The word for unique in Spanish is único and it means "unique" (duh), but it also means "singular" which might be what unique means. I am not sure anymore. But, I am sure if this. The Lord's hand can be seen very clearly in Mexico. Let me expound on an experience very única which took place on February 2, 2010.

If you were to search the Doctrine and Covenants for the word "establish" or its variations, you would find many examples of the Resurrected Christ talking to Joseph Smith about the establishment of the Church in the promised land and in the latter days. My personal favorite is in section 31:3-7. It is very personal to us. Elder Holland taught that it to us in the very last hour of the new mission presidents seminar on June 25, 2008. This scripture is taught to every incoming and outgoing missionary in the Veracruz Mission.

The phrase "establish a church by your hand" speaks volumes. The definition of the establishment of the Church is found in "Preach My Gospel", page 10. That is what we are trying to do the the Mexico Veracruz Mission. Establish the Church. Good things are happening.

On Tuesday morning the 2nd, I was invited to a conference call with the Area Presidency and the presidents of the Tampico and Tuxtla-Gutierrez Missions. They announced to us that the Frist Presidency has approved the creation of two new missions in Mexico. One will be called the Mexico City Northwest Mission. The other will be called the Mexico Villahermosa Mission. The second is the one which impacts us.
Three stakes and two districts will be taken from the Tuxtla-Gutierrez Mission. Five stakes and our one district will be taken from the Veracruz Mission. The Veracruz Mission will inherit four stakes from the Tampico Mission, leaving us with thirteen stakes, all generally north of Veracruz. The Lord continues to establish His church in Mexico. We get to be part of this marvelous and único event. What an amazing blessing!!! The effective date is July 1st, 2010.

What does that mean for the Mexico Veracruz Mission? First, the famous ruins, El Tajín which adorn many license plates in Mexico, will now be part of the Veracruz Mission. Second, we lose 73 of our 186 (today's count) missionaries to the Villahermosa Mission. Third, we gain 50 missionaries from Tampico. Fourth, and this one really hurts my heart, we lose the Los Tuxtlas District. We love that place and those people. It is very único, I believe, in the entire world. But, it is the right thing. The Lord knows what He is doing. There is much more, but those are the basic nuts and bolts.

I want to share with you some things personal. I knew this was coming. In October (I think) of 2008, I was sitting in an Area Council in Mexico City with my 20 mission president brothers and the 21 Area Seventy. The Area Presidency was up front. Out of nowhere, it was a lightning bolt, I felt that our mission would be divided. The thought never left me, but I did not share it with anyone, including Mom. A few weeks later, Mom and I were in Temazcal attending a baptismal service at the river. They have no font. As we were waiting for people to show up, Elder C. Scott Grow, who was serving as the first counselor in the Area Presidency, called. He told me that I should begin to think about being involved in a division of our mission. I asked a couple of questions and he answered them. He told me to counsel with Mom, but with no one else at that point. After months, I had heard nothing. In a subsequent phone conversation, Elder Grow told me that the First Presidency had placed a temporary moratorium on the creation of any new missions due to the worldwide economic situation. That notwithstanding, the thought never left. It had to happen. It was the right thing and I knew it. The only question was when the Lord would tell the Brethren to proceed. The time is now.

The Church is true. The stone cut out of the mountain without hands is rolling forth (Daniel 2:45). The Lord continues to establish His church in all the world including Mexico.

These are the missions as we exist today.


This are the new missions.