Dear Sisters and Elders –
The Lord needs us to be diligent with the morning schedule. He wants us to arise by 6:30 AM, exercise, and prepare for the day. He wants us to have personal study at 8:00 AM and then companionship study (and role play) from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM.
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland stated: “I have said to missionaries all over this planet that they make or break their mission from 6:30 to 10:00 in the morning… One of the great reasons is that this is when [missionaries] get to study the gospel and nothing will so touch their heart and stir their souls like the truths of [the doctrine]. In their companion study and individual study they become ‘God’s investigators.’ In those morning hours it is the studious, prayerful missionary who receives the Father’s record of the Son, born with fire and the Holy Ghost to the heart of the missionary later in the day, then it can be to the heart of the investigator. That is why we want [missionaries] up on time. It is not more complicated or mysterious than that—we want them to be able to prepare, to receive the Spirit of the Lord, to receive anew their witness of the work of salvation in which they are engaged…” (“The Atonement,” Seminar for New Mission Presidents, June 2007).
PLEASE give your very best effort to follow the morning schedule with exactness. As explained in Preach My Gospel: "Missionaries who strive to prepare themselves daily and seek to improve regularly will receive direction from the Holy Ghost and see blessings in their lives" (PMG, vii). What are some of these blessings? They include:
- A stronger testimony of the gospel,
- An increased sensitivity to the Holy Ghost,
- More unity in our companionships,
- Added capacity to meet the needs of those we teach, and
- More joy in the work.
As a companionship, please review your diligence with the morning schedule. Do you have a spiritual experience every morning? Identify things you are doing well. Make specific goals for any needed improvements and work to implement them. As you do, I promise you will feel closer to the Spirit and receive many other important blessings.
Also, remember to include in your Monday letter to me an accounting for your diligence with the morning schedule for the past week. Please report three numbers (i.e., 7-7-7) representing:
- The number of days during the past week you were up by 6:30 AM and stayed up,
- The number of days you completed a full personal study, and
- The number of days you completed a full companion study.
Consider this not only an accounting to your mission president, but also an accounting to the Lord Himself. It is He that expects us to live the morning schedule.
Thank you for your consecrated efforts to live the morning schedule.
With much love and respect,
President Pingree