To the Missionaries of the Great Texas Houston Mission,
We have seen remarkable success that has come from your faith to find in recent months. As we have reflected on how we can get a greater number of our brothers and sisters we find to progress to the waters of baptism our thoughts have turned to the Book of Mormon. In PMG we read two critically important statements:
"The Book of Mormon, combined with the Spirit, is your most powerful resource in conversion." p. 104
and
"This witness of the Holy Ghost (that The Book of Mormon is true) should be a central focus of your teaching." p. 103
To these statements, we would add the following: our own testimony and statement:
"We know that the likelihood of people progressing in their conversion in and to the restored gospel of Jesus Christ is directly related to their commitment to reading The Book of Mormon daily. In fact, the chances of them becoming converted is directly related to how much of The Book of Mormon they read."
We would like you to take the time to ponder these statements as companionships and districts and consider if our teaching and interaction with our investigators is reflective of our understanding of these important principles. We hope that our understanding will be reflected in our own dedication to read from it daily.
Elders and Sisters, we invite you to consider how your are presenting The Book of Mormon to your investigators and consider it from the investigators' standpoint. If you heard your presentation, would you feel sufficiently motivated to read it? Would you know why you needed to read it? Would you understand that your hope for greater happiness depended on whether you did? Would you understand that your hope to live as families forever was possible when you came to know that it is true? Would you know what to read? Would you know how much to read? Would you feel committed to do so? If you can't answer "Yes" to these questions, we invite you to revisit how you teach The Book of Mormon and practice a better way of teaching.
With this in mind, let us add as policies in our mission a few "Nevers":
1. There should never be a time that we teach a first lesson that we don't leave without a clear return appointment.
2. There should never be a time that we teach a lesson that we're not setting an expectation of following up at least two or three days later to teach again or, at a minimum, to check on their Book of Mormon reading or to read with them.
3. There should never be an interaction with any investigator where we don't talk about what they are reading in the Book of Mormon and help them understand it more fully.
4. We should never set up a baptismal interview for any investigator if we aren't certain that they have read at least the first 15 chapters and have received a confirmation through the Holy Ghost that it's true.
PLEASE READ CHAPTER 5 OF PMG THIS WEEK AND CONSIDER HOW WE CAN BETTER USE THE BOOK OF MORMON TO ACCOMPLISH OUR MISSIONARY PURPOSE.
We are certain that as we allow The Book of Mormon to do what it was designed to do as described in the Title Page ("Which is to show unto the remnant of the house of Israel what great things the Lord hath done for their fathers; and that they may know the covenants of the Lord, that they are not cast off forever—And also to the convincing of the Jew and Gentile that Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God, manifesting himself unto all nations") that we will see many more of our brothers and sisters become converted and be saved.
We love you and are excited by the many miracles that the Lord is performing through you!
Love,
President and Sister Mortensen
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| Sister missionaries volunteer at the peanut butter factory with Cisco Corp. Many were impressed with our missionaries and enjoyed working side beside them. We can't say we blame them! |
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| The Elders also volunteered at the peanut butter factory with Woodforest Bank. These missionaries are great ambassadors for the church! |
We had another wonderful Senior Mission Conference at the home of President and Sister Chappell
Inspirational messages were shared and great food was enjoyed. We were especially grateful to have Elder and Sister Ardmore and Elder and Sister LeBaron present. Both couples will finish their missionary service very soon and we love and appreciate them so much. They will sure be missed!
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| Elder and Sister Stevens |
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| Elder and Sister LeBaron and Elder Johsnon |