Mission-Wide Conference

November 15, 2013

The conference call with President Cooke gave me something to look forward to for the next week, as the following Friday, November 15th was a Mission-wide conference with Elder Craig Zwick from the Quorum of the Seventy presiding at that all-day event.

Sister Boone's brother and his wife came to town on Tuesday evening and visited with her until Sunday, the 17th.  This left me finding things to do during the week so that I could feel somewhat productive.  Since Sis. Boone was not sure if we could do our usual Thursday temple trip, I decided to go to the temple on Wednesday.  I invited another sister to go with me, but she could not go so I went alone.  It turned out that Sister Boone and her brother and sister-in-law went to a session on Thursday, but they stayed up north and did a little sightseeing as well, so I am glad I didn't try to tag along.  I asked Heidi if they wanted to go to the temple one evening this week since I would have time to babysit, but that didn't work out so we will try again later.

Friday, I again drove up to the temple to attend the Mission Conference, which was held in the Visitors Center at the Temple.  It was a wonderful day.  The meeting began with a reception line to allow each of the missionaries in attendance to shake hands with Elder and Sister Zwick, President and Sister Cooke, and Elder and Sister Harden Eyring (Pres. Henry B. Eyring's brother).  Elder Zwick said when I shook his hand, "Sister Hatch, I remember when your papers came through in Salt Lake."  I didn't take the time to ask him what or why he remembered, but it was nice to know that he did remember.

  Elder Zwick (behind blonde sister missionary), Sister Zwick in pink, President Cooke and his wife (Center), and Elder and Sister Eyring on right.

 Elder Zwick (on left side) greeting the young Elders, Pres. Cooke (hidden) and his wife, and Elder and Sister Eyring on the right.

Elder Zwick told us that our mission calls came from a Prophet and our assignments came from the apostles.  This follows the pattern that was laid out in the Doctrine & Covenants section 112.  They spend many hours each week reviewing all of the applications and making assignments as directed by the Spirit.

Verses 21 and 22 say those they (the Twelve) call "shall have power to open the door of my kingdom unto any nation whithersoever ye shall send them---inasmuch as they (meaning me) shall humble themselves before me, and abide in my word, and hearken to the voice of my Spirit."

The following are a few notes to help me remember the discussions throughout the day.  Elder and Sister Zwick both spoke to us as well as Pres. and Sister Cooke and Elder and Sister Eyring.

Elder Zwick:

·         What am I willing to do differently?

o   I will teach principles the same way I learn them (by the Spirit).

o   Obedience is the first law of Heaven.

o   Simplify and Intensify your teaching.

§  Companion 1:  Choose a principle from Preach My Gospel

§  Companion 2:  Give an example to illustrate the application of the principle (an anecdote or story) and then testify.

§  Companion 1:  Support the principle with a scripture and testify.

o   D&C 84:85  Treasure up…the words of life, and it shall be given you in the very hour

·         Preach My Gospel and the scriptures are all the teaching tools we need to be effective missionaries.

Sister Cooke:

·         Repentance

o   We have a genetic code from Heavenly Father that gives us power to overcome temptation.

o   As we repent daily we can change and have strengthened ability to be more in harmony with Christ's teaching.

President Cooke:

·         President Lincoln said we can't escape history, we are in it.

·         We are in the history of hastening the work of salvation.

·         Compare the work to an ocean wave.  The goal of a surfer is to catch the wave and ride it as far as you can.  Associated with the wave is the rip current and the undertow.  The rip current pulls back out into the sea.  The undertow is the force that pulls out when the wave recedes and then comes back in again on the next wave, keeping the wave going.  (I think this is how he explained this phenomenon.)  Anyway, he encouraged the missionaries to be the constant undertow to keep the wave going or keep the momentum going in hastening the work of salvation.

·         Preach My Gospel Page 115—How Do I Develop Christlike Attributes?

o   Be an example to the wards to bring the spirit of Christ.

o   Matthew 4:19 says "And he sayeth unto them, Follow me and I will make you fishers of men."

o   Mark 1:17 says "And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men."

o   Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5:16 says "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven."

Sister Zwick:

Two desires:

·         That the Spirit may teach us both individually and collectively.

·         That we may learn and be able to understand what the Lord wants us to do.

·         My right and privilege as a representative of Jesus Christ is indicated in Mark 4:16-17.  I will make you to become fishers of men indicates a scripture of action.  We will become fishers of men line upon line, precept upon precept—daily spiritual growth.

·         Steps to becoming:

o   Faith—Don't limit yourself by what you think is your capacity.  Let the Lord define and expand your capacity and He will.

o   Obedience.  2 Nephi 31: Press forward with steadfastness in Christ.

o   Act on personal revelation.

Lunch at the Stake Center next door.

Enjoying a lovely lunch of Chicken Parmesan, mashed potatoes and gravy, vegetables, rolls, and cake.

 We sang happy birthday to the missionaries with birthdays in October, November, and December

 Time to wrap it up and head back to the Visitors Center...

 ...and 5 minutes later the room looked like this...many hands make light work.

 Elder and Sister Zwick visiting with Sister Dutton.

Genuine representatives of the Savior.

Afternoon Session:

Sister Eyring:  Obedience is the 1st Law of Heaven.  It was this law that allowed Christ to give His life for us.

Elder Eyring:

·         Remind the Bishops and Ward Councils about the power and influence of the Temple Visitors Center in teaching the people.  Challenge them to come here and bring investigators here (to the Visitors Center).

·         Remember the strength of the Prophets and what they knew.  Mosiah 8:17-18.  They (the things the prophets reveal) are the means that man, through faith, might work mighty miracles.

·         Trust.  Don't look back, look forward with trust.

Elder Zwick:  Am I Willing?

·         The mission will only be as strong as its weakest servant.

·         Elder Zwick helped build the 1st chapel in Bolivia.  Four elders working in three small cities for 17 months prepared the people so they could have a branch established there and have a chapel.

·         To keep spiritual growth going

o   Fast and Pray

o   Goals- Write down some things you can do

o   Pray that Heavenly Father will accept your very best

o   Repent when you don't do your very best

o   Meaningful companionship study

o   Continue to look like a missionary (even after you get home)

o   Keep the routine of a missionary

§  More scripture study

§  Learn compatibility with companion

§  Have a schedule

§  Prayer

§  Rely on others

§  Preach My Gospel as your guide

·         Earned Trust:  Levels of growth:

o   MTC level of understanding

o   Missionary Routine

o   Obedience

o   Exact Obedience

o   Know That We Know

o   Treasure Up—Growth is equal to dependence on the Lord

·         Helaman 5:4 The strongest building that can weather the storms has a strong foundation

·         The Law of Sacrifice for full-time missionaries is perfect use of the Lord's time.

·         Omni 1:26  Come unto Christ—Partake of salvation—Offer your soul—fast and pray—endure to the end.

A view of the temple at the close of the conference.