Interviews/Training

Interviews were held across the mission this week.  During interviews, we also conducted training on the powerful first lesson, Adjusting to Missionary Life, a new manual distributed by the Church, and the importance of integrity.  We will be completing interviews for the other half of the mission this coming week. Please find below some pictures from each of the eight sessions, along with one with Elder and Sister Cummings, a new senior couple who have been assigned to serve in the Hearne Branch.  Also pictured are Elders Sefita and Quezada, two missionaries recently assigned to Houston until their visas arrive for Angola.

Elder and Sister Cummings

Elders Sefita and Quezada with President Pingree

Three Essentials to Build Faith

Dear Sisters and Elders –

 

As you know, our purpose as missionaries is to invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through:

1. Faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement;
2. Repentance;
3. Baptism;
4. Receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost; and
5. Enduring to the end. 

The process of coming to Christ always begins with FAITH IN CHRIST.  Without this faith, a person cannot develop the desire sufficient to repent.  And, of course, full repentance is prerequisite to valid baptism and confirmation.

 

Given the critical nature of faith, what can we do as missionaries to help people build their faith in Jesus Christ?  Three essential activities include:

• Prayer;
• Reading the Book of Mormon and praying to know it is true; and
• Attending church.

Let me share several thoughts with you about these fundamental practices:

 

First, a significant majority of our teaching should be spent helping people build faith in Jesus Christ through prayer, reading the Book of Mormon, and attending church.  Please make sure that during every teaching appointment you reinforce the importance of these activities.

 

Second, if you have investigators that are not progressing, they are likely struggling with any one (or all) of the three faith-building activities above.  Prayerfully determine how best to help these individuals understand and to apply the practices of prayer, reading the Book of Mormon, and attending church.  Investigators that do not apply these activities will not progress.

 

Third, if you arrive at a teaching appointment and the investigator has not completed his / her reading assignment from the Book of Mormon, you may feel to read with them instead of moving on to the next lesson.  Reinforce the importance of reading the Book of Mormon and praying to know it is true.

 

Fourth, given the critical nature of these activities, please re-review with your companion this week the following Fundamentals from Preach My Gospel lessons found in The First 12 Weeks study guide: “Revelation through Prayer,” “Revelation through the Book of Mormon,” and “Revelation through Church Attendance.”

 

And fifth, please counsel together and pray sincerely to know how you can be more effective in helping others to build faith in Christ through these three essential practices.

 

It is an honor to serve with you to help others build faith in Jesus Christ through prayer, reading the Book of Mormon, and attending church.  I sure love you and acknowledge your deep desires to bring souls closer to Christ.

 

With much love,

President Pingree

An Important Calling

Dear Sisters and Elders –

 

“When you were set apart by priesthood authority, you received the right and privilege to represent the Lord” (PMG, p. 4). 

 

Sometimes I find it hard to believe that the Lord has given us the opportunity to represent Him.  He is the Son of God.  He is our Savior and Redeemer.  He is all-knowing, all-powerful, and perfect.  I believe that He could do this work on His own.  Yet, despite our many shortcomings, He provides us the honor to represent Him.  He allows us to participate in His great work of Salvation.  Could there be anything more important? 

 

Given the magnitude of our office, we are invited to “always keep in mind the importance of [our] calling” and to “strive constantly to magnify it” (MH, p. 4).  We are encouraged to “represent the Lord according to the highest standards…” (MH, p. 7).

 

Let’s give our very best to the Lord.  As we go throughout each day, let us remember the calling we have to represent Him.  Let’s pray to God to learn how we can represent Him even more effectively. Let’s follow the impressions we receive.

 

I am filled with gratitude for the opportunity we have to serve as a full-time representatives and missionaries for Jesus Christ.  I am grateful for His patience, for His love, and for the strength He provides us to do His work.

 

Thank you for your sincere efforts to represent Christ with dignity, honor, and devotion.  We are grateful for your examples.  Sister Pingree and I feel blessed for the opportunity to serve alongside such earnest disciples of Christ. 

 

We sure love you!

President Pingree

 

Elder Thiery with member

Oakcrest Hermanas with member

Elder Thomas and Bladh

Oakcrest Elders

Joseph receives the Aaronic Priesthood

Hermana Spenlove with TX grandparents

Houston 6th Hermanas

A Week in Review

Various training meetings took place in the mission this week, including Mission Leadership Council, New Leadership Training and zone meetings.  Please find some pictures below from these events.  We've also included a picture of Elder and Sister LeBaron who arrived to direct the Huntsville Insitute of Religion at Sam Houston State University.  

 

Elder and Sister LeBaron

MLC (next several pictures)

 

New Leadership Training

Conroe Sisters

Spring Zone Meeting (next several pictures)

 

P-day activity with members of the Klein Zone
(next several pictures)

 

We Can Do It With the Lord

Dear Sisters and Elders -

 

This week, I would like to re-emphasize our Texas Houston Mission standards.  These include:

 

1.  Qualify for the Spirit every day

• Follow the Missionary Handbook
• Plan every night
• Live the full morning schedule
• Build companionship unity

2.  Find a new investigator(s) every day

3.  Have a member present at every possible lesson

4.  Extend a baptismal date by the second lesson

5.  Baptize a family every month

 

Some may say that these standards are challenging.  Left to our own strength, they are difficult.  However, we must remember that this is the Lord's work and not ours. "With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible" (Mark 10:27).

 

If we pray, plan and work effectively, the Lord will perform mighty miracles.  He will help you find new people to teach every day.  He will help you teach with the Spirit.  He will help our investigators keep commandments so that they can qualify for baptism and confirmation.

 

Please find below some scriptures that will help build your faith in the Lord and His ability to help you bring more souls to Him.

• 2 Nephi 26:13
• 2 Nephi 27:23
• Mosiah 8:18
• Alma 37:40-41
• Mormon 9:15-21
• Ether 12:14-16

It is a great honor to serve with each of you in this most important work.

 

With much love,

 

President Pingree