The Power of Member Involvement and Mission Standards of Excellence

To the Missionaries of the Great Texas Houston Mission,

One of the great stories in the Book of Mormon takes place beginning in Alma 8 where we find Alma going to the land of Ammonihah to preach to the people there. He is initially rejected, but an angel of the Lord appears to him and tells him to go back. When he returns he is greeted by a man named Amulek. We discover that Amulek is a less active member of the church. Alma ministers to Amulek and his whole household ("kinsfolk") and then the Lord commands Alma to bring Amulek with him to preach to the inhabitants of Ammonihah. It is interesting to see that Alma's (the "missionary") preaching has little effect, but when Amulek ("the member") preaches, the people are astonished and many are converted.

Elders and Sisters, we need to make sure we are planning well so that we can have the power of members involved in all of our lessons (with of course the possible exception of the first lesson that we teach when we find someone). This last week as a mission, we had our lowest number of member presents that we have had all year. That won't work if we are going to strengthen and establish the church the way the Lord expects us to do it. We not only better progress our investigators with members involved, but we also activate the faith in wards by including members in the progress of our investigators.

Our mission standard is 4 member presents every week. We shouldn't be teaching less actives or recent converts without members involved. We call on district leaders to focus on baptizing in our area reports, but to make sure we remember that achieving all of our mission Standards of Excellence are the way we accomplish our baptism goals. If missionaries are struggling in any of those, we invite you to make assignments to be sure that we focus on the areas that will allow us to qualify the blessings to which we are entitled. Once assignments are made, follow up must take place. Too many of us have grown content in not achieving all of the Standards of Excellence each week and then wonder why we aren't seeing the success we are hoping for.

With the new transfer before us, we challenge each of you to plan for and achieve all mission standards every week. We promise you that the blessings we seek will come as we commit ourselves to do the work necessary to make this happen!

Love,

President and Sister Mortensen

Many missionaries had the opportunity to take one of their own family names to the temple last week. President Mortensen and I had several temple workers tell us what a special spirit they felt in the temple when the missionaries were there. We were able to see some of them on Tuesday. 

Our family was able to do some baptisms with Anders who just turned 12. My parents were in town and brought us lots of family names and we enjoyed the great spirit that comes from doing the temple work for our kindred dead. Our wonderful assistants, Elder Barton and Elder Moon helped us accomplish the work.

President Mortensen and I had the wonderful opportunity to attend District Meeting in the Katy District last Friday. It was great to be with such dedicated missionaries and learn together how to further the work of salvation in Katy. 

Elder Hanks training on personal revelation. 

The Katy District

Another beautiful Texas sunset during Friday Night Lights this week.

Back in June of this year we were asked to participate in the Spring Stake Youth Conference. Here are some pictures that were shared with us from that event. Its was great to be with the youth and the missionaries are a powerful example. 

Elder Myers and Elder Labbee taught how to sew a button. Impressive!

Elder Gessell and Elder Morris teach how to share your testimony with your friends. 

Sister Seare and Sister Hansen talk about tracting and how to speak to people you meet. 

Role plays

Elder MacArthur and Elder Kenyan

Teach All Nations

To the Missionaries of the Great Texas Houston Mission,

The last mandate the Savior gave to the apostles is found at the conclusion of the gospel of Matthew:

"19 ¶Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen."

The emphasis is that they were sent to teach and baptize. It it interesting to note that they were also sent to teach them to "observe all things" the Lord has commanded. 

Recently I was in a monthly meeting with a Stake President and the ward mission leaders from his stake. I asked the the ward mission leaders why they aren't assigning the missionaries to teach the members who have been identified by the ward council as being in need or who would benefit from having their faith strengthened. The answer was that it hadn't occurred to them. The truth is Elders and Sisters, why would it? The members have no idea how powerful of teachers you are. They aren't hearing you teach.

With this in mind, we would like you to consider what resources you have at your disposal to teach members? We think that as you consider this question, you will not only realize that you have the 5 lessons, but you have the toolkit lessons that would benefit them and strengthen you faith. We would encourage you to teach the members when you are there, but don't frame this teaching as "practice." Really teach them and do so according to their needs as you perceive them.

We are convinced that if we will take every opportunity to teach, we will more fully fulfill our missionary purpose in inviting others to come unto Christ.

Please reevaluate every interaction you are having. For example, before you teach the family of a ward council member (after they feed you) the "Why of Church" ask them, "we'd like to share a message with you and ask you to consider who, in your circle of friends or in your stewardship, would benefit from hearing this message."

As we teach diligently, we will teach more powerfully. We will inspire members to act and "earn" their trust and their referrals. This is one way we will find as we teach. Remember though, that nothing happens in missionary work until you find someone to teach (Ch 9 PMG).

We love you and are grateful for the great harvest that is taking place in this mission.

Love,

President and Sister Mortensen

Stormy weather again!

Our youngest child was baptized

District Meeting with the Cypress District

Defining Success

To the Missionaries of the Great Texas Houston Mission,

We have loved being with you this week in zone conference. We are inspired by the work you are doing throughout this mission. We stand all amazed at the mercy of the Lord in allowing us to participate with you in the words of Ammon, "as instruments in the hands of God to bring about this great work." (Alma 26:3)

We talk a lot about baptisms just as we are expected to do, but we want to remind you of the great measure of our success. In Preach My Gospel we read: "Your success as a missionary is measured primarily by your commitment to find, teach, baptize, and confirm people and to help them become faithful members of the Church who enjoy the presence of the Holy Ghost." We encourage you to read the list that follows this statement at the bottom of page 10 detailing ways we can KNOW that we have become successful missionaries. We are confident that you will find them to be very similar to those attributes of a true disciple as we discussed at zone conference.

In the Luke chapter 6, there is an interesting example of this type of discipleship. The Savior joins Simon ("Peter") in his boat and invites Peter to launch his boat "into the deep, and let down your nets." (v.4) Peter, apparently frustrated by this request begins by responding, "Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing." He then wisely utters these important, disciple-like words and says: "NEVERTHELESS at thy word I will let down the net." (v.5) We then read in vs 6 that "when they had this done, they enclosed a great multitude of fishes: and the net brake." They caught so many fish that they had to call for help. The number of fish caught were so numerous that both ships began to sink.

Because Peter had the faith to act even when it made no sense and when he undoubtedly didn't feel like it, he was blessed with such a remarkable "sign" and he immediately desired to repent. (v.8)

To such disciples in our day, the Lord makes the following promise in D&C 97: 

8 Verily I say unto you, all among them who know their hearts are honest, and are broken, and their spirits contrite, and are willing to observe their covenants by sacrifice—yea, every sacrifice which I, the Lord, shall command—they are accepted of me.

9 For I, the Lord, will cause them to bring forth as a very fruitful tree which is planted in a goodly land, by a pure stream, that yieldeth much precious fruit.

We hope that each of you will resolve to be true disciples so that you can receive all of the blessings promised to the faithful!

Love,

President and Sister Mortensen

President Mortensen instructs at zone conference

Summer Birthdays

Summer Birthdays

Summer Birthdays

Teaching and Zone Conference Assignments

To the Missionaries of the Great Texas Houston Mission,

We trust you had an uplifting zone meeting on Friday. As you are now aware, we have introduced a new standard of excellence related to teaching lessons. The lessons that relate to this standard are the lessons we are already counting (MPs, Other and LARCs). Too many of us fail to realize that we are ordained ministers and are called to teach repentance so that we can baptize converts. It is difficult for us to do this if we aren't teaching regularly. Teaching frequently is the way we learn to teach effectively and teach with power.

We invite each companionship to reevaluate your interactions with less actives and recent converts to make sure you are looking to teach rather than just visit. Plan for these events. You have lessons and the THM toolkit outlines to choose from to build faith in those you visit. You ought to carry this same mentality into your interactions with members. Look to teach. Members are waiting for impressive missionaries to have the confidence to invite their friends to learn more. Be those missionaries!

We are excited to see you all this coming week at zone conference. In preparation for our event, we would like to make the following assignments for 5 minute talks:

Companion with the longer time in the mission: John 20: Thomas.

Why does Thomas react the way he does? How can we be like Thomas as missionaries. What can we learn from Christ’s council? If we understand His council, what changes in the way we work?

Companion with less time in the mission: Isaiah 53:3-5, Alma 7:11-13, D&C 19:15-19, 1 Ne 19:8-9, Alma 42:14-17, 2 Ne 9:19-24: Why is a clear understanding of the Atonement of Jesus Christ an important foundation for teaching repentance?  What does this mean for us as missionaries (What ought to change in us when we understand this?) and How does this change the way we teach repentance to our investigators?

Be prayerful in your preparation so we can be edified together as we gather in zone conference.

Love,

President and Sister Mortensen

Klein Zone

The Woodlands Zone

Bear Creek Zone

Houston West South Spanish Zone

Houston West North Spanish Zone

Houston North Spanish Zone

College Station Zone

Cypress Zone

Spring Zone

Katy Zone 

Houston North English Zone

Mission Leadership Council 

Role Plays

We had the 8 week follow-up training for the missionaries who arrived last June. They are doing great and becoming wonderful teachers! The following are pictures taken that day.