Much to Share, Not Much Time . . .
A continual challenge that we have is to try to fit everything in. The days are full from morning until night. We are frequently on the road, traveling, in meetings, training, planning with missionaries, Church Leadership or members of the Church for various reasons.
We have so many messages we could share, so many experiences, trials, challenges, miracles, wonderful occurrences from our own happenings or that missionaries have shared with us . . . but we have so little time to put together the words to express what has come to pass.
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| From March 20, 2015 |
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| From March 20, 2015 |
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| From March 20, 2015 |
During the month of March the mission has been very blessed!
The mission San Pedro Sula Este has been blessed to have several uplifting and inspiring visitors that have blessed us through their teachings and testimonies.
Our visitors this month include -
- Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
- Elder Richard J. Maynes of the Presidency of the Seventy
- Elder Dean M. Davies of the Presiding Bishopric of the Church
- Elder Adrian Ochoa of the Second Quorum of the Seventy with their wives, and . . .
- Elder Kevin R. Duncan of the First Quorum of the Seventy.
This post will be about our visit from Elder Kevin R. Duncan of the First Quorum of the Seventy.
(Because he came earliest in the month, I will also be posting the inspiring messages of the other visiting General Authorities of the Church soon)
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| From March 20, 2015 |
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| From March 20, 2015 |
Elder Kevin R. Duncan -
Elder Duncan has much experience in Latin America and had much to share with our missionaries. He served as a young missionary in Chile, then spent time working in Brazil, later served as a Mission President in Chile, and now is the President of the Central America Area, living in Guatemala with his wife and two youngest daughters. We were very grateful to have him tour our mission and greet all our missionaries, as well as address them in three different meetings.
I'm going to share many of the thoughts he left with us . . .
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| From March 20, 2015 |
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| From March 20, 2015 |
Always begin and end speaking of Jesus Christ.
Jesus Christ was Jehovah of the Old Testament and the Messiah of the New Testament. He visited the American continent after his death and resurrection, he appeared to many so that there could be no doubt of his resurrection. These occasions are recorded both in the Bible and in the Book of Mormon which is another witness of Jesus Christ.
He is our Lord, our Redeemer, our Advocate with the Father.
He ransomed us with his blood.
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| From March 20, 2015 |
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| From March 20, 2015 |
We can do nothing as missionaries except we teach and testify of the importance of the Savior, his atonement and the blessings of the His restored gospel to the earth.
Because of Him . . . all that is good in the world, has come to pass.
Testify powerfully of Christ in all moments.
Are you Living up to Your Potential?
You are very needed here - field is white and ready to harvest, have a great work to do, much potential!
Are we living beneath our privileges?
Do we have the faith required to live UP to our privileges?
Knowing that our Heavenly Father will bless us.
Elder Duncan - "I am here to invite you to receive the VISION of the work you can accomplish in your areas, branches, wards and stakes. Through much study, and much work, I promise you can receive it!"
We need to envision each of our areas as the future Stakes of Zion!
We need good priesthood leaders! Men who diligently pay a full tithe and offerings. I particularly noted his next words . . . "think of the strength behind these faithful men!" "Speaking of women, I know all the apostles, and believe it or not, each of their wives are better than they are. My wife is better than me!" "So think of the strength that comes when we find these faithful men!"
And we, ourselves, also, through the infinite agoodnessof God, and the manifestations of his Spirit, have great views of that which is to come; and were it expedient, we could prophesy of all things. Mosiah 5:3
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| From March 20, 2015 |
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| From March 20, 2015 |
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| From March 20, 2015 |
Envision the potential of yourself and your areas.
An Invitation . . . to be Better . . .
Get rid of those things in your life that are preventing you from accomplishing this great work . . . tablets, extra telephones, telephone chips, inappropriate music . . . inappropriate activities or thoughts . . . selfishness, problems with leaders or companions . . . just stop it, get rid of it today!
Teach the members what are appropriate missionary activity and don't linger longer than necessary after lessons, lunch or dinner. Teach and testify in every home, with every person. Keep visits to less than an hour, preferably 30 minutes.
You are a representative of the Savior, you have been officially called by a prophet to represent the Church and the Savior. Be an example 24 x 7.
We have the power to change the work here that is miraculous.
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| From March 20, 2015 |
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| From March 20, 2015 |
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| From March 20, 2015 |
Do Your Part to Hasten the Work of Salvation
Elder Duncan shared Elder Bednar's words from the most recent Seminar for Mission Presidents in 2014. Speaking of the scripture found in D&C 88:73 -
It is very clear that we play a role in helping the Kingdom of God roll forth across the world. But it is the Lord who hastens His work. It is the Lord's work and he does the hastening. It is the Lord who directs and moves His work forward.
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| From March 20, 2015 |
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| From March 20, 2015 |
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| From March 20, 2015 |
Elder Bednar -
"Will we keep pace? Will we as individuals and collectively as a church keep pace with the Lord's hastening? Or will we insist on doing things the way they have always been done, or the ways we are accustomed to or comfortable with?
Will we learn and teach the Savior's way? Will each of us here today learn, repent, change, and teach more effectively the Savior's way? Or will we be so entangled in the traditions and patterns of the past that we will be unable to keep up the pace of the Lord's hastening?
If we always do what we have always done, then we will always get what
we have always gotten.
May I suggest that what we have always done and always gotten were good in their time but need to improve as the Lord is quickening the pace. The Lord's hastening of His work requires us continuously to learn, to change, and to press forward with faith in the Savior.
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| From March 20, 2015 |
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| From March 20, 2015 |
The Lord's anointed servants are leading the way to more spiritually sensitive, rigorous, and demanding patterns of learning and teaching.
You were not called to serve today because of what you have done in the past. Rather, you were called because the Lord has confidence in what you can and will do in the future. You were called because of what you will become!
Will we keep pace as the Lord hastens His Work? Will we shape ourselves to the majesty of our callings?"
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| From March 20, 2015 |
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| From March 20, 2015 |
Every Member a Missionary . . . and . . .
Every Member a Member!!
Elder Duncan shared a video with the missionaries of easy ways to involve the members more frequently in their teaching. Encourage the members be active in teaching, attending firesides with investigators, inviting neighbors and friends into their homes for the missionaries to meet with.
Think how beneficially the time is spent if a member invites two families into their home for the missionaries to come teach! Saves the missionaries a great deal of time finding, and they feel the Spirit of a warm Latter-day Saint home, as well as make very good use of the missionaries teaching time.
Continually invite less active members to come back. Involve them in reading the Book of Mormon so they can remember that same Spirit that testified to them originally of the truthfulness of gospel principles.
Members are Key!
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| From March 20, 2015 |
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| From March 20, 2015 |
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| From March 20, 2015 |
Always be Finding - Always!
During lessons, invite everyone in the house to participate. Invite the the neighbors in. Ask each person for references. Point out moments when the witness of the Spirit is strong. Invite everyone to come participate in the next lesson.
Elder Duncan brought an example of a teaching sheet for all investigators, filled with lesson plans and gospel principles.
Our assistants have already created one special for our mission that each missionary will have available to use with each of their investigators.
Use the Area Calendars -
Each missionary, investigator, less active or active member should have a copy of the Area Calendar to use to track their personal scripture study, prayers, Family Home Evening, temple work, family history work.
Use the calendars!
“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth … : for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”—Matthew 6:19, 21
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| From March 20, 2015 |
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| From March 20, 2015 |
A Mission of Angels -
We have a mission of angels on the other side of the veil doing their part to hasten the work. They are preparing the hearts of many to receive the word of the Lord.
For behold, aangels are declaring it unto many at this time in our land; and this is for the purpose of preparing the hearts of the children of men to receive his word at the time of his coming in his glory. Alma 13:24
How do we work with these Angels? Through the power of prayer, fasting, planning, study, planning to teach and praying for the proper preparation. What would the Savior have us do so that we can be prepared to assist these missionaries from the other side of the veil with their work?
And there was ano inequality among them; the Lord did pour out his Spirit on all the face of the land to prepare the minds of the children of men, or to prepare their bhearts to receive the word which should be taught among them at the time of his coming— Alma 16:16
Faith is the key.
Through faith we can overcome whatever challenges we may find in our paths. It's easy to have faith when times are good, when things are easy, when our appointments come to pass, when our investigators come to church, when they progress and read and study and pray as we have helped them.
Having faith during the hard times is hard! But it is the most important time!
Faith is the basis of testimony.
Faith represents sacrifice.
Faith is a miracle.
Faith is a gift from God.
"It is a marvelous and wonderful thing that thousands are touched by the miracle of the Holy Spirit, that they believe and accept and become members. They are baptized. Their lives are forever touched for good. Miracles occur. A seed of faith comes into their hearts. It enlarges as they learn. And they accept principle upon principle, until they have every one of the marvelous blessings that come to those who walk with faith in this, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
It is faith that is the converter. It is faith that is the teacher."
--Gordon B. Hinckley
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