of disapointed that I'll be back in Tarawa, was really hoping I would stay longer on an outer island, whether it is Abaiang or another island. But it's all good, I already know the Betio 3rd ward a little from my time as zone leader, it's a fun ward.

Love Elder Berends. 

Week 81 - Abaiang ( Companion: Elder Sagara)

Hey,

So yeah, we are still hiring a motorbike every Sunday, and yes we are not authorized, but our mission president is trying so hard to authorize it, I've talked with him about it, he knows the struggle of having such a long island and only 2 missionaries. But maybe something that we shouldn't post on the blog. (Oops).

New skills... Roofing a house with pandanus leaves, making the platform of a buia from the hard middle part of the coconut fern and tying it with cord made from coconut husks, just a bunch little stuff like that. 

I suck at dancing, but I really do love Kiribati dancing and have yet to devote anytime to learning, I know some songs though so I'm half way there, just gotta learn the moves. 

This week we've had some new investigators so we've been teaching a lot about Godhead, Prayer, the Restoration and the Book of Mormon. 

There was also a huge bootaki (party) this Saturday, 50th anniversary of the Abaiang Island council. On Wednesday we received an invitation, and at first I was reluctant about going, bootaki's like these last the whole day and we had lessons planned. However, after talking to members about this they were saying how significant this is for the church here in Abaiang. In the past members of the church have been segregated and left out of village councils and day to day life in general and at big parties like these only Catholic and Protestant missionaries would be invited as special guests. But now that is beginning to change, us being invited as special guests to this party being evidence. So we showed up at the party, sat amongst all the other missionaries as well as government officials, had another chance to shake the hand of the President of Kiribati. There was a march, all the schools on Abaiang participated, there was a lot food and at about 3 pm we snuck out to teach our lessons, it was a good day. 

Stuff to in my parcel.... Easter eggs, like the one that's gooey inside. And whatever else you feel like. We have everything we need here.

A'ight that's all folks

Love Elder Berends. 

Week 80 - Abaiang (Companion: Elder Sagara)

Hey the fams 

Everything is going well here, we are busy. It's great to get to know everyone else on the southern part of Abaiang, we've made some really great friends. We also had a baptism last Saturday, nei Kaeaki, she's 36 yrs old and she has 6 children, 3 of which live with her. It was a lovely baptism and something she was very excited for. We aslo have some other baptisms coming in April. Also we have some success in the most southern village. When we first got there only 5-10 were coming to church but in the week that just went we had 25 attend. 

Sorry this is another short email, we have a lot of things happening on pdays, like fishing with members, service, and other fun stuff, we have a lot members from one end of the island to the other wanting us to do stuff with them. 

I tried doing something about school but I couldn't even set up an account to get started, the phone would just freeze. 

Aight love y'all

Elder Berends 

Week 78 - Abaiang (Companion: Elder Sagara)

Hey 

So about school stuff... I really gotaa do something about it. And yeah, I am thinking the BYU is the best option if I'm going to do film. So help a brotha\son out and let me know what I need to do, it kinda hard trying to do it all on a little mobile phone in abaiang like this. But I'm gonna do as much as I can from here. 

Anyways, the baptism was so good! Koriri, our recent convert from December did the baptism, he did an excellent job, hopefully we can get him on a mission. Katakua and tekaete were baptized 4th March Saturday afternoon just as the sun was setting. It was beautiful. They both bore testimony at the baptismal service and even the fast and testimony meeting the following day. In their testimonies they shared that they had never felt so close to their heavenly father before. They also shared their goals of going to the temple. So yeah that went really well. 

Just a short email this week, gonna get started with school stuff. 

Love Elder Berends

Week 76 - Abaiang (Companion: Elder Sagara)

Soooo...

Things are great here in abaiang, it is a lot of bike riding but I have accepted it as karma for having a car for the first 12+ months of my mission. We only have time to visit the most southern and most northern villages of abaiang once a week. And then every other village in between we have time to visit twice a week. Its been good fun and yes I have been feeling pretty fit lately. 

This Sunday we actually hired a motorbike because of how long the road is between the 3 places we do church at. Last Sunday we left our house at 9am and didn't get back until 6pm from doing church. So this week we just decided that we were going to motorbike to save time. 

However, when the bike came it turned out that Elder Sagara had no idea how to ride a motorbike with a clutch. So because I had experience driving a manual car, the responsiblity of riding the bike was handed to me. After a few sketchy starts I'd taught my self to ride a motorbike. So I'll have to get both a manual car and motorbike licence when I get back. Anyways, it was really helpful having the motorbike, we even had time to teach after doing church. 

We also have some awesome investigators right now, 2 of which just got married on Saturday and should be baptized on the 4 of March. Their names are Katakua and Tekaete. They're a younger couple (23&26) and Tekaete is actually pregnant and is expected to give birth in the coming weeks! So the Baptism my be interrupted. They are so sweet and have a goal to be sealed in the temple. And they travel the furthest to church out of any other member from the unit I Borotiam. They are so faithful. 

We have many other great couples that we are teaching, Tawita and Taakeuea being one of these. Elder Anderson and I tracted them a while a go and they are really investigating, they had so many questions about the book of mormon. We also have a lot if fun with them and their 2 young children. They've invited us to have dinner with them this Thursday which we are very excited about. But we'll have to pray hard for them because Taakeuea has a calling in the KUC (Kiribati united church) and they live right next to the KUC chapel, it will be tough for them. 

Anyways that's it from us. We are healthy and having fun.

Love Elder Berends

Week 74 - Abaiang (Companion: Elder Sagara)

Hey 

Sounds like everyone is healthy apart from dying of heat. Rhys looks so old, and I see that Vaughan's feet are big enough to fit in dads shoes! Are all the boys officially taller than Mum and Dad? 

So lots of questions about the minister and how the relationships between religions are going. I'm sad to say that our minister in our village just has too much of an ego. We passed him twice while biking and he completely ignored us. I'm still going to try, but I'm realising its going to take a lot more than just trying to work with other leaders of churches. It will be through small and simple acts. 

So latley I've found a new appreciation for tracting. Before I just saw it as trying to get new investigators and even if they let us share our message but didn't accept a return appointment I felt that it was a waste of time. But now I see tracting as something more, as an opportunity to correct misunderstandings about the church of Jesus Christ, to bare witness of our Saviour and to leave the spirit in their homes. Even if we don't get a return appointment I feel as though we have accomplished something towards bettering this society. 

For example just the other day we tracted this old lady and asked her if she was happy to listen to a message about Jesus Christ. The first thing she said was "bwa ngai kain te kamatu" (but I'm from the Protestant church). So I told her that's fine and that we just wanted to share a message about Jesus Christ, and so we did. We taught about the Godhead, emphasizing the divinity of the Saviour, Jesus Christ and encouraged her to pray to her Father in Heaven in the name of Jesus Christ everyday. Even though she wasn't interested in continuing lessons with us, she was very thankful for our message and we knew the spirit was present. 

Actually, right before we left we noticed that the platform of her buia has very old and had holes in it. So we told her that we'd come with a lot of baa (the hard middle part of the coconut leaf) to replace the old. She laughed because apparently seeing white missionaries do Kiribati work like "raeba" is funny. But the next morning we went into the bush with some youth to gather baa for her buia. It was good fun. 

Anyways some news.. big changes here on Abaiang, transfers happened calling my son (Elder Anderson) to a different place, as well as one of the Elders (Elder Hilliard) working on the southern part of Abaiang, leaving Elder Sagara (kain Papua New Guinea) I to work the whole island. We have a lot of work now, Abaiang is a long island and we have investigators going from the most northern village to the most southern village. Lots of bike riding on dusty roads. I used to be able to wear the same white shirts 2 days in a row with out it getting too dirty. But now we just look horrid by the end of the day. It's good fun though, Elder Sagara is a lot of fun to work with and I'm grateful for the chance to meet people from the other half of the island. 

So yeah that about it, loving it here. 

Love y'all 

Elder Berends

Week 72 - Abaiang (Companion: Elder Anderson)

Email Dated January 30, 2017

Hi, 

So what's up.... holidays over and its back to school, that's fun.... And happy Australia day, I completely forgot about it until now. 

So life out here is chill, so quite a bit of stuff happened since I last wrote. We have some families that we are teaching they are so sweet. Also living with members is such a blessing to experience, you just become apart of the family. Tebukei and Kaboterenga and their children (the family we live with) give their kamauri nakoimi. 

Elder Anderson is doing well, has had some nasty looking boils but is healthy again, we actually were in Tarawa this week from Wednesday to Saturday so Elder Anderson could meet with President Larkin. We stayed with the east zone leaders who are Elders Ellis and Powell who both are MTC buddies. Super sweet working with them and seeing how much each of us has grown since the MTC. 

Back on Abaiang we are trying our best to make a difference, so let me explain. So here on Abaiang there is a lot of religious persecution and I don't like it. 

The Catholic father teaches that talking to missionaries is a sin... Helping someone from another church is a sin... He teaches that Mormon missionaries are Wolves, referencing Matthew 7:15. People while we are riding bikes howl at us and call us Wolves. Even little children. People who leave another church to become a member of the LDS church are made fun of and are known as being weak and poor not being able to handle the Catholic or protestant form of tithing.

Right now I feel that religion here in Kiribati is not fulfilling its true purpose which is to perfect the saints but instead is introducing intolerance and prejudice among its people. 

Most church's here are Christian and believe in the teachings of Christ, the Christ who emulates the meaning of love and charity, however, they seem to fail to live these teachings. Even within the LDS church I have seen this problem. 

So we felt that we as members\missionaries of the church of Jesus Christ we should be an example of what it means to be christian. So we decided to visit the minister of the Protestant church to address the problem of intolerance. 

So we met with him and explained that we had an idea to do a combined service project, Mormons and Protestants, so that we could create friendships between people of different faiths. Also had an idea to provide pictures of the Savior for everyone to hang up in their house as a reminder of what it means to be Christian. 

At first he was very hostile asking why we were really there and who sent us. But we cleared everything up and he said he would cooperate. He did express to us that he was unhappy with us  visiting his "sheep" even naming particular individuals. However, its a good start in getting rid of this segregation. 

Just hope that we can all remember that love for god and love for our neighbor's is the highest law (Matthew 22:36-40) (Moroni 7:46-48). 

So yeah that's what's going down... 

I love y'all 

Elder Berends. 

Week 69 - Abaiang (Companion: Elder Anderson)

Email date: 9/1/2017

Hey Family

So a lot has happened since the Skype call, and by the sounds of it you're getting updated by the Kiribati Mommas. I'm sorry I didn't email or send pictures while in Tarawa. But with 90 other missionaries wanting to do the same thing its hard to find a computer. 

As you have already heard, we had a huge Christmas lunch, it was so good to so see all the missionaries I hadn't seen in a while. Thanks for the Christmas parcel, this gorilla pod is so sick, the ball head really helps when shooting long exposures, its a lot easier now to get level shots. 

And all the missionaries back on Tarawa are way thankful for the white shirts. I just took a handful back to Abaiang and left the rest in Tarawa, that's where it's needed most. 

You have also heard that we spent new years eve with the President of Kiribati, Taneti Mwamwau. It was a really fun evening, saw some of the best Kiribati dancing I've seen so far, gave me goose bumps. On Christmas evening Taneti Mwamwau also attended the Christmas devotional which was shown in Moroni high school. He also went to the fireside with President Halek on new years day! I have a feeling he's investigating the church. So yeah very exciting times for the church here in Kiribati. 

The highlight of out week in Tarawa was seeing all the recent converts, soon to be baptized investigators and members from my old ward in Teaoraereke 2nd. I was so thankful for that opportunity to work in my old area again. However, by the end of it all I was so ready to come back to Abaiang. We are right back on our feet here. All the Christmas and new year celebrations are over so everyone's back home and we are getting plenty of lessons, a lot of our investigators stayed solid during our time in Tarawa so we are hoping for a couple of baptisms. 

One crazy thing that happened over the past two weeks was an encounter with ministers from another church. So on boxing day, Elder Emor and I went to Betio to look for a lady. This lady is the ex wife of a member from Abaiang, we needed a letter from her so they can get divorced. 

We found her at a school (she's a school teacher) and we explained what we needed. She told us to go sit with these 4 other white people (not sure what they were doing) while we waited for her to write the letter. So Elder Emor and I introduce our selves to these 3 white men and 1 white woman, all from Australia. We sit down with them just expecting to chat about Australian stuff. 

But nah, as soon as we sat down they pounced. It turns out they were all from a church called the "rivival fellowship". They showed us a video of miracles and baptism's being done in PNG. They made an argument that their church is true by miracles, they also said some pretty ignorant stuff about the "Mormon" church. They even argued that our doctrine was wrong because we "don't baptize by immursion"... I tried explaining the we share the same belief and I tried to correct their misconceptions but every time I opened my mouth I was cut of by more intolerance. 

Elder Emor wasn't completely clear of what was going on so I started explaining to him in Kiribati. While explaining to Elder Emor one of the men started mocking us and called us puppets. They just kept going until they stood up and left. One of the men, while walking a way quoted john 3:5 to us and told us we weren't going to heaven unless we were baptized by water and spirit... *face palm* 

So yeah anyway wasn't a pleasant experience, but 30 minutes later, by chance or by gods desire I came across a pamphlet done by their church with an email belonging to one of the men. So I decided to write an email to him... "Email Below". Thanks to sister Lee doing some major proof reading it turned out really good. 

So yeah that's it for this week 

Love y'all s

Elder Berends. 

Pastor Tim Rogers,

My name is Elder Danien Berends and I am a full-time missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I am not sure if you recall but my companion Elder Emor and I, met with you and three of your associates on Monday 26^th December 2016. During this time we were presented with some of the doctrines of your faith as well as some of the perceived errors of our own faith. During our time together I saw that there were some misunderstandings on your end surrounding some of the doctrine of our faith that was discussed. As I was not given an opportunity to correct these I feel that it is my duty as an authorized representative of Jesus Christ to do so now.

In this letter I have included the Articles of Faith of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. These articles are thirteen statements of the core beliefs of the Church. They are located at the end of this letter however I will refer to these articles throughout.

During the presentation of the video of miracles, one of your associates made a statement implying that the Revival Fellowship Church is true by miracles. I do not deny that you have most likely seen miracles within your church and within your own life. However I feel that it is inaccurate to state that a church is true simply by miracles alone. I myself have seen many great and sacred miracles within my own life and within the church to which I belong. As stated by the Saviour, Jesus Christ, miracles come by faith (Matthew 17:20) and not explicitly to any one church or specific group of people.

This same associate also posed a question which concerned me somewhat. He asked if there was one church with miracles and one without, which would a person choose to go to. Is this not asking one to look for a sign as was counseled against by the Saviour Jesus Christ? (Matthew 12:38-39). He then instructed us to “make the business decision” in identifying the true church, implying that receiving a testimony of truth can occur by some calculated method. However I believe that receiving a testimony of truth is not a “business decision”. It can only come through the power of the Spirit of God, as it did for Christ’s chief apostle Peter – “And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.” (Matthew 16:17). I myself have received a spiritual witness of the divinity of the Saviour Jesus Christ and His Restored Church, through the power of the Spirit of the Holy Ghost.

Furthermore a statement was made concerning our belief in the nature of God and in His works. A reference was made to the “Mormon God” and how He performs no miracles. I would like to draw your attention to the first Article of Faith which is: “We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.” We indeed believe in God and believe that He does perform miracles to His children today, as He did in the past. Is this not the same God? For He is my Father and your Father; He is my God and your God.

There were also statements made showing misunderstandings about our belief in the Holy Bible and in the Book of Mormon. I would like to refer you to the eighth Article of Faith: “We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.” I believe both the Bible and the Book of Mormon are testaments of our Saviour Jesus Christ. I also believe with all of my heart that if we read and ponder the teachings from both sacred and holy books, we will gain a fuller understanding of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

One of the main points of discussion was regarding the correct method of baptism. Had I been given an opportunity to speak I might have explained that in fact we share the same beliefs – “Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” (John 3:5). The fourth Article of Faith states: “We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.” I myself have been baptized by full immersion by someone holding the Priesthood authority of God, following the example of the Saviour Jesus Christ, and have afterwards received the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands.

It was also mentioned that one of the signs following baptism and receiving the Holy Ghost was being able to “speak with new tongues” (Mark 16:17). Previously, at the time of our discussion I did not have a full understanding of what it meant to “speak with new tongues”. It might interest to know that I am only 20 years of age. I do not have and never will have a perfect knowledge of all of Christ’s doctrine. However I know that through study of the Holy Scriptures and through faith I can increase my understanding line upon line, precept upon precept. After further studies and discussions with others I now know that to “speak with new tongues” is a sacred sign from God. I have yet to witness this sign but I know that it is witnessed by many if it be God’s desire. Please also refer to the seventh Article of Faith.

Lastly, I would like to share with you a passage of scripture from Paul’s epistle to the people of Galatia. If we as servants of the Lord Jesus Christ are preaching His Gospel, we must bear fruits of His Spirit – “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance…” (Galatians 5:22-23). During the time that we met with you and your associates I felt that there could have been more effort in reflecting these attributes. I was saddened at some of the ignorant and sometimes immature comments that were made. In particular the mocking and being called “puppets” was degrading and unappreciated. I feel that if we can all learn from the direction of the apostle Paul in Galatians 5:26 – “Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.”

My hope in writing this letter is to clarify some misunderstandings surrounding points in the doctrine of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. It is also my sincere hope that we may both grow in our tolerance of other faiths, understanding that we are not each other’s enemies, but rather are enemies of sin. In the eleventh Article of Faith it states: “We claim the privilege of worshipping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.”

Thank you for all that you do as a Christian organization. I am not fully aware of what your church does amongst communities or various other doctrine taught within your church but I am sure that it is all for the perfecting of the saints as directed in Ephesians 4:12. I wish you all the very best. If you would like to learn more about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints feel free to visit mormon.org or lds.org at your discretion. I would also be more than willing to respond to any further questions that you may have.

With regards,

Elder Danien Berends

The Articles of Faith of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

1 We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.

 2 We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam’s transgression.

 3 We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.

 4 We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.

 5 We believe that a man must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority, to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof.

 6 We believe in the same organization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, and so forth.

 7 We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues, and so forth.

 8 We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.

 9 We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.

 10 We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the restoration of the Ten Tribes; that Zion (the New Jerusalem) will be built upon the American continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the earth; and, that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory.

 11 We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.

 12 We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.

 13 We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul—We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.