• All we need to do is be obedient, work hard, and sacrifice, and the Lord will make up the difference.
• We had a huge break through last week during our weekly planning session. We realized that all of our success in this area has come from having the members make the invitations. Nearly all of the invitations we've made have been declined. So many members in this area have friends whom are coming to church and other activities. It's simply a matter of determining who their best member friends are and asking them to invite them.
• I love Christmas. Everyone loves each other at Christmas. And we had a Christmas miracle this week. A few months ago we had a baptism for a 14-year-old boy who moved in with his active member cousins. His grandma also moved in. She is not a member of the Church and we were teaching her as well, but she was just not progressing. I don't know what happened over the past couple months - maybe it's the Christmas spirit - but now she wants to get baptized! We went to visit their family on Saturday, not really expecting anything, and Grandma Bolton's son asked her, "So, do you want to get baptized now, or are we going to have to wait until after you croak?" She decided that she wanted to get baptized now. She started telling us about all of the experiences she has had since living with this family, and she knows the Church is true. She just has health problems and has a hard time making it to sacrament meeting. But she'll get there.
• We have an investigator that we started working with and we had given him at least 3 baptismal goals and he never made any of them. My current companion continued to give him dates but to no avail. I was prompted one night as I was praying and asking what I should do. The spirit prompted me that I should give him full reign over the baptismal date and have him give his own date. Never in my wildest dreams would I do such a thing because from what I think, such an idea would be an eternal mistake. Needless to say, it was and is such a blessing because I did so and he confronted us on Sunday and told us he wanted to be baptized on the 24th of December
• I guess the Scripture of the week Hebrews 5:8-9 is actually related to my letter subject. I’ve heard and I’ve seen sadly the doctrine that some missionaries are preaching with their example, it is sad to know that some missionaries have in their minds that even with disobedience they can baptize, and I am sure that disobedient missionaries can baptize, some probably they can baptize more than some obedient missionaries, but I think about the process and about the final destination of us and the people we teach, then I know that it’s not about the numbers, it’s not about people under water, is people actually changing their lives, it’s actually leading them to eternal life through obedience to the commandments of God, so I just think what are some missionaries preaching?
• In the last zone conference the missionaries asked me if it was true that I was baptizing 8 people this month. I don't know how they got that out, but I hope that they can tell that they can baptize weekly, just like you told us. It is possible, I know it, and honestly I hope they have this same attitude and say “If he can do it, we can do it'”.
• Everything is going great right now we are schedule to have a baptism on the 19th so that is really good and we are schedule to have two more on the 26th so even though we weren’t able to teach a lot we are going to have a good week with a baptism coming up and next week we are going to pick up a couple new investigators for us.
• It seems like we are making great progress with our eternal investigator and his family. I mentioned before that we had challenged them to read the Book of Mormon and pray as a family. They have been doing great with the challenge! I am still so glad that I followed through on the prompting to give them that challenge. Also, Sunday morning we went to their ward's ward council and told them about the progress we had made with the family. The bishop decided that he is going to meet with the investigator and invite him to be baptized. Because of what the bishop had said, we weren't going to talk about baptism when we went to their house that afternoon, but he brought it up himself! He said that he and his wife were talking about baptism. Sister Callahan then challenged him to pray about Dec 25 as a baptismal date, and he said that he would! We could hardly believe it! It now seems very possible that he could be baptized this month after investigating the church for 15 years. I guess we'll see what happens. His baptism would be the Christmas miracle that we have been praying for.
• Hebrews 5:8-9 Because of what Jesus went through he learned obedience. He obeyed the father and now we can enjoy of eternal life if we obey him.
• I'm new but what I've learned so far about a mission with so many members is basically resolving investigators concerns and sharing the spirit with everyone. Once their concerns are out of the way and they've felt the spirit, they usually have a strong desire to be baptized. That comes from working diligently and being obedient to gain that spirit that touches others I guess. Less active members do like to go to church most of the time because they feel like people are judging and staring. My companion and I usually just explain that the members are people with problems too and usually the spirit touches them and they know they should go back and they usually say they will. I'm starting to sense that as I’m diligent and obedient, I know what to study and what to say at the right time. I guess if I’m worthy of the lords spirit, the work can be done. It’s amazing to see how I’m not really doing anything! It’s all the lord, I can bear my testimony and stuff but it’s that spirit that makes the tears start to flow.
• The spirit of Christ is here in the mission during this Christmas Season and it truly brings many blessings and miracles, especially in missionary work.
• On Tuesday, we met a new investigator, Paris Thomas. She was a little hesitant at accepting a baptismal date for January 23, but her friends helped resolve her concerns. Her main concern was that her family would be opposed to becoming a member. But, yesterday we found out that she got up the courage to talk to her sister, who said she would love her just the same. Also, her grandmother is an active member and is very excited for her.
• Something I have been reflecting on is making you a tool in the Lords hands and how we most effectively do that. And I think it boils down to one thing learning to recognize and follow the Spirit. We can have all the skills in the world but if we use our own judgment then we will be wrong. But the Lord will always guide in the right way and make up for our lack of ability.
• Gerry Li was baptized on Sat. , it was a nice service, and 23 families from the ward were in attendance have been sharing a Christmas message with our investigators, and it has been a great opportunity to strengthen their faith in the Savior.
• Right now we are just going through the area book and following up with EVERYONE to see where they are at. We are also doing a lot of tracting to get familiar with the area and to get to know neighborhoods. I seriously LOVE tracting. It is just so humorous. I honestly crave the crazy, weird reactions that we get. I love introducing ourselves and asking if we can serve them in anyway. Everyone loves the little business cards we leave that have our numbers on them.
• My companion has been focusing on being more grateful in our prayers and more specific also. This has changed my attitude about missionary work and it has given me an opportunity to show love to those around me since I am so thankful for everyone around me.
• When the assistants announced that I would be whitewash training, I was scared to death and felt completely inadequate. A million times a day I still feel like that, but I know that I wouldn't have been asked to do this if the Lord didn't already know that I could do it. And it also helps to know that really, it's not my work. It's the Lord's work.
• My studies this week in all honesty, were less than I had hoped for. I think I just got stuck in a rut of reading the Book of Mormon solely for the assignment and not for the investigators. However, the last two days I have been keeping with the seven to eight pages a day, but I have looked for specific answers to questions that investigators have, within those seven to eight pages. And I have found answers. I love the Book of Mormon. If you read it with the right frame of mind, you will find whatever you need. The Lord blessed us in so many different ways through that book.
• With the zone we will be focusing on faith and keeping the line in the water (the basics: work and faith. We are focusing on every companionship teaching at least 10 lessons with members a week, and finding 3 every week. It is more than possible we just need to believe it and pray and work for it. I know we will see great miracles this transfer and we will accomplish our goals to not only teach and find, but be consistent at it as well.
• And we have a great district leader. He covers the same territory but in English. He gives us so many referrals.
• We're getting there President Laney. We're working harder and I can feel the greater portion of God's Spirit because of increased diligence. Diligence and obedience I think are close to, if not right on, the most important Eternal Principles.
• We found!!!! It was amazing! We just came to the realization that ALL of the work that we've had in this area is directly from members. Meaning we have not been able to get into any non-member doors unless a member has done the inviting. Even what seem like golden referrals from members aren't so good unless they introduce us. So we're going to figure out how to make things more successful with our new efforts.
• To answer the question we got last week about the kingdoms of glory (sorry that I forgot). As far as I understand so can you not get to a higher kingdom once you already have had your final judgment. However, there are certain levels in every kingdom where you can "get higher up" but not to another kingdom. Those who are in the higher kingdoms can visit the lower kingdoms but not the opposite.
If you are sealed in the temple but your kids or other family members don't live up to the standards nor commandments results in that they will deny that blessings of eternal families. You have to live up to celestial laws if you want to come to the celestial kingdom. If you're not living up to the temple covenants then you can’t follow your family but they can visit you. That's my understanding at least.
• •Doctrinal Question from a weekly letter
• Our zone also has a doctrinal question with which there are many controversies. Is there progression between kingdoms? For example, can someone in the telestial kingdom progress into the celestial kingdom. Also, what about people who were sealed to their parents yet don't hold up their covenants? How can families be together in the celestial kingdom if the kids don't do what they should? (Respond in your weekly letter!)
• Answer:
• Joseph Smith taught that “The eternal sealing’s of faithful parents and the divine promises made to them for valiant service in the Cause of Truth, would save not only themselves, but likewise their posterity. Though some of the sheep may wander, the eye of the Shepherd is upon them, and sooner or later they will feel the tentacles of Divine Providence reaching out after them and drawing them back to the fold. Either in this life or the life to come, they will return. They will have to pay their debt to justice; they will suffer for their sins; and may tread a thorny path; but if it leads them at last, like the penitent Prodigal, to a loving and forgiving father’s heart and home, the painful experience will not have been in vain. Pray for your careless and disobedient children; hold on to them with your faith. Hope on; trust on, till you see the salvation of God. Who are these straying sheep—these wayward sons and daughters? They are children of the covenant; heirs to the promise…Could all of that go for naught?” (Quoted by Orson F. Whitney, Conference Report, Apr.1929, 110).
• Brigham Young said, “Let the father and mother, who are members of this Church and Kingdom, take a righteous course, and strive with all their might never to do a wrong, but to do good all their lives; if they have one child or one hundred children, if they conduct themselves towards them as they should, binding them to the Lord by their faith and prayers, I care not where those children go, they are bound up to their parents by an everlasting tie, and no power of earth or hell can separate them from their parents in eternity; they will return again to the fountain from whence they sprang” (quoted by Joseph Fielding Smith in Doctrines of Salvation, comp. Bruce R. McConkie, vol.2, p.90-91).
• Lorenzo Snow taught that “If you succeed in passing through these trials and afflictions and receive a resurrection, you will, by the power of the Priesthood, work and labor, as the Son of God has, until you get all your sons and daughters in the path of exaltation and glory. This is just as sure as that the sun rose this morning over yonder mountains. Therefore, mourn not because all your sons and daughters do not follow in the path that you have marked out to them, or give heed to your counsels. Inasmuch as we succeed in securing eternal glory, and stand as saviors, as kings and priests to our God, we will save our posterity” (in Collected Discourses, comp. Brian H. Study, [1987-92], vol.3, and p.364).
• Elder Boyd K. Packer said that “The measure of our success as parents…will not rest solely on how our children turn out. That judgment would be just only if we could raise our families in a perfectly moral environment, and that now is not possible. It is not uncommon for responsible parents to lose one of their children for a time, to influences over which they have no control. They agonize over rebellious sons or daughters. They are puzzled over why they are so helpless when they have tried so hard to do what they should…We cannot overemphasize the value of temple marriage, the binding ties of the sealing ordinance, and the standards of worthiness required of them. When parents keep the covenants they have made at the altar of the temple, their children will be forever bound to them” (“Our Moral Environment,” Ensign, May 1992, 68).
• Submitted by Elder and Sister Richardson of the Taylorsville Zone
• So after having only 2 people to teach the lord blessed us with some more people and now we have 6 people getting baptized on the 24th and one in January. I have such a strong testimony of diligence. Even when it seems that you have knocked every door and talked to everyone, the lord wants to test you to see how you work and then He will bless you with the people He has prepared to hear the gospel.
Monday, December 14, 2009
• One thing I really wanted to mention was the Spirit I felt as listened to the Christmas Devotional. We didn't get to watch it last night, but we did today. I especially liked the end of President Monson's talk, where he quoted the final verse of O Little Town of Bethlehem, which says "No ear may hear his coming, but in this world of sin, where meek souls will receive him, still the dear Christ enters in."
I just think that really applies to what we do. Even though there are so many hard-hearted people out there, the meek and humble still will receive Christ into their lives.
• It is our goal to see the zone surpass 100 lessons. 10 per companionship. I have full faith this is possible as we pray and work for it. This is looking up to be a white Christmas and New Years.
• OBEDIENCE=MORE FAITH Helaman 10:4-5 I’m sure that's a PMG scripture but I just thought I wanted to share with you. It struck me this week. 4 Blessed art thou, Nephi, for those things which thou hast done; for I have beheld how thou hast with unwearyingness declared the word, which I have given unto thee, unto this people. And thou hast not feared them, and hast not sought thine own life, but hast sought my will, and to keep my commandments. 5 And now, because thou hast done this with such unwearyingness, behold, I will bless thee forever; and I will make thee mighty in word and in deed, in faith and in works; yea, even that all things shall be done unto thee according to thy word, for thou shalt not ask that which is contrary to my will.
• We had a good week. It seems like weeks worth of finding efforts finally came to fruition, as we found 8 new investigators. It was great. We also should have at least 3 this week. It is proof to me that to find consistently it is important to be working hard all the times and it will finally add up. We won’t stop though.
• However from the zone conference I learn how important to ask question, so that we will know there concerns not only that is the language that were using we should try to be careful when we teach of using "yea"instead of "yea"use "Yes"or the using of the word "COOL" and It is so important that we should using respectful language when we teach not only that I learn how to use the book of Mormon to answer every question, and it was so true and mostly all of our investigator love readying the book of Mormon and I know that it is so powerful when we use the Book Of Mormon.
• At Zone Conference I learned that obedience gives us more faith and it also prevents us from becoming sinful. Obedience is the first law of heaven.
• Mosiah 2:41 - This is an easy one to understand, difficult to put into practice sometimes. But if we choose to be obedient to the commandments we've been given, if we're 100% obedient, we will be happier. The more we can focus the happier we are. I know this to be absolutely true. I'm more focused than I was weeks ago and I am very much happier for it.
• Also as I've been reading the book of Mormon looking for Christ in it. It has really helped me grow closer to my savior. I have been able to apply the things I've learned in my teaching as well. I love it.
• So something I learned from zone conference was that I needed to testify more of the book of Mormon. I have begun doing that and everyday I have testified and I have seen miracles happen. We were teaching a young man who has recently come back into activity and we were reading D&C 5 and 17, asking the question "what does it mean to be a witness?" After reading the D&C 5 a salesman came in, and actually sat down with us and started to listen in. We didn’t know his situation at all but we thought we would just carry on, so we read section 17 and had he read it. When he read the saviors testimony on the book of Mormon, he stopped, and nodded his head. We testified of the book of Mormon in simplicity and I believe that the sprit was carried to that salesman because he said "I'm not a member of the church, but I'm opening minded". We asked if he wanted a book of Mormon, and he accepted without hesitation. It was amazing because he did not know the beginning of lesson 1, he came in at the last principle and yet it was good enough because the book of Mormon covers all the principles before it in lesson 1. We will be meeting with him this week. And this all happened because we bore pure testimony of the book of Mormon.
• We had a great week! It was amazing! We've been praying and striving to hit 30 lessons a week, and things weren't looking too good by Saturday night. We had 21 lessons by then. That's still amazing, but we promised to hit 30. On Sunday, something amazing happened. It just so happened that EVERYONE we tried to contact was home and willing to hear a lesson! We got 9 lessons in one day with members present! It just goes to show that prayer, study and diligence all together with the Lord's will in it makes anything happen. This area's doing amazing and we have two more baptisms scheduled for this upcoming Saturday.
• We have been working on our OYM's for the past couple weeks and they are paying off. I went to talk to a young lady and she came out and said she wanted to meet with us before I could really get anything out. He fiancé is a member and she isn't. We are hoping they will make the temple their final goal. Right after that we talked to another young lady and she invited us over. It's amazing how the Lord works.
• What I learned at Zone conference was that I can be a better witness of the Book of Mormon. I have seem as of late just an increase in opposition to our investigators and it has been a struggle to get them to keep their commitments. The world is getting worse and we need the saving power of the Book of Mormon even more. I will not let Moron’s efforts of 37 years go to waste! The world needs to know about this!
• This Zone Conference I was touched profoundly by the spirit. Teaching is one of the things that I struggle with on my mission and at times I get sad because I feel like no matter how hard I study and strive to improve on my teaching skills I fail. At times I am overwhelmed with sadness because I feel like I am not improving or feel eloquent enough to teach. So last week I was thinking why the Lord called me on a mission when He knew that I was a horrible teacher. President Laney I have gotten on my needs pleading for help but it sometimes seems like I am not improving. When I went to Zone Conference and we watched the video about the man who testified to Brigham Young about his testimony of the Book of Mormon and how he felt like he wasn't good enough to testify yet his simple testimony touched Brigham Young. That eventually led to his desire to read the Book of Mormon and his conversion. I was so touched by that because I feel like that man I don't think I will ever feel good enough to teach the gospel beause I don't have words the Lord's truth deserves but I do have a TESTIMONY OF THE GOSPEL!!! I have a strong testimony that HE LIVES!! That Joseph Smith was a Prophet of God that the Book of Mormon is true and no matter how horrible I think I am teaching the investigators they will always know that I know that this church is true! I have a simple testimony and I was called to proclaim it and to testify what I know. The spirit told me at Zone Conference that I have something to offer even as I struggle with my teaching. Moses is always an inspiration to me because when he was called to be a prophet he felt like he wasn't good enough to speak to the people yet he was strengthen and became an amazing man. I know that my weaknesses can become strong in Christ for he is mighty and he knows and has compassion of my weaknesses and fears. I love my Savior he truly is my Friend and is always by my side to strengthen me.
• I'm doing the book of Mormon challenge and I've learned a lot so far. I know that by the end of the challenge I'll have a bigger testimony of it.
• Something that really stuck out to me at Zone Conference is when you said that you cannot replace the knowledge and time you have to learn and study the gospel in the next 2 years, with decades. So I have been taking a more serious thought to my study time. Because I would like to learn all that I can in the next 2 years... believe me when I tell you that time has been like a speeding freight train. It's heavy, loud, cause’s lots of commotion, but as soon as you see it, it’s gone again. I hope to savor the precious moment I have left thus far on my mission. Ring zone conference I learned that I need to use the book of Mormon more often and that I need to help my investigators gain a testimony of its truthfulness.
• Zone Conference was great. I felt like I needed to use the Book of Mormon better. I especially liked the training on Questions of the soul. I guess I am just too straightforward sometimes and say "Hey, do you want to listen or not." (Not exactly like that, but the general idea.) I need to show people why the Book of Mormon is going to answer their questions and how it will help them in their lives. And if they don't express questions I can come up with ways it has helped me resolve questions of the soul. I was also called to repentance by the film a man without eloquence and realized that while I try to bear testimony frequently, I can always do it more.
• My favorite part of zone conference was when we talked about using the Book of Mormon to answer the questions of the soul, and that’s something that sometimes we forget. Something I started doing was to write down the questions of my investigators and try to find the answers in the Book of Mormon. That's one of the activities in pmg that I've enjoyed the most, because you get the same questions over and over through out your mission and it’s great when they see and feel that the book contains all the answers they need.
• That reminds me that I need to write about zone conference. First of all, I simply love the Book of Mormon and testify about it every chance that I get. I have a strong personal testimony based on experiences that I've had on the mission that the Book of Mormon is the key to conversion. Even if an investigator rejects everything taught in a lesson, as long as they read the Book of Mormon, they will know that the church is true, and will overcome their doubts. I also like how we applied Alma 26:22 in the conference. How we can exercise faith in to find and the importance of being obedient. There are definitely some things that I can work on to increase my faith and improve obedience.
• Zone Conference was great on Thursday, and I'm glad it was very much focused on the Book of Mormon. Throughout my mission I've read to much of the New Testament, and not enough of the Book of Mormon. It's really nice getting the reminder that the Book of Mormon is the most correct book on the earth. I finally realized again that it doesn't matter what other people think about. It's true whether they want to believe it or not. Now our mission has a challenge to read the Book of Mormon in tree months along with marking the names of Christ, his attributes, and the words that he speaks. It's been very rewarding so far.
• What I learned in zone conference was never be afraid to bear your testimony about the book of Mormon, not matter the situation.
• Last week was an amazing week on Sunday we had a family baptism. When we started teaching the restoration and asked them to be baptized they accepted without hesitation. They said that they had heard the discussions before but that they were ready now to make the commitment of baptism. The daughter started taking seminary at school and her knowledge of the gospel gave her a desire to get baptized. At first the mother was hesitant about her daughters desire to be baptized but she was able to see the change that the gospel was taking place in her daughter and she had a desire to learn about the gospel. They bore their testimonies at the baptism and they were all crying from joy they said that they knew that the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints was the true church of Christ. That they wanted to always stay faithful to the commandments.
• Don't worry, that 10 up there for investigators to church is NOT a typo, unfortunately neither is the 0 on date...
We have come down with the cold finally, it was only a matter of time, so we figured that since our health was failing us Sunday, our investigators finally wouldn't, and if this hypothesis is true, I'm going to try and stay sick the rest of my mission!! Not really, but the sacrifice was worth it. And yes, those 10 people at church last week will translate into people on date this week.
• In Zone conference I learned that I need to testify of the Book of Mormon more, I always call the Book of Mormon my "Weapon of Mass Instruction" since I'm deprived of 6 shooter. But I did like the training from Elder Tolman at the end, he's so great. I REALLY don't like it when people always have kids come up to the font when someone gets baptized. So I'm going to start telling the WML or who ever is conducting NOT to invite kids to do that more often, and just set up little chairs in front. I also LOVE it when random people come in before the baptism and sit on the soft chairs in the front row, the seats that are obviously there for the family and people involved in the ordinance.
• This past week was a great learning experience for me personally. I loved Zone Conference, especially the insights and impressions I received about what the Savior thinks about the Book of Mormon. I had never really thought about that before. I think I had always had a testimony that it was true, but I never took the time to think about how valuable the Savior thinks the Book of Mormon is. It really strengthened my faith and courage in sharing the message of the Restoration and the Book of Mormon.
• Zone Conference which really helped me learns about the Savior. Then after Zone Conference, I studied all of the scripture references that were used during conference. That really fortified my testimony and faith in the power and spirit that comes with the Book of Mormon.
• Thanks for a good ZC, I really enjoyed it. I felt like I need to use the Book of Mormon more effectively and more often during lessons, and that is what I am going to do. And I learned, or I guess re-learned, how to resolve concerns from Elder England and Elder Pearson's training.
• I enjoyed Zone conference although I was really out of it the whole time. I learned how important the Book of Mormon it is in helping investigators gains a true conversion. I need to make sure my testimony of the Book of Mormon is kept sharp.
• I also learned that I should start using unique ideas for finding people.
• Should get many more on date this upcoming week, and our stake president had training on getting members to lessons for the Ward Mission Leaders here that I think will help us do that. We won't let the snow slow us down, working hard to be diligent. Zone Conference was great, we're role-playing asking questions and resolving those more. That may be what we need most to work on as a companionship is involving investigators more. It’s great to read the Book of Mormon and focus on the words of Christ. It’s pretty easy to tell whose talking by the way they speak. It’s very interesting to see that.
• I've been keeping up with the Book of Mormon challenge, and been loving it. I wish that I had appreciated the BoM like I do now before my mission. It's a beautiful, powerful compilation which has so much LIFE to it. Sometimes it seems incredible to me that people can read it and not feel a thing.
• What I got out of the zone conference was that my prayer's need to be more specific, and that the reward for obedience is faith. I learned quite a bit more about Moroni, and I liked that.
• I was reminded that I need to pray MORE specifically. That was a message I got from last zone conference as well and I got it again just this past week so I guess I am not doing it right. Also it reaffirmed that I need to teach from the Book of Mormon. Which is how I teach?
• This week I learned to be obedient with exactness, and to follow the Spirit in all decisions in finding investigators.
• We have been OYMing everybody. We've been checking referrals. We're asking to speak in every ward. We're starting a scripture study class. We're setting up appointments with our investigators. We're trying out all the finding tools we've been given. We're both going to work as hard as we can and we know the Lord will always help us as we ask him to.
• This past zone conference was very interesting and inspiring for us to keep going and keep working as hard as we have been to bring more souls unto Christ but, that our best tool of helping them receive that personal revelation is through reading and praying about the scriptures. I love the Book of Mormon challenge and so every person we meet with we try to start them on the 90-day challenge not only to help their testimonies but, also to feel like they are apart of the work in reading and thinking of the souls who still have yet to know the fullness of the gospel.
• I'm really enjoying the Book of Mormon challenge. Every time I read through the Book of Mormon, I find more that stands out to me. During zone conference I realized how much I have to work on memorizing scriptures. I've never been too good at memorization, but as I am persistent in my efforts as well as in prayer I know that the Lord will help me. I learnt a lot about asking question at Zone Conference. It really helps others when they can answer questions for themselves. It helps them to remember better and almost teach themselves. I will be trying to apply this as much as I can in future teaching.
• I really liked that sheet on Moroni. Just today I was reading Ether and it said that Moroni was going to stand during judgment for everyone to see that he has authority. So for those that discredit the Book of Mormon and the work that Moroni did, they will see and will regret not accepting it. Mosiah 2:41 means to me that obedience to the commandments is everything. You may have worldly things to loose, but absolutely everything to gain. You can't go wrong following the commandments.
• What I learned from the zone conference was mostly about the small but yet important details about the baptism services don't close the curtain etc.
• Zone Conference was very awesome as always. Learning about the Book of Mormon like that was really something I felt I needed. I feel that I am learning more about the Book of Mormon than I ever had, not just from reading the notes I took during the conference, but also taking that challenge of reading the Book of Mormon in 90 days.
• Finding is one of my favorite aspects of missionary work! One of the best things that I learned from Elder Collado, is that there are always golden investigators waiting to be found, the missionary just needs to have faith in the Lord so that you can be lead to the 1 percent. It was proven very true! On the way to a lesson that we were quite possibly going to be late for, the spirit prompted us to talk to this man named John who had been standing outside his apartment with his wife Tammy. John has gone to church the past three months or so in a different ward, just moved into the area, and his wife is a member. The first thing he said to us is that he wants to be sealed to his wife in the temple. But apparently- baptism is the first step. We caught John at the perfect time, because he had just barely gotten out of his apartment so that he could head off to work (which he was late for). And after talking with, and setting up a lesson with John, we traveled to our appointment which had to cancel on u.Just goes to show that the Lord works on his own timing.
• After bearing our testimonies this Sunday in Sacrament meeting, the bishop walked up to we and his eyes became moist. He told us that as we spoke a rush went through his face and he felt the spirit strongly. He also said that he enjoyed our simple testimonies. Also after bearing our testimonies, a brother by the name of David Rice walked up to us and told us that he had not been to church in over 30 years and would like for us to teach him. We set up a date and will be teaching him on Tuesday. Well I want you to know that I know that miracles are still occurring today. God is still a God of miracles (Mormon 9). I also know that obedience leads to stronger faith. Faith leads to miracles. And miracles are what we are looking for.
• Their area is still struggling though for some reason. I reminded them about Elder Snows advice to just sacrifice something, anything, the bigger the better. I love that concept because it's something you can do even when you can’t see anything wrong with the way you are working your area, if you are working your best. Kind of an indirect way to boost your area.
I just think that really applies to what we do. Even though there are so many hard-hearted people out there, the meek and humble still will receive Christ into their lives.
• It is our goal to see the zone surpass 100 lessons. 10 per companionship. I have full faith this is possible as we pray and work for it. This is looking up to be a white Christmas and New Years.
• OBEDIENCE=MORE FAITH Helaman 10:4-5 I’m sure that's a PMG scripture but I just thought I wanted to share with you. It struck me this week. 4 Blessed art thou, Nephi, for those things which thou hast done; for I have beheld how thou hast with unwearyingness declared the word, which I have given unto thee, unto this people. And thou hast not feared them, and hast not sought thine own life, but hast sought my will, and to keep my commandments. 5 And now, because thou hast done this with such unwearyingness, behold, I will bless thee forever; and I will make thee mighty in word and in deed, in faith and in works; yea, even that all things shall be done unto thee according to thy word, for thou shalt not ask that which is contrary to my will.
• We had a good week. It seems like weeks worth of finding efforts finally came to fruition, as we found 8 new investigators. It was great. We also should have at least 3 this week. It is proof to me that to find consistently it is important to be working hard all the times and it will finally add up. We won’t stop though.
• However from the zone conference I learn how important to ask question, so that we will know there concerns not only that is the language that were using we should try to be careful when we teach of using "yea"instead of "yea"use "Yes"or the using of the word "COOL" and It is so important that we should using respectful language when we teach not only that I learn how to use the book of Mormon to answer every question, and it was so true and mostly all of our investigator love readying the book of Mormon and I know that it is so powerful when we use the Book Of Mormon.
• At Zone Conference I learned that obedience gives us more faith and it also prevents us from becoming sinful. Obedience is the first law of heaven.
• Mosiah 2:41 - This is an easy one to understand, difficult to put into practice sometimes. But if we choose to be obedient to the commandments we've been given, if we're 100% obedient, we will be happier. The more we can focus the happier we are. I know this to be absolutely true. I'm more focused than I was weeks ago and I am very much happier for it.
• Also as I've been reading the book of Mormon looking for Christ in it. It has really helped me grow closer to my savior. I have been able to apply the things I've learned in my teaching as well. I love it.
• So something I learned from zone conference was that I needed to testify more of the book of Mormon. I have begun doing that and everyday I have testified and I have seen miracles happen. We were teaching a young man who has recently come back into activity and we were reading D&C 5 and 17, asking the question "what does it mean to be a witness?" After reading the D&C 5 a salesman came in, and actually sat down with us and started to listen in. We didn’t know his situation at all but we thought we would just carry on, so we read section 17 and had he read it. When he read the saviors testimony on the book of Mormon, he stopped, and nodded his head. We testified of the book of Mormon in simplicity and I believe that the sprit was carried to that salesman because he said "I'm not a member of the church, but I'm opening minded". We asked if he wanted a book of Mormon, and he accepted without hesitation. It was amazing because he did not know the beginning of lesson 1, he came in at the last principle and yet it was good enough because the book of Mormon covers all the principles before it in lesson 1. We will be meeting with him this week. And this all happened because we bore pure testimony of the book of Mormon.
• We had a great week! It was amazing! We've been praying and striving to hit 30 lessons a week, and things weren't looking too good by Saturday night. We had 21 lessons by then. That's still amazing, but we promised to hit 30. On Sunday, something amazing happened. It just so happened that EVERYONE we tried to contact was home and willing to hear a lesson! We got 9 lessons in one day with members present! It just goes to show that prayer, study and diligence all together with the Lord's will in it makes anything happen. This area's doing amazing and we have two more baptisms scheduled for this upcoming Saturday.
• We have been working on our OYM's for the past couple weeks and they are paying off. I went to talk to a young lady and she came out and said she wanted to meet with us before I could really get anything out. He fiancé is a member and she isn't. We are hoping they will make the temple their final goal. Right after that we talked to another young lady and she invited us over. It's amazing how the Lord works.
• What I learned at Zone conference was that I can be a better witness of the Book of Mormon. I have seem as of late just an increase in opposition to our investigators and it has been a struggle to get them to keep their commitments. The world is getting worse and we need the saving power of the Book of Mormon even more. I will not let Moron’s efforts of 37 years go to waste! The world needs to know about this!
• This Zone Conference I was touched profoundly by the spirit. Teaching is one of the things that I struggle with on my mission and at times I get sad because I feel like no matter how hard I study and strive to improve on my teaching skills I fail. At times I am overwhelmed with sadness because I feel like I am not improving or feel eloquent enough to teach. So last week I was thinking why the Lord called me on a mission when He knew that I was a horrible teacher. President Laney I have gotten on my needs pleading for help but it sometimes seems like I am not improving. When I went to Zone Conference and we watched the video about the man who testified to Brigham Young about his testimony of the Book of Mormon and how he felt like he wasn't good enough to testify yet his simple testimony touched Brigham Young. That eventually led to his desire to read the Book of Mormon and his conversion. I was so touched by that because I feel like that man I don't think I will ever feel good enough to teach the gospel beause I don't have words the Lord's truth deserves but I do have a TESTIMONY OF THE GOSPEL!!! I have a strong testimony that HE LIVES!! That Joseph Smith was a Prophet of God that the Book of Mormon is true and no matter how horrible I think I am teaching the investigators they will always know that I know that this church is true! I have a simple testimony and I was called to proclaim it and to testify what I know. The spirit told me at Zone Conference that I have something to offer even as I struggle with my teaching. Moses is always an inspiration to me because when he was called to be a prophet he felt like he wasn't good enough to speak to the people yet he was strengthen and became an amazing man. I know that my weaknesses can become strong in Christ for he is mighty and he knows and has compassion of my weaknesses and fears. I love my Savior he truly is my Friend and is always by my side to strengthen me.
• I'm doing the book of Mormon challenge and I've learned a lot so far. I know that by the end of the challenge I'll have a bigger testimony of it.
• Something that really stuck out to me at Zone Conference is when you said that you cannot replace the knowledge and time you have to learn and study the gospel in the next 2 years, with decades. So I have been taking a more serious thought to my study time. Because I would like to learn all that I can in the next 2 years... believe me when I tell you that time has been like a speeding freight train. It's heavy, loud, cause’s lots of commotion, but as soon as you see it, it’s gone again. I hope to savor the precious moment I have left thus far on my mission. Ring zone conference I learned that I need to use the book of Mormon more often and that I need to help my investigators gain a testimony of its truthfulness.
• Zone Conference was great. I felt like I needed to use the Book of Mormon better. I especially liked the training on Questions of the soul. I guess I am just too straightforward sometimes and say "Hey, do you want to listen or not." (Not exactly like that, but the general idea.) I need to show people why the Book of Mormon is going to answer their questions and how it will help them in their lives. And if they don't express questions I can come up with ways it has helped me resolve questions of the soul. I was also called to repentance by the film a man without eloquence and realized that while I try to bear testimony frequently, I can always do it more.
• My favorite part of zone conference was when we talked about using the Book of Mormon to answer the questions of the soul, and that’s something that sometimes we forget. Something I started doing was to write down the questions of my investigators and try to find the answers in the Book of Mormon. That's one of the activities in pmg that I've enjoyed the most, because you get the same questions over and over through out your mission and it’s great when they see and feel that the book contains all the answers they need.
• That reminds me that I need to write about zone conference. First of all, I simply love the Book of Mormon and testify about it every chance that I get. I have a strong personal testimony based on experiences that I've had on the mission that the Book of Mormon is the key to conversion. Even if an investigator rejects everything taught in a lesson, as long as they read the Book of Mormon, they will know that the church is true, and will overcome their doubts. I also like how we applied Alma 26:22 in the conference. How we can exercise faith in to find and the importance of being obedient. There are definitely some things that I can work on to increase my faith and improve obedience.
• Zone Conference was great on Thursday, and I'm glad it was very much focused on the Book of Mormon. Throughout my mission I've read to much of the New Testament, and not enough of the Book of Mormon. It's really nice getting the reminder that the Book of Mormon is the most correct book on the earth. I finally realized again that it doesn't matter what other people think about. It's true whether they want to believe it or not. Now our mission has a challenge to read the Book of Mormon in tree months along with marking the names of Christ, his attributes, and the words that he speaks. It's been very rewarding so far.
• What I learned in zone conference was never be afraid to bear your testimony about the book of Mormon, not matter the situation.
• Last week was an amazing week on Sunday we had a family baptism. When we started teaching the restoration and asked them to be baptized they accepted without hesitation. They said that they had heard the discussions before but that they were ready now to make the commitment of baptism. The daughter started taking seminary at school and her knowledge of the gospel gave her a desire to get baptized. At first the mother was hesitant about her daughters desire to be baptized but she was able to see the change that the gospel was taking place in her daughter and she had a desire to learn about the gospel. They bore their testimonies at the baptism and they were all crying from joy they said that they knew that the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints was the true church of Christ. That they wanted to always stay faithful to the commandments.
• Don't worry, that 10 up there for investigators to church is NOT a typo, unfortunately neither is the 0 on date...
We have come down with the cold finally, it was only a matter of time, so we figured that since our health was failing us Sunday, our investigators finally wouldn't, and if this hypothesis is true, I'm going to try and stay sick the rest of my mission!! Not really, but the sacrifice was worth it. And yes, those 10 people at church last week will translate into people on date this week.
• In Zone conference I learned that I need to testify of the Book of Mormon more, I always call the Book of Mormon my "Weapon of Mass Instruction" since I'm deprived of 6 shooter. But I did like the training from Elder Tolman at the end, he's so great. I REALLY don't like it when people always have kids come up to the font when someone gets baptized. So I'm going to start telling the WML or who ever is conducting NOT to invite kids to do that more often, and just set up little chairs in front. I also LOVE it when random people come in before the baptism and sit on the soft chairs in the front row, the seats that are obviously there for the family and people involved in the ordinance.
• This past week was a great learning experience for me personally. I loved Zone Conference, especially the insights and impressions I received about what the Savior thinks about the Book of Mormon. I had never really thought about that before. I think I had always had a testimony that it was true, but I never took the time to think about how valuable the Savior thinks the Book of Mormon is. It really strengthened my faith and courage in sharing the message of the Restoration and the Book of Mormon.
• Zone Conference which really helped me learns about the Savior. Then after Zone Conference, I studied all of the scripture references that were used during conference. That really fortified my testimony and faith in the power and spirit that comes with the Book of Mormon.
• Thanks for a good ZC, I really enjoyed it. I felt like I need to use the Book of Mormon more effectively and more often during lessons, and that is what I am going to do. And I learned, or I guess re-learned, how to resolve concerns from Elder England and Elder Pearson's training.
• I enjoyed Zone conference although I was really out of it the whole time. I learned how important the Book of Mormon it is in helping investigators gains a true conversion. I need to make sure my testimony of the Book of Mormon is kept sharp.
• I also learned that I should start using unique ideas for finding people.
• Should get many more on date this upcoming week, and our stake president had training on getting members to lessons for the Ward Mission Leaders here that I think will help us do that. We won't let the snow slow us down, working hard to be diligent. Zone Conference was great, we're role-playing asking questions and resolving those more. That may be what we need most to work on as a companionship is involving investigators more. It’s great to read the Book of Mormon and focus on the words of Christ. It’s pretty easy to tell whose talking by the way they speak. It’s very interesting to see that.
• I've been keeping up with the Book of Mormon challenge, and been loving it. I wish that I had appreciated the BoM like I do now before my mission. It's a beautiful, powerful compilation which has so much LIFE to it. Sometimes it seems incredible to me that people can read it and not feel a thing.
• What I got out of the zone conference was that my prayer's need to be more specific, and that the reward for obedience is faith. I learned quite a bit more about Moroni, and I liked that.
• I was reminded that I need to pray MORE specifically. That was a message I got from last zone conference as well and I got it again just this past week so I guess I am not doing it right. Also it reaffirmed that I need to teach from the Book of Mormon. Which is how I teach?
• This week I learned to be obedient with exactness, and to follow the Spirit in all decisions in finding investigators.
• We have been OYMing everybody. We've been checking referrals. We're asking to speak in every ward. We're starting a scripture study class. We're setting up appointments with our investigators. We're trying out all the finding tools we've been given. We're both going to work as hard as we can and we know the Lord will always help us as we ask him to.
• This past zone conference was very interesting and inspiring for us to keep going and keep working as hard as we have been to bring more souls unto Christ but, that our best tool of helping them receive that personal revelation is through reading and praying about the scriptures. I love the Book of Mormon challenge and so every person we meet with we try to start them on the 90-day challenge not only to help their testimonies but, also to feel like they are apart of the work in reading and thinking of the souls who still have yet to know the fullness of the gospel.
• I'm really enjoying the Book of Mormon challenge. Every time I read through the Book of Mormon, I find more that stands out to me. During zone conference I realized how much I have to work on memorizing scriptures. I've never been too good at memorization, but as I am persistent in my efforts as well as in prayer I know that the Lord will help me. I learnt a lot about asking question at Zone Conference. It really helps others when they can answer questions for themselves. It helps them to remember better and almost teach themselves. I will be trying to apply this as much as I can in future teaching.
• I really liked that sheet on Moroni. Just today I was reading Ether and it said that Moroni was going to stand during judgment for everyone to see that he has authority. So for those that discredit the Book of Mormon and the work that Moroni did, they will see and will regret not accepting it. Mosiah 2:41 means to me that obedience to the commandments is everything. You may have worldly things to loose, but absolutely everything to gain. You can't go wrong following the commandments.
• What I learned from the zone conference was mostly about the small but yet important details about the baptism services don't close the curtain etc.
• Zone Conference was very awesome as always. Learning about the Book of Mormon like that was really something I felt I needed. I feel that I am learning more about the Book of Mormon than I ever had, not just from reading the notes I took during the conference, but also taking that challenge of reading the Book of Mormon in 90 days.
• Finding is one of my favorite aspects of missionary work! One of the best things that I learned from Elder Collado, is that there are always golden investigators waiting to be found, the missionary just needs to have faith in the Lord so that you can be lead to the 1 percent. It was proven very true! On the way to a lesson that we were quite possibly going to be late for, the spirit prompted us to talk to this man named John who had been standing outside his apartment with his wife Tammy. John has gone to church the past three months or so in a different ward, just moved into the area, and his wife is a member. The first thing he said to us is that he wants to be sealed to his wife in the temple. But apparently- baptism is the first step. We caught John at the perfect time, because he had just barely gotten out of his apartment so that he could head off to work (which he was late for). And after talking with, and setting up a lesson with John, we traveled to our appointment which had to cancel on u.Just goes to show that the Lord works on his own timing.
• After bearing our testimonies this Sunday in Sacrament meeting, the bishop walked up to we and his eyes became moist. He told us that as we spoke a rush went through his face and he felt the spirit strongly. He also said that he enjoyed our simple testimonies. Also after bearing our testimonies, a brother by the name of David Rice walked up to us and told us that he had not been to church in over 30 years and would like for us to teach him. We set up a date and will be teaching him on Tuesday. Well I want you to know that I know that miracles are still occurring today. God is still a God of miracles (Mormon 9). I also know that obedience leads to stronger faith. Faith leads to miracles. And miracles are what we are looking for.
• Their area is still struggling though for some reason. I reminded them about Elder Snows advice to just sacrifice something, anything, the bigger the better. I love that concept because it's something you can do even when you can’t see anything wrong with the way you are working your area, if you are working your best. Kind of an indirect way to boost your area.
Monday, December 7, 2009
• My companion and I have had great success. Yesterday we spoke in sacrament meeting three times. Every time we spoke about members working with the missionaries. After a day of what seemed like no success and pointless walking in the snow, we decided to go the extra mile. After we came in for the night, we got several phone calls. One person called, saying that their daughter wants to be baptized and has been attending church with them for several weeks. All of a sudden we were able to teach families that we were not allowed to before. By Wednesday of this week we will have taught more lessons than we have in the last few weeks. Miracles are still happening today. What I'm trying to say is we MUST go the extra mile.
• We also found 3 new investigators this week. Even though all three were from referrals that members having working with for awhile, I know it is because of our efforts to ask our investigators for referrals. Teach when you find, find when you teach.
• We've been trying to include the less-active members in missionary work. We invited a less-active returned-missionary to share his testimony at the baptismal service, but he wouldn't so we invited the less-active Dad of a recent convert to do the same, but he didn't come, but we'll keep trying! I've realized that I've made the mistake of just including the active members that I think are best for the job, when including everyone foments a lot more unity and helps a lot more people out.
• I forgot to email you last few times about zone conference. I learned that when we are obedient, it not only helps with the work, but with our faith. I also learned more of the importance of the book of Mormon (not like I didn't already) but I think it helped inspire me to read it more and I had a desire by the time I left ZC. Things get old, but it's always good to get a reminder.
• Reading the Book of Mormon, I noticed that the most commonly mentioned Christ-like attribute isn't faith or obedience or any of that. It's power. The power of God, his atonement. So I'm going to try to be more powerful.
• This has been a great week! We are finding some new investigators and seeing success. One of the families that were previously taught before I moved into the area has accepted the missionaries to come back. I'm glad I had the opportunity to meet them, they are a fantastic family. Also, we are having much success with the Ward Mission Leaders in using their help in finding more people that speak Spanish. The Stake President has been a tremendous blessing as well. The Lord truly does have his hand in all things, especially his work. One night this last we week we decided to stop by one of our investigators without an appointment but we were in the area at the time and wanted to check up. Turns out the father wanted a blessing and was going through some pretty hard times. Turns out, we were exactly in the right place, at the right time.
• What I learned at Zone Conference: I learned the importance of getting more familiar with the Book of Mormon. What I felt: I really did feel the spirit testifying to me of the importance of obedience, how it's the greatest act of faith we can do now.
• The BoM challenge is going wonderfully. I am really enjoying it. The pages just seem to fly by! I have never realized before how many references there are to the Savior. It's awesome!
• This week went very well. I've been working on my faith and diligence with the work, and we've seen immediate results. We started to talk to more people and we started finding people (surprise surprise). Imagine that. We kind of fell in a groove, like we all do, and we're getting out of it. Tracting, trying new things with the ward, getting people to come out with us, and a few other things. It really goes to show that there are people ready to receive the gospel EVERYWHERE. Even people, who have lived in Utah their whole lives, attended church until they are 14 and want their son to be baptized.
• What I'm going to apply: I'm going to read the Book of Mormon in 90 days! I want to continue reading it the rest of my life! It's the book that brings me mo9st joy!
• What Mosiah 2 means to me is that those that keep the commandments are blessed in many ways. Ways here in this life and after, physically and spiritually. Blessed are they that keep the commandments of God for they will have never-ending happiness! What a great scripture!!
• This week we’re trying to get our investigators solidified for their baptismal dates, because the 14 people who are on date look great on achieving their baptismal date. And the zone conference was perfect for them, because almost all of them have been stressed with the necessity of reading the BOM to know the Truth. And they all have said that they felt the Holy Ghost when they are reading it. Even in the families, the couples are reading them together.
• So we had the baptisms yesterday for the Zamora family. It was great! We had a lot of people there and the spirit was strong. That really helped the non-members at the baptism realize that baptism is very important ordinance. I have a great testimony of using baptismal services as finding tools. There's always at least one person that wants to get baptized afterwards and yesterday was not an exception. We started to talk to this guy and he said he wanted to get baptized and we'll start teaching him right away....
• The Stake President got up after I did and confirmed what I said to be true He asked if we had hit our goal for teaching 21 lessons this week and I said no. He than turned to the congregation and said that it was the fault of the members and he called them all to repentance. It was amazing, the power of the spirit that I could feel in the room was tremendous and I will never forget it.
• This past week has been a pretty good one. The top two highlights were Zone Conference…But it was something I needed to hear. And reading the Book of Mormon and specifically looking for the Savior's name and his words. Just from reading 1 Nephi there were so many things that I had not noticed before. I also realized that faith is something I need to work on; I have been lacking faith in this area and in myself.
• Then Zone Conference was great Learned Allot. Faith Is Essential to this work and obedience is the price for that. Learned to ask more questions when I teach and better ones. The spirit was very strong the entire meeting. To be honest with you president I have no idea why I cried. Maybe its because I realized I’m going home and I’m not going to be doing this full time anymore. Or because I just felt very peaceful. I feel really good about everything no bad feelings about on anything. That night we had a baptism and that was wonderful.
• I really learned a lot at Zone Conference. One thing that really hit me was that the Book of Mormon can solve any concerns. That any doubts of the gospel can be solved with a testimony of the Book of Mormon. I was even able to put this into practice the very next day after zone conference. It was amazing to see the Spirit bring the things I learned in Zone Conference to my remembrance.
• I learned from Zone Conference, more reminded, the most was the importance of using questions and being a good teacher from that most wonderful senior couple that instructed us so wonderfully. It was profound and it has influenced me to want to use a lot more questions in my teaching again. I also learned all the things and greatness of Moroni to get the Book of Mormon here. I didn't know he wandered for about 37 years alone; just to get the record to the correct spot so Joseph Smith could bring it up in a future time.
• The area is picking up a little bit. I think by the end of this week we'll have at least 8 people on date. And hopefully we baptized more before the transfer is over. The companionship is doing very well; we do not have any problems. We're improving in our teaching skills and our unity while teaching.
• The week went well and zone conference was amazing. I know I shouldn't say that but it is the only work to describe it. I learned that the Book of Mormon has a sweet spirit to it and we should use it in all the aspects of our lives. It helps out a lot and we are going to start reading the whole thing with an investigator and hope that he feels the spirit. I am testifying of it more and I am using it and carrying it all over the place. No matter where I go I have a Book of Mormon with me.
• We had 2 more baptisms yesterday and it was incredible! The father is less-active and the mother is a non-member but they have wanted the kids to be baptized for a while and yesterday they were! The next step is to get the mom baptized and then to get the family to the temple! I really want to see a family be sealed on my mission and there is nothing I want more than to see that happen and it can! The mom has wanted to be baptized for a while too but she is overcoming smoking but after seeing her son and daughter is baptized she really wants to be baptized now! The lord is working on the family and I can tell he really wants them to be sealed in his temple and that is what I want for them! It was incredible to see the family come closer and after the baptism I just keep seeing them getting sealed in the temple!!! They are almost there and I hope and pray that they will keep working towards that!
• To see how great a miracle that was please look about 4 months back and again about 2 1/2 months back to see their family situation. Let's just say that they were thinking of getting a divorce 4-5 months ago when we knocked on the door. Since the whole family has become active, she teaches primary, he gave a lesson in High Priests, and their 12 year old un-baptized son who was rebellious as all get out got baptized, and they were all smiling and I think the parents actually kind of like each other now!!! The gospel does bless families.
• Church was great this week, we had Mark and Sonya’s whole family comes. They have 4 kids, and 3 who are at baptism age. They told us to not come back a few weeks ago, but told us to come back Wednesday at church. The 18 year old Victor, who was the hardest to work with, loved church and is gaining a testimony of the book of Mormon. He has read a little and prayed about it. A member he works with gave him a few scriptures and told him to pray about it, so it’s been great! He was even mentioning the other day about a mission and what he would have to do to go on one. It was an amazing experience to hear that out of him... Everything for this Saturday’s baptism with Spencer Lamb is ready, he is excited and there will be over a hundred people there, so good turn out!!
• The baptisms we had yesterday were absolutely great. We had a family of five that were baptized. The amount of support displayed by the branch was amazing. We made sure to make invitations and talk about the service with as many people as we could during the week because we wanted the baptism to be special. It was truly amazing how strong the Spirit was. We also were able to find a referral for another mission because of the service. He felt the Spirit and told us afterward that he wants to be baptized.
• Our work with recent converts and less actives slacked a little this week because we were focused on the baptism so much. However, we did invite one of our recent convert families to bear their testimonies at the baptism. It was so fulfilling to hear their testimonies of the restoration and about the importance of baptism. My studies this week really lifted my spirituality. I have been surprised just how much I can learn in two hours. I don't learn anything that I did not know before; I think the Lord is just showing me new ways to apply things that I already knew.
• I finished the book of Mormon last week and restarted doing the challenge now. I already noticed many things I hadn't before. This will be the 4th time I read the book of Mormon on my mission.
• We had a great baptism last weekend. Tanner, who had been taught for a long time by the missionaries in Provo (he used to live in Provo until recently), decided for himself the Church was true. How was it done? Superior fellowship, I have never seen members rally around an investigator with so much friendliness. After he was baptized all his friends.
• I made some sacrifices last week, and just in the last two days we received 2 referrals from members, the first time in a long time. This week we should be picking up 2 new investigators.
• I think we definitely have seen the blessings that have come with sacrifice as we have found 7 new investigators in the last two weeks.
• On Sunday we had a wonderful opportunity to go to a gospel essentials class where a less active couple we are working with came. It was an amazing lesson on prayer and they both were asking questions and everyone opened up to them and both felt extremely welcomed. It was amazing. Also the teacher also brought her inactive daughter in law along (which we had no idea) and she opened up and said she had an amazing feeling and said she now wanted you come back to church. And she hadn’t been to church in 20 years!!! It was awesome.
• We also found 3 new investigators this week. Even though all three were from referrals that members having working with for awhile, I know it is because of our efforts to ask our investigators for referrals. Teach when you find, find when you teach.
• We've been trying to include the less-active members in missionary work. We invited a less-active returned-missionary to share his testimony at the baptismal service, but he wouldn't so we invited the less-active Dad of a recent convert to do the same, but he didn't come, but we'll keep trying! I've realized that I've made the mistake of just including the active members that I think are best for the job, when including everyone foments a lot more unity and helps a lot more people out.
• I forgot to email you last few times about zone conference. I learned that when we are obedient, it not only helps with the work, but with our faith. I also learned more of the importance of the book of Mormon (not like I didn't already) but I think it helped inspire me to read it more and I had a desire by the time I left ZC. Things get old, but it's always good to get a reminder.
• Reading the Book of Mormon, I noticed that the most commonly mentioned Christ-like attribute isn't faith or obedience or any of that. It's power. The power of God, his atonement. So I'm going to try to be more powerful.
• This has been a great week! We are finding some new investigators and seeing success. One of the families that were previously taught before I moved into the area has accepted the missionaries to come back. I'm glad I had the opportunity to meet them, they are a fantastic family. Also, we are having much success with the Ward Mission Leaders in using their help in finding more people that speak Spanish. The Stake President has been a tremendous blessing as well. The Lord truly does have his hand in all things, especially his work. One night this last we week we decided to stop by one of our investigators without an appointment but we were in the area at the time and wanted to check up. Turns out the father wanted a blessing and was going through some pretty hard times. Turns out, we were exactly in the right place, at the right time.
• What I learned at Zone Conference: I learned the importance of getting more familiar with the Book of Mormon. What I felt: I really did feel the spirit testifying to me of the importance of obedience, how it's the greatest act of faith we can do now.
• The BoM challenge is going wonderfully. I am really enjoying it. The pages just seem to fly by! I have never realized before how many references there are to the Savior. It's awesome!
• This week went very well. I've been working on my faith and diligence with the work, and we've seen immediate results. We started to talk to more people and we started finding people (surprise surprise). Imagine that. We kind of fell in a groove, like we all do, and we're getting out of it. Tracting, trying new things with the ward, getting people to come out with us, and a few other things. It really goes to show that there are people ready to receive the gospel EVERYWHERE. Even people, who have lived in Utah their whole lives, attended church until they are 14 and want their son to be baptized.
• What I'm going to apply: I'm going to read the Book of Mormon in 90 days! I want to continue reading it the rest of my life! It's the book that brings me mo9st joy!
• What Mosiah 2 means to me is that those that keep the commandments are blessed in many ways. Ways here in this life and after, physically and spiritually. Blessed are they that keep the commandments of God for they will have never-ending happiness! What a great scripture!!
• This week we’re trying to get our investigators solidified for their baptismal dates, because the 14 people who are on date look great on achieving their baptismal date. And the zone conference was perfect for them, because almost all of them have been stressed with the necessity of reading the BOM to know the Truth. And they all have said that they felt the Holy Ghost when they are reading it. Even in the families, the couples are reading them together.
• So we had the baptisms yesterday for the Zamora family. It was great! We had a lot of people there and the spirit was strong. That really helped the non-members at the baptism realize that baptism is very important ordinance. I have a great testimony of using baptismal services as finding tools. There's always at least one person that wants to get baptized afterwards and yesterday was not an exception. We started to talk to this guy and he said he wanted to get baptized and we'll start teaching him right away....
• The Stake President got up after I did and confirmed what I said to be true He asked if we had hit our goal for teaching 21 lessons this week and I said no. He than turned to the congregation and said that it was the fault of the members and he called them all to repentance. It was amazing, the power of the spirit that I could feel in the room was tremendous and I will never forget it.
• This past week has been a pretty good one. The top two highlights were Zone Conference…But it was something I needed to hear. And reading the Book of Mormon and specifically looking for the Savior's name and his words. Just from reading 1 Nephi there were so many things that I had not noticed before. I also realized that faith is something I need to work on; I have been lacking faith in this area and in myself.
• Then Zone Conference was great Learned Allot. Faith Is Essential to this work and obedience is the price for that. Learned to ask more questions when I teach and better ones. The spirit was very strong the entire meeting. To be honest with you president I have no idea why I cried. Maybe its because I realized I’m going home and I’m not going to be doing this full time anymore. Or because I just felt very peaceful. I feel really good about everything no bad feelings about on anything. That night we had a baptism and that was wonderful.
• I really learned a lot at Zone Conference. One thing that really hit me was that the Book of Mormon can solve any concerns. That any doubts of the gospel can be solved with a testimony of the Book of Mormon. I was even able to put this into practice the very next day after zone conference. It was amazing to see the Spirit bring the things I learned in Zone Conference to my remembrance.
• I learned from Zone Conference, more reminded, the most was the importance of using questions and being a good teacher from that most wonderful senior couple that instructed us so wonderfully. It was profound and it has influenced me to want to use a lot more questions in my teaching again. I also learned all the things and greatness of Moroni to get the Book of Mormon here. I didn't know he wandered for about 37 years alone; just to get the record to the correct spot so Joseph Smith could bring it up in a future time.
• The area is picking up a little bit. I think by the end of this week we'll have at least 8 people on date. And hopefully we baptized more before the transfer is over. The companionship is doing very well; we do not have any problems. We're improving in our teaching skills and our unity while teaching.
• The week went well and zone conference was amazing. I know I shouldn't say that but it is the only work to describe it. I learned that the Book of Mormon has a sweet spirit to it and we should use it in all the aspects of our lives. It helps out a lot and we are going to start reading the whole thing with an investigator and hope that he feels the spirit. I am testifying of it more and I am using it and carrying it all over the place. No matter where I go I have a Book of Mormon with me.
• We had 2 more baptisms yesterday and it was incredible! The father is less-active and the mother is a non-member but they have wanted the kids to be baptized for a while and yesterday they were! The next step is to get the mom baptized and then to get the family to the temple! I really want to see a family be sealed on my mission and there is nothing I want more than to see that happen and it can! The mom has wanted to be baptized for a while too but she is overcoming smoking but after seeing her son and daughter is baptized she really wants to be baptized now! The lord is working on the family and I can tell he really wants them to be sealed in his temple and that is what I want for them! It was incredible to see the family come closer and after the baptism I just keep seeing them getting sealed in the temple!!! They are almost there and I hope and pray that they will keep working towards that!
• To see how great a miracle that was please look about 4 months back and again about 2 1/2 months back to see their family situation. Let's just say that they were thinking of getting a divorce 4-5 months ago when we knocked on the door. Since the whole family has become active, she teaches primary, he gave a lesson in High Priests, and their 12 year old un-baptized son who was rebellious as all get out got baptized, and they were all smiling and I think the parents actually kind of like each other now!!! The gospel does bless families.
• Church was great this week, we had Mark and Sonya’s whole family comes. They have 4 kids, and 3 who are at baptism age. They told us to not come back a few weeks ago, but told us to come back Wednesday at church. The 18 year old Victor, who was the hardest to work with, loved church and is gaining a testimony of the book of Mormon. He has read a little and prayed about it. A member he works with gave him a few scriptures and told him to pray about it, so it’s been great! He was even mentioning the other day about a mission and what he would have to do to go on one. It was an amazing experience to hear that out of him... Everything for this Saturday’s baptism with Spencer Lamb is ready, he is excited and there will be over a hundred people there, so good turn out!!
• The baptisms we had yesterday were absolutely great. We had a family of five that were baptized. The amount of support displayed by the branch was amazing. We made sure to make invitations and talk about the service with as many people as we could during the week because we wanted the baptism to be special. It was truly amazing how strong the Spirit was. We also were able to find a referral for another mission because of the service. He felt the Spirit and told us afterward that he wants to be baptized.
• Our work with recent converts and less actives slacked a little this week because we were focused on the baptism so much. However, we did invite one of our recent convert families to bear their testimonies at the baptism. It was so fulfilling to hear their testimonies of the restoration and about the importance of baptism. My studies this week really lifted my spirituality. I have been surprised just how much I can learn in two hours. I don't learn anything that I did not know before; I think the Lord is just showing me new ways to apply things that I already knew.
• I finished the book of Mormon last week and restarted doing the challenge now. I already noticed many things I hadn't before. This will be the 4th time I read the book of Mormon on my mission.
• We had a great baptism last weekend. Tanner, who had been taught for a long time by the missionaries in Provo (he used to live in Provo until recently), decided for himself the Church was true. How was it done? Superior fellowship, I have never seen members rally around an investigator with so much friendliness. After he was baptized all his friends.
• I made some sacrifices last week, and just in the last two days we received 2 referrals from members, the first time in a long time. This week we should be picking up 2 new investigators.
• I think we definitely have seen the blessings that have come with sacrifice as we have found 7 new investigators in the last two weeks.
• On Sunday we had a wonderful opportunity to go to a gospel essentials class where a less active couple we are working with came. It was an amazing lesson on prayer and they both were asking questions and everyone opened up to them and both felt extremely welcomed. It was amazing. Also the teacher also brought her inactive daughter in law along (which we had no idea) and she opened up and said she had an amazing feeling and said she now wanted you come back to church. And she hadn’t been to church in 20 years!!! It was awesome.
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