2016-Nov-4 3rd Semi-Annual Musical Fireside - Utah Orem Mission

The Holy Ghost Provides Personal Revelation

My favorite parts of Elder Hales’ talk from last General Conference:

• The Holy Ghost provides personal revelation to help us make major life decisions about such things as education, missions, careers, marriage, children, where we will live with our families, and so on. In these matters, Heavenly Father expects us to use our agency, study the situation out in our minds according to gospel principles, and bring a decision to Him in prayer.

Five Favorite Parts Of President Uchtdorf's Talk From April 2016

·         If man can take the ruins, rubble, and remains of a broken city and rebuild an awe-inspiring structure that rises toward the heavens, how much more capable is our Almighty Father to restore His children who have fallen, struggled, or become lost? It matters not how completely ruined our lives may seem. It matters not how scarlet our sins, how deep our bitterness, how lonely, abandoned, or broken our hearts may be. Even those who are without hope, who live in despair, who have betrayed trust, surrendered their integrity, or turned away from God can be rebuilt. Save those rare sons of perdition, there is no life so shattered that it cannot be restored.

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

Broadcast Video: https://www.lds.org/broadcasts/watch/missionary-broadcast/2016/01?lang=eng&vid=4724962668001

1. Introduction

Last month our Missionary Executive Council posted a two-hour broadcast to all mission presidents and their 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. Christopher Waddell 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. Nielson 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.

2014 April General Conference - Elder Ballard - Following Up

Following Up

By Elder M. Russell Ballard

Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

Preventing Suicide, with Dr. Greg Hudnell of Hope 4 Utah

We are pleased to announce the following ministering workshops to be held this fall. We ask that you share this information with your bishops, and with stake and ward council members. 

"Preventing Suicide," with Dr. Greg Hudnall of Hope 4 Utah 

Thursday, September 15, 2016, 7:00 pm

Alpine Tabernacle, 110 East Main Street, American Fork

“Helping Members with Anxiety and Depression” 

Thursday, November 17, 2016, 7:00 pm

Alpine Tabernacle, 110 East Main Street, American Fork

PG Manila Stake - Convert Baptisms How To Schedule The Font At The Stake Center

Dear Ward Mission Leaders

In recent weeks we have been blessed with several convert baptisms in the Pleasant Grove Utah Manila Stake.   What a wonderful joy to be witness to these miracles in our midst.

We have also recognized a need for information regarding  the process for convert baptisms and hope this reminder helps us in scheduling and implementing this sacred ordinance.

After having received proper permission to baptize form the Stake President and Bishop, Ward Mission Leaders should contact Brother Ken Knapton  of the High Council to coordinate the use of the Baptismal Font.   He can be reached at 801-367-7901 or Ken@KnaptonFamily.net.   

Brother Knapton will contact the Stake Mission Coordinators who currently are Fred and Trudi Levin.   The Coordinators will contact the Ward Mission Leaders for the necessary clothing sizes for all participating in the ordinance and fill the font for the baptism.     If Brother Knapton is unavailable, the Levins can be reached directly  at 801-735-4797 or trudilevin@gmail.com.  

It is also the responsibility of the Ward Mission Leader to schedule the Stake Center.   The schedulers for the Stake Center are currently Brother William and Sister Linda Winder.   The Winder’s can be contacted at 801-692-7773 or william.winder70@gmail.com.

The Baptismal Service should then be carried out as described in Handbook 2 Section 20.3.  

Brother and Sister Levin also wanted me to relay the following information:    

*At no time should the building be unattended while the font is full or filling.   It is the responsibility of the Ward Mission Leader to arrive when directed and stay as directed by the Baptismal Coordinators until they arrive to empty the font.   Those participating in the ordinance should be given instructions to put all wet clothing in the plastic bag provided in the dressing rooms and return that bag to the Ward Mission Leader.  The Ward Mission Leader then returns the bag(s) to the Coordinators for laundering.     

We sincerely hope you find this information useful and pray that it will be needed often.   On behalf of the Manila Stake Missionary Committee we would like to express our heartfelt thanks for all your efforts as it relates to inviting others to come unto Christ and partake of the fruits of the Gospel.

Manila 8th Ward - President Livingston Sacrament Meeting Closing Remarks

President Scott Livingston – Manila 8th Ward Sacrament Meeting Closing Remarks Sunday, August 21, 2016

Earlier this morning had a 3-hour training with the Seventy and this was the information they trained on:

1. What did we do this morning to prepare for the Sabbath Day?
2. How do you keep the Sabbath Day after church is over?
3. Carefully plan what we can do on keeping our time.
4. Using devices during the time of partaking the sacrament. Can ye not watch with Him for one-hour?
5. Give all our heart to him.
6. To use the time to repent; make it regular. I invite you to repent.
7. Those who brought problems today; the Sabbath Day is to help you to resolve.
8. Receive the promised blessings.
9. This is the work of the Lord.
10. Become a Latter-day Saint. 

Elder Tompot Shared Ideas Of A Ward That Was Effective In Missionary Work

Elder Tompot

Having served in over 14 stakes, and over 120 wards, I've only seen one Ward with more than 10 effective lessons with high activation and retention percentages. The Ward mission leader was key. However, the success could not come without the efforts of the Ward missionaries.

The title Ward mission leader does not imply being the only one in the Ward responsible for missionary, which we all can agree to. Ward missionaries should and can be the secret to a busy Ward regarding missionary efforts.

The Ward Mission Leader took it upon himself to be the manager, not the dictator, for the missionary efforts. Just like in any workplace, each employee has specific responsibilities. He adopted this into his missionary efforts. He had 2 or 3 couples called in to be Ward missionaries, along with a few others. Each Ward missionary received a specific assignment, and they would get together every week for no more than 30 minutes. In this meeting, they would report on last week’s assignments, talk about concerns that were brought up, and discussion improvements that could be made as a team. The Ward Mission Leader presided, and he would ensure the meeting was timely and effective. There was an agenda. There was also a Ward missionary assigned to take minutes and go over them in the next meeting. Because this meeting was a very productive 30 minutes, the Ward Mission Leader was able to take this information back to the Ward council, which occurred every other week after the Ward missionary coordination meeting.

You Can Pray To Know His Will