Zone Conferences

Quarterly zone conferences were held Tuesday-Thursday this week with 3-4 zones meeting each day. Our theme was the Spirit of Elijah and missionary work and how we can more fully incorporate family history in our finding, teaching, retention and reactivation efforts. We also talked about working in unison with ward councils, ward mission leaders and members to move forward the work of salvation. In the afternoons, workshops were held on apartment cleanliness, bike/vehicle safety and key indicators. As always, the highlights of each conference were the sweet musical numbers and testimonies shared by the wonderful missionaries serving in the Texas Houston Mission! 

We are so grateful to the local Relief Society sisters who provided delicious food for us to eat each day. The meals are always prepared with great love and care. Please find some pictures taken during lunch, in the foyer and parking lot as missionaries left for their areas. We do hope there is at least one picture of each missionary below.

 

At All Times?

Dear Sisters and Elders –

One of the unique requirements the Lord gives to each of us as full-time missionaries is to "open thy mouth at all times, declaring my gospel" (D&C 28:16; see also PMG, 156-158). 

Why is it important to open our mouths at all times? 

First, “the Lord [has] prepared people to receive [us] and the restored gospel. He will lead [us] to them or He will lead them to [us]” (PMG, 155). When we open our mouths, those prepared “will be placed in [our] path” (PMG, 169). If we do not open our mouths, we will pass by many of the tens of thousands that God has prepared.

Second, when we open our mouths we demonstrate faith and the Lord can bless us. Important blessings are promised to those that open their mouths:

• Spiritual guidance to know what to say (Luke 12:11-12; D&C 33:8, 100:5-8, 124:97-99)
• Discernment to know people’s needs (Jacob 2:5; Alma 7:17, 12:7)
• Added strength and power (D&C 24:12; Hel. 10:4-5)
• Forgiveness of sins (D&C 60:2,7)
• Joy and happiness (Enos 1:26)

It is important to note that blessings come only after we have demonstrated faith and opened our mouths (see Ether 12:6). For example, “Open your mouths and [then] they shall be filled” (D&C 33:8).

Why is it difficult to open our mouths to declare the gospel?

The Lord explains: “But with some I am not well pleased, for they will not open their mouths…because of the fear of man” (D&C 60:2; see also D&C 30:5,11). Many of us have fears of opening our mouths to share the gospel.  Some of the great prophets in history had similar fears, but overcame them through faith in God’s promises. Several examples include:

• Moses (Exodus 4:10-12)
• Enoch (Moses 6:31-34)
• Jeremiah (Jeremiah 3:5-9)
• Isaiah (Isaiah 50:4,7)

Let’s renew our efforts to follow the Lord’s admonition to open our mouths “at all times.” As we pray for His help (Eph. 6:18-20; Col. 4:3-4) and commit to open our mouths in natural ways, He will help us replace fear with faith. Moreover, as we treasure up His word (D&C 11:21), He will give us the right words to speak when we open our mouths.

I invite each of us to work to meet or exceed the mission standard (i) to invite at least 25 people each day to learn about the restored gospel and (ii) to ask at least 25 people each day for referrals. As we do, we will be blessed to find more people to teach.  

In an October 2012 mission conference in Houston, Texas, Elder Tad R. Callister of the Presidency of the Seventy made the following promise: "If you will open your mouth, the Lord will lead you eventually to someone who is prepared." I know this is true. Recently, one of you shared the following experience with me: 

“The Lord will help us find people if we strive to meet the mission standards. Last Friday, we committed to extend 25 invitations to people to learn more about the restored gospel. We prayed and had faith that the Lord would provide a new investigator for us if we did our part. On the 27th invitation, we found her! When we do our part, the Lord always keeps His promises!”

With love and admiration,

President Pingree

New Leadership Training

Segura Family

Houston North 1 service activity (next several pictures)

Every Morning

Dear Sisters and Elders –

The Lord needs us to be diligent with the morning schedule. He wants us to arise by 6:30 AM, exercise, and prepare for the day. He wants us to have personal study at 8:00 AM and then companionship study (and role play) from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM.  

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland stated: “I have said to missionaries all over this planet that they make or break their mission from 6:30 to 10:00 in the morning… One of the great reasons is that this is when [missionaries] get to study the gospel and nothing will so touch their heart and stir their souls like the truths of [the doctrine].  In their companion study and individual study they become ‘God’s investigators.’ In those morning hours it is the studious, prayerful missionary who receives the Father’s record of the Son, born with fire and the Holy Ghost to the heart of the missionary later in the day, then it can be to the heart of the investigator. That is why we want [missionaries] up on time. It is not more complicated or mysterious than that—we want them to be able to prepare, to receive the Spirit of the Lord, to receive anew their witness of the work of salvation in which they are engaged…” (“The Atonement,” Seminar for New Mission Presidents, June 2007).

PLEASE give your very best effort to follow the morning schedule with exactness. As explained in Preach My Gospel: "Missionaries who strive to prepare themselves daily and seek to improve regularly will receive direction from the Holy Ghost and see blessings in their lives" (PMG, vii). What are some of these blessings? They include:

1. A stronger testimony of the gospel, 
2. An increased sensitivity to the Holy Ghost, 
3. More unity in our companionships, 
4. Added capacity to meet the needs of those we teach, and 
5. More joy in the work.  

In addition, one of you shared with me another blessing from living fully the morning schedule. "When we follow the morning schedule, we FEEL like missionaries." This is true. We feel His message burn within us. We feel more power to fulfill our purpose. We feel closer to Him.

As a companionship, please review your diligence with the morning schedule.  Do you have a spiritual experience every morning? Identify things you are doing well.  Make specific goals for any needed improvements and work to implement them. As you do, I promise you will feel closer to the Spirit and receive many other important blessings.

Also, remember to include in your Monday letter to me an accounting for your diligence with the morning schedule for the past week.  Please report three numbers (i.e., 7-7-7) representing:

1. The number of days during the past week you were up by 6:30 AM and stayed up,
2. The number of days you completed a full personal study, and
3. The number of days you completed a full companion study.  

Consider this not only an accounting to your mission president, but also an accounting to the Lord Himself. It is He that expects us to live the morning schedule.  

Thank you for your consecrated efforts to live the morning schedule.

With much love and respect,

President Pingree