Preparation and Attitude

A few weeks ago, an email was sent out to my Zone asking us to study out the relationship between preparation and attitude. I’ve thought a lot about that, and tried hard to learn this through application and study. I had a cool experience with it on Friday as I spent a lot of time preparing for the “Revelation Through Prayer” fundamental. When I came in, I was much more prepared to love my missionaries instead of asking myself the whole time what I was going to say. I was actually able to allow them to learn for themselves because I knew they were able to (because I had just done the same thing). They got so much out of it, and they were working so hard! I was super proud. I had more time for practicing, and coaching at the end of the day went great! I focused on helping them feel the spirit in preparation. Again, I really feel I could do this because I had just had that experience myself. I allowed my conversion to be an example of the conversion they could have. I was happier, and honestly, I felt like the shift went by way too quickly. My group is incredible, and I want to make sure the bar is set for both me and them to carry on the culture for next week’s missionaries. 

At the very end of the lesson, I had a prompting to read a quote from Brigham Young about “a man without eloquence.” As I was reading, I saw Elder Mayfield get out a piece of paper and follow along as I was reciting it. When I finished, he told me that their Mission President had sent that exact quote to all of them when they got their call, and he told them that we need not worry about our personal ability, but we need to focus on what the Lord can do with us. It brought the Spirit so strong to have that second witness. I can truly say that the success and growth (both in me and the missionaries) that came from yesterday was a direct result of preparation and reliance of God. My Attitude was changed because I allowed the doctrine to prepare me. When we are prepared, we need not fear, and when we are prepared, it allows more of an opportunity to convey the Love we have to others. Preparation brings an attitude of the Spirit. Make time: It'll be completely worth it.

On preparation

So I’m taking this class where we spend a significant portion of our time discussing why people buy the things they buy.  The point has been driven home again and again, that marketers (and politicians, and...pretty much anyone who wants your money) spend all sorts of time and money creating a certain, desirable image.  An image that if you buy into it, you can be apart of it.  If you buy their shirt, everyone will know that you belong with that culture, or those people…

It’s not like it is a new idea.  And think about it, even BYU has an honor code, or the MTC has the dress and grooming standard, etc. because there is a certain image to project.  We go to BYU, or work at the MTC because we choose to associate ourselves with that culture.

The dangerous thing happens when we let other people decide who we should be.  We can’t get so complacent that our behavior, or progress even, is determined by the standards set by those around us.  We must receive our identity and errand from the Lord.

I will now defer to a wiser man than I.  Take it away Elder David B. Haight:

“Do others set your standards—what you will wear and what you will do—and not do?...The brand of clothes and the shoes you wear, and the gadgetry, probably not affordable by your parents, has absolutely no bearing on what you will eventually become. Our actions, our personal behavior, and our attitude determine our character and future...

Your preparation should include your personal conversion to the gospel truths of this work—knowing who the Savior is and who you are, and why He loved you enough to make the atoning sacrifice for you.

Sounds difficult? I promise you that you can know, but only if you desire, with humble prayer and careful study of the scriptures. The Lord taught, “Search the scriptures … which testify of me” and “ponder upon the things which I have said.” (John 5:39; 3 Ne. 17:3.)”    (http://www.lds.org/general-conference/1991/10/a-time-for-preparation)

Even at the MTC. Do we copy behaviors of teachers around us (or our own teachers from 2-3 long years ago) because “that’s the way it’s done” or because we consciously choose to, and understand why?  Do we let others set the standard for our progression or do we ask the Lord?  

Are we waiting for Lisanne to prod us to revelation about the culture our area needs to gain, or are we preparing by going to the temple, reading our scriptures, praying, etc. for the purpose of finding out from Heavenly Father what the area culture should be, and our individual role in it?

If we prepare adequately, then we will be ready to receive what the Lord has for us.  And that’s exciting stuff.

Anyway, these are some thoughts I've been having lately and though I'd share.

To all New Teachers: There is Help!

Here's an email that I sent to all the new teachers in our zone. It may be helpful for any new teachers that would like to read it. 

Let me tell you a story. 

I almost got fired from the MTC. 

I was hired in November of last year, and by January I was in the classroom as a lead teacher. As you know, it was really fun but I was a little terrified and overwhelmed at times. Along with my work at the MTC I was going through my first full semester of school since my mission and together the combination was a lot to handle. When I started in November, my expectation was to grow as a teacher and learn the fundamentals better than I ever had before. By February my expectation had changed. I wanted to survive. I arrived to work just on time, taught my class, and left. I appreciated training meetings but other than that I didn't think often about my teaching in the MTC. It was my job. 

Lisanne pulled me into her office when I hit my three month mark. I don't know how much of the apprenticeship I had done, but I would guess that I had probably finished 25%, and I had only had Lisanne into my classroom once. We reviewed this together, and then Lisanne told me that if things didn't change, and if I didn't finish the apprenticeship,  then I would be fired. I needed to finish 75% in four weeks or else I would be gone. This is how I managed to almost get fired from the MTC. 

Next story.

This is why I didn't end up getting fired from the MTC.

Obviously after this convo with Lisanne I was terrified so I got onto the Google doc and started signing up and figuring out how I could get everything done. (Spoiler alert) I ended up finishing the apprenticeship after working 24 hours a week during the last month of school and almost died (I'm not asking for your sympathy, I'm saying don't be an idiot and put yourself in that situation). Though that was helpful and required, it was not the reason that I didn't end up getting fired from the MTC.

The reason that I didn't get fired was that with a month left I caught the vision of what I wanted to do as a MTC teacher and I took every resource possible to try to get there. This was a three part process that luckily happened quickly for me. First, I had to understand what I wanted to be. Second, I had to understand that I wasn't there yet. Third, I had to understand that it was going to take me FOREVER to get where I wanted to be on my own, and I needed help. All semester I had been thinking about my teaching. All semester I had been trying to improve. However, only with one month left did I realize that I needed the help of the Lord, Lisanne, Krys Gardner, and my zone coordinator Shane to get me where I needed to be. Suddenly I was motivated to be observed whenever possible. I loooooved watching Shane or Krys or Lisanne teach. I studied outside of the MTC and set personal goals for improvement every week. Finishing the apprenticeship became easy when I sincerely and almost aggressively wanted the feedback and help of those assigned to help me. 

I sat down with Lisanne after four months and I didn't lose the job. I'm not telling you this so you see my as a shining example because I wasn't. My attitude at four months was the expectation all along. I didn't realize the joy in the journey until my last four weeks. I should have had that desire and sincerity and fire from the beginning. I should have realized that I couldn't get where I needed to be on my own. 

I'm sending this to every new teacher in our zone. Some are being more proactive than others. I just hope that if any of you feel like you may be remotely close to where I was at, that you try to catch the vision for where you want to be, and then you reach out to all those that want to help you on a daily basis. I love being a teacher at the MTC. I always have new questions and ideas. I find myself studying them even when I'm not getting paid. We are not just in missionary work, but we are in the work of education, of human development, of communication, of leadership, and of changing lives. We're in the Lord's work. It's pretty big. That'll keep you busy right?

Anyway, I'm really grateful for all of you and I just want you to know how much help is available to you, and its given from the Lord who loves you. Have a great week!

-Sean

VC Culture

In some of our most recent Visitors' Center Zone Meetings we've been discussing the type of culture we want to create for these sisters.  We've decided that there needs to be a culture of conversion that comes through ministering and being ministered to.  The essence of this culture is found in this photograph.

  
Like Jairus' daughter in this photo, we hope for the sisters to find "new life" as a missionary.  We see them renewing their baptismal covenants (or being reborn) in a way that helps them to recognize the Savior is lifting them.  He is lifting them so that they can understand they have a marvelous future ahead of them as missionaries and as a saints.  Their purpose now and forever is to bring others to the Savior, which is ultimately what Jairus' daughter did for her father; he had to literally go to the Savior to find healing and answers.  

As these sisters come to know their Savior in our classroom, the culture of the Visitor Center Zone will be one of healing, learning, ministering, and conversion because Jesus Christ is the Master Healer, Teacher, Minister, and Savior for us all.

Lessons Learned from the Past Zone 3

In zone meeting, we reflected on the wonderful blessings the Lord has poured out on our zone through this spring and summer. As part of this, we reviewed briefly part of Elder Perry's talk The Past Way of Facing the Future. In this talk, he recounts how Norwegian ship builders received the assignment to build the roof of the Manti temple. Having no background in roofing, they eventually designed a ship upside down on the plans and when they flipped it over had plans for a secure roof.
Here are some past lessons we have learned that will enable us to face the future, both at the MTC and in our personal lives.
We invite anyone else who wants to take this reflective moment and see the Lord's hand in their lives to add the lessons they have learned as well.

"I've Never Been So Happy to See an Ankle Monitor..."

The progressing investigator I had chosen to portray is a man named Dave. Dave was found in my last area, just a few weeks before I went home. He had a history of drug abuse and gang involvement, and even several years of time in prison. He has since cleaned up, and he let is into his home because he was impressed that we wanted to pray with him and for him. We later found out that he was always home in the evening because of a house-arrest ankle monitor that was activated every evening at 8 pm. Playing Dave has been a powerful experience both for me and for the missionaries teaching me/him. I love that I get to share this special man with such wonderful missionaries.

I recently received a letter from a sister from my most recent district. She hasn't been in the field (Kansas) for more than three weeks, but she had something urgent to say. Apparently she and her trainer came across a gentleman who was very similar to Dave--almost the exact same person! This sister said how much she felt that teaching Dave prepared her to teach this man in Kansas. The letter continued, "Brother Turner, I've never been so happy to see an ankle monitor that was activated in the evening..." She thanked me for choosing to portray one of my favorite investigators, because she felt that it had prepared her to love this particular investigator of hers even more than she thought she would.

If treated appropriately and even reverently, P.I. can be an experience that will prepare our missionaries to teach not only at a general level but at a very personal, emotional level too. It warmed my heart as I read of this sister's love for this man and his progression in the Gospel.

Our Identity: Imagining the Infinity of Immortality

Just wanted to share this quote as a supplement to this week's training.

"Think of it, brothers and sisters, even with their extensive longevity, stars are not immortal, but you are." -Neal A. Maxwell