Zone Conferences

This week, zone conferences were held on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday with three zones meeting each day.  Our days began early with car inspections in the parking lot, then we gathered in the chapel where we received instruction on methods to find, keeping motivated and the ordinance of baptism, our divine commission.  We then viewed a slide show of recent convert baptisms followed by instruction and role plays on resolving baptismal concerns.  Lunch was then served/prepared by local relief societies and awards given for clean apartments, car inspections and a celebration of birthdays.  Afternoon instruction included presentations on bicycle safety, apartment stewardship and health/exercise.  Beautiful musical numbers were then shared followed by great talks from missionaries on the topic of, "What the Atonement means to me."  Lastly we heard testimonies from departing missionaries.  It was wonderful to be together to learn and feel the Spirit of the Lord.  Please enjoy some pictures taken in the cultural hall during role plays and lunch.    

 

 

God Prepares Finding Opportunities

Dear Sisters and Elders – 
 

The Lord places many opportunities in front of us to find others to teach.  Are we recognizing and taking advantage of these opportunities? 

Sometimes we have a little extra time prior to an appointment or before we need to return home for the night.  At other times, we try to contact a referral that is not home or a person we are teaching does not show up for their appointment.  Each of these situations is a potential finding opportunity that God has prepared for you.

In Preach My Gospel we are encouraged to: “Pray for the spiritual sensitivity to recognize opportunities.  You will find that God will place in your path His children who are being prepared to receive the restored gospel” (p. 156). 

Many of you have developed the habit of recognizing and acting upon these finding opportunities.  Please find below just two examples that were shared with me in letters this past week:

“On one of the nights this past week, we had a teaching appointment scheduled at 8:00 PM, and it was about 7:47 PM.  I suggested to my companion that we just go over to our appointment a little early.  However, my companion felt that we should knock a few doors real quick.  So we did.  On the first door we knocked, a man answered and we shared a quick message about the Book of Mormon.  He accepted a return appointment!  Pretty awesome!  This would not have happened if we hadn’t used these extra minutes to find.”

“On Sunday after church, we decided to go walking outside to meet people while waiting for an appointment. It looked like it was going to rain, but we did it anyway. It started pouring rain. In the distance we saw, in a nearby park, a canopy with people huddled under trying to avoid the rain. We started running towards them.  When we reached them we asked if we could share their shelter from the storm. They agreed. They had been having a BBQ and were just waiting for the storm to pass. After getting to know them, we asked if we could share a message. Considering they had no choice but to listen, they agreed and we started on The Restoration. Although the storm was distracting, the Spirit was definitely there. In the end, they gave us their contact information and we set an appointment to visit them again.  I know that because we decided to go find, rather than hide from the rain and wait, the Lord led us to them.”

I invite each of us to pray for, recognize, and act upon potential finding opportunities.  As we do so, the Lord will “open our eyes” to the opportunities He has prepared for us.  Thank you for your faithful and sincere efforts to serve the Lord.

President Pingree

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