Salvation Cannot Come Without Revelation

To the missionaries of the Great Texas Houston Mission!

Since we have focused on following the Doctrine of Christ in the way we teach and progress investigators, the numbers of progressing investigators with baptismal dates in our mission has almost doubled. Miracles are happening through you and because of you. We love you for it!

In PMG (p89) we read that Joseph Smith taught that "Salvation cannot come without revelation..." This is one of many reasons that we have emphasized Master Teaching, so that both we and our investigators can receive revelation. If we understand the Doctrine of Christ, we understand that much of what we teach and the way we teach is to lead our investigators to do those things that will invite the Holy Ghost into their lives. For example,

1. We invite them to read the Book of Mormon to receive revelation through the Holy Ghost.

2. We invite them to pray to receive revelation through the Holy Ghost.

3. We invite them to go to church to receive revelation through the Holy Ghost.

These commitments will prepare them to receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost so that they can endure to the end and be led back to the presence of our Father in Heaven. 

It is interesting to me that the first chapter in PMG after the lessons is entitled "How do I Recognize and Understand the Spirit?" This is a skill that is not only important for us to learn, but also that we help our investigators learn. I want you to think about how you have helped your investigators with this in the past. 

- Think about the first lesson when we ask them to commit to pray about the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon. Do we ask them how they think God will answer their prayer? Do we take time to help them understand how the Holy Ghost works so they recognize the answer when it comes? 

- During the first follow up visit after the Restoration has been taught. Are we asking simply if our investigator has read and prayed and then moving on to the next lesson? Or have we left them with some specific "Search, Analyze and Apply" questions related to the material we have asked them to read that we then follow up on? Do we testify about the truthfulness of the things they have learned and help them understand that this is the pattern of receiving revelation? 

- Do we ask them if they can share with us what they prayed about so that we know how they are praying to ensure that they are praying in a way that will result in an answer?

The Lord would have us teach these things more clearly. As we do, conversion will take place more deeply and the work will move forth more quickly!

We love you all and are so honored to be able to serve with you!

Love,

President and Sister Mortensen

October Transfers

Temple Trip with Departing Missionaries

Car full of beautiful sisters

This was quite the quartet!

Enjoying the name game :)

"counseling" together

More counseling

Goodbyes at the airport

Elder Moulton is totally Texas!

Elder Howe looking a little country

Departing Missionaries. It's so sad to see them go!

Last goodbyes

Sister Filikitonga was the last to depart

New missionaries arriving in the Texas Houston Mission. They look great!

The next pictures are of the new missionaries and their trainers. They are going to do great things together!

The Assistants not wanting to be left out

Baptism: The Gate by Which We Should Enter

To the Missionaries of the Great Texas Houston Mission!

One of the growing trends in the Christian world is the idea that baptism is not a commandment. This doctrine was a predictable outgrowth of the doctrine taught by many that all we need to do is believe in Jesus Christ to be saved. It was, in fact, the Savior himself who taught that baptism was a condition of salvation (John 3:3-5, Mark 16:16).

In our recent specialized training, we reminded each other that to fulfill our Missionary Purpose we must:

1. Boldly invite people to be baptized in every first lesson after they come to know our message is true. 

2. Remember the Doctrine of Christ which tells us that all must exercise faith (accept commitments) unto repentance (keep commitments) before they are prepared to be baptized. If they haven't repented (read and prayed about the Book of Mormon: THE tool the Lord has prepared to gather Israel) they aren't prepared to be baptized.

3. Follow up to ensure that commitments are being kept so they are prepared to receive an invitation to be baptized on a certain date.

4. We must plan with the Spirit to help us prepare for the lesson where we will teach the Plan of Salvation and then boldly explain that to live as families forever, we must first be baptized by someone having the proper Priesthood authority.

As we follow this pattern, the Lord will bless us and many more of our brothers and sisters will come unto Christ and be saved! As of the end of this week, we have almost doubled the number of people with baptismal dates and this is only the beginning!

We carry the only message that will heal souls and bring peace to those who seek it. Have faith and be bold. Miracles will follow!

We love you!

President and Sister Mortensen

Sister Laws and Sister Harrison looking joyful after the baptism of their investigator

Zone leaders Elder Shinn and Elder Thomas showing great leadership

We held our second Mission President's fireside in the Houston North Stake. It was another great success! Many investigators and members were present to feel of the great spirit brought to the meeting through musical numbers and testimonies. Sister Carbajal and Sister Liljenquist each sang beautiful solos, and the missionary choir was powerful again. I don't think I will ever tire of seeing our missionaries march into the choir loft while singing "Called to Serve". It is the best thing ever. What an exciting time to be a full time missionary!

The winner of our first monthly zone competition is the Klein 2 Zone! We had a great time playing laser tag and bowling together at Main Event in the Woodlands. The Sister Training Leaders and Zone Leaders did a great job making sure each companionship was motivated to keep super clean apartments, be responsible with the cars, and to be great inviters to church. We saw dramatic improvement in all the zones in these areas. Great job!

Elder Spragg and Elder Young

Repentance: More than turning from sin...

Elders and Sisters of the Great Texas Houston Mission,

Several years ago when I started coaching soccer I remember a game where I learned an important lesson. Our team was up by a goal and in an effort to preserve the victory, I brought my stronger players back on defense to defend the goal. The things that happened next taught me the lesson. Because I didn't have strong players to advance the ball down the field, the other team was able to take shot after shot on the goal. I don't remember if that game ended in a tie or if we lost, but I do remember that the decision to only defend was a bad decision and I also learned that the best defense was an attacking offense.

Sometimes when we think of repentance we simply feel that we are supposed to turn away from sin. These feelings are best exemplified in our thoughts when we justify ourselves in our minds by saying things like, "at least I'm not doing things as bad as so-and-so" or as missionaries, we may think, "I'm not a bad missionary, because I'm not doing bad things." Clearly that is important, but that is not all the Lord requires. When King Benjamin had finished speaking to his people in Mos 4, we read their reaction when they state: "the Spirit of the Lord Omnipotent...has wrought a mighty change in us, or in our hearts, that we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually." (Mos 5:2) True repentance not only turns us from sin, but also turns us toward God. In True to the Faith we read that "It is a change of mind and heart that gives you a fresh view about God, about yourself and about the world."

PMG states that "Sincere repentance brings several results. We feel God’s forgiveness and His peace in our lives. Our guilt and sorrow are swept away. We feel the influence of the Spirit in greater abundance." (p. 62). With this greater influence of the Spirit, we have desires to do good. In fact the Lord declared in the introduction of the Doctrine and Covenants, "Nevertheless, he that repents AND does the commandments of the Lord shall be forgiven;" (D&C 1:32).

The Lord's desire and Sister Mortensen's and my desire is that your confidence wax strong in His presence. That requires that we have broken hearts and contrite spirits, that we seek to do His will and not our own. Only then will His peace be upon us and we will find joy in His service. 

We love you all and love serving with you!

Love,

President and Sister Mortensen

Sister Ostvig and Sister Sievert teaching investigators Family History...
the new age of the Work of Salvation

Elder Diaz and Elder Wildman model our new service T-shirts

Klein 1 Zone 

Klein 1 Zone unites after an uplifting zone meeting

Looking sharp in matching ties

Sister Hutchings and Sister Kyles get an upclose look at a Homecoming mum.
Real Texas Cultural. 

Acting in Faith

Elders and Sisters of the Great Texas Houston Mission!

What a wonderful conference weekend we've just enjoyed. It is a great privilege to be in the service of God during this pivotal time of the gathering. Great miracles are happening and will continue to grow both in number and frequency! 

We ask you, are we qualified to participate in these great miracles?

We read in the Book of Mormon, "...for it is by faith that miracles are wrought; and it is by faith that angels appear and minister unto men;" (Moroni 7:37). Are we exercising the kind of faith that will allow us to witness the miracles promised to the faithful? In PMG p116 we read: 

"Faith leads to action, including repentance, obedience, and dedicated service. When you have faith in Jesus Christ, you trust the Lord enough to follow His commandments—even when you do not completely understand the reasons for them. You accomplish what the Lord wants you to accomplish. You help bring about good in your own life and the lives of others. You are able to do miracles according to the Lord’s will. Your faith will be manifest through diligence and work.

"Faith is a principle of power. God works by power, but His power is usually exercised in response to faith." 

Elders and Sisters, are we acting in faith? Are we setting goals and making plans after inviting the Spirit of God to direct us? Meaningful goal setting and planning are acts of faith (PMG p146). Do we extend commitments in faith, believing that what we are inviting people to do will actually be accompanied by the Spirit of God? Do we believe that as we do so with the power, the Spirit can soften hearts? Do we believe that the message we carry will bring greater happiness than anything else they can do? If so, let us be lovingly bold and invite in faith, testify with power and fulfill our Missionary Purpose as never before!

Be great!

Love,

President and Sister Mortensen

We are so excited to have a new senior couple serving in our mission! We are so grateful for them.

Elder and Sister Johnson from Montana serving in the Crockett area

The following pictures are from Mission Leadership Council last week. We loved counseling together and learning from each other. What an impressive group of leaders!

Houston North 1 Zone

Cypress Zone

Houston North Spanish Zone

Houston North 2 Zone

College Station 2 Zone

Houston West 1 Zone

Houston West 2 Zone

Katy Zone

Klein 1 Zone

Klein 2 Zone

Spring Zone

Meet the Mormons

We had the great opportunity to watch the motion picture, "Meet the Mormons" as a mission. We felt the tremendous spirit of this film and know that it has the potential to open many doors.  We highly recommend seeing this film on the opening weekend, October 10th, 2014 and encourage you to take a friend or neighbor. All proceeds, less production costs, will go to charity. It's a great time to be a full-time missionary and we as a mission are grateful for each day we get to proclaim the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

Missionaries in the Klein Stake following a baptism. Our favorite occasions.

The Conroe Missionaries after the "Life of Christ Fireside"
An inspiring night with music and the spoken word all about our Savior Jesus Christ

Darling sisters

Elder Croft has his first taste of Blue Bell's Buttercrunch. He's a believer!

We love to see companions serving one another.
Elder Brito nurses Elder Duvall back to health after surgery to repair his broken arm.
Elder Duvall barely missed a beat and is back at it.