The Work of Salvation

We just finished our mission tour of Zone Conferences . . . it was a wonderful opportunity to see each and every single missionary.  Oh how we love these young men and women.  They are strong and valiant missionaries with a desire to serve our Heavenly Father and teach and testify of our Saivor Jesus Christ.  That people the world over might receive the good news the gospel brings.  Our Savior lives, our Heavenly Father loves each one of us.  He desires all to return to live with him.  And he has a plan so that we can do just that.  And enjoy the blessings of eternal families.

Based on inspiration received at our Mission Presidents Training Seminar in Guatemala, that we just returned from . . .

We focused our Zone Conferences on  . . .

"The Work of Salvation"

No more is it the missionary work . . . but for all, you and I, and everyone who has made a covenant through baptism to serve our Savior Jesus Christ . . . it is the work of Salvation.

We began our Zone Conferences with a video that really touches on the heart of 
the work of salvation - 

I'm going to share the thoughts included in this article with photos from our zone conference . . . because it expresses the message we want to share with everyone.  Our missionaries . . . our families back home, our friends, neighbors . . . and especially the those we come intact with everyday in the . . .

Honduras San Pedro Sula East Mission.

Behold, I will Hasten my Work in it's Time.

On December 27, 1832, in Kirtland, Ohio, the Lord provided us with a message of peace, including these words to ponder: “Behold, and lo, I will take care of your flocks, and will raise up elders and send unto them. Behold, I will hasten my work in its time” (D&C 88:72–73).

Following President Thomas S. Monson’s historic announcement in general conference on October 6, 2012, the number of missionary applications has continued to increase. It is a spiritually electrifying time as new missions and missionary training center expansions are announced. This “spirit of the gathering” is all around us and has global impact.  

(La Ceiba Zone)

In Elder Russell M. Nelson’s inspired words, “The full-time missionary force is growing, and these well-prepared young men and women are both eyewitnesses and participants in this gathering of people from the world into the fold of Christ. Much is being done to help them in their preparations to serve as worthy, well-prepared disciples of Jesus Christ.”

In the beginning pages of Preach My Gospel, the First Presidency’s message to missionaries states: “There is no more compelling work than this, nor any which brings greater satisfaction. We challenge you to rise to a new sense of commitment to assist our Father in Heaven in His glorious work.” 

(Olanchito Zone)

(Miramar zone)

These invitations to serve, combined with the direction of the Holy Ghost into the hearts and minds of young men and women throughout the world, have resulted in surges among the entire missionary force, but many families have felt this surge within their own homes.

Elder Kyle Idso, 18, and Sister Kaylene Idso, 19, both entered the Provo Missionary Training Center the same day, January 16, 2013. Sister Idso is the oldest child in the Idso home and has always had a desire to serve a full-time mission. In her own words, “When I heard President Monson make the announcement, I first thought of my brother who was 18 years old and could go immediately. Then when President Monson announced the new sisters’ age, I was excited to know I could also go now.”

Identical twins Sister Linsey Haas and Sister Jocelyn Haas of Mesa, Arizona, are serving in the California San Bernardino and Pennsylvania Philadelphia Missions respectively. Their 19-year-old sister, Tessa, just received her call to serve in the Idaho Boise Mission. By June of this year, all three of the Haas sisters will be serving missions. Senior couples are also feeling a deeper desire to serve, and many have served multiple missions. Elder Gary Batchelor, former president of the Arkansas Little Rock Mission, and his wife, Sister Kay Batchelor, have 30 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. Following their experiences in Arkansas, they received a call to serve for two years in the Micronesia Guam Mission. They are now in the Provo MTC with their calling to serve 18 months in the Missouri St. Louis Mission.  

Entrusted with ushering in this last dispensation, the Prophet Joseph Smith in 1842 described this great latter-day work: “The truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent, till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country and sounded in every ear; till the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the great Jehovah shall say the work is done” (History of the Church, 4:540).

(Progreso Sur Zone)

(Satelite Zone)

How might we be active participants in hastening the work?

Sometimes we complicate the gospel to such an extent that we forget what it’s really about. 

• It’s about knowing that we have a Heavenly Father who loves us. 
• It’s about knowing that Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer. 
• It’s about making covenants. 
• It’s about knowing that the gospel was restored on the earth and that we are led by living prophets, seers, and revelators. 

Additionally, it’s about teaching the doctrine to one another that we might be instructed more perfectly in the laws of the gospel (see D&C 88:77–78).

Elder M. Russell Ballard, in the April 2003 general conference, said, 

“Remember, we’re not marketing a product. We’re not selling anything. We’re not trying to impress anyone with our numbers or our growth. We are members of the restored Church of Jesus Christ, empowered and sent forth by the Lord Himself to find, nourish, and bring safely into His Church those who are seeking to know the truth” (“The Essential Role of Member Missionary Work”).  

With the increasing number of missionaries throughout the world and greater access to missionaries in every unit of the Church, we will need to do things more effectively. 

This will include a more steady engagement by our ward councils into the lives of our young men and young women, as well as a more effective approach to reach out to our less-active brothers and sisters. 

(La Lima Zone)

Spiritual Preparation in the Home

Spiritual preparation in the home is critically important in preparing to share the gospel. The doctrine of Christ and the lesson plans contained in chapter 3 of Preach My Gospel can be taught in a simple way even to young children in our family home evenings.

Young minds in a home setting are so teachable. 

We must be steady in our daily scripturestudy and also must preserve our Monday evenings for family home evening so that the evening does not turn into just another social gathering or athletic event that might compete with our chance to be with our own children in a well-planned and executed family home evening.

Progreso Norte)

(Pineda Zone)

Elder Clayton M. Christensen, a former Area Seventy, tells of many blessings and friendships that come through trying to share the gospel. He reminds us that the Doctrine and Covenants is filled with remarkable promises that God has offered to those who accept His call to share the gospel (see “Seven Lessons on Sharing the Gospel,” Ensign, Feb. 2005, 36–41).

Among the promises given:

• You shall have power to declare His word (see D&C 99:2).

• He will go before your face. He will be on your right hand and on your left (see D&C 84:88).

• You shall have blessings greater than the treasures of earth (see D&C 19:37–38).

• You will be given a testimony of the words of the prophets (see D&C 21:9).

• He will bear you up as on eagles’ wings (see D&C 124:18).

We have a gift. We should be willing to share it.

We are blessed to live in a time when the gospel of Jesus Christ is being hastened by our Heavenly Father to all parts of the world.  Not just through personal contact with missionaries, but through example, social media, news media, publicity and every means of technology available to man today.  The opportunity to do family temple work, gathering the records of loved ones from the past has never been easier nor more available to all mankind throughout the world.  

Truly we see the Lord's hand in the work of salvation in all parts of the world. 

Capture the Vision

President Thomas S. Monson

Wishing will not make it so. The Lord expects our thinking. He expects our action. He expects our labors. He expects our testimonies. He expects our devotion.

President Henry B. Eyring

Whatever our age, capacity, Church calling, or location, we are as one called to the work

to help Him in His harvest of souls.

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

There is a way for everyone … to participate in this great work. We can each find a way to use our own particular talents and interests in support of the great work of filling the world with light and truth.

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Up Close . . . and somewhat personal . . .

Ahhhh . . . the missionary life . . .

It's impossible to completely describe the missionary life.  If you've lived it you know what I'm talking about.  One serves a mission far from home and family, surrounded by a world that is almost always completely different than the one they left at home . . .

And then they return after a period of 18 months or two years and report briefly, an ultra "reader's digest" version to the Stake High Council.  And then in a 15-30 minute report to ward members of their experiences in the last 18-24 months.  But there really aren't words to express, or time enough to really share an accurate description of the life of a missionary.

Working alongside of these young, hard working missionaries almost daily has given me an entirely new appreciation for missionary service.









My two sons served missions.  One in the New York New York South Mission and another in the Korea Busan Mission.  I thought that by receiving letters and weekly emails from them that I perhaps understood the missionary life.  I'm realizing now that I understood nothing.  I have far greater respect for their efforts now, after these many years than I did at that time.  Even though at the time I was so pleased as a parent with their willingness to sacrifice and serve our Heavenly Father.  And I know it was a blessing in their life and a blessing for our family during that time.

But I am just now getting a glimpse of how a mission actually changes the life and hearts of young men and women all over the world as they truly come to love the people, love the country, love the gospel, love their Savior and Heavenly Father.  This certainly comes to pass with many missionaries.  Sadly, perhaps not all.  But those who have the desire . . . will experience this mighty change in their hearts and lives.

Those who remember their purpose as missionaries and give up their own will and desires . . . and

“Invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end” (Preach My Gospel [2004], 1).

And the challenge for them, is it's impossible to share or describe this life changing experience through words.  (Although, I must admit, some do an amazing job . . . . which I'm sure you'll agree if you follow along on any of the blogs listed in the right sidebar.)




A glimpse into missionary life that really delights me . . .

The power of the Spirit.  What a blessing the power of the Spirit is in the lives of the missionaries everywhere.  They receive promptings telling them what they should do, they receive promptings telling them what they should not do.  The words of Elder Ballard describe this great blessing.

The power of this work is when we get to the point in our relationships with Heavenly Father that we know the voice of the Spirit, and we know it so well that we know exactly what we should do” (Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, devotional address at the Provo Missionary Training Center, June 25, 2002).

The power of Prayer.  Prayer becomes second nature for missionaries . . .  it is vital to every aspect of their work.  They pray individually, they pray as companionships.  They carry a prayer in their hearts as they study, plan, eat, visit, teach, walk and walk and walk.  They understand how the power of prayer is exactly linked with the power of the spirit.  And they need the spirit . . .

“the Spirit shall be given unto you by the prayer of faith; and if ye receive not the Spirit ye shall not teach” (D&C 42:14).

The power of daily scripture study.  It is through the power of daily scripture study that missionaries are prepared to live and share the gospel each day of their lives as a missionary.  It is a blessing for their service and to the missionary as an individual, and as a companionship to have this dedicated amount of time for scripture study daily in their lives.  Probably never again will they be able to devote themselves so whole heartedly to a comprehension of the scriptures and how to apply it, and how it blesses their lives everyday.

“I frequently say to missionaries in the field, ‘You make or break your mission every morning of your life. You tell me how those morning hours go from 6:30 a.m. until you are on the street in your mission, whatever time it is; you tell me how those hours go, and I will tell you how your day will go, I will tell you how your month will go, I will tell you how your year will go and how your mission and your life will go’” (Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, seminar for new mission presidents, June 26, 2011).

The power of Teaching and Testifying.  Missionaries have challenges.  Yes, they do . . . some appear to pass through missionary service without a struggle.  But I think it would be a fair statement to say that they ALL have challenges to overcome here in the mission.  But it is through the power of teaching and testifying to others that they are able to forget self, and move ahead one day at at time.  The cure for homesickness is to teach and to testify.  The balm for worry, sadness, anxiety . . . is to teach and to testify.  Not only do they assist their investigators to come to know the Savior, they strengthen their fortitude as missionaries in the work.











And then the time comes when they go home . . . it's a time of very mixed emotions.  They leave a large portion of their hearts in the mission field, saying goodbye to members, investigators, leaders possibly forever.   They return to the world, and all it's different challenges.

 But those who have the desire . . . will experience this mighty change in their hearts and lives.

Forever
and
ever.

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Transfer week already!

Welcome to the San Pedro Sula East Mission!!

That's exactly what we said to 31 missionaries who arrived into the mission field here this past week.  With 6 trips to the airport in 4 days . . . we welcomed 31 missionaries and said farewell to 6.  I can't believe these last 6 weeks came and went so fast.

And now they are all teaching and testifying all over the San Pedro Sula East Mission!

President Klein always encourages the senior companions to get their newly arrived companions sharing their testimony in Spanish as soon as possible.  Hopefully within a day or two at the most.

I must say . . . I was awfully proud of some new arrivals!  While we were waiting in the airport for luggage to be found, what did I see but a couple of new missionaries just off the plane, giving away a Book of Mormon to a young family waiting for the arrival of their family member!

Way to go Elders!!

(These hard workers here - load our buses with 45+ pieces of luggage, fitting

everything into every nook and cranny so that it all is neat and tidy and

takes up every last bit of space we have available . . . 

all for the tip money we are more than happy to provide for them.)

One thing about here in Honduras, the people want to work and will do just 

about anything you would like them to do, as they try to provide for their

homes and families in such a difficult economy.

And . . .

of course . . . the new missionaries would get welcomed with their first torrential

downpour!  Welcome to Honduras!

Usually, we try to feed them pretty quickly,

after a long day of travel they all arrive pretty hungry!

After a long day of orientation by our office elders, the assistants and 

sister training leaders, and an interview with

President Klein .  . . 

You know you have some fine missionaries here when they all jump

up immediately and start helping put the church back into tip top shape again!

At the end of the day,  before sending them off for their

first night in the Honduras, San Pedro Sula East mission,

they get to have a nice home cooked meal with 

President Klein and myself, our sister training leaders, and assistant.

We're so grateful for Hna. Martinez and her help each transfer

as she prepares yummy food for our missionary welcome dinner.

This week our plans didn't go quite as expected due to a flight breakdown at the Guatemala airport and 14 missionaries from the CCM in Guatemala arriving a day late on a chartered flight (which was a miracle they could arrive so promptly! We were very grateful!)

Since these missionaries had to get up at 1:30 am to be at the airport two days in a row . . . I would say they are pretty happy to be here!!


Usually on the day of their arrival our missionaries would arrive from their respective CCM's, spend the day with us, meet the Assistants, our Sister Training leaders,  receive some orientation and training, their first Honduran baleadas,  and an interview with President Klein . . . . This time it was a little crazy with their flight arriving a day late,  just in time to have a quick airport welcome, load the buses with missionaries and luggage and whisk them off to the transfer meeting with the 100 or so, currently serving missionaries who had arrived that morning, from all over the mission to receive their change of location or companion . . . that was getting ready to start.

Hehehehee - usually, once transfer meeting has concluded missionaries take their new companions and immediately head off to all their various new areas.  Some of which are far away.  Many Senior companions didn't understand their new companion had just BARELY arrived and still needed an interview with President Klein, needed their missionary funding cards and a little orientation, we had to literally run after them and find them all, retrieving them from taxi's and buses as they were "ready to get to work!"


This transfer we said goodbye to one Assistant who will be opening a new area his last transfer, said goodbye to two sister training leaders, one who will be training in her new area, another leaves to return to home in Utah, and of course . . . welcomed one new Assistant and two sister training leaders.  We are so grateful for the example, dedication, hard work . . . and did I say example of all these experienced leaders.  They truly make a difference in the mission, to missionaries, members, investigators, church leadership in every opportunity they have to serve.  Thank you immensely!








Through the prayers of one very patient missionary here in Honduras, an Hna. who received her mission call to serve in Costa Rica almost a year ago . . . 
And the inspiration for one mission president and one stake president . . .
Miraculously, we have a lovely sister missionary joining us while she continues to wait for her visa to come through to Costa Rica.
We had some pretty tender moments as we met her family and participated with them as their beautiful daughter and sister was finally set apart as a missionary!

Our sisters are amazingly adept at getting things accomplished at the last minutes.  Fixing up a professional nametag while they are waiting for an official one to arrive - is on their list of many talents.


Six missionaries going home . . .
The most we have said farewell to at one time since our arrival. Some have served as assistants to the President and Sister Training Leaders.
We stand in awe at their wonderful examples and dedicated service here.
It kills me to go to the airport . . . 
I'm not sure I can do it any more :(
"They will understand what they and this work are all about, and they will be up and about their Father’s business. As the sons (and daughters) of Mosiah, they will  teach ‘with power and authority of God’ (Alma 17:3)” -- (Elder D. Todd Christofferson

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Personal Time with our Missionaries!

We have a goal, it's a mighty and difficult one to be sure . . . we want to  spend some individual time with all the missionaries!

We try to gather small groups as best we can so we can get to know each missionary better and have some kind of fun interaction with them during their service here in the San Pedro Sula East Mission.  Usually we prepare a personal message with thoughts that will help them in their service or lift and inspire with particular challenges they may have going on at the moment.




If we can we like to get all members of the group involved in some way, to share a testimony, or a spiritual thought, a song or hymn that they like . . . and even helping with the preparations to set things up or clean up.


Sometimes we have the opportunity to have missionaries whose areas are within a reasonable travel distance come to the home to visit.  It's not something we can do on our new missionary arrival days as we are located so far from the airport, and so far from where we do all our orientation and where the missionaries stay the night to prepare for the upcoming transfer meeting the next day.

We love the opportunity for a little one on one interaction with the missionaries and the opportunity to provide them with a home-cooked meal, or something that resembles a home-cooked meal!  It's been one of our most fun mission opportunities so far.




The difficulty lies in that most missionaries are not assigned within visiting distance of the Mission Home in San Pedro Sula.  So we try to incorporate these smaller gatherings whenever mission business takes us outside of San Pedro Sula to other areas of the mission.

AND slowly but surely we're working our way around . . .

Here's just a glimpse of some of the goings on . . .

(Sadly I'm realizing I didn't get photos of all the different groups . . . but we'll try to do better!)

These last two photos are a little impromptu gathering . . . as we all had to spend half a day in the

"Official"

Honduras Immigration office

taking care of Visa busines . . .

At least, if you have to wait a

half day in the VISA immigration 

office  - 

It's so nice that we could wait together!

And it wasn't time wasted for sure . . .

I saw at least three different missionary discussions taking

place during the time we spent there.

Way to go Elders and Sisters!!

Union Square Plan of Salvation

I also wanted to include a link to a pretty awesome missionary opportunity -

New York City missionaries created a unique mural on the
sidewalks of Union Square!

Pretty creative I must admit - loved to see the opportunities in this video!

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Adjusting to Missionary Life

(The photos below are all from training sessions (may not be the same for all missions everywhere! This is a decision we make to do additional training) usually held approximately 4 weeks after a new missionary arrives in the mission field.  After gaining some initial experience with their new companions and an opportunity to become accustomed somewhat to the missionary lifestyle - they all return with their trainers for some additional training  - an opportunity to exchange experiences with those they met in the MTC, a chance to visit with President and Hna. Klein - the Assistants and all the Sister Training Leaders.  It's a time that we all enjoy - as we get to know these newly serving missionaries much better!)

The First 12 Weeks . . .

When a new missionary arrives in the mission field there is a lot to take in . . . especially if one hasn't had much opportunity to travel outside of their hometown, state or country.  For those arriving from North America the change in climate is pretty astounding.  We watch all the missionaries gasp as they take their first deep breath as they exit the airport customs area and feel that first blast of humidity and heat roll over them.  I remember myself, it's such a strange sensation, you almost can't breath.  Even those arriving from different parts of South America and Central America are surprised at the heat.  I'm certain we have one of the hotter and most humid missions in South and Central America.

Immediately they notice they aren't in "Kansas" any more.  If Spanish isn't their native language . . . that language they just spent 6 weeks learning in the MTC is not very helpful those first few days.  They wonder if they will ever be able to communicate or understand anything ever again.





The scenery is beyond description.  From the beautify of the green jungle filled hills, to the blue skies on a clear day, the typical Honduras bright colors everywhere, animals roaming at will through the streets, busy horse drawn carts, people walking, sitting, standing outside their homes.  To most missionaries it doesn't look anything like home.  At first it's intriguing . . .

Each arriving missionary is paired up with a "Senior Companion", someone with experience in the mission.  From that moment on . . . each missionary has the responsibility to stay with their companion, within eyesight and hearing of each other.  It's a responsibility most have never experienced before and takes some getting used to.

Then there is the busy missionary schedule.  They have long very structured days, free of television, video games, cell phones, computers . . . they spend several hours a day in personal and companionship study, preparing lessons to teach as they greet people throughout their day, learning and perfecting their language skills.   Many are not used to waking each day at 6:30 am and continuing until 10:30 pm with a long busy day in between those hours.

Those first 12 weeks are certainly a period of adjustment to a very different lifestyle.  Many missionaries long for home, their comfy beds, the security of home and family to surround them, familiar foods, someone who they can engage in casual conversation without having to attempt frantic translations.




To say that most missionaries experience stressful times during this time would be the understatement of the century.  Some missionaries appear to sail right through it with scarcely a backward glance.  Many missionaries struggle . . .

 . . . especially those first 12 weeks.




The Good News

The good news is . . .

that it get's better  :)

Soon they start to look around and appreciate the new culture.  This most unusual way of life.  Most develop great friendships with their companions.  Many learn life lessons as they develop compassion, communication skills, an appreciation for ones different strengths (and weaknesses!).  It's so interesting to observe these missionaries as they learn amazing life lessons we couldn't begin to teach them in a classroom.  They develop skills that will bless their lives forever.






Empathy for Investigators
(a missionary term for those people expressing an interest in the missionary message and lessons - the missionaries meet with them regularly to help them progress in their studies)

Adjusting to this new way of life gives them great empathy for their investigators who are making their own lifestyle and cultural changes as they embrace the gospel in their lives.  They experience much the same emotions as a newly arrived missionary in a foreign country.  Both excited and nervous and always feeling very inadequate.  But soon they can lead by experience and with the guidance of the spirit help their investigators learn to thrive in a new and different lifestyle.  Becoming familiar with living the law of chastity, testing faith through paying tithing, embracing the word of wisdom, attending regular Sunday meetings each week, dressing modestly, honoring the Sabbath day.








Adjusting to Missionary Life -

During the 2013 Mission Presidents Seminar that we were so privileged to attend, the missionary department began to introduce a new resource to help missionaries adjust to the mission lifestyle.  We are very excited to begin to use this program and teach some helpful skills to all newly arriving missionaries that they will be able to use throughout their lives as they encounter periods of change and new challenges and opportunities for growth.

It starts right after they receive their call in the mail with some pre-missionary training, continues at the MTC or CCM,  we follow up especially during their first 12 weeks in the mission.

I thought it would be helpful to share the following suggestions for all newly called missionaries -

• Look for ways to serve others!  Missionary work is a call to service.  Begin now to look for ways to reach out in love to those around you, a kind word, an act of charity, or friendship.
• Focus on strengthening your relationship with  your Heavenly Father.  Seek the spirit through prayer, study, uplifintg music.  Ponder upon how Heavenly Father will strengthen you to do his work.
• Develop an attitude of Gratitude - Offer a prayer of tratitude each day for those things you have been blessed with and the calling you have received.
• Be kind and patient with yourself - remember everyone gets frustrated or makes mistakes at times.  Remember that thoughts of hopelessness and helplessness are not from the Lord.  Know that the Lord understands and will be with you every step of the way.
• Expect the unexpected - the missionary experience is different for everyone!  Be open and receptive to change!

And we will be there every step of the way as well!

An adjustment period for missionaries is entirely normal.  It is not in any way a sign that they lack faith or a testimony of the gospel.  They are learning the skills that it takes to be successful and that takes time.  Life as a missionary will be different than anyone could ever tell you or try to prepare you beforehand.  

"And whoso receiveth you, there I will be also, for I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up"

-- Doctrine and Covenants 84:88

"know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee  

experience, and shall be for thy good." 

--Doctrine and Covenants 122:7

These things I believe . . .

These things I know.

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