• The three things I took away from zone conf were to bear my testimony simply, never underuse the BOM, and to teach with more questions. We have been trying to do all three ever since ZC. Also I liked the idea of “the reward for obedience is faith".
• So this week has pretty much been the most amazing week of my mission. We started teaching 6 new investigators, put those 6 people on date for baptism, and we taught 22 lessons. It has been full of miracles and of amazing faith building moments. The people we started teaching are amazing!
• Last week was great. While in the temple I received the distinct impression that I needed to invite one of our families to read the Book of Mormon together. Every one in the family is a member, except for the father, who is an 'eternal investigator'. I really feel like if the family reads and prays together, they will eventually make it to the temple to be sealed. I had a number of experiences that confirmed that decision. For example, zone conference reaffirmed the importance of the Book of Mormon and its great power to convert. We also had the wonderful opportunity to attend a sealing, performed by Elder Christofferson. Being at the sealing was truly amazing. It has been the highlight of my mission thus far. More than ever I want the same blessing for all the families that I work with on my mission!
• Zone Conference: Thank you President Laney, Zone conference is important to me because it is a time when the spirit is so strong and the feeling so powerful that I am always motivated and inspired to work on making my weakness become strengths. I felt an increased desire to truly hear the word of the Lord speak to me as I read the scriptures and use the book of Mormon more with investigators. What I will do: Since zone conference I have made a concentrated effort to start reading the book of Mormon first thing in the morning at 6:30 to 7:00. I have been learning that the best way to prepare for our investigators is to make the morning hours effective and Spirit-filled. In the last week my love for the book of Mormon has grown and I have a hard time putting it down.
• This week was great; we had 5 baptisms this week. The people baptized were the ones we planned on baptizing. We baptized Tony Dibella and his two sons Scott and Matt. We also baptized Stephanie Seewer and her sister Aubbrey Seewer. The services were great and the wards were very involved and they were very excited about the baptisms. The father of the Seewers showed up surprisingly. He doesn't live with them and has bad feelings toward the church. And from what the mother told us, the girls barely talk to him. But anyway after the baptism I saw him in the back of the chapel (a lot of people showed up) and he was crying, I think they were tears of joy.
• Zone conference was wonderful! I really understood more of the importance of the book of Mormon. You actually shared a story of an investigator you had, that sounds just like one of ours. We have been struggling with what to do with him, because he too has gone through many missionaries, goes to church, has a calling, but won't get baptized. After zone conference I knew that we have to help him gain a testimony of the book of Mormon. This week our goal is to challenge him and his family to read the book of Mormon together. This is the next step with him.
• I loved zone conference I wish we could have them weekly because they are Great Spirit builders. I learned there are people in my area who need the Book of Mormon who are just waiting for it to help them in their lives, so I need to testify to everyone. Everything else is going great I love the Book of Mormon Challenge thank you so much for having us do that.
• The most outstanding point I took from this Zone Conference was just how precious the Book of Mormon is. I felt a strong reminder that the Book of Mormon is truly the keystone of our religion. Courage in testifying comes from knowledge that what we teach is true. That being said, what I've committed myself to do is to mention/teach from the Book of Mormon at least once if not more in every lesson. Just like bearing your testimony strengthens your testimony, so it is my belief that the more myself and others feel of the spirit of this glorious record, both the investigator and I will be converted many times over.
I feel that as I do this, I'll become a more powerful tool in the Father's hands by having a firmer testimony of the reality of Christ, the validity of the prophet Joseph and the divinity of this church. I feel that I will also find more success in connecting/reconnecting people with the Holy Ghost.
• So it was a great Zone Conference this past week. I liked the feel of it. It was WAY different than last year's chapter 5 zone conferences, and I got different things out of it.
What I felt: There's someone in my area waiting for me to find them.
What I Learned: That it's great that I have the faith and the knowledge that they are they, but I have to do everything that I can to find them.
What I'm going to do about it: Be more active and engaged in looking over the potential investigator lists, work with the area book, and ask referrals from members. And ALSO be prayerful about it. SO it wasn't a very chapter 5 zone conference for me. It was more like chapter 9 but that's what I need.
• This week has been incredible, the best week since I've been on my mission. We started teaching six new investigators this week and five of those six accepted a baptismal date. We are teaching so many lessons. Our afternoons and evenings are filled with teaching appointments and I love it! Alma's description of glorying in the work of the Lord in Alma 29:9-10 is exactly how I feel.
• My Book of Mormon Study has been blessing my life. I'm glad I started the challenge. It isn't that much of a chore for me. I don't really mess around with the Bible too much unless it has to do with PMG scripture study. But yeah. I had a great experience teaching preparing a lesson for an investigator with book of Mormon PMG scriptures this week. I was re-reminded why we make PMG a part of our personal study. If we don't we're missing out, and it's a little selfish.
• I learned that perception is key. I can't believe so many people call you to report on us. I don't know how I feel about that. I guess if I do what is right I won't have to worry about it. I promised myself before I came out to follow all of the rules. I am doing well in that so I'm happy with myself. I learned that a simple testimony can bring the spirit but if we use complicated logic or even simple logic it is not as powerful. I have found the purest testimony I have and am sharing that with my investigators.
• In Zone Conference I felt a little condemnation from my Heavenly Father for not testifying more. I learned just how important testifying is. Not only testifying of gospel principles, but of the Book of Mormon. That is what truly will convert people.
• WE will do our best to find all we can. We have been baptizing a lot we had 9 on dates and now we have 4 and we baptized 7 this month so we do need to find more but our pool has not gone dry and I plan to work so it doesn't.
• I read the story about Elder Perry and it really makes me think about what we are doing here in the United States and why we were called the Utah. It is a pretty big commission to teach 21 lessons with a member and my companion and I are still working on it and getting a little better each week. It helps that we have found some good investigators who are progressing really well. I would see on average overall lessons we teach 16-18 not just counting member lessons.
• I loved zone conference. I am learning that the Book of Mormon that we have is something that I have not appreciated as much as I should of my entire life. After conference it has been my goal to testify more openly about the divinity of the work surrounding the Book of Mormon and the Prophet Joseph Smith. My testimony was grown during zone conference and through my personal studies that conviction is being increased.
• Zone conference was very inspiring. It really got me motivated to give everyone a copy of the Book of Mormon.
• Things are on the rise. We have found three new investigators in the past two weeks. We still need to find more and we are working hard on that right now. We are working really closely with are ward mission leader. We also had the entire English ward mission leaders get a map of their ward and mark all of the houses with Hispanics in the house. So this week we will be contacting all of those houses to find new people to teach. Also, working with a couple part member families.
• There is more to being a missionary than to just wearing a little black tag...I feel like I’m starting to earn that little thing, though... Its funny, how when I look in the mirror and realize I left the tag on another coat... I feel naked. I just keep thinking how much I’m going to hate the day when I have to take it off... Ill wears it on the inside, though... When your on the lords errand your entitled to his help. President Monson said that when I was... well, not even a member. Its funny how you can do one thing, and it effects millions later on...
• In Zone Conference I have learned the importance that the Book of Mormon plays in investigators lives. I remember a quote that said "Don't read the Book of Mormon because that is how they get you". The Book of Mormon in the hands of an investigator who pray fully reads it will come to know that it is the word of God. The Book of Mormon also weeds out the non-elect of God. If they don't want to read it and they choose not to read it there is little chance that they will ever find out that Joseph Smith was a Prophet and that Christ's Church is on the earth again today.
As I have used the Book of Mormon in my teaching it has strengthen my own testimony but it also lets the people we are talking to see just how valuable the Book of Mormon is because it can answer life's great questions. As I have been reading out of the Book of Mormon daily there has come a fire inside of me to want to share it with others.
• Zone conference was great. I am making it a goal to use the book of Mormon in every principal I teach.
• I love the thing that you challenge all of the missionaries to do, is reading the Book of Mormon within the next 90 days. Then, I was on an exchange. We have a dinner with the member house. After the dinner, we shared a little scriptures to them, then we talked about you are challenge us to read in the Book of Mormon within the next 90 days, and we ended up to challenge them as well. And we promise them that as they do so, it will be easy for them to open your mouth to testify from the Book of Mormon, and easy to invite people to hear the gospel, and to meet with the missionary.
• I love the thing that you challenge all of the missionaries to do, is reading the Book of Mormon within the next 90 days. Then, I was on exchange with elder Ames. We have a dinner with the member house. After the dinner, we shared a little scriptures to them, then we talked about you are challenge us to read in the Book of Mormon within the next 90 days, and we ended up to challenge them as well. And we promise them that as they do so, it will be easy for them to open your mouth to testify from the Book of Mormon, and easy to invite people to hear the gospel, and to meet with the missionary.
• Zone Conference was really good for me though. I really felt the Spirit and a renewed desire to use the Book of Mormon in all of my teaching and finding and work. I'm going to try and use the Book of Mormon more on doorsteps, in teaching, and most importantly in resolving concerns. Because it doesn't matter how "good" you are. It all comes down to the Book of Mormon and on their personal effort to receive personal revelation about it. I'm excited and ready to do it.
• Zone conference was wonderful! Thank you for going through Alma 26:22. That scripture has much more meaning for me now and really motivates me more than it did before. I really loved what you said, that the reward for obedience is faith. When we are doing what we know is right, our faith in what we are doing grows. It's a never ending cycle.
• We started teaching a really neat couple on Friday. They have been looking for a church that feels "like home" for a long time. The wife, especially, has tried everything; she has even tried paganism and told us how she was a witch for four years--crazy! We got a text referral for them from church headquarters (somebody had ordered a Finding Faith in Christ for them; we're still not sure who) a week and a half ago. We went over and set up a time for a lesson. They were so warm and friendly and expressed a desire to learn more. We had our first lesson with them on Friday. It was the most amazing lesson ever! They were so open and able to express to us their history with religion and what they were looking for. They both work with LDS people, and Shirley thinks they are wonderful. She made the classic comment, "I just want what they have," which was amazing to hear from a real person who is truly and earnestly searching for the truth, for a religion where she can feel like she is where she is supposed to be. The lesson was incredible. Shirley even cried (I've always wanted an investigator to cry in a lesson; it's a true testimony that the Spirit is strong and they know that what they are hearing is the real thing). At church on Sunday, they both looked like they were supposed to be there, like they were already members and had been members their whole lives. The ward embraced them; in fact, a couple we are teaching, who have been inactive for 27 years and have just recently had a major spiritual whack in the head and returned to church, both latched on to this couple. After Relief Society, this sister thanked us so much for bringing her and said she was so excited for Tuesday when we're teaching the next lesson. We can just see how the Spirit is working in their lives and that they are just craving more. It builds my testimony immensely to see how, even though they know hardly anything about the gospel, they are so touched by every little thing they are hearing and learning. And, they just recently moved here from California because Shirley had lost her job and was looking for work; another case of a family brought here so they can hear the gospel and be baptized. It just amazes me how often that happen. They are on date for Dec. 19.
• I felt I needed to use the Book of Mormon more it teaching and in contacting approaches. I always have one with me but rarely bring it up while I am on people's door steps. I love President Benson's talk on the Book of Mormon being our keystone. I also realized that I need to connect people to the Book of Mormon so when we leave they will still have a source of answers. I enjoyed your trainings and humor at Zone Conference. "Whatever happened to free agency?"
• Mosiah 2:41 reminded me that only the gospel and obedience brings both physical and spiritual happiness. Other vices and sources will bring us temporary or half joy but only living the gospel and drinking up the living water keeps us from thirsting again.
• To bear a heart felt testimony and really mean it is different from any other kind of testimony bearer. And that my friend is the kind of testimony that converts people. For me, I think I can do this in a manner which is pleasing unto the Lord and to the Spirit when I dig dipper into really finding out who I am and why I am here on this earth and on the mission and that is, we are literally begotten sons and daughters unto God and its our responsibly to help one another make it back some day. "NO EMPTY CHAIRS" as Pres Benson. That is what I learned at Zone Conference.
• Well I learned a lot of things in zone conference. How to better use the book of Mormon when I teach is one thing. A lot of good scriptures that show the bible and book of Mormon compliment each other.
Of course I felt the spirit there. When ever I testify about any principle of the gospel I am some how going to link it back to the book of Mormon.
• While studying the Book of Mormon I've strengthen my testimony so much that I think nothing is going to move my faith from him, sometimes I feel so much peace in my person that I don't really worry about anything, not even about the bad attitude of others, and man!! It is something that people these days have! But I am just positive about it, because I know that positive attitude (and mind set) invites the Spirit.
• At zone conference I really learned that I need to read the book of Mormon every day and that I will always stay close to the church and to god.
• So this past week we were very excited to have 5 investigators to church!! This week we are going to work with all of them very hard to move them towards baptism and give them dates! Our district fasted this past Sunday so that we can all find new investigators and we are all going to work the hardest and best we can to find them.
• Mosiah 2:41 I’ll respond with a part of a different scripture "wickedness never was happiness". Basically, keep the commandments and you will be bless and there for happy.
Monday, November 23, 2009
• I want to thank you for coming out to our stake last night and giving that training. I feel that it will really improve the work. The stake is great, and with that it will only improve. It was an amazing day yesterday. We had Elder Perry in the morning. He told us how important it was to get missionary work going in America. He also warned us that if we didn’t with in two decades America would be like Germany. I thought that was pretty intense. He told us the church is going to close 13 missions and open 9 new ones sometime if it hasn’t happened already. He said that a member oriented program is the key to success. He told the bishops and the stake presidents mainly that they NEED 1) enthusiasm and also 2) spirit. That will get the ball rolling like no other. He said that the high councilor was like the catalyses. He causes the reaction that gets things moving. He makes better what’s already good. He said the ward mission leader is like the quarter back. He makes or breaks!! Then he made us stand up and tell him how many lessons we taught. He said, “Elders that’s not good enough.” then he said "did you hear that?" then ha said "we need to NOT waste our missionaries." it was intense. Then he told us about how Brigham young had the idea to make a huge sugar beet crop. The best place for sugar beets was found in England. He told john Taylor to find the best man with sugar beet experience, baptize him and send him over, so he did. He related that story to us, and then he told the bishops that they NEED to be like john Taylor. Find the people who will be the BEST for the job. Whether it is less active people who are ready, or non members, or something of that sort. Yeah it was a wonderful training. Thanks again for the time you spent in our stake. (If you read Elder Perry's comments above please express your opinion of his challenge in your weekly letter.)
• Scripture: Mosiah 13:23. My definition is quick and to the point. Don't gossip.
• We baptized a 17 yr old YW and it was a very spiritual baptism. We were talking to our ward mission leader afterwards and he said he always gets worried about the convert. He gets scared about what happens next and if they stay active or not but he said he did not to have to worry about this one at all!!! It was amazing because there was so much ward support and especially from the YW president! The best part about the baptism was at the end of it! all the young women came around her after the closing prayer and started giving her hugs and then they all got a group hug together and were laughing and having fun and it was a powerful moment!!! to just see a new convert have so much love and support showed me what fellowshipping is at its BEST!!! I was really happy to see all the love and attention she got from the ward and I am grateful for all the ward has done and for what heavenly father has done to have her prepared because her baptism couldn't have happened at any better time!!!
• A less-active woman whom we taught a couple of weeks ago have now been back to church three times, and each time more members of her family are coming with her. I saw her yesterday after sacrament meeting, and she gladly told me that her husband has promised to come to church with her next Sunday. It's so exciting to see people who have taken a step off of the path come back.
• I learned this week that my personal study time in the morning should be more specifically directed to our investigators. Before I would spend a little time reading from the Book of Mormon, and then move on to Preach My Gospel, but now I study topics and lesson principles more closely, and save reading time for later. I know that will help me to keep my mind focused on helping others.
• This week we talked about the things that we were going to sacrifice because we weren't sacrificing meaningful things. And we have begun to see the blessings from it already. We had investigators come to a baptism which made us really happy, and we are going to invite all investigators to our next baptism.
• I have started the Book of Mormon challenge. Honestly, I didn't believe there would be time to do it, but I can see now that there are many opportunities throughout the day to do it. The Lord has opened my mind up in how to use time more effectively.
• We just had a baptism for a young lady. She was quite solid from the beginning. We had about 70 people show up to her baptism. The area is slowly picking up but we are working with really good leadership and members.
• D&C 6:12- I think this refers to the advice of not casting you pearl before swine. In other words, not everything you know or can do should be shared. Everything has a time and place, and our gifts should be used, as we have been instructed, for the benefit of those around us, and not for any other purpose. These gifts are sacred and God has entrusted us with them. If we abuse them, they will be taken away. Also, applied to teaching, this goes along with the instruction that we are not to teach everything we know, just the "portion which shall be meted to every man." Our investigators do not need to know everything, and cannot know everything. And as they build up their knowledge, they must learn line upon line, just like anyone else. And finally, we are not to trifle with sacred things. This would apply to our covenants certainly, but also the scriptures, our gifts, and our very calling and conduct. We must act as Christ would, give proper reverence to the things which deserve reverence. We our example to our investigators, but also to everyone who sees us, and if we do not hold precious these "sacred things," we will be a negative influence to everyone around us.
• We were not able to catch a lot of our investigators home. However our baptism went very well. It was a 13 year old boy and we got a lot of support from the ward. It was probably the most people I have seen at a baptism ever! IT WAS GREAT. we added a new sacrifice of waking up a 6 AM every day so we have time to work . We are tired but we think we are seeing the blessings.
• We are pursuing new investigators on several fronts, tracting, Bishops and Auxiliaries, Potential investigators from our area book, and this week part member family lists. We are also making a chart of fellowshipers for each ward so that we know at a glance that is available on what day, so that it doesn't take us forever to find the right fellowshipers. That has been one of the problems in this area. Our goal is to have not only a member, but the best member at every lesson we teach to both less active members, and non members. We are still teaching about 20 lessons a week regardless of how many investigators we have, which is building the strength of our stake. I hope that through them we will find additional investigators. We pray with them to think of people they could invite.
• Things are going well with the Book of Mormon study. I'm creating my own topical guide of the verses with Christ like attributes and keeping track of all the names of Christ. It's amazing how much content is contained in such a small book. I've got a page front and back so far of Christ like attributes for 1 Nephi alone. It's been great to go through the Book of Mormon so quickly. I haven't read it like I am since just before my mission. It's a new experience every time I read it.
• We had a very good week, it was a very spiritual week for me to realize so many things for our investigators. The Lord really has so many things in store for me. He really is my Eternal Father. We had a baptism this past week, and we met a family that I met in my old area! They are ready to get baptized, and we are working hard to be able to bring as many people as we can back to Christ.
• We had 4 baptisms this week and have 2 more new investigators. After our 4 baptisms this week we would have 2 people on date and I was a little afraid that the work might seem to slow down, but I pleaded with the Lord and it hasn't! We are continuing to receive new referrals from the ward members and the work is just constantly flowing now. We are teaching more and more people, more regularly. I love being a missionary! It's such a blessing to feel the concern, worry and love for others and to be able to learn a little more how much Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ truly love us. And putting names on the temple prayer rolls does wonders!!
• Now it actually feels like winter and the snow on the ground justifies it being cold. Plus, a lot more potential investigators let us into the house when everything outside is frozen. We are planning on having three baptisms this Saturday. That's really exciting.
• This has been the most incredible week. We had three baptisms this weekend and we are continually getting amazing referrals for people who are ready to be taught.
• We started teaching a young woman in one of our wards. The ward has been working with her family for a long time. On the day she expressed that she would like to be baptized, several people were fasting for them. We taught the first lesson, and she accepted to pray about being baptized Dec. 5. She has an amazing spirit and really wants to learn.
• We had a lesson last night that I just want to tell about. We've been teaching a 14-year-old girl who was adopted from the Ukraine by a very active family here. We've been teaching with translators (two sisters that just returned from their missions in the Ukraine, and who actually speak Russian, not Ukrainian) and we're often not sure how much is actually getting through and making sense. We taught lesson 3 last night, and we were planning on giving her a date to be baptized. We started teaching, and she was a lot more talkative and more willing to ask questions than usual. When I asked her if she wants to be baptized, she said she didn't know. We asked her what concerns she had, but we really couldn't get out of her what she was worried about. (This is all through the translators, of course). We asked her how her scripture reading is going and she said good. When we asked her how she feels when she reads the Book of Mormon, she said in English, "Happy." We tried to explain to her that that was the Holy Ghost, and that feeling can also mean that something is true. We've been trying to get her to pray about being baptized, but have been unsuccessful thus far. It finally dawned on me that she has no concept of what baptism is, not just why it is important or what it means, but the actual concept of being placed under the water and coming back up. It was so much easier to understand what she was struggling with, and why she was so unsure. So, we took a few steps backwards, but they were necessary steps. We were able to really dig and make much more progress, than if we had droned on talking about faith, repentance, baptism, etc. Luckily, it will be very doable to have her come to a baptism in our zone in the next couple weeks, so she can see and feel what happens there. That lesson had a huge impact on me. As we tried to explain the Spirit to her, I really felt like the Spirit was guiding us.
• This transfer is really amazing. We had the wonderful blessing of having 3 baptisms this weekend, and we already have 13 lessons lined up for this week. I am so thankful to be serving in my area. I can see the lord’s hand in all the hours of the day. He is moving this work and we are just following the path he makes. I am so very optimistic about this coming week. I am so happy!
• I am thankful. I am doing the assignment which was given. I am almost done with marking the names of the Savior. I will have to go and underline his attributes and what he says.
• I am working fast to catch up on my book of Mormon reading. I did not start on time but I still plan to finish in the 90 day time frame. I am also studying the lessons from PMG and the recent conference talks.
• Things are great President; i love the area and my companion and the people we are teaching. We have had a lot of people on date recently and now we are baptizing them so things are getting done. Mosiah 13:23 - Don't lie, don't lead people astray, be honest in all your doings with yourself, others, and God.
• This week was great as we had a wonderful baptism of Friday. I have also thought a lot about personal revelation this week. What has stood out to me is the effort that is required to receive personal revelation. We need to ask, seek and knock. I think that to knock means to take action. We need to have 'real intent', or be willing to act on the revelation that we receive and also be worthy to receive revelation by keeping the commandments. I think that these insights could help many of our investigators. A scripture that I really like that refer to this is 1 Nephi 10:19. "For he that diligently seeketh shall find; and the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto him by the power of the Holy Ghost..."
• We found a new investigator this week and we will pick up a new one today. We are getting a lot of referrals in correlation. We will be having five baptisms this week end. A family of three. Mosiah 13:23 I means to me to not lie about other or start rumors. Like the hypocrites
• Scripture: Mosiah 13:23. My definition is quick and to the point. Don't gossip.
• We baptized a 17 yr old YW and it was a very spiritual baptism. We were talking to our ward mission leader afterwards and he said he always gets worried about the convert. He gets scared about what happens next and if they stay active or not but he said he did not to have to worry about this one at all!!! It was amazing because there was so much ward support and especially from the YW president! The best part about the baptism was at the end of it! all the young women came around her after the closing prayer and started giving her hugs and then they all got a group hug together and were laughing and having fun and it was a powerful moment!!! to just see a new convert have so much love and support showed me what fellowshipping is at its BEST!!! I was really happy to see all the love and attention she got from the ward and I am grateful for all the ward has done and for what heavenly father has done to have her prepared because her baptism couldn't have happened at any better time!!!
• A less-active woman whom we taught a couple of weeks ago have now been back to church three times, and each time more members of her family are coming with her. I saw her yesterday after sacrament meeting, and she gladly told me that her husband has promised to come to church with her next Sunday. It's so exciting to see people who have taken a step off of the path come back.
• I learned this week that my personal study time in the morning should be more specifically directed to our investigators. Before I would spend a little time reading from the Book of Mormon, and then move on to Preach My Gospel, but now I study topics and lesson principles more closely, and save reading time for later. I know that will help me to keep my mind focused on helping others.
• This week we talked about the things that we were going to sacrifice because we weren't sacrificing meaningful things. And we have begun to see the blessings from it already. We had investigators come to a baptism which made us really happy, and we are going to invite all investigators to our next baptism.
• I have started the Book of Mormon challenge. Honestly, I didn't believe there would be time to do it, but I can see now that there are many opportunities throughout the day to do it. The Lord has opened my mind up in how to use time more effectively.
• We just had a baptism for a young lady. She was quite solid from the beginning. We had about 70 people show up to her baptism. The area is slowly picking up but we are working with really good leadership and members.
• D&C 6:12- I think this refers to the advice of not casting you pearl before swine. In other words, not everything you know or can do should be shared. Everything has a time and place, and our gifts should be used, as we have been instructed, for the benefit of those around us, and not for any other purpose. These gifts are sacred and God has entrusted us with them. If we abuse them, they will be taken away. Also, applied to teaching, this goes along with the instruction that we are not to teach everything we know, just the "portion which shall be meted to every man." Our investigators do not need to know everything, and cannot know everything. And as they build up their knowledge, they must learn line upon line, just like anyone else. And finally, we are not to trifle with sacred things. This would apply to our covenants certainly, but also the scriptures, our gifts, and our very calling and conduct. We must act as Christ would, give proper reverence to the things which deserve reverence. We our example to our investigators, but also to everyone who sees us, and if we do not hold precious these "sacred things," we will be a negative influence to everyone around us.
• We were not able to catch a lot of our investigators home. However our baptism went very well. It was a 13 year old boy and we got a lot of support from the ward. It was probably the most people I have seen at a baptism ever! IT WAS GREAT. we added a new sacrifice of waking up a 6 AM every day so we have time to work . We are tired but we think we are seeing the blessings.
• We are pursuing new investigators on several fronts, tracting, Bishops and Auxiliaries, Potential investigators from our area book, and this week part member family lists. We are also making a chart of fellowshipers for each ward so that we know at a glance that is available on what day, so that it doesn't take us forever to find the right fellowshipers. That has been one of the problems in this area. Our goal is to have not only a member, but the best member at every lesson we teach to both less active members, and non members. We are still teaching about 20 lessons a week regardless of how many investigators we have, which is building the strength of our stake. I hope that through them we will find additional investigators. We pray with them to think of people they could invite.
• Things are going well with the Book of Mormon study. I'm creating my own topical guide of the verses with Christ like attributes and keeping track of all the names of Christ. It's amazing how much content is contained in such a small book. I've got a page front and back so far of Christ like attributes for 1 Nephi alone. It's been great to go through the Book of Mormon so quickly. I haven't read it like I am since just before my mission. It's a new experience every time I read it.
• We had a very good week, it was a very spiritual week for me to realize so many things for our investigators. The Lord really has so many things in store for me. He really is my Eternal Father. We had a baptism this past week, and we met a family that I met in my old area! They are ready to get baptized, and we are working hard to be able to bring as many people as we can back to Christ.
• We had 4 baptisms this week and have 2 more new investigators. After our 4 baptisms this week we would have 2 people on date and I was a little afraid that the work might seem to slow down, but I pleaded with the Lord and it hasn't! We are continuing to receive new referrals from the ward members and the work is just constantly flowing now. We are teaching more and more people, more regularly. I love being a missionary! It's such a blessing to feel the concern, worry and love for others and to be able to learn a little more how much Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ truly love us. And putting names on the temple prayer rolls does wonders!!
• Now it actually feels like winter and the snow on the ground justifies it being cold. Plus, a lot more potential investigators let us into the house when everything outside is frozen. We are planning on having three baptisms this Saturday. That's really exciting.
• This has been the most incredible week. We had three baptisms this weekend and we are continually getting amazing referrals for people who are ready to be taught.
• We started teaching a young woman in one of our wards. The ward has been working with her family for a long time. On the day she expressed that she would like to be baptized, several people were fasting for them. We taught the first lesson, and she accepted to pray about being baptized Dec. 5. She has an amazing spirit and really wants to learn.
• We had a lesson last night that I just want to tell about. We've been teaching a 14-year-old girl who was adopted from the Ukraine by a very active family here. We've been teaching with translators (two sisters that just returned from their missions in the Ukraine, and who actually speak Russian, not Ukrainian) and we're often not sure how much is actually getting through and making sense. We taught lesson 3 last night, and we were planning on giving her a date to be baptized. We started teaching, and she was a lot more talkative and more willing to ask questions than usual. When I asked her if she wants to be baptized, she said she didn't know. We asked her what concerns she had, but we really couldn't get out of her what she was worried about. (This is all through the translators, of course). We asked her how her scripture reading is going and she said good. When we asked her how she feels when she reads the Book of Mormon, she said in English, "Happy." We tried to explain to her that that was the Holy Ghost, and that feeling can also mean that something is true. We've been trying to get her to pray about being baptized, but have been unsuccessful thus far. It finally dawned on me that she has no concept of what baptism is, not just why it is important or what it means, but the actual concept of being placed under the water and coming back up. It was so much easier to understand what she was struggling with, and why she was so unsure. So, we took a few steps backwards, but they were necessary steps. We were able to really dig and make much more progress, than if we had droned on talking about faith, repentance, baptism, etc. Luckily, it will be very doable to have her come to a baptism in our zone in the next couple weeks, so she can see and feel what happens there. That lesson had a huge impact on me. As we tried to explain the Spirit to her, I really felt like the Spirit was guiding us.
• This transfer is really amazing. We had the wonderful blessing of having 3 baptisms this weekend, and we already have 13 lessons lined up for this week. I am so thankful to be serving in my area. I can see the lord’s hand in all the hours of the day. He is moving this work and we are just following the path he makes. I am so very optimistic about this coming week. I am so happy!
• I am thankful. I am doing the assignment which was given. I am almost done with marking the names of the Savior. I will have to go and underline his attributes and what he says.
• I am working fast to catch up on my book of Mormon reading. I did not start on time but I still plan to finish in the 90 day time frame. I am also studying the lessons from PMG and the recent conference talks.
• Things are great President; i love the area and my companion and the people we are teaching. We have had a lot of people on date recently and now we are baptizing them so things are getting done. Mosiah 13:23 - Don't lie, don't lead people astray, be honest in all your doings with yourself, others, and God.
• This week was great as we had a wonderful baptism of Friday. I have also thought a lot about personal revelation this week. What has stood out to me is the effort that is required to receive personal revelation. We need to ask, seek and knock. I think that to knock means to take action. We need to have 'real intent', or be willing to act on the revelation that we receive and also be worthy to receive revelation by keeping the commandments. I think that these insights could help many of our investigators. A scripture that I really like that refer to this is 1 Nephi 10:19. "For he that diligently seeketh shall find; and the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto him by the power of the Holy Ghost..."
• We found a new investigator this week and we will pick up a new one today. We are getting a lot of referrals in correlation. We will be having five baptisms this week end. A family of three. Mosiah 13:23 I means to me to not lie about other or start rumors. Like the hypocrites
Monday, November 16, 2009
• This past week was awesome! We never lost faith in the miracles we knew would come and this week we saw them. We got 4 new investigators and 5 people on date in just one week. Well really, it was a matter of about four days. If we continue where we are at we will be definitely baptizing weekly. And people said this was a "dead area"....oh ye of little faith!!!
• We have also been able to go to several ward councils and train about the ward mission process. The wards are beginning to finally invite people from their lists and we are now teaching many less active families from these lists. When people truly understand the ward mission process and know that you want to help them with their missionary work the work begins to pick up.
• I am so glad that the assignment to read the Book of Mormon and mark the specific parts of it was made. I had been reading it every morning for half of my studies, but as I focused more on how The Book of Mormon truly teaches of the savior my testimony of the Book of Mormon has changed and grown. I am able to truly see how it testifies of Christ in almost every chapter. I am really enjoying it!
• This last week was the best of the six that I have been in the mission field. My companion and I have repeatedly made the goal to teach twenty-one lessons with a member present, but this week we actually reached our goal. Rather than hope to reach twenty-one, we laid out a 7 day calendar with three investigator's names on each day, and worked to meet those three people on the day planned. Appointments were still canceled, but with the help of backup plans, we accomplished our goal, teaching our twenty-first lesson on Sunday evening.
• My subject this week to work on is obedience, be more and more obedient, because Obeying the Lord's commandments is loving the Lord, I think the same with mission rules, obeying the rules of the Lord's mission is loving the Lord. So this week I will strive on keeping the Spirit at all times being obedient and having a great attitude.
• The district, especially the sisters (surprise! surprise!) are doing very well and we all have people on date. In our area, I feel like we are really working with the members. We are having more members to appointments and more members hosting lessons in their homes. The relief society president came up with a list of names of sisters that she hadn't ever heard of to ask me if they needed visiting teachers, and I not only explained who they were, I explained their situation and where exactly they had been sitting in Relief Society that morning... Am I good or what? All credit to God of course.
• Thank you so much for placing me here with new companion, I love it here and I know that I can learn a lot from this area and him. We are having so much success I almost don’t know what to do. I know that I messed up last transfer but this transfer I am working as hard as I can to make up for it and more. I again remember why I am out on a mission and realized that I need to rely on the Lord more and less on myself. I am also trying to push my wagon as that email said and not just pray for work to come to me. If that makes any sense... Its spectacular how much there is to do. I’m sad that I left my old area but I’m glad that I got transferred to where I am. I know that where you and the Lord placed me is where I need to be. I thank you for transferring me so that I can relearn why I am here on a mission.
• I am taking that Book of Mormon challenge that you gave us and it is a blessing. I am starting to understand more of the scriptures each time I open them and read them. I am also starting to write something that I learned from each verse which is teaching me a lot too. I love studying!! I get the chance to learn about the scriptures and Jesus Christ and I get to feel the spirit while doing it.
• We had a really good baptism on Friday night. We really saw the blessings of applying what we learned at zone conference by making invitations for our investigators to hand out. At the baptism, it was standing room only. The Relief Society room was packed full of people from the mom's work and the son's friends and members of the ward. When we talked to her on Saturday about how she felt at the baptism, she talked about how she felt the Spirit and how she was amazed that so many people were there to support her and her son as they made that step.
• This week we found one of the bishops that we had been struggling with outside raking his leaves. We just went over and started raking with him. We talked about all the work going on in his ward and asked what we could do to more effectively work together. Raking leaves with him was far more effective than actually going to his ward council! On Sunday he bore his testimony in Sacrament meeting about missionary work and about how the ward members need to get more involved and help where they can. It strengthened my testimony that what President Monson talked about in conference is so important. We always need to be looking for opportunities to serve.
• Well this week was a great week because we found 6 new people to teach and also we had a baptism. I am excited because we are going to have another baptism this Tuesday. We will continue to work hard and continue to find new investigators.
• Assignment: I really love Doctrine and Covenants 108:7. I think this scripture is really a command to develop charity, because as we fulfill all of our responsibilities with the spirit of charity, we will want to strengthen everyone around us. If we are filled with charity, all of our actions will be towards the goal of strengthening all of those we come in contact with. We will desire to help lift non-members, members, and companions out of whatever trouble or doubts that they are going through.
• We had a great week for teaching lessons; we met our goal of 21 lessons! We were able to meet with all of our investigators more than once this week. I know that helped to bring the spirit to their home more frequently. We also exercised our faith by re-extending baptismal dates to our investigators that did not accept on the first lesson, the Lord provide for us and helped us. We also found Garret Ellis this week; we were walking around the neighborhood and started talking to his dad. I visited these family months ago, but we had faith that Garrett is ready now, and he accepted a date on the first lesson.
• When I read D&C 108:7 I started remembering another scripture that talks about strengthening our brethren. Like 2 years ago I read in Luke 22 about Peter and how when he felt the spirit and had a testimony, the lord gave him the commandment to strengthen his brethren and the same principle applies to all of us. I think we have to first help ourselves if we want to help others, and also something else I was thinking about was the fact that we have to start praying more for the missionaries in our zones district and our leaders , so that we can have success instead of trying to be "better" than other missionaries.
• First off I got to tell you of how great it's been lately with my waking up on time, I've woken up on time (or less than ten minutes from 6:30 AM. It's so great!! I now always have time to get a full study in from 7 to 8 AM. IT"S SO AWESOME!! Even though it's hard to not sleep in and gets more rest at times, my load has been made easier, the Lord has compensated me with energy and health for my obedience when I pray and ask for it and actually try to go to bed on time! (Key word there is trying!). But it's been great; it’s such a blessing to have sacrifice and Obedience so that I can better follow my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Though it's not easy, and yes I've been less than perfect this transfer, more than usual, but I'm working on doing better, and I am, and I will continue to rise, for I wish to follow my Savior and reach my full potential!
• As all my letters to you seem to say, things are going great. We nearly made every single one of our weekly goals. Our Stake presidents are amazing and it's all thanks to them that all this work is going on. I love them.
• I have been trying to learn all i can. Its crazy how there is literally every answer in the scriptures.
• The Scripture D&C 6 : 12 Means to me...
• Our Investigators will not understand the gifts of the gospel until the Holy Ghost touches their hearts and grants great faith so they might understand .. Also to not take lightly the knowledge and power (by our ordination) that we have received; because we will be held accountable for the knowledge us posses.
• The scripture you chose is a good one... trifle not with sacred things, i like it. When we have the spirit of discernment or revelation to go someplace we should act upon it. And that we should not take spiritual things for granite. I know that acting upon the promptings we have are essential.
• Doctrine and Covenants 6:12 - Our gifts or talents are given to us from the Lord and we need to use them in a way that would be pleasing unto him. We need to keep them sacred. As missionaries, we need to use our talents to help people come unto Christ.
• I hadn't read the announcements yet when i sent my last letter so i didn't know to explain the scripture. "Trifle not with sacred things" was the part that stuck out to me. I think that that means to not be light-minded. To not make jokes out of gospel topics or talk about sacred things in a too-casual manner. Lots of times we hear jokes of people using lines from the temple or using the Savior or one-liners about the Holy Ghost or things like that. I feel like those are the most commonly trifled sacred things and those us as missionaries are especially susceptible to making that type of humor. But we should watch out. That is what i got out of that scripture. D&C 6:12
• This transfer has to be great, we can have a lot of baptisms, and we just need to do the right things so we can be successful. I’m' trying to help my companion as much as I can with his teaching skills. We use a camera in fact to record ourselves while we're doing role play and we check it to see what are the things to improve on (just like the MTC). He's listening a lot to me; I hope to give him the best teaching by my example. We'll do great, and I know it. Have a great week!!
• As for the scripture Doctrine and Covenants 6:12
"Make not thy gift known unto any save it be those who are of thy faith. Trifle not with sacred things."
To me it says that we should not openly share our spiritual experiences. These things that God gives us must be kept sacred and shared only with close loved ones as the spirit directs. Even when they are shared or written down, we must be sure that they remain safe guarded and sacred.
When someone confides in us sacred things, we should safe guard them as if God revealed these things unto us. Treasure up sacred things.
• D&C 6:12 Trifle not with sacred things. Trifling would mean making light of, disregarding, or even mocking things that are supposed to be kept sacred. Such as the temple, the scriptures or our callings as missionaries.
• D&C 6:12 make not thy gift known unto any save it be those who are of thy faith. Trifle not with sacred things. This scripture reminds about the section in PMG about being cautious with the Spiritual Experiences we have in our lives located in Chapter 4. The section says that we should only share our spiritual experiences with those who we feel really prompted and treat them as very sacred messages from the Lord to us, because they are Personal Revelations for our lives. So I think the meaning of this scripture is to share these precious experiences with only the ones that will be benefited and with enough spiritual maturity to understand them.
• what D&C 6:12 means to me is that we have a sacred calling, it is not just a "thing" we do as young people but it’s a sacred calling from above and we have the responsibility to bring the great news to the world, it is not a reason to boast or be prideful but it’s a reason to humbly bring the news of salvation to our brothers and sisters and when we find those who reject it then well don't be prideful and bash or force it on them but move on to those waiting to accept. I really like that verse.
• D&C 6:12 I think of not being sober and being light-minded toward sacred things; something I am guilty of. There needs to be respect for the sacred and consecrated and my actions and words should change to respect and reverence as it is a reflection of my character, integrity and mindset. I cannot expect revelation if I make light of that which is given.
• To me the scripture means that we must always strive to make others around us have a better picture of them that we must make them feel they are great in the eyes of heavenly father.
• My study time has help me a lot this week how to become a better person more than anything else and i learned that as i become better i can help others become better too.
• We have also been able to go to several ward councils and train about the ward mission process. The wards are beginning to finally invite people from their lists and we are now teaching many less active families from these lists. When people truly understand the ward mission process and know that you want to help them with their missionary work the work begins to pick up.
• I am so glad that the assignment to read the Book of Mormon and mark the specific parts of it was made. I had been reading it every morning for half of my studies, but as I focused more on how The Book of Mormon truly teaches of the savior my testimony of the Book of Mormon has changed and grown. I am able to truly see how it testifies of Christ in almost every chapter. I am really enjoying it!
• This last week was the best of the six that I have been in the mission field. My companion and I have repeatedly made the goal to teach twenty-one lessons with a member present, but this week we actually reached our goal. Rather than hope to reach twenty-one, we laid out a 7 day calendar with three investigator's names on each day, and worked to meet those three people on the day planned. Appointments were still canceled, but with the help of backup plans, we accomplished our goal, teaching our twenty-first lesson on Sunday evening.
• My subject this week to work on is obedience, be more and more obedient, because Obeying the Lord's commandments is loving the Lord, I think the same with mission rules, obeying the rules of the Lord's mission is loving the Lord. So this week I will strive on keeping the Spirit at all times being obedient and having a great attitude.
• The district, especially the sisters (surprise! surprise!) are doing very well and we all have people on date. In our area, I feel like we are really working with the members. We are having more members to appointments and more members hosting lessons in their homes. The relief society president came up with a list of names of sisters that she hadn't ever heard of to ask me if they needed visiting teachers, and I not only explained who they were, I explained their situation and where exactly they had been sitting in Relief Society that morning... Am I good or what? All credit to God of course.
• Thank you so much for placing me here with new companion, I love it here and I know that I can learn a lot from this area and him. We are having so much success I almost don’t know what to do. I know that I messed up last transfer but this transfer I am working as hard as I can to make up for it and more. I again remember why I am out on a mission and realized that I need to rely on the Lord more and less on myself. I am also trying to push my wagon as that email said and not just pray for work to come to me. If that makes any sense... Its spectacular how much there is to do. I’m sad that I left my old area but I’m glad that I got transferred to where I am. I know that where you and the Lord placed me is where I need to be. I thank you for transferring me so that I can relearn why I am here on a mission.
• I am taking that Book of Mormon challenge that you gave us and it is a blessing. I am starting to understand more of the scriptures each time I open them and read them. I am also starting to write something that I learned from each verse which is teaching me a lot too. I love studying!! I get the chance to learn about the scriptures and Jesus Christ and I get to feel the spirit while doing it.
• We had a really good baptism on Friday night. We really saw the blessings of applying what we learned at zone conference by making invitations for our investigators to hand out. At the baptism, it was standing room only. The Relief Society room was packed full of people from the mom's work and the son's friends and members of the ward. When we talked to her on Saturday about how she felt at the baptism, she talked about how she felt the Spirit and how she was amazed that so many people were there to support her and her son as they made that step.
• This week we found one of the bishops that we had been struggling with outside raking his leaves. We just went over and started raking with him. We talked about all the work going on in his ward and asked what we could do to more effectively work together. Raking leaves with him was far more effective than actually going to his ward council! On Sunday he bore his testimony in Sacrament meeting about missionary work and about how the ward members need to get more involved and help where they can. It strengthened my testimony that what President Monson talked about in conference is so important. We always need to be looking for opportunities to serve.
• Well this week was a great week because we found 6 new people to teach and also we had a baptism. I am excited because we are going to have another baptism this Tuesday. We will continue to work hard and continue to find new investigators.
• Assignment: I really love Doctrine and Covenants 108:7. I think this scripture is really a command to develop charity, because as we fulfill all of our responsibilities with the spirit of charity, we will want to strengthen everyone around us. If we are filled with charity, all of our actions will be towards the goal of strengthening all of those we come in contact with. We will desire to help lift non-members, members, and companions out of whatever trouble or doubts that they are going through.
• We had a great week for teaching lessons; we met our goal of 21 lessons! We were able to meet with all of our investigators more than once this week. I know that helped to bring the spirit to their home more frequently. We also exercised our faith by re-extending baptismal dates to our investigators that did not accept on the first lesson, the Lord provide for us and helped us. We also found Garret Ellis this week; we were walking around the neighborhood and started talking to his dad. I visited these family months ago, but we had faith that Garrett is ready now, and he accepted a date on the first lesson.
• When I read D&C 108:7 I started remembering another scripture that talks about strengthening our brethren. Like 2 years ago I read in Luke 22 about Peter and how when he felt the spirit and had a testimony, the lord gave him the commandment to strengthen his brethren and the same principle applies to all of us. I think we have to first help ourselves if we want to help others, and also something else I was thinking about was the fact that we have to start praying more for the missionaries in our zones district and our leaders , so that we can have success instead of trying to be "better" than other missionaries.
• First off I got to tell you of how great it's been lately with my waking up on time, I've woken up on time (or less than ten minutes from 6:30 AM. It's so great!! I now always have time to get a full study in from 7 to 8 AM. IT"S SO AWESOME!! Even though it's hard to not sleep in and gets more rest at times, my load has been made easier, the Lord has compensated me with energy and health for my obedience when I pray and ask for it and actually try to go to bed on time! (Key word there is trying!). But it's been great; it’s such a blessing to have sacrifice and Obedience so that I can better follow my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Though it's not easy, and yes I've been less than perfect this transfer, more than usual, but I'm working on doing better, and I am, and I will continue to rise, for I wish to follow my Savior and reach my full potential!
• As all my letters to you seem to say, things are going great. We nearly made every single one of our weekly goals. Our Stake presidents are amazing and it's all thanks to them that all this work is going on. I love them.
• I have been trying to learn all i can. Its crazy how there is literally every answer in the scriptures.
• The Scripture D&C 6 : 12 Means to me...
• Our Investigators will not understand the gifts of the gospel until the Holy Ghost touches their hearts and grants great faith so they might understand .. Also to not take lightly the knowledge and power (by our ordination) that we have received; because we will be held accountable for the knowledge us posses.
• The scripture you chose is a good one... trifle not with sacred things, i like it. When we have the spirit of discernment or revelation to go someplace we should act upon it. And that we should not take spiritual things for granite. I know that acting upon the promptings we have are essential.
• Doctrine and Covenants 6:12 - Our gifts or talents are given to us from the Lord and we need to use them in a way that would be pleasing unto him. We need to keep them sacred. As missionaries, we need to use our talents to help people come unto Christ.
• I hadn't read the announcements yet when i sent my last letter so i didn't know to explain the scripture. "Trifle not with sacred things" was the part that stuck out to me. I think that that means to not be light-minded. To not make jokes out of gospel topics or talk about sacred things in a too-casual manner. Lots of times we hear jokes of people using lines from the temple or using the Savior or one-liners about the Holy Ghost or things like that. I feel like those are the most commonly trifled sacred things and those us as missionaries are especially susceptible to making that type of humor. But we should watch out. That is what i got out of that scripture. D&C 6:12
• This transfer has to be great, we can have a lot of baptisms, and we just need to do the right things so we can be successful. I’m' trying to help my companion as much as I can with his teaching skills. We use a camera in fact to record ourselves while we're doing role play and we check it to see what are the things to improve on (just like the MTC). He's listening a lot to me; I hope to give him the best teaching by my example. We'll do great, and I know it. Have a great week!!
• As for the scripture Doctrine and Covenants 6:12
"Make not thy gift known unto any save it be those who are of thy faith. Trifle not with sacred things."
To me it says that we should not openly share our spiritual experiences. These things that God gives us must be kept sacred and shared only with close loved ones as the spirit directs. Even when they are shared or written down, we must be sure that they remain safe guarded and sacred.
When someone confides in us sacred things, we should safe guard them as if God revealed these things unto us. Treasure up sacred things.
• D&C 6:12 Trifle not with sacred things. Trifling would mean making light of, disregarding, or even mocking things that are supposed to be kept sacred. Such as the temple, the scriptures or our callings as missionaries.
• D&C 6:12 make not thy gift known unto any save it be those who are of thy faith. Trifle not with sacred things. This scripture reminds about the section in PMG about being cautious with the Spiritual Experiences we have in our lives located in Chapter 4. The section says that we should only share our spiritual experiences with those who we feel really prompted and treat them as very sacred messages from the Lord to us, because they are Personal Revelations for our lives. So I think the meaning of this scripture is to share these precious experiences with only the ones that will be benefited and with enough spiritual maturity to understand them.
• what D&C 6:12 means to me is that we have a sacred calling, it is not just a "thing" we do as young people but it’s a sacred calling from above and we have the responsibility to bring the great news to the world, it is not a reason to boast or be prideful but it’s a reason to humbly bring the news of salvation to our brothers and sisters and when we find those who reject it then well don't be prideful and bash or force it on them but move on to those waiting to accept. I really like that verse.
• D&C 6:12 I think of not being sober and being light-minded toward sacred things; something I am guilty of. There needs to be respect for the sacred and consecrated and my actions and words should change to respect and reverence as it is a reflection of my character, integrity and mindset. I cannot expect revelation if I make light of that which is given.
• To me the scripture means that we must always strive to make others around us have a better picture of them that we must make them feel they are great in the eyes of heavenly father.
• My study time has help me a lot this week how to become a better person more than anything else and i learned that as i become better i can help others become better too.
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