Zone Conference For You (May 2014)

In our mission, every other transfer (roughly every three months) we have the opportunity to meet together for Zone Conferences. This is a great opportunity for every zone in the mission to receive training from our mission president, mission mom, assistants to the president; as well as the zone leaders and sister training leaders respective to that geographic area.

Each zone is taught the same overall content, while still receiving the material in a way that's guided by the Spirit for the specific needs of those missionaries in that particular meeting.

President Riggs taught us the importance of owning our area. We only have one chance to set a good first impression. Without us missionaries our friends won't know the truth. Don't tell yourself that another missionary after you will handle it, or that person on the street will have their chance to accept the gospel in the next life. We have the answers for them here and now! We learn in Doctrine and Covenants 123:12-13 that they are, "...kept from the truth because they know not where to find it—therefore, that we should waste and wear out our lives in bringing to light all the hidden things of darkness..." We MUST own our areas in order to illuminate the lives of those around us. Let's take control. Teach them true doctrine and invite them to repent. President encouraged us, "Let them know they can trust you. Let them know that YOU are a servant of God." 

This trust is especially crucial with our ward members. It is in this unified effort that the Lord expects His work to be done. We build that trust and work best with members by teaching them the message of the restored gospel. "Strengthening their understanding of the doctrine of Christ will do more to increase their trust in you and to build their excitement to do missionary work than anything else you can do (Preach My Gospel, pg 161)". Teaching them will do more than anything else we can do! Missionaries, are you working with your members? Members, are you feeling the spirit of missionary work in your homes as the missionaries come by? When we come, our objective is to have powerful, revelatory interactions that renew all of our desires to share His gospel, while respecting the Lord's time and the time of those we teach. 

Every lesson - whether we're teaching a non-member, member, or less-active should begin with the How to Begin Teaching points found in chapter 10 of Preach My Gospel (pg 175). These are here for us to use. They help us 1) identify ourselves as representatives of Jesus Christ, 2) establish expectations for both parties, and above all, 3) invite the Spirit. When a missionary builds a relationship of love and trust (BLT) with those they teach they are more successful in helping them on their personal journey home to our Heavenly Father.

Are we doing enough? Are we following-up with our friends that we are inviting to change? Without follow-up, an invite is useless. Commitment: obligating oneself to a course of action and then diligently following through on that decision. When we are committed to our friends and their progression in the gospel, we are more bold in our invitations; we truly desire for them to keep their commitments and move towards eternal life (PMG, pg 195). Pray for help from our Heavenly Father to find those ready to change.