New Zealand Hamilton Mission, October 2014 — Insights, wisdom, and truths learned
Truths and thoughts from October 2014
- October 2, 2014 — Taranaki Zone Meeting
- One year ago, in this mission, half the current number of missionaries baptized twice as many converts
- The Scribes and Pharisees can be described as exactly obedient, masters of scripture, leaders, great teachers, they avoided evil, BUT they lacked the Spirit!
- One of the elders in the zone made the comment that he thinks missionaries can be TOO obedient! Huh?
- Our ‘higher law’ is the white handbook. The ‘lesser law’ is that no elders and sisters to be alone together, following the mission protocol, mission rules that are not found in the white handbook.
- Traditions of elders or sisters are simply traditions. In most instances, those traditions are not true or correct.
- Obedience is aligning ourselves and our actions with what God wants for us.
- Elder Morris’ comments:
- Let’s all change the way we think about our missionary work.
- True doctrine changes paradigms.
- Recently while in a Subway store, Elder Morris observed the following. A father was in line and paid no attention to the fact that his children were being loud and annoying. A man in line said to this father, “Excuse me, sir. Could you please control your children? My wife just died and I would appreciate a quiet, calm store.” Be aware of how our actions influence or affect others.
- Think of the principles of ‘finding’: the family of God, members, teach when you find, the Spirit, talk with everyone, seek referrals, family history.
- October 2014, Women’s’ Conference
- The oil of preparation cannot be shared. Sister Burton gave a wonderful ‘temple preparation’ talk.
- Sister Reeves: we are known and loved individually by the Father. As we stand in the waters of baptism, we should be looking toward the temple. Temples are an expression of God’s love in our lives. Temples lessen the influence of Satan in our lives. Temple push back darkness. Do we need to keep ALL of the commandments? Obviously God knows things that we do not know.
- October 2014 — General Conference
- President Monson mentioned that the Fort Lauderdale Temple would be dedicated on May 4, 2014, and that the Ogden Temple had been rededicated just 2 weeks ago. The Phoenix temple will be dedicated in November 2014. We now have 88,000 full time missionaries serving.
- Elder Packer — There are 18 pages of references to the Savior in the Topical Guide under “Christ”. Before this life, we agreed to be subject to Christ’s laws here on earth. He has already paid the price for our sins.
- Elder Lynn G. Robbins — Which way do you face. ‘The hit bird flutters’.
- Sister Esplin — I wish I had understood the Sacrament better as a young person. Listen carefully to the sacramental prayers. The bread reminds us that Jesus is the ‘bread’ of life. The water reminds us that he is indeed our ‘living’ water.
- Elder Wong — We should all be performing ‘rescue visits’. He recounted the story of the palsied man being lowered through the roof by his friends, placing him directly in front of the Savior. Are we making similar ‘rescue’ efforts? Ward councils should regularly discuss the names of those needing rescuing. Our full time missionaries are great resources to use for these rescues.
- Elder Christoffersen — We are accountable for all of our own actions.
- President Uchtdorf — God Himself has given us the promise that we can know the truth by ourselves.
- Search the word of God with sincere desire to KNOW
- Ponder, and strive to believe
- Ask, in the name of Jesus, for manifestations of truth
- DO, and then you will KNOW! (John 7:17)
- Elder Oaks — Love one another as I have loved you. Why is this often difficult for us? Because we live among non-believers. We are told to be in the world, but not of the world. The Lord expects us to be ‘leaven’. Contention should not be part of our lives.
- Elder Andersen — Listening to and hearkening to detractors and dissenters would be similar to conversing Judas to understand Christ.
- Elder Klebingat — The SIX steps:
- Take responsibility for your own disobedience.
- Maintain your own physical well-being.
- Be obedient VOLUNTARILY!
- Repent thoroughly and practically.
- Become an expert in forgiving others.
- Accept counsel from others.
- Elder Holland — Jesus loved the impoverished. Last year the church assisted 750,000 needy persons.
- Priesthood session —
- Elder Cook — Be serious about preparation, decisions, and choices. Moderation, balance, and wisdom should always guide us.
- Sunday morning session —
- President Eyring — Be desirous of continuous inspiration from God.
- Elder Russell M. Nelson — Proper church governance.
- Sister Carol McConkie — Follow the prophet.
- Elder Robert D. Hales — Gain your own testimony, have a testimony of the unity of the Father and the Son.
- President Thomas S. Monson — Put Christ first in your lives and He will share eternal life with us. Walk the paths that Jesus walked.
- October 14, 2014 — Hawera District Meeting
- Re-read the Fourth Missionary.
- Yes, our behavior needs to change, but it is more important that our NATURE changes.
- Do return from your mission as the same person you were when you came on your mission. Pray better, fast better, work better, serve better.
- Give your all to the Lord and to this mission!
- October 23, 2014 — Training session with President and Sister Rudd and the Assistants to the Mission President
- Effective ways of FINDING = service opportunities, part-member families, ‘talking with everyone’, referrals.
- Talking with everyone is heavily emphasized in Preach My Gospel. We need to emphasize this important effort in our mission. Our ‘finding’ has gone down in the mission since we took the emphasis off of ‘talking with everyone’.
- Pray to overcome the fear of ‘talking with everyone’. Remember Doctrine and Covenants 84:85 – it will be given to us what we should say.
- Doctrine and Covenants 24:12 states: “And at all times, and in all places, he shall open his mouth and declare my gospel as with the voice of a trump, both day and night. And I will give unto him strength such as is not known among men.” This could be described as the gift of eloquence. Also remember Doctrine and Covenants 28:16 which says: “And thou must open thy mouth at all times, declaring my gospel with the sound of rejoicing.”
- Work diligently on the following:
- Set goals and make plans.
- Prepare in faith.
- Study.
- Role play with your companions and other missionaries.
- Pray in faith.
- Pray in specifics.
- Trust that the Lord will ‘put people in our way’.
- Work!
- Instructions to Zone Leaders — study and apply page 137 of Preach My Gospel and page 147 of Preach My Gospel. Focus on the needs of the people.
- Sister Rudd:
- Do we ever put ourselves in the Great and Spacious Building?
- Do we ever mock others when they try to do what is right?
- There is TOO MUCH gossiping in the New Zealand Hamilton Mission!
- Doctrine and Covenants 108:7-8 admonishes us to ‘strengthen’ our brethren.
- Moroni 9:19-20 tells us that miracles ceased do to unbelief.
- Doctrine and Covenants 6:36-37 tells us to sow well and reap well
- Zone Leaders:
- Personal study makes or breaks our mission. See page 182 of Preach My Gospel.
- Companion study should include a song, prayers, reading the White Handbook, sharing what we learn, focusing on investigator’s needs, planning lessons, role playing, evaluating our role playing, etc.
- Assistants to the Mission President:
- The essentials of an effective lesson include knowing how to begin, teaching the doctrine, leaving the person with a commitment.
- I-N-V-I-T-E: Inviting is necessary and vital in teaching exaltation
- President Rudd:
- Baptize and activate.
- Lead souls to Christ by preparing them for baptism
- Hold to the ROD = Respect, Obedience, Discipline
- Teach doctrine, extend commitments, ask direct questions, promise blessings, testify, follow up, be happy, help identify blessings, recognize the spirit.
- Promise yourself that every time you meet with someone, you will set a goal and commit them to meet that goal. Invite and challenge.
Click here to return to the New Zealand Hamilton Mission wisdom index page
Click here to return to the Missionary Matters menu page
Click here to return to the Main Menu page