To the Great Missionaries of the Texas Houston Mission,
You are each developing wonderful talents in your ability to teach and present the gospel. To learn to teach after the manner of the Master will likely be the single greatest skill you learn on your missions. As we have consider our effectiveness as teachers, it is helpful to reflect on the Savior's teaching and the effect it had on those who listened. At the conclusion of His teaching of the Sermon on the Mount we read at the end of Matt 7:
28 And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine:
29 For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.
People were astonished at both what He taught and how He taught it. The comparison with the scribes is interesting. They were the students of the law and the presenters of the law. The difference noted by those who heard the Savior teach that day, was that it wasn't simply a presentation of the law, but He taught it in a way that was powerful and left them feeling different ("astonished").
Elders and Sisters, are we teaching in a way that moves people deeply or are we just working on a rational presentation of facts. There is a big difference. One invites and relies on the Spirit of God to carry our message "unto the hearts of the children of men" (2 Ne 33:1). The other relies on simply our own skill and ability. In PMG p. 97 we read "Rely on the Spirit rather and your own talents and abilities." Joseph Smith taught that we cannot preach the Gospel without the Holy Ghost (History of the Church, 2:477).
There are necessary skills we must learn to be effective teachers, but they will never replace the need to be worthy of the companionship of the Holy Ghost when we teach. In PMG p. 93 we read of an experience that Pres Hinckley shares:
“I always remember two young men who served in my mission. One was a superstar. He was educated. He was bright. He was quick. He was a little arrogant. We had another who was a sign painter. He came from a sign shop with very little education, but he knew his inadequacies and he relied on the Lord. When he prayed, you knew he was talking with the Lord. It wasn’t a rote thing, it was a conversation and that young man accomplished wonders while the other young man went through the motions. The power that was in the one and the absence of power in the other was so apparent."
To be like the one with power, we must seek the Spirit through both our study and as we strive for exact obedience. The degree to which we align our will with the Lord's is directly proportional to the power of the Spirit in our teaching and the ability we have to lead people to Christ to be saved.
Please do all you can do to seek the Spirit through study, prayer and obedience and the power of God will be upon us unto the convincing of men (D&C 11:1).
We love you and are inspired by the great work you are doing!
Love,
President and Sister Mortensen
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| We are in great hands with Elder and Sister Nelson! We are so blessed to have them as one of our new office couples. We sure love them. |
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| Elder and Sister Stevens gave the Edwards a going away party. |
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| We are so blessed by the experience and dedication of our Senior couples. |
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| Elder and Sister LeBaron also returned home to Utah earlier last month. They served faithfully in Huntsville as the CES couple and were instrumental in building up the YSA branch and institute program on the Sam Houston campus. We love and miss them. Here is a picture of us with the Texas quilt Sister LeBaron made us. |