Sister Sperry spoke briefly, then President Sperry, who quoted 2 Nephi 29:9 And because that I have spoken one word ye need not suppose that I cannot speak another; for my work is not yet finished; neither shall it be until the end of man, neither from that time henceforth and forever. His work is not finished and we are part of that work.
Elder Christensen spoke next. He asked the sisters to stand and told a story from when he was mission president in Mexico about the power of sisters' smiles and how we should always be positive and happy.
He told a story about how he was at dinner somewhere with several members of the seventy and L. Tom Perry. The waitress came and made the mistake of offering them the wine list. Elder Perry said, "We don't drink wine. We're the healthiest, happiest people in the world. Do you want to know why we're the healthiest, happiest people in the world?" She made the mistake of saying yes and this apostle of the Lord gave her the first 3 lessons.
He had us recite the 9th Article of Faith, We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God. He said that the Lord is revealing many new things which are hastening the work. He quoted 2 Nephi 15:19 Let him make speed, hasten his work, that we may see it; and let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel draw nigh and come, that we may know it. He stressed that "hasten" implies not only speed, but magnitude. We need to work faster and broader.
We are being assisted from the other side of the veil. He showed how the missionary work of Alma and Amulek was originally the work of one missionary and one member who testified at the lesson. He testified of the power that comes of having members bearing witness at the lessons. We should go to our bishop or ward mission leader and ask what we can do to help them. But first we as missionaries have to prove ourselves to the members. They might give us a hard referral first to test us, and then when we've shown that we will contact them and try to teach, they give us the golden one, a member of the family or a special friend. Support and love the members.
He talked about President Monson, that he is always looking for someone to greet and lift. He ministers to those around him. He said that President Hinckley was in the habit of always starting a meeting when everyone was there, and the meetings got earlier and earlier. But when President Monson became the prophet, they had a meeting where President Monson was late, and it got later and later and he still hadn't shown up. Finally he arrived about half an hour late, exclaiming, "You won't believe the missionary experience I just had!" He was willing to keep the Quorum of the Twelve and Presidents of Seventy waiting in order to talk with one person about the Gospel.
He reminded us that we are each called by a prophet to be in THIS mission at THIS time and there are things to do here that only we can do. Alma 13:3 . . . being called and prepared from the foundation of the world according to the foreknowledge of God, on account of their exceeding faith and good works . . .
Sister Christensen spoke next. She talked about Joseph Smith, saying that he was 1) virtuous 2) committed 3) filled with the fire of God.
1) Virtuous is being filled with the power of God because of the Atonement.
2) Committed means holy.
3) Fire of God - light filled the grove during the first vision and it also filled Joseph. It purified him. The fire of God can be there to fill us up. D&C 135:3 is a tribute to the prophet, Joseph Smith.
Sister Ardern has a wonderful accent. They are from New Zealand. She asked us how people would remember us and told a story about her brother exploring an empty apartment and finding on a wall, yellowed and worn, Elder McConkie's My Missionary Commission.
My Missionary Commission
by Elder Bruce R. McConkie
I am called of God.
My authority is above that of
kings of the earth.
By revelation I have been selected as a personal
representative of the Lord Jesus Christ.
He is my master and He has
chosen me to represent Him--to stand in His place, to say and do what
He Himself would say and do if He personally were ministering to the
very people to whom He has sent me.
My voice is His voice, and my acts
are His acts; my doctrine is His doctrine.
My Commission is to do what
He wants done; To say what He wants said; to be a living modern witness
in word and in deed of the divinity of his great and marvelous
Latter-day work.
How great is my calling!
Elder Ardern - During your mission you have 18 to 24 months to labor and serve, and the rest of your life to remember how you labored. Create positive memories through diligence and obedience.
- Diligence - Moroni 9 tells of the encouragement that Mormon gave to his missionary son. PMG p. 121 defines diligence.
- Obedience - A chemistry lesson: O3 or O cubed: Obedience Opens Opportunities. Obedience in small things does matter. Obedience precedes blessings. Enjoy the joy that results from your obedience.
Questions and Answers: Elder Christensen was the moderator but he might call on any of the people on the stand to answer a question.
Q. D&C 58 says to teach the educated and well-to-do (I can't find the verse), so how do we do that and still bless the poor who are ready to listen?
A. Don't worry too much about the balance but let the Spirit guide. Poor might refer to poor in Spirit. D&C 84:106 And if any man among you be strong in the Spirit, let him take with him him that is weak, that he may be edified in all meekness, that he may become strong also.
Q. How can I cleave unto God so that He will cleave unto me?
A. Sister Christensen said that desire is the main thing. How hungry are we for God and His goodness. As we cleave, the distance between us and God will diminish. As we seek Him, He will seek us. Cleave means loyally, unwaveringly hold onto. (Sister Ardern from the dictionary) Cleave is different than cling. Elder Christensen demonstrated cling as hang on by fingertips, whereas cleave is with the whole arms, just as in a marriage where we cleave to our mate.
Q. How do I know who to drop in my teaching?
A. If the people aren't keeping their commitments and acting upon the things they're learning, invite them to church, make notes in your area book, and let someone else in the future follow up to see if they're ready yet.
Q. How can I gain perfect faith in the Lord Jesus Christ?
A. Having all knowledge is perfect faith, which we probably can't have in this life. Faith is the first principle of the Gospel, but also the last. Alma 7:14 ...therefore come and be baptized unto repentance, that ye may be washed
from your sins, that ye may have faith on the Lamb of God... We have stronger faith after spiritual experiences, so pray to have those. Help your investigators to have those faith-building spiritual experiences.
Q. How can we keep the Spirit when we're in a difficult teaching environment, such as when children are crying or noisy?
A. Set expectations. Let the people know that you're planning to have a spiritual discussion and where you're going with it. Have them turn off the TV and minimize distractions. If needed, stop the discussion and deal with the problem. Keep exercising faith. Stay calm.
Elder Christensen left us with a thought from Sister Echo Hawk, whose husband is also in the area presidency. When you visit someone who has been offended or has stopped coming to church for some reason, ask them: What happened before what happened, happened? Take them back to their original conversion. Invite them to ACT. Treat them with love and understanding. And always remember that you have the power within you to find any answer to your questions through the Spirit.
