Week of August 15, 2016

Sunday, August 21, 2016

Teach All Nations

To the Missionaries of the Great Texas Houston Mission,

The last mandate the Savior gave to the apostles is found at the conclusion of the gospel of Matthew:

"19 ¶Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen."

The emphasis is that they were sent to teach and baptize. It it interesting to note that they were also sent to teach them to "observe all things" the Lord has commanded. 

Recently I was in a monthly meeting with a Stake President and the ward mission leaders from his stake. I asked the the ward mission leaders why they aren't assigning the missionaries to teach the members who have been identified by the ward council as being in need or who would benefit from having their faith strengthened. The answer was that it hadn't occurred to them. The truth is Elders and Sisters, why would it? The members have no idea how powerful of teachers you are. They aren't hearing you teach.

With this in mind, we would like you to consider what resources you have at your disposal to teach members? We think that as you consider this question, you will not only realize that you have the 5 lessons, but you have the toolkit lessons that would benefit them and strengthen you faith. We would encourage you to teach the members when you are there, but don't frame this teaching as "practice." Really teach them and do so according to their needs as you perceive them.

We are convinced that if we will take every opportunity to teach, we will more fully fulfill our missionary purpose in inviting others to come unto Christ.

Please reevaluate every interaction you are having. For example, before you teach the family of a ward council member (after they feed you) the "Why of Church" ask them, "we'd like to share a message with you and ask you to consider who, in your circle of friends or in your stewardship, would benefit from hearing this message."

As we teach diligently, we will teach more powerfully. We will inspire members to act and "earn" their trust and their referrals. This is one way we will find as we teach. Remember though, that nothing happens in missionary work until you find someone to teach (Ch 9 PMG).

We love you and are grateful for the great harvest that is taking place in this mission.

Love,

President and Sister Mortensen

Texas Houston Mission

 

Monday, August 29, 2016

The Power of Member Involvement and Mission Standards of Excellence

To the Missionaries of the Great Texas Houston Mission,

One of the great stories in the Book of Mormon takes place beginning in Alma 8 where we find Alma going to the land of Ammonihah to preach to the people there. He is initially rejected, but an angel of the Lord appears to him and tells him to go back. When he returns he is greeted by a man named Amulek. We discover that Amulek is a less active member of the church. Alma ministers to Amulek and his whole household ("kinsfolk") and then the Lord commands Alma to bring Amulek with him to preach to the inhabitants of Ammonihah. It is interesting to see that Alma's (the "missionary") preaching has little effect, but when Amulek ("the member") preaches, the people are astonished and many are converted.

Elders and Sisters, we need to make sure we are planning well so that we can have the power of members involved in all of our lessons (with of course the possible exception of the first lesson that we teach when we find someone). This last week as a mission, we had our lowest number of member presents that we have had all year. That won't work if we are going to strengthen and establish the church the way the Lord expects us to do it. We not only better progress our investigators with members involved, but we also activate the faith in wards by including members in the progress of our investigators.

Our mission standard is 4 member presents every week. We shouldn't be teaching less actives or recent converts without members involved. We call on district leaders to focus on baptizing in our area reports, but to make sure we remember that achieving all of our mission Standards of Excellence are the way we accomplish our baptism goals. If missionaries are struggling in any of those, we invite you to make assignments to be sure that we focus on the areas that will allow us to qualify the blessings to which we are entitled. Once assignments are made, follow up must take place. Too many of us have grown content in not achieving all of the Standards of Excellence each week and then wonder why we aren't seeing the success we are hoping for.

With the new transfer before us, we challenge each of you to plan for and achieve all mission standards every week. We promise you that the blessings we seek will come as we commit ourselves to do the work necessary to make this happen!

Love,

President and Sister Mortensen

Many missionaries had the opportunity to take one of their own family names to the temple last week. President Mortensen and I had several temple workers tell us what a special spirit they felt in the temple when the missionaries were there. We were able to see some of them on Tuesday. 

Texas Houston Mission

 

Sunday, August 14, 2016

Defining Success

To the Missionaries of the Great Texas Houston Mission,

We have loved being with you this week in zone conference. We are inspired by the work you are doing throughout this mission. We stand all amazed at the mercy of the Lord in allowing us to participate with you in the words of Ammon, "as instruments in the hands of God to bring about this great work." (Alma 26:3)

We talk a lot about baptisms just as we are expected to do, but we want to remind you of the great measure of our success. In Preach My Gospel we read: "Your success as a missionary is measured primarily by your commitment to find, teach, baptize, and confirm people and to help them become faithful members of the Church who enjoy the presence of the Holy Ghost." We encourage you to read the list that follows this statement at the bottom of page 10 detailing ways we can KNOW that we have become successful missionaries. We are confident that you will find them to be very similar to those attributes of a true disciple as we discussed at zone conference.

In the Luke chapter 6, there is an interesting example of this type of discipleship. The Savior joins Simon ("Peter") in his boat and invites Peter to launch his boat "into the deep, and let down your nets." (v.4) Peter, apparently frustrated by this request begins by responding, "Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing." He then wisely utters these important, disciple-like words and says: "NEVERTHELESS at thy word I will let down the net." (v.5) We then read in vs 6 that "when they had this done, they enclosed a great multitude of fishes: and the net brake." They caught so many fish that they had to call for help. The number of fish caught were so numerous that both ships began to sink.

Because Peter had the faith to act even when it made no sense and when he undoubtedly didn't feel like it, he was blessed with such a remarkable "sign" and he immediately desired to repent. (v.8)

To such disciples in our day, the Lord makes the following promise in D&C 97: 

8 Verily I say unto you, all among them who know their hearts are honest, and are broken, and their spirits contrite, and are willing to observe their covenants by sacrifice—yea, every sacrifice which I, the Lord, shall command—they are accepted of me.

9 For I, the Lord, will cause them to bring forth as a very fruitful tree which is planted in a goodly land, by a pure stream, that yieldeth much precious fruit.

We hope that each of you will resolve to be true disciples so that you can receive all of the blessings promised to the faithful!

Love,

President and Sister Mortensen

Mark Owen Vickers	Aug 8 (13 days ago)
to me

Hey Dad,

The Work is going so great. Hopefully I can get an update sent out in
a few. Good luck with surgery. Let me know when it's set so I can fast
for you. :)

That is a small world. Although I've seen that a ton on the mission.
Most people here are Utah transplants or Arizona or Idaho.

Love ya!



-- Elder Mark Vickers

Mark Owen Vickers	Aug 15 (6 days ago)
to me

Hola mi familia! 

Sorry it is so short this week. Musi is doing great. Should be baptized on the 3rd. They are awesome. They gave me a Lava Lava. Not sure if I am spelling that right. Most of our day dot taken up on a fishing outing. I will for sure email more next week. Tell the cousins in Colorado hi from me. Didn't have time to email them back. 

Love you!

-- Elder Mark Vickers

Mark Owen Vickers	Aug 15 (6 days ago)
to me, b.crum1984, skylerbrooksby, laura.crum1988, vickers463, nataliebrooksb.

Emusi is Samoian and Leni(his wife) is Tongan. It's a lava lava they gave me.