ZLC

We hope you are all having a good General Conference weekend at home! What a blessing for us to hear inspired messages from Church leaders.  It looks like the only pictures taken this week were at zone leader council held on Tuesday.  Zone leaders were trained on our missionary purpose and also righteous priesthood power and authority.  Zone leaders then conducted individual zone meetings on Friday.  Next week, quarterly zone conferences will be held.  We look forward to being together and hope to get pictures of everyone then. 

Teaching Effectively

Dear Sisters and Elders – 
 

As full-time missionaries we: “Help people qualify for baptism and confirmation by TEACHING them true doctrine and INVITING them to repent and change their lives through making and keeping commitments that build their faith in Jesus Christ” (PMG, 8). 

In the most recent specialized training, we discussed how effective teaching and inviting are critical to fulfilling our missionary purpose.  Please find below a summary of the “why’s, what’s, and how’s” of effective teaching and inviting:

Teaching Gospel Principles Effectively

Why must we teach effectively?  “People are better able to believe the message of the Restoration of the gospel when they understand the message” (PMG, 182).  We must teach effectively so people can understand the basic doctrines.  When we do, the Spirit can testify of the truths that we teach (PMG, 3) and the person being taught will begin to grow in faith (belief).

UNDERSTANDING + SPIRITUAL WITNESS è BELIEF

What should we teach?  We teach the basic “doctrines, principles, and commandments” contained in Lesson 3 of Preach My Gospel.  The principles in Lesson 3 explain the foundational doctrines of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.  Teaching these principles effectively facilitates a witness of the truth from the Holy Ghost.  As a result, we have been asked to “thoroughly learn the doctrines” (PMG, 30) and to “commit to memory the sequence of doctrinal principles” (PMG, 20) contained in the lessons.

How do we teach people effectively?  Preach My Gospel provides many important principles for effective teaching.  However, there are four elements that are fundamental to teaching any basic doctrine effectively.  These elements include:

·       Explain the principle clearly (PMG 182)

·       Use a scripture (PMG 180-181)

·       Testify of the principle (PMG 198-199)

·       Ask a question for understanding (PMG 183-184, and 44, 58, 70 for examples of questions)

Effective teaching should always lead to a commitment invitation.  After all, our purpose is not simply to teach, but to invite and help people to change. 

Extending Commitment Invitations Effectively

Why must we extend invitations effectively?  “People become converted as they live the principles they learn (see John 7:17) and feel the Spirit confirming that what they are doing is pleasing to their Father in Heaven” (PMG, 196).  As we extend invitations effectively and help others to keep their commitments, they feel the Spirit and become converted to the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.

KEEPING A COMMITMENT + SPIRITUAL WITNESS è CONVERSION

What are the key invitations that lead to conversion? “Invite people to do things that will strengthen their faith in Christ” (PMG, 196).  Key invitations that lead to conversion include:

·       To pray

·       To read the Book of Mormon and pray to know it is true

·       To attend church

·       To keep basic commandments

·       To be baptized and confirmed

Rarely will we teach without extending one of the above commitment invitations.  Keeping these basic commitments lead a person to conversion and are at the core of what we do as missionaries.  Our daily planning, studying, and teaching should revolve around helping others make and keep these commitments.

How do we invite people effectively?  Preach My Gospel offers four basic elements that should be included in an effective invitation.  These include:

·       Ask direct questions (PMG, 197)

·       Promise blessings (PMG, 197-198)

·       Bear testimony (PMG, 198-199)

·       Follow up (PMG, 200)

Please find an example of an effective invitation below:

“Will you read and pray to know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God?  I promise that if you do so sincerely, you will receive a witness from the Holy Ghost that the book is true.  I have read and prayed about the Book of Mormon and have received many spiritual witnesses that it is from God.  May we follow up with you when we meet again on Thursday at 7:00 PM?”

As people keep their commitments, remember to compliment and encourage them.  Express concern when people fail to keep their commitments (PMG, 8 and 200).  We are here to help others make and keep commitments so that they qualify for eternal life.

Thank you for your daily efforts to improve your teaching and inviting skills.  I promise that as we do, the Lord will help us to bring many more souls to Him through faith in Christ, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end.  Moreover, these skills will become invaluable tools as you raise your children and provide future leadership in the Church.

Love,

President Pingree

Specialized Training

This week, some specialized training was held throughout the mission.  The focus of the training was on teaching gospel principles and extending commitment invitations effectively.  We discussed principles from PMG and role-played teaching scenarios.  We also watched a DVD of a talk given by Elder Bednar at the MTC in 2009 about recognizing and following the Spirit. 

Elder Abadillo

Yesterday, a new missionary joined the Texas Houston Mission.  Elder Abadillo is from Guatemala City, Guatemala and will be serving in the Spanish program.  He arrived early from the MTC because of his language capacity.  Welcome!

 

Elder Abadillo and President Pingree

Joseph helps with luggage

Elder Abadillo in front of mission picture board

Power of Spontaneous Service

Dear Sisters and Elders – 

In last week's letters to the president, one of you shared the following experience with me:

"Last Thursday we were out and a few of our lessons fell through.  We were preparing to knock doors when my companion spotted a family painting their house.  She asked me, "How would you feel about doing some painting?"  I said, "Of course!"  We parked our car and walked across the street to their house.  We introduced ourselves and asked if we could help them paint their house.  They were slightly confused since we were wearing our proselyting clothes.  We explained that a part of our work as missionaries is the opportunity to serve others.  They put us to work.  We painted until we ran out of paint and they invited us to come in and eat with them.  We met the rest of the family and were able to talk to them about why we are on missions and why we decided to serve.  They were touched by our testimonies and invited us back next week to teach them.  Service with a smile opens doors and hearts alike!"

In Preach My Gospel it explains: "As you seek to do good, you will be led to people who are being prepared for the restored gospel" (168).  Certainly, this promise was fulfilled to these missionaries who noticed a need and offered to serve.

In addition to finding people to teach, providing service also brings us joy.  President Hinckley explained: "Do you want to be happy?  Forget yourself and get lost in this great cause.  Lend your efforts to helping people" (Teachings of Gordon B. Hinckley, 597).

As we are out and about, "listen to the Spirit to recognize opportunities for small, simple acts of kindness that you can offer to God's children.  Pray to be aware of opportunities throughout each day to do good" (PMG, 168). As we act, God will place people in our paths who will receive the restored gospel (PMG, 169).  I know this to be true.

With much love,

President Pingree

"How may I help you?"

"You have been called of God to serve His children.  That service can take many forms.  You should look for opportunities to serve those around you - investigators, church members, your companion, and the people you meet.  In addition to unplanned acts of service, you should seek opportunities for service projects in the community each week" (MH, pg. 39).  Today we are posting pictures of some missionaries who have found ways to serve in the communities to which they are assigned.  

So, What do the Members Think?

Dear Sisters and Elders –

In one of your weekly letters to me, a missionary explained the following: "It seems like the ward is really beginning to trust us! Yesterday, multiple members came up to us and asked if we wanted dinner and to see if we could give them a lesson in their homes. We also received three new member referrals! I have come to know that the more we look and act like missionaries and the more the Spirit is with us, the more the members want to work with us. They see us as true servants of Jesus Christ."

We cannot fulfill our purpose as missionaries unless we gain the trust of the members. Two of the stake presidents in this area told me on separate occasions what they believe missionaries must do to gain the trust of members. One explained, “Missionaries need to act and speak like men and women of God. They need to have the Spirit with them.” The other mentioned, “Missionaries should be friendly with the members, but not casual. They always need to maintain a level of dignity and respect because they represent Jesus Christ.” For members to trust us, they need to feel the Spirit when they are around us, sense our concern for them, and see that we are serious about representing Jesus Christ.

One of the most effective times we have to demonstrate our devotion to Christ is during Sunday church meetings. This is when the most members interact with us and make judgments about our commitment to Christ and to sharing His gospel. The way we act at church makes a huge difference in the level of trust the members have in us.

There are a number of things we can do at church to demonstrate our commitment to Christ and to build the trust of the members, including:

• Arriving early to church and greeting members as they walk into the chapel,
• Calling members by name and asking them about how their families are doing,
• Sitting up straight and paying attention to the speakers during sacrament meeting,
• Singing the hymns,
• Bearing our testimonies of the Savior on Fast Sunday,
• Contributing to class discussions, and
• Staying after church to talk with members and to identify ways to serve them during the week.

These are only a few suggestions and certainly, you could list many more. The important thing is that we really utilize our time during Sunday church meetings to demonstrate our devotion to Christ and to building the trust of members.

I am so grateful for your choice to consecrate yourselves to Christ during this period of your lives. It is an honor to serve with each of you!

With much love,

President Pingree