Tuesday, March 15, 2016

Zone Conference SLO, SM, and SB

We had zone conference in Santa Maria today.  
The morning was filled with testimonies.  Eight new missionaries were given the opportunity to introduce themselves and bear a short testimony.  Elder Ruby and Elder Boyce presented the new Christlike attribute of Humility.  The scripture we will learn is D & C 112:10 - Be thou humble; and the Lord thy God shall lead thee by the hand, and give thee answer to thy prayers.
What is humility?  Responses were:  teachable, real intent, be willing to give the glory back to God, thinking outwardly, think less about yourself, look to God, loyalty.
In PMG "humility is willingness to submit to the will of the Lord and to give the Lord the honor for what is accomplished.  It includes gratitude for His blessings and acknowledgment of your constant need for His divine help."
We need to be as a child -- teachable, dependent on God.  How do we become like a child?  Be observant and remember the perspective that we are God's children.  Express gratitude and recognize the Lord's hand in all things.  Cast out pride.  
When we are humble, we can be the instrument for the Spirit.
Mosiah 3:19 -- submit to Heavenly Father's will by yielding to the enticings of the Holy Spirit.  As we are humble, we will be led by the Spirit.
The assistants asked "How many of you have wanted to know God's will for your area?  Hands went up.  They said we have to be humble enough to follow the promptings.  We need to align our will with His.  Missionaries get stuck in a rut; therefore, we need to change.
In PMG pg. 176 "The Spirit is the most important single element in this work.  With the Spirit magnifying your call, you can do miracles for the Lord in the mission field.  Without the Spirit, you will never succeed regardless of your talent and ability."
Everything we have is from the Lord.  Be humble so as to be led by the Spirit.
Follow up on the Doctrine of Christ:
The missionaries were accountable for reading and marking the Doctrine of Christ in the Book of Mormon that was given to them in December.  Due to technical failure more time was allotted for testimonies of the experience.  Sixteen bore testimony and it would have gone on but President had to call time so that Elder Wickern and Hermana Zarate along with Elder & Sister Stewart could bear testimony.  These wonderful missionaries will be leaving us at the end of the month.
Elder Elliott sketched President and Sister Felix.  We thought it was pretty amazing.
March and April birthdays - Elder Marchant, Sister Aston, Hermana Zarate, Elders Routledge, Heck
We sang "Called to Serve"  to the sisters who prepared lunch for us (pulled pork sandwiches, salad, chips, and either Hostess treats or ice cream bars).


Santa Barbara Zone
Front row:  Elders Suarez, Hunter, VanSchlochteren, Sister Baird, Elder Wickern, Sister Clark, Hermana Zarate, Elders Valladares, H. Davis, Avalos, Bailey, Hermana Arkell, 
Elder Hubbard
Back row:  Elders Garcia, Harvey, K. Davis, Sister King, Elders Campbell, Clark, Hermana Garza, Marchant, Bradley, Mata, Allison, Hermana Frias, Elder DeGraw
San Luis Obispo Zone
Front row:  Elders Chatterton, Castro, Hidalgo, Endicott, Anderson, Heck, Sisters Meglen, Besendorfer, Elder Huston, Sister Aston
Back row:  Elders Gibb, Peisley, Peterson, Klingler, Bronson, Sila, Sisters McClure, Campbell, Elders Stewart, Aston
Santa Maria Zone
Front row:  Elders Bradler, Wayment, Sisters Cardon, Lambert, Hermanas Eames, Green, Elders Parkinson, Elliott, Levis
Back row:  Elders Lemus, Reed, Sisters Wing, Israelsen, Hermanas Ricks, Soriano, Elders Kuepper, Harper, Routledge

Our afternoon session was on planning and family history.
Sister Felix emphasized the importance of the Area Book.  
Elder Gibb's comments on goal setting:
Who wants to baptize?  Goals true purpose is rooted in deep desire.  How to set goals: 1.  Be realistic 2.  Be specific  3.  Be challenging  4,  There will be opposition -- "Some day" I'll achieve the goal is a trap.  Make it happen.
Elder Ruby and Elder Boyce covered planning.  (I will explain more in the next post).
Elder Kuepper talked about accountability and he asked three questions:  1. What does it mean to be accountable?  2. Who are we accountable to?  3. How do we give an accounting of our work?  His answers:  1. You want to do everything in your power to make it happen.  2.  To Christ and Heavenly Father.  Mormon 3:20 teaches to be accountable.  3. a. Prayer - many times a day. b. In your call in calls with key indicators (you are talking to a representative of Jesus Christ). c. Email to President Felix . 
d. Key indicators on the mission portal.
Learning to be accountable now will benefit you throughout your life.
In the next days I will post more about 
President & Sister Felix's presentation on family history.

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