New Zealand Hamilton Mission, January 2014 — Insights, wisdom, and truths learned
Truths and thoughts from January 2014
- We invite, they commit, we follow up.
- Invitations lead to repentance. Ask direct questions. Invite by saying, “Will you….?” Promise them blessings.
- Bear testimony frequently, adapt, re-invite as necessary (T-A-P-T-A-R = teach, ask, promise, testify, adapt, re-invite)
- Be excited and enthusiastic around members. Members will decide whether or not to give you referrals based on your enthusiasm and spirit.
- Training from Brother Hawkes at the Provo Missionary Training Center:
- Doctrine and Covenants 15:6 — “… the thing which will be of the most worth unto you will be to declare repentance unto this people, that you may bring souls unto me, that you may rest with them in the kingdom of my Father.”
- Our mission calls are equal to Doctrine and Covenants 139 to us. They are scripture.
- In Isaiah 40:28-31, it tells us that “…they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” To wait upon the Lord does not mean to bide your time, or to sit and wait for the Lord to do something for you. It means to serve, to minister, to work. Take advantage of being a “full-time” missionary
- Become good friends with the members where you serve. Do yard work for them. Gain the respect of the ward and stake leaders.
- Don’t just do things for them — work with them, help them. Go places with the members.
- Talk to everyone. Help other churches.
- Move mentally from your home town to the area where you serve. Become part of the community.
- More insights from our training at the Provo Missionary Training Center:
- When reading scriptures with others:
- Give the context
- Look for deeper meaning
- Give rapt attention
- Read the words and then apply them
- Remember the mnemonic C-L-A-R-A -> context, look, attention, read, apply
- Breaking the ice with less actives:
- Have other members with you
- Find common interests
- How long have you been a member?
- Re-kindle fond memories from their earlier years of activity
- Do you have other family members that are in the Church?
- How can we help you or serve you?
- What are your favorites places or activities? Would you take us there or show us the activity?
- “If the Lord brings you to it, He will help you through it.”
- Forget yourself and go to work.
- A sense of humor is a saving grace.
- Whom the Lord calls, the Lord qualifies.
- Come what may, love it or move on.
- No wicked man COULD have written the Book of Mormon, and no good man would have tried!
- You cannot use Satan’s tools to do the Lord’s work.
- When reading scriptures with others:
- President Nalley at the Provo Missionary Training Center, December 30, 2013
- Consider carefully the last paragraph of page 67 in the white missionary handbook
- Find people to teach, no matter where you are.
- Please believe that the Lord will place people in your path.
- K-I-S-S –> Keep It Simple Seniors!
- District Meeting January 14, 2014:
- Learn to teach each lesson in 2 minutes, then let the Spirit dictate.
- Thoughts from Elder Bednar: “Do you worry about whether a prompting is from the Lord or just your own imagining? Stop worrying about it. In church culture, we have come to expect a dramatic revelation before we act. That rarely occurs! Be goo, do your duty, keep your covenants, and the Lord will work miracles with you and through you. Usually you won’t even know a spiritual experience is happening.”
- Thoughts from Elder Anderson: “You know enough!” Study his great conference talk.
- Thoughts from Elder Holland: “We stand or fall with the Book of Mormon. Should we just stress the Atonement of Jesus since that is the heart and core of our gospel? We can stress it, but we cannot ignore 1820. Without the events of 1820, we are no different that 1,000 other Christian churches. Other churches give humanitarian service, others offer health codes, others believe in the Bible, others send out missionaries, etc. We cannot look back past 1820 for answers. Other churches did not have the fulness then, and they do not have it know, no matter how wonderful their intentions are. 1820 is the KEY!”
- District Meeting in Hawera on January 23, 2014
- The steps of repentance can be remembered by the mnemonic A-B-C-D-E: A cknowledge, B e sorry, C onfess, D on’t repeat it, E njoy the blessings or E ndure to the End.
- General teaching guidelines: explain the principle, ask their feelings, share a scripture, promise blessings, commitment.
- We want to help you and we will walk with you.
- New Plymouth branch council meeting on January 23, 2014
- Read Moses 1:6 and put your name in the place of Moses’ name. We all have a “…work…”.
- District Meeting in Waitara, January 28, 2014
- Alma 48:7. The stark contrast between Moroni and Amalickiah.
- Use this phrase with investigators: What would it mean to you if…..
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