Implementing Teaching in the Savior's Way

Preach My Gospel Continues To Bless Lives Worldwide

Contributed By Jason Swenson, Church News staff writer

In late 2004, President Dean R. Burgess was serving as a counselor in the Young Men general presidency when he attended the formal introduction meeting of the Preach My Gospel missionary guide.

As a former mission president, he immediately recognized the power of the 230-page manual for the Church’s growing missionary force. As a youth leader charged with developing Aaronic Priesthood holders across the globe, he rejoiced at its potential to change lives.

More than a decade has passed—yet his enthusiasm for Preach My Gospel only grows.

A Model For 'Hastening The Work'

President Scott Livingston

As I have pondered preparations for a upcoming meeting with our Bishop's and Ward Mission Leaders, I've been reminded of this article and its impact on my thoughts and feelings about our opportunity to participate in the hastening of the work. I invite all to read or to read again with a focus on how you feel the principles it teaches can be likened to your roles and responsibilities.

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865599941/Maryland-ward-becomes-model-for-hastening-the-work.html?pg=all

Deseret News article published by Jason F. Wright, Tuesday, April 1, 2014 12:10 PM MDT

On June 23, 2013, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints were treated to a historic Worldwide Leadership Broadcast on "Hastening the Work of Salvation."

Among other things, the meeting unveiled how full-time missionaries would soon be invited to use technology, including social media, to share the gospel and interact with members, less-active members and investigators. Members were also counseled to better understand their roles in this great work, and as the meeting marched on, it was clear this wasn’t some flashy new program or trendy, short-term initiative.

Ward Mission Plan - Handbook 2: 5.1.8

Handbook 2: 5.1.8

Ward Mission Plan

Under the direction of the bishop, the ward council develops a ward mission plan. The plan should be brief and simple. It should include specific goals and activities to help members of ward priesthood and auxiliary organizations participate in member missionary work, retention, and activation. The ward council coordinates the ward mission plan with the plans of the full-time missionaries assigned to the ward. The following steps may be helpful in this planning process:
1. 
   
2. 1. 
   Consider the needs and resources of the ward in member missionary work, retention, and activation, including the availability of full-time missionaries.
3. 2. 
   Set specific goals for member missionary work, retention, and activation to be accomplished within the next year.
4. 3. 
   Determine how to accomplish the goals. Leaders could plan ways to lift the ward’s overall vision and attitude about missionary work. They could develop ideas for activities to help the full-time missionaries find, teach, and baptize more investigators. They could also plan ways to befriend and strengthen new members and improve the activation of less-active members.
   
   Sample Mission Plan 

Book of Mormon Read With A Less-Active

Merlin Fish:

Brethren-Brad Baldwin just texted us saying Steve Olsen has finished The Book of Mormon!! YES!!!!!

Aaron Weaver:

That is great

Brent McAllister:

Wow that is simply wonderful!!  Thank you for sharing!!

Bryan Pratt:

Awesome!

Paul Olpin:

Love that!

Jim Brinton:

😎👍🎈🎉🎈🎉🎈🎉

Weston Lunsford:

It is awesome.  Kirsten and I read the last two chapters with him last night, we focused a lot in the promise.  I invited him to sincerely pray to identify if this is a true book.  We also asked him what he was going to do now.  He said "I want to read it again, I feel that now I can understand more of it". He is doing great!!  We need to keep close and I feel we need to invite him to serve.  I believe he would accept.

Elder and sister fish thank you for scheduling us to read with him.  He actually could had finished a few days ago, but said he wanted to save at least two chapters for last night 😉

+1 (801) 450-6525:

Thank you. I texted him today and told him I'd be setting up a time for us to meet.

2016-5-16 Stake General Priesthood Meeting

On May 15, 2016 at 6:00 pm we will have a Stake General Priesthood Meeting at the Stake Center. We are anxiously looking forward to meeting together on this significant date - it was on May 15, 1829 the Prophet Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery received the Aaronic Priesthood. Bringing back priesthood power and authority required for the organization of the church on earth.  

Please begin spreading the word and strongly encourage all priesthood holders to make it a priority to come together with us at this time.  

Thank you for your incredible service.

Mark Ward
Stake Executive Secretary

Saying Goodbye To Elder Sangster

Saying Good-Bye to Elder Sangster

We thank Elder Sangster for his few months of service here in the PG Manila Stake.  He was transferred on Tuesday, April 12, 2016 to become a Zone Leader.

Below are some posts from others in the stake to wish him well:

"The stake presidency met with Pres. Killpack, UT Orem mission and ran into Elder Sangster as a new Zone Leader."

Feed My Sheep - Preach My Gospel Studies

Feed My Sheep – MTC Talk – Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

This talk was given by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland in the Missionary Training Center (MTC) on January 11, 2011. It’s entitled “Feed My Sheep” and was a precursor to the talk that he gave in General Conference.

What a privilege to be here. I love being at the MTC. I told these people earlier in a little informal and inadequate dinner remark that there's nothing I'd rather do, and nowhere I'd rather be than with Missionaries. And in Missionary service, and in performing Missionary labor, and doing things with the Missionary department. The mechanism and the structure that, under the direction of the prophet to call you on a mission, guide your Mission while you're out there, works with your Mission Presidents. I want you to have a good experience; provide you with things like Preach My Gospel and all the other helps that we can give you.

April 24, 2016 6-7:30PM Manila Building Special Meeting with HP Group Leader, Ward Mission Leaders, Family History Consultants

Family History Consultants Online Resources

Dear High Priest Group Leaders and Ward Mission Leaders,

As we continue to see the Lord hasten His work in our stake, we are given new tools and direction to assist us in His work. The Temple & Family History Committee and Missionary Committee, acting under the direction of the Stake Presidency, have been asked to work together with you to put these tools and direction to work in our stake with a very specific objective relating to Family History and the less active members of our stake.

On April 24th from 6 - 7:30pm at the Manila building, we will be holding a special meeting to discuss this objective. We invite all High Priest Group Leaders, Ward Mission Leaders and all Family History Consultants (adults and youth) to join us in this meeting to discuss how family history work can engage prospective elders, less active members and new members by introducing them to family history work. If you cannot attend, please send a representative from your organization to attend in your place. We would like representation from every ward's High Priest Group Leadership, Ward Mission, and Family History consultants to participate in this discussion.

We ask that High Priest Group Leaders reach out to ward family history consultants (adults and youth) and invite them to this meeting.  Ward Mission Leaders should bring a list of prospective elders, less active members and new members in your ward to this meeting.

We thank you for your dedication to the work of salvation and look forward to the blessings that will come to members of our stake as a result of your efforts.

Sincerely,

Brother Ken Knapton - Stake Family History Committee Chair

Brother Weston Lundsford - Stake Missionary Committee Chair

2016-June 4-5 Stake Conference Meeting Schedule

Stake conference will be held on June 4th & 5th, 2016.

We will be holding the following meetings:

3:00pm Saturday, June 4th - Stake Leadership Meeting:

• Stake Center. All members of the stake and ward council, counselors and secretaries are invited to attend. Additionally, all YM and YW advisors are invited to attend as well.

7:00pm Saturday, June 4th - Adult Session:

• Stake Center. All members 18 and older are invited to attend.

10:00am Sunday, June 5th. General Session. 

• Broadcast to all buildings. 10am.

We look forward to this joyful weekend with you.

Gratefully,

PG Manila Stake Presidency

Assisting Individuals Struggling With Pornography

Dear Priesthood Leaders,

All of you are assisting individuals struggling with pornography. There are also no doubt members in your ward of whom you are unaware that are also fighting this fight alone. One of those groups are the spouses of those fighting this fight.

Here is a great resource that I learned about today that might be very helpful to share with individuals in need of ministry: http://www.hopeandhealinglds.com/

I also read this great article today reporting on a recent forum held at UVU on the boundaries in Mormonism. http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865652045/LDS-Church-boundaries-more-expansive-than-restrictive-Michael-Otterson-says-at-UVU.html

I know that there are members in our stake struggling with questions of faith, doctrine and testimony. Perhaps this will be helpful to share with those in need.

You are wonderful.

With love,

President Livingston

Our Messages for Missionaries - Elder Dallin H. Oaks

Teach Repentance and Baptize Converts

Missionary Broadcast, January 20, 2016

Our Messages for Missionaries

Elder Dallin H. Oaks

Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

Watch Missionary Broadcast:
- Missionary Purpose and the Doctrine of Christ
- The Role of the Holy Ghost in Conversion
- We invite, They Commit, We Follow Up
- Teach People, Not Lessons
- Working with Members, Retention, and Activation
- Teaching Repentance and Baptizing Converts

1. Introduction

Last month our Missionary Executive Council posted a two-hour broadcast to all mission presidents and there companions.  Now we have this unique opportunity to speak to all of our 75,000 missionaries in the world.  We love you as servants of the Lord and welcome this opportunity to help you in the great work you are doing.

Today we have been taught fundamentals from Preach My Gospel.  Elder Neil L. Andersen taught our purpose as full-time missionaries, which is to teach the doctrine of Christ.  As he taught, always keep your testimony of the Savior and His gospel as the most important part of your work.  Elder David A. Bednar described how conversion comes through the Holy Ghost as you and your companion do what is necessary to assure that the Holy Ghost testifies to those you teach.

Bishop W. ChristopherWaddell taught that investigators must act in order for the Holy Ghost to teach them and that missionaries must invite investigators to act and then follow up to be sure they are moving forward on the road to conversion.  Sister Bonnie L. Oscarson reminded us that we teach people, not lessons.  We always prepare and we are constantly “treasuring up,”1 but as we teach, we carefully listen to the Spirit, which will lead us to teach what each investigator needs.

Finally, we cannot teach if we don’t have investigators.  A major part of your work is to find.  President L. Whitney Clayton and Elder Brent H. Nielsen taught that we should always find when we teach.  All missionaries must develop the faith and skill to find.  The best finding is done when we work with members.  As President Thomas S. Monson taught us, “Now is the time for members and missionaries to come together.”2 Your best success will come as you work with ward councils and ward mission leaders and as you are seeking to retain and to activate.  Behind each reactivated contact are family members and friends who are golden prospects.  The more people we find and teach, the more we will baptize.

2016-4-24 Stake PEC/Council Meeting - Bishops & WMLs Invited

Bishop's and Ward Mission Leaders are invited to attend the Stake PEC/Council Meeting at 7:00 AM on Sunday, April 24th at the Stake Center in the Relief Society Room.  In preparation for this council all are encouraged to prayerfully study Handbook 2 section 5 "The Work of Salvation in the Ward and Stake."

2015 Statistical Report for April 2016 General Conference

The First Presidency has issued the following statistical report of the Church as of 31 December 2015.

CHURCH UNITS

Stakes........................................................................................................................... 3,174

Missions.......................................................................................................................... 418

Districts........................................................................................................................... 558

Wards and branches.................................................................................................... 30,016

CHURCH MEMBERSHIP

Total membership................................................................................................. 15,634,199

New children of record............................................................................................... 114,550

Converts baptized...................................................................................................... 257,402

MISSIONARIES

Full-time missionaries.................................................................................................. 74,079

Church-service missionaries....................................................................................... 31,779

TEMPLES

Temples dedicated............................................................................................................... 5

(Córdoba Argentina, Payson Utah, Trujillo Peru, Indianapolis Indiana,  Tijuana Mexico)

Temples rededicated.............................................................................................................2

(Mexico City Mexico, Montreal Quebec)

Temples in operation.........................................................................................................149