MLC August 2016

"The greatest responsibility you will have as a Zone Leader or Sister Training Leader is to help the missionaries in your zone hasten the work of salvation."

"If a man will seek to elevate others the very work itself will turn and elevate him."

    - Joseph Smith

Elder Liston and Elder Halls conducted a training on responsibilities of Sister Training Leaders and Zone Leaders as they go on weekly exchanges.  They offer encouragement, fresh perspective, love and example.  Other components of exchanges are following up, praying for them, reviewing aspects of missionary work, and planning together.

Elders Kotter and Syndergaard shared a highlight as told by Elder Gull and Elder Davidson

"We met Jamie at church. She was a friend of the B family.  We talked to them about sharing the gospel with their friends about two months prior of meeting Jamie! Sister B told us she had a friend named Jamie. Well Sister B worked with Jamie to get her to church for about two or so months. Then Jamie finally came to church with her husband and the B family. She loved it! She then got home and referred her self to us through Mormon.org. We called and set up a date to meet with her. We heard her story over the phone and prayed who we could take to go with us. We thought of Brother S a recent convert about a year ago. Well we got in there and we soon found out that she knew Brother S from selling one of her dogs to his family! An instant relationship was built! Then we shared the restoration with her. She loved it!  She said she has been searching her whole life for this gospel!  We soon knew she was the "Elect of God" we always prayed for! She was so prepared because of the member she was close to! The member (Bro.S) we brought had the similar story as to how he gained a testimony and was eventually baptized as Jamie is gaining, it was so amazing as they shared stories! It was an answer to our prayer! Jamie said that the spirit she feels in the church is so amazing! Nothing compares to it!  Jamie has gone through so many trials as she went through her conversion process. With her husband being difficult to the adversary attacking her in so many little ways. But as she has continued to learn the Gospel her testimony has grown to be so amazing. She said nothing will stop her from entering the baptismal waters! Then two weeks later attend the temple to do names for her ancestors. She also has Home and Visting teachers already (Bro S is her HTeacher) She also is getting extended a calling the Sunday after her baptism. She also wants her Grandson to be blessed in the church as well!  It is amazing that we really had nothing to do with finding her. The members did all the work! It has given us a stronger testimony that the members are the way!  As in Elder Bednars quote  "Members are all time finders and Missionaries are all time teachers" really applies in this amazing humbling experience. The ward council has done a great job of backing us up and making sure it is the Lords way of making sure she is converted!  Now because of all this she will be baptized tomorrow Aug.6th!

Elders Gull and Davidson helped teach Jamie who was baptized Aug. 6

President Johnson conducted a training on safeguards for using technology and reviewed the survey taken in the mission in June.  It was exciting to see many areas that have seen improvement!  Here are some examples:  What are we doing well?

-Understanding and living our purpose 

-Doing personal finding

-Listening to the spirit

-Reading the Book of Mormon daily

-Weekly Planning

-Reading and Applying the missionary handbook

-Studying Preach My Gospel on a daily basis

Things we will work on:  Preach My Gospel Planning and Finding

 

Front:  Elders Halls, Kotter, Syndergaard, Haroldsen, Ramos and Kap

Row 2:  Sisters Penrod, Allen, De Mille, Bartlett, Taunima, Hansen, Wall and Thompson

Row 3:  Pres. Johnson, Elder Hansen, Spencer, May, Hummer, Liston and Nelson 

Back:  Elders Herzog, Renteria, Hatch, Aitken