I recently had the incredible opportunity to travel back to where I served, the New York Utica mission. Among all of the great experiences I had, one that stands alone is seeing 2 missionaries out in the field who I taught at the MTC! Going back to my mission I looked forward to see many of the investigators and converts who I taught - but I never imagined visiting with missionaries there who I had recently taught. I share this post because I find the last statement in the First Presidency Message of PMG to be true. It says, "More happiness awaits you than you have ever experienced as you labor among [the Lord's] children." The people we taught on our missions bring us great joy and I'm sure for some we continue to keep in contact with these people. It was amazing to see these 2 young missionaries serving faithfully and successfully after interacting so closely here at the MTC. One Sister was training after her first 6 weeks!
Seeing these missionaries was a humbling experience. It brought me great joy to know that I - and us all - aid the Lord in His eternal purposes. Teaching here at the MTC, we continue to play an integral part of the Lord's work.
God's great and eternal purposes are moving forward and it's amazing to be so involved. If you take anything from this, know that the Lord is very aware of the work here and is not only pleased as we do our best to help prepare His servants, but that they really are ready for His work when they leave the MTC and enter the mission field.
Keep up the good work :)
Thursday, May 30, 2013
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
Here was Heaven.
Dear friends.
Dear zone resources.
Zone teaching has become the most powerful part of my day.
...even and ESPECIALLY when it is the last hour before dinner, after 2 long shifts with only lunch inbetween for the missionaries.
If you have a moment, in humility and gratitude, I wish to share with you an experience with zone teaching that was a gift from heaven.
The fundamental on the schedule was "Revelation through prayer."
The windows of heaven opened today, and poured down right over room 409.
We started with a simple activity.
Question: how has your relationship with Heavenly Father grown in the MTC?
We made a solid list.
Somehow, the Lord led us to this question: "can you imagine what it will be like to see Heavenly Father again?"
...then this activity: "...in fact...close your eyes...imagine that reunion...what will you feel, what look will be on Heavenly Father's face, what will He say to you...?"
We closed our eyes.
Revelation. Love. The fruits of eternal life fell into our laps.
When we opened our eyes, most were misty. After one or two comments, we knew this needed to be recorded. After they recorded their experiences, I invited any who felt prompted to share. How can i even express their experiences?
Elder Christianson said that all day he has been feeling satan tug at him and make him feel like he can't do this, and it would be so easy to go home. When he closed his eyes, he saw Heavenly Father saying: "What do you mean you can't do this? Yes you can. I believe in YOU. I will be disappointed if you go home, because I know you can do this, and I need you to." He said when he opened his eyes, he wanted to punch satan in the face. (At the end of zone teaching, he stood up, and invited the whole zone to fight for the kingdom of God. powerful.)
When i asked what they wanted to do now, one sister said "Share it!!!" and elder myers said "talk to God! it's like we can face time with him, when we imagine him there with us!" so we did both. We took 10 minutes to write a letter to God. A recorded prayer. They prayed first, and began to write. The tears continued to flow for many of us.
Then they shared it: We practiced the follow-up part of "revelation through prayer." they followed-up with their companions, about the experiences with prayer and with heaven that they had just had, starting with insired questions, and ending with an invitation to act on revelation received. Powerful teaching commenced, with heartfelt testimonies resonating off the fragile sound boards in such a way I knew heaven was listening from nearby.
When we came back together, we did an "I know" circle. Each missionary shared what the Lord had confirmed for them during this zone teaching. Here are a few things I heard: "I know God loves me, personally." "I know home is in God's presence, and i will stop at nothing less." "I have been converted today." "I know I can be forgiven." "I know God loved me enough to send His son so that I could return to Him." "I know nails did not hold Christ to the cross, but his love for us did." "This has been a turning point in my mission. I feel more ready for my mission than ever before. I know God is proud of me and will help me." "I know God will run to me when i return to him (prodigal son story we had studied)." "I feel like Heavenly Father is hugging my heart." Etc. etc. and more for eternity!
We read D&C 6:32 "...where two or three are gathered together in my name, as touching one thing, behold, there i will be in the midst of them-even so i am in the midst of you." This truth was sweetly confirmed.
I know this is God's work. Only He could meet all the needs of His children in this little room at the MTC through an imperfect teacher who has been at the mtc for 8.5 hours already, and has 24 missionaries who are just ready for dinner after 2 shifts with their teachers, sitting in front of her. I know God is meeting His children's needs through each of you, when you kneel in preparation, and stand in humility before His servants. I know charity never faileth. I know God loves us and wants us to come home. When we kneel to pray, and when we invite our investigators to do so, we are inviting them to go home, to talk with their father, and recognize their divine identity. THIS is something to follow up on.
Dear teachers, I invite you to seek out and expect to have converting experiences with your missionaries. Expect and be prepared to receive the blessings of heaven at every moment. Ask and ye shall receive...
P.S. We have the best job in the world. I am changed for the better, every day I come to this sacred institution. Aaah, grateful. Thank you, Heavenly Father.
Dear zone resources.
Zone teaching has become the most powerful part of my day.
...even and ESPECIALLY when it is the last hour before dinner, after 2 long shifts with only lunch inbetween for the missionaries.
If you have a moment, in humility and gratitude, I wish to share with you an experience with zone teaching that was a gift from heaven.
The fundamental on the schedule was "Revelation through prayer."
The windows of heaven opened today, and poured down right over room 409.
We started with a simple activity.
Question: how has your relationship with Heavenly Father grown in the MTC?
We made a solid list.
Somehow, the Lord led us to this question: "can you imagine what it will be like to see Heavenly Father again?"
...then this activity: "...in fact...close your eyes...imagine that reunion...what will you feel, what look will be on Heavenly Father's face, what will He say to you...?"
We closed our eyes.
Revelation. Love. The fruits of eternal life fell into our laps.
When we opened our eyes, most were misty. After one or two comments, we knew this needed to be recorded. After they recorded their experiences, I invited any who felt prompted to share. How can i even express their experiences?
Elder Christianson said that all day he has been feeling satan tug at him and make him feel like he can't do this, and it would be so easy to go home. When he closed his eyes, he saw Heavenly Father saying: "What do you mean you can't do this? Yes you can. I believe in YOU. I will be disappointed if you go home, because I know you can do this, and I need you to." He said when he opened his eyes, he wanted to punch satan in the face. (At the end of zone teaching, he stood up, and invited the whole zone to fight for the kingdom of God. powerful.)
When i asked what they wanted to do now, one sister said "Share it!!!" and elder myers said "talk to God! it's like we can face time with him, when we imagine him there with us!" so we did both. We took 10 minutes to write a letter to God. A recorded prayer. They prayed first, and began to write. The tears continued to flow for many of us.
Then they shared it: We practiced the follow-up part of "revelation through prayer." they followed-up with their companions, about the experiences with prayer and with heaven that they had just had, starting with insired questions, and ending with an invitation to act on revelation received. Powerful teaching commenced, with heartfelt testimonies resonating off the fragile sound boards in such a way I knew heaven was listening from nearby.
When we came back together, we did an "I know" circle. Each missionary shared what the Lord had confirmed for them during this zone teaching. Here are a few things I heard: "I know God loves me, personally." "I know home is in God's presence, and i will stop at nothing less." "I have been converted today." "I know I can be forgiven." "I know God loved me enough to send His son so that I could return to Him." "I know nails did not hold Christ to the cross, but his love for us did." "This has been a turning point in my mission. I feel more ready for my mission than ever before. I know God is proud of me and will help me." "I know God will run to me when i return to him (prodigal son story we had studied)." "I feel like Heavenly Father is hugging my heart." Etc. etc. and more for eternity!
We read D&C 6:32 "...where two or three are gathered together in my name, as touching one thing, behold, there i will be in the midst of them-even so i am in the midst of you." This truth was sweetly confirmed.
I know this is God's work. Only He could meet all the needs of His children in this little room at the MTC through an imperfect teacher who has been at the mtc for 8.5 hours already, and has 24 missionaries who are just ready for dinner after 2 shifts with their teachers, sitting in front of her. I know God is meeting His children's needs through each of you, when you kneel in preparation, and stand in humility before His servants. I know charity never faileth. I know God loves us and wants us to come home. When we kneel to pray, and when we invite our investigators to do so, we are inviting them to go home, to talk with their father, and recognize their divine identity. THIS is something to follow up on.
Dear teachers, I invite you to seek out and expect to have converting experiences with your missionaries. Expect and be prepared to receive the blessings of heaven at every moment. Ask and ye shall receive...
P.S. We have the best job in the world. I am changed for the better, every day I come to this sacred institution. Aaah, grateful. Thank you, Heavenly Father.
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