Copy and paste the following link in your browser to see the news story. We loved our visit with President Nelson and Elder Corbridge.
abc13.com/1234890
Tuesday, March 8, 2016
Monday, March 7, 2016
Feasting Upon the Words...
To the Missionaries of the Great Texas Houston Mission,
What a wonderful week it has been as we have seen so many come into the waters of baptism! We are grateful to you all for the hard work and dedication you have shown to not only find these souls, but to shepherd them safely to the water. Please remember to make sure there is a "New and Returning Member Progress Record" started for each of these new members and that their progress is being reviewed and assignments are being made weekly. We are excited to meet each of them as you bring them to the temple on the 25th of this month.
One of the last things Nephi counsels us about is what we do after baptism. He says:
2 Do ye not remember that I said unto you that after ye had received the Holy Ghost ye could speak with the tongue of angels? And now, how could ye speak with the tongue of angels save it were by the Holy Ghost?
3 Angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore, they speak the words of Christ. Wherefore, I said unto you, feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do. (2 Ne 32)
Often, we associate the counsel "to feast" with studying the scriptures. While that is certainly one of the ways we can feast, it seems as though he is really talking about seeking out and treasuring the words of the Holy Ghost. Elders and Sisters, learning to recognize and follow the "words of Christ" as spoken by angels and delivered through the influence of the Holy Ghost is one of the most important skills we can learn as missionaries. This month we will be studying the role of the Holy Ghost in conversion, both that of our investigators and our own.
We promise you that as you study and carefully listen to the promptings you receive, you will be directed in your efforts to find, to teach and to shepherd. You will also recognize ways to you can become more exactly obedient. It is the Lord who has said, "For I the Lord cannot look upon sin with the least degree of allowance" (D&C 1:31). The Adversary would have us believe that we can sin/disobey a little, "there is no harm in this...". Please don't fall into the trap of justifying disobedience. It only leads to heartache and sorrow. The Lord has much greater blessings in store for those He loves.
We love you and are looking forward to the beginning of a new transfer with great miracles that lie ahead.
Love,
President and Sister Mortensen
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| MLC activity with President Chappell |
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| MLC Role Plays |
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| Mission Leadership Council |
We had the wonderful blessing last Thursday to have a special Sister Missionary Conference with visiting General Womens Leaders. Sister Oscarson and Sister Stephens were so inspiring. We loved them!
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| Sister Stephens, Sister Drake, Sister Mortensen, Sister Oscarson |
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| Our daughter Paige loved the car ride afterwards! |
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| Sister Bodily's training |
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| Elder Corn's instruction on Virtue |
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| Elder Mikesell led us in a council on how to teach after the manner of the Master |
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| Sister Bates instructs on the four pillars of missionary work |
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| Role Play demonstration |
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| President Mortensen leads the mission wide conference call to roll out the Easter Initiative |
Monday, February 29, 2016
It's Only Getting Better
To the Missionaries of the Great Texas Houston Mission,
We are so impressed by the increasing numbers of miracles in our mission. February 2016 was the highest number of baptisms in our mission of any February in the last 20 years! There are more complete families getting baptized and there are more dates for March set than we have seen for any month since we've been here! The Lord is hastening His work and we have the privilege of having front row seats :).
As I have been out participating in companionship studies this week I have observed that our outlines don't really follow the pattern of teaching we see demonstrated by divine messengers in the scriptures. With this in mind, we would like to extend to each of you two assignments to be completed this week: First please study together PMG ch 10 and look for principles you can work on to become more effective teachers. Second, please read 1 Ne Ch 11 and look for the way the angel teaches Nephi. Look for the principles of:
1. Starting with the learners desire
2. Introducing and idea/principle,
3. Finding out what the learner understands and then
4. Rounding out their understanding when they don't understand completely
See how these principles are demonstrated in this passage of scripture. Once you do this, please look back at your outlines and see if they need some refining. If they do, please work together to make them better. When we are going to teach a principle like repentance, we ought to be thinking what the truths are about repentance we want to make sure are understood. Our outline might look something like this:
Repentance
Q. What do you understand repentance to be?
Truths: Scriptures:
1. To ask forgiveness of sin
2. To change
3. To forsake sin and to turn toward God
Transition: When we properly repent we demonstrate we want to turn away from sin and turn toward God. Let's turn to the scriptures to see what the Lord asks of those who truly repent:
Add to this outline the scriptures that you can find that teach these truths. As you ask the question in the lesson, make sure you are listening for both what is said and what is not said. You can then round out the investigator's understanding by helping them discover the truths they don't understand by turning to the scriptures.
We promise you that as you continue to strive to teach the Lord would have you teach, the Spirit will be with you more powerfully and those you teach will be able to understand.
We love you and feel so lucky to associate with each of you!
Love,
President and Sister Mortensen
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| Elder Moon and Elder Renouard on campus at Texas A&M sharing family history |
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| Sister Richards and Sister Jensen had another booth on campus for family history |
President Mortensen and I attended District Meeting with the College Station District last Friday
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| Elder Kenyan is a great district leader! We were inspired by his questions and instruction. |
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| College Station District |
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| One of the sweetest things about going to College Station :) |
Friday night was Faith Meets Families in the Houston Temple. Many new members brought their own family names to the temple to be baptized for their ancestors. There was a wonderful feeling in the baptistry. We loved seeing our missionaries leading those they love to the temple. A wonderful evening! The following are pictures taken that night.
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| The Stevens and The Nelsons our outstanding office couples. Four peas in a pod! |
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| Sister Chappell and Sister Larsen |
We were blessed to be able to attend two baptisms Saturday. The following pictures were taken there.
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| So happy to see the former Hermana Koch and Hermana Hill at a baptism |
We held a Mission President's "Why I Believe" Fireside last night. We enjoyed inspiring testimonies and beautiful musical numbers performed by our missionaries. It was a great night for everyone especially those who are seeking to know for themselves.
Sunday, February 21, 2016
Every Companionship, Every Month!
To the Missionaries of the Great Texas Houston Mission,
We loved seeing you all last week and spending such inspiring days together. We hope you will each commit to elevating your language so it reflects the dignity of your call and testify with boldness concerning the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon as well as promise blessings to those who read it.
We are excited for this Friday night and those recent converts who will be bringing their own names to the temple. Please try to have members come with them. You are also welcome to accompany your converts. We are hoping for a great day.
We will be distributing the schedule for those of you to attend the temple in March so that you can take your own names to the temple. Remember both you and your companion need to have found your own names and printed them to take to the temple in order to attend. This will become extremely valuable to you as you prepare to teach others to do the same.
Please make sure you all have the lists of unbaptized children of record and the part member families in the wards. We are confident that as we continue our finding efforts, challenge the members to do the same and review the names on these list, we can get to a place where every companionship can baptize every month and in so doing have even greater success in strengthening and establishing the Church (PMG ch 13)!
Love,
President and Sister Mortensen
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| Costco on P-day! |
We held Zone Conferences last week. The following are pictures taken during those three days.
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| Celebrating our Winter Birthdays |
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| It wouldn't be zone conf without role plays |
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| Celebrating our Winter Birthdays |
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| Celebrating our Winter Birthdays |
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| Someone told Sister Talbot the birthday box was a jack-in-the box! |
Friday President Mortensen and I attended district meeting in the Bear Creek District. We were inspired by the training and leadership of Elder Backstein. What a wonderful district!
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| Love seeing Elder Seamons take notes! |
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| Role Plays |
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| Bear Creek District |
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