Zone Conference (August 2014)

This past transfer, we had the privilege of learning from our leaders once again. We were taught an array of subjects, ranging from the Doctrine of Christ to inviting people to be baptized on a specific date. But any missionary can tell you what the overall theme of this Zone Conference was: The Spirit.

 

How do we RECEIVE the Spirit?

President Riggs reminded us that we may be given the gift of the Holy Ghost after baptism, but to receive the Holy Ghost is an "ongoing command". We learn from 2 Nephi 31:13 that certain steps must be taken in order to have the Spirit with us:

"...I know that if ye shall follow the Son, with full purpose of heart, acting no hypocrisy and no deception before God, but with real intent... then shall ye receive the Holy Ghost..."

We must first "follow the Son, with full purpose of heart", but how can we do this? How do we know that we are choosing to following Christ with our WHOLE heart? When speaking at a Mission President Seminar, Elder Bednar taught the heart is the "sum total of our desires, affections, intentions, motives, and attitudes." As we personally reflect on each of those thoughts and feelings, we will know just how committed we are to our Savior.

 

What exactly is "real intent"?

To have "real intent" is to intend to act on the answer that we receive from God, whether or not it is an answer we're expecting or desiring. To have real intent is to submit our will to God and trust in Him completely. As we choose to live our lives in such a way, we will be receiving the Spirit continually! 2 Nephi 33:1 states: "...when a man speaketh‍ by the power of the Holy Ghost the power of the Holy Ghost carrieth it unto the hearts of the children of men." The Holy Ghost only has the ability to come unto our hearts; we have real intent as we let Him into our hearts.  

 

How does the Spirit work within us?

President Packer reminds us that: “The voice of the Spirit is described in the scriptures as being neither ‘loud’ nor ‘harsh.’ It is ‘not a voice of thunder, neither … voice of a great tumultuous noise.’ But rather, ‘a still voice of perfect mildness, as if it had been a whisper,’ and it can ‘pierce even to the very soul’ and ‘cause [the heart] to burn.’" As we pray and study our scriptures daily, we must be searching for these whisperings of the Spirit.

We are able to do this as we take time to PONDER. President Joseph F. Smith was an excellent example of this: "...I sat in my room pondering‍ over the scriptures; and reflecting‍ upon the great atoning sacrifice‍ that was made by the Son of God, for the redemption‍ of the world..." (Doctrine and Covenants 138:1-2). We are promised that as we set aside time to ponder and reflect, the Spirit will touch our hearts and teach us truth.

President Riggs assured us that we may feel the Spirit prompt us to do something that we don't understand. And He may even prompt us to do something that ultimately doesn't work out! Elder Robert C. Gay tells us in the September 2014 Ensign: "Don’t fret at how irrational the voice of the Spirit may seem. God is in control and knows what is necessary and right. Always be guided by the Holy Ghost." Thus as full-time missionaries or even member missionaries, we will be blessed when we rely on the Spirit by "letting go and letting GOD!"

Elder Ballard Conference

Last weekend, we had the opportunity to attend a tri-mission conference held at the Stake Center adjacent to the Washington DC Temple. The missionaries in attendance hailed from the Washington DC North and South Missions and the Baltimore Maryland Mission. We had the pleasure of hearing from: 

Elder Chi Hong (Sam) Wong, of the First Quorum of the Seventy

Elder Wong first addressed us, and focused on the importance of members as we seek to help "the one". He paralleled how our missionary work should function similar to the miracle found in Mark 2, where Christ heals the man with palsy. The four people that together carry this man to Jesus can represent some of the auxiliary members in Ward Council, such as the Elders Quorum President, Relief Society President, Young Men or Young Women Presidents, and of course, the missionary. In order for the full weight of that man to be lifted successfully, ALL four people needed to act in UNISON. If one were to fall or not be included, the one in need of assistance would not make it to His Master. Elder Wong quoted Mark 2:5, "When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee." Christ desired the faith of all four members, not just the faith of the one being healed. For a true miracle to occur, let us all be faithful and equally yoked so that we can bring more of God's children to Christ!

President L. Whitney Clayton, of the Presidency of the Seventy

We then heard from Elder Clayton, who expounded on the powerful statement heard by the young boy, Joseph Smith: "This is my Beloved Son, Hear Him." Though God was specifically talking to Joseph at that sacred time, Heavenly Father continues to invite ALL of us to, "Hear Him". As missionaries, we "Hear Him" when we choose to be exactly obedient and heed the counsel of the bishops (and mission president) we serve under. The people we teach "Hear Him" as they open their hearts and minds to the Spirit and let the words we speak encourage them to change. 

Elder Clayton acknowledges that following Christ and His teachings has “never been easy." However, we have the most important thing in the world! And we know that with His help, it will change people… one person at a time.  


Elder M. Russell Ballard, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

Finally, Elder Ballard started his straightforward address by stating, "We've got to baptize more people." He gave us two suggestions on how to do that:

1) Talk to more people. He commissioned each missionary to speak with at least 10 people a day. This number is independent of appointments, lessons, or tracting. Just sharing the great message of the gospel with everyone! He said we shouldn't be lulled in by the rescue or the focus on member work. Helping those that are less-active shouldn't slow down our own finding. And if we get referrals from the ward, consider it a bonus! With our companions: we must keep each other in the work. Walk together, watch together and look for opportunities to share. If we desire to be better teachers, Elder Ballard advises us to, "Get somebody to teach. Never have a day you don't teach."

2) Do they REALLY understand the message? We don't need to have so much chatting or questions about their interests beforehand. He said, "Just ask questions about what you taught. May we have a word of prayer? Let us tell you who Christ is; how He taught, and how His Church was lost and then restored." We are taking these friends on a great journey. Sympathize, empathize, and be REAL. When we do these things, we allow the Spirit to be the TRUE teacher. Elder Ballard reminds us, "Conversion or reactivation ALWAYS starts with what people feel. Not what they know."

If we come to a point of any hesitancy, just think of Gethsemane. Elder Ballard carries a picture of the Savior with Him and when He needs help, he looks at it! He boldly declared, "This is not Gethsemane to me - it's a privilege to preach His gospel." He gave us a special blessing on our families and invited us to do more than we ever thought we had capacity to do. He invited us to CHANGE. "When? Today. Why? Because we've been together. Champion His cause." Let us be excited to fight for Him - after all, we're on the winning team!

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.