September 12, 2016

Mark Owen Vickers	Sep 12 (1 day ago)
to me

Sorry, I realized I never responded to this. I'm still here in Westfield with Elder Yanzon. :) I'll likely be here for at least another transfer after he leaves. That will put me at 6 months here. No complaints. I love Westfield. :)

Mark Owen Vickers	Sep 12 (1 day ago)
to me

Hi Everyone!

We are about halfway through this transfer cycle and Elder Yanzon is gearing up to go home to the Philippines. It's been a great experience sending my last two companions home. They are great examples to me of finishing strong and doing all that the Lord asks of us. 

We have come in contact with some awesome people this week who are receptive to the message of the restored gospel. We had a commitment from our mission president to find twice as many people from the previous week to teach and we were able to accomplish it! 

We also had the opportunity to serve in the peanut butter factory again this week. We were just about to start our morning studies when some sister missionaries called us to say that the volunteer shift for that morning had not shown up. Could have been quite a disaster but we were able to muster up another companionship and cover the needed posts. Such a cool operation. We were able to can about 5,000 jars of peanut butter for the Houston Food Bank. 

I am thankful for this opportunity I have to serve in Houston Texas, for all the wonderful people and experiences. I would not trade this time for anything. Love you all. Find someone to serve this week!

All the best,

Texas Houston Mission

 

Monday, September 12, 2016

A Passion for Conversion

To the Missionaries of the Great Texas Houston Mission,

We just got back Sunday afternoon from a wonderful mission president's seminar where we learned wonderful things and had confirmed to us that the things that we are doing in this mission are what the Lord would have us do. Great miracles are happening and it is exciting to be able to participate even in small ways to the great work the Lord is performing among His children.

Sometimes we can lose sight of this in our efforts from day to day, particularly when we have to sift so long for what seems to be so little. It was the Lord who taught through Jeremiah:

"and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion" (Jer 3:14).

In other words, it was intended to be slow. There is great wisdom in the way the work is unfolding. It requires faith, hope, charity and love, virtue, knowledge, patience, humility, diligence and obedience. All of these attributes are required to make something of us. Because of this grand design and the difficulty of the journey, the Lord in our day encourages us when He says:

33 Wherefore, be not weary in well-doing, for ye are laying the foundation of a great work. And out of small things proceedeth that which is great.

34 Behold, the Lord requireth the heart and a willing mind; and the willing and obedient shall eat the good of the land of Zion in these last days

Elder and Sisters, the prophet Joseph Smith, is a wonderful example of thriving in adversity. In the midst of some of his most challenging adversity in Liberty jail, he penned these words:

13 Therefore, that we should waste and wear out our lives in bringing to light all the hidden things of darkness, wherein we know them; and they are truly manifest from heaven—

14 These should then be attended to with great earnestness.

15 Let no man count them as small things; for there is much which lieth in futurity, pertaining to the saints, which depends upon these things.

16 You know, brethren, that a very large ship is benefited very much by a very small helm in the time of a storm, by being kept workways with the wind and the waves.

17 Therefore, dearly beloved brethren, let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed.

Elders and Sisters, let us have a passion for conversion and allow our work ethic and our enthusiasm reflect our love of God, our love of His work and our understanding that it is only as people understand this message and accept it that they can have a hope for salvation. We challenge each of your to seek (contact) until you find new investigators. If you can't contact AT LEAST 15 people 6 days/each week, increase your passion and desperation. We are only kept from greater miracles by our faith and efforts.

We love you and would not rather be anywhere else than working shoulder to shoulder with you in this great cause!

Love,

President and Sister Mortensen

Week of September 5, 2016

Texas Houston Mission

 

Monday, September 5, 2016

The Blessings of the Difficulty of the Work

To the Missionaries of the Great Texas Houston Mission,

One of the great messages we read in Isaiah 55 is the Lord's statement:

8 ¶For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.

9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

In the Book of Mormon, King Benjamin teaches his people a similar principle first by teaching them to "trust in the Lord" (Mos 4:6) and then to: "believe that man doth not comprehend all the things which the Lord can comprehend." (v.9)

Elders and Sisters, why is this being taught? Often the Lord commands us to do things that are contrary to our natural tendencies and desires, but commands us to do them for our eternal benefit. Until we have "eyes to see," we will continue to struggle with submitting our will to the Lord's, but once we do, we will find joy in our journeys. 

No where is this more evident in missionary work than in the challenge to find. We don't know where the "prepared" live and we don't know how many live in our area. The Lord simply asks us to seek them out. It is a difficult task. One that requires a recognition of our nothingness and an acknowledgment of our need to turn to Him for aid. It also requires great discipline/discipleship.

Paul learned this important lesson in his missionary journeys. In a moment of weakness, in 2 Cor 12, Paul asked the Lord three times to ease the burdens that He suffered. Strangely, the Lord said no and explained to Paul His wisdom in allowing Paul to struggle when He says:

9 ...My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.

Understanding that this part of the way to experience God's power work through him, Paul's perspective on his burdens changes and he says:

"Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong."

Paul came to understand the blessings and wisdom of being permitted to struggle and it changed the way he viewed the difficulty of his circumstances allowing to take "pleasure" in them instead of resenting them.

In summary, Elders and Sisters, there is a statement found in ch 6 of PMG under the Christ-like attribute of Diligence that says: "When you are diligent, you find joy and satisfaction in your work." One of the great ironies of this work is that the harder we work and the more obedient we become (attributes very contrary to our natural desires), we find greater joy and fulfillment in the work.

We hope each "thrust in your sickle with all your souls" that your sins might be forgiven (D&C 31:5) and that you will lay "up in store" and perisheth not, but bring "salvation" to your souls (D&C 4:4). We could wish for no greater blessing for each of you.

We love you and are so grateful for this time to serve together!

Love,

President and Sister Mortensen

Mark Owen Vickers	3:55 PM (5 hours ago)
to me

Dad!



Such a blessing to be here at this time helping the Lord with His work.

Emosi and Leni had a great wedding and baptism! (Not in that order haha)

Week of August 29, 2016

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.