Receiving Revelation Through The Book Of Mormon

First of all a reminder that we will not have class for the next two weeks.  We hope you enjoy a wonderful Easter with your families and encourage you to have a gospel discussion about the Atonement and what it means to you.  And the following week is General Conference. So your invitation this week and next is to read 3 Nephi 11 as you prepare to watch all the sessions :-), and to write down your impressions or revelations for you personally as you listen to our modern day Prophet and Apostles.  Also, pay attention to the stories you hear that you can use as a missionary to teach the Gospel.

 Today we discussed how to introduce the Book Of Mormon to an Investigator.

We were taught by this powerful teacher, Zach Breur, a returned Missionary that served in New Jersey.  He has been home about a year now and he taught as though he just returned.  Some key things he taught are 1. Get to know them first.  Ask what is important to them in their life? What are you looking for in your life? 2. As you have them read the introduction- first paragraph, explain to them that this is what the book is about and what is in it and what it will teach you.  Always ask lots of questions about what they are reading to help them understand.  3.  Have them read third paragraph- Explain that this is a preview to your new favorite book, similar to a movie preview.  After they read it, ask what are the highlights we are going to see in this book? 4. Have them read last two paragraphs.  Ask, in that first sentence, what are the three verbs or action words. Read, Ponder, Pray.  These require action.  Then you can explain why this is so important to do.  Then as you gain your own testimony, we invite you to make sacred covenants.  5.  You can also prayerfully pick a chapter that pertains to their life and share it with them.  He shared one of the war chapters with a young man worried about being deployed to Iraq that touched him and brought him peace.  He kept a small military copy of the Book of Mormon with him as he served.

These pictures represent revelation.  Light is a powerful example of revelation.  As discussed in class revelation brings warmth and peace and understanding. As we invite others to read the Book Of Mormon, help them understand what revelation is and that they can receive their own light and knowledge that will come from God as they read it.

On to Practicing what we learned!

They all did a great job and some Ah ha moments were discovered.

Thank you to all our "Investigators"  You bring a powerful spirit with you and give us great insight about how to be better teachers!

Here is soon to be Elder Quincy Breur. This was his last week in class. He will be leaving on April 3rd to the MTC and will be serving in the France, Lyon Mission.  The people of France will love this Elder and he will bless many many people as he serves!  Good luck Q

An Eye Opening Experience

I would like to thank the volunteers from the Cedar Hills 1st ward that came as "investigators" to class. Bro. Hooker is out of town and I am so grateful to them for their help and extremely valuable suggestions. The class was not expecting this and did not shrink at the opportunity even though it was not easy.  

Here is Derek Martin and Justin Alldridge teaching Bro. Henderson (Who has been called to serve with his wife to the Atlanta Georgia Mission).  They learned that they needed to first discover what his basic understanding was before they started to teach him. For example, does he believe in God or Jesus Christ?  Great lessons to learn now in our "Safe" environment!  This was a hard thing and I am so proud of them both for being willing to try!

Here are two darling sisters.  Kaylie Kofford and Ashley Nicholes.  They were very scared to try and teach, but said they knew they needed to try anyway!  That's the missionary spirit!!  The Lord will reward their willingness.  And they did better than they thought.  They are teaching Sister Henderson.  She was a convert at age 20 and explained that the members are the ones that really made all the difference in her conversion.  A very important lesson to remember- to always involve the members in your lessons.

These 3 fine prospective elders- Javen Morris, Quincy Breur and Mckay Willie are teaching Bro. Shawn Madsen.  Their first excellent question was "How do you start a conversation with someone?" From that inspired question- and thank you for asking because that's the most important step to learning, we learned from Bro. Madsen that you have to first just get to know the person before you can start to teach them.  Ask questions like, tell me a little bit about yourself? what do you like to do? Also, look around the room if you are in their home and comment on the things you see and ask quesitons about them.  For example, if you see a fishing pole, ask if they like to fish and get to know them first. Now you are teaching people not lessons!

Here we have Ethan Durocher, Kamryn Eslinger and Alejandro Diaz.  They are teaching Bro. Daniel Zappala.  He is a convert also and asked some great questions to these young men.  One was "How do you know you have been forgiven?", also "What is modern revelation? and how do you know its not just your mind telling you?"  Yep!  We had our eyes opened!  But Bro. Zappala explained that you will never know all the answers to the questions you will be asked, but you can always bring the spirit and that is the most powerful teacher by far!  Trust the spirit.

Bro. Nick Ivins is being taught by Adam Packer, Caroline Stewart and Makelle Jenkins.  Yes we know this would never happen on a mission, but it works for now :-)  This group discovered that you need to speak from the heart, from personal experiences and bear testimony of why you know what you are teaching is true. 

I think I learned more from this experience than anyone.  Thank you parents for sending your sons and daughters and letting them teach us and each other!  Hopefully our eyes were opened today and we can take time to learn more and understand what we need to work on.

Invitation for next week:

1.  Study how to introduce the Book of Mormon and how to pray from the pamphlet. You can also refer to the colored handout you received earlier. Try teaching it in your FHE.  Let your family participate and make suggestions.

2.  Read PMG page 38-40 to help with this.

3.  Read the letter we handed out in class and discuss it with your parents.  Come with suggestions about how you can overcome the challenges mentioned in the letter. I will email a copy of it to you.

Teach the doctrine to support the pictures

First we must tell all who attended how impressed we were to see you SO VERY EARLY on sunday morning!  Daylight savings made it extra hard to make it to class, but you did it!  We hope you will feel the Saviors love as you prepared and came even though it was difficult.  What great missionaries you will be!!!  Your mission presidents will love you.

This is Michael Martin.  He just returned from Antofagasta Chile and came to our class to share his testimony and answer questions and give valuable insights.  Some of those included:  1. Get to know the bishops, relief society presidents and ward mission leaders.  Meet with them every week.  They will help you the most with your investigators and coordinating member help.  2. The best way to get along with any companion is to serve them every day- shine their shoes, make their bed, make breakfast.  As you serve them, you overcome differences.  3. Plan with the spirit.  Then stick to your plan.  4.  Even if you don't get into a home to teach, you have let them know you are there and want to help- don't get discouraged, you are still doing good.  5.  Leave your fears behind you and the Lord will help you.  6. Strive to be your first convert.  GREAT WISDOM.

Thank you Michael!  We felt your love of missionary work and the power it has to help us become like the Savior.  

As a review:  We discussed that the pictures serve as common ground to use as you introduce the lessons.  However, by themselves, they are not enough to keep someone on the path toward baptism.  If you let go of the pictures held up by only one straw, it will fall.  So it needs multiple straws from different angles to support it.  This is done by helping your investigator learn the doctrines and principles that support the pictures in the pamphlet.  We discussed resources to find the doctrine including the topical guide, bible dictionary,  scriptures, Preach My Gospel, the Pamphlet, Ensign conference talks, and True to the Faith, your own personal experience and testimony, your investigators personal experience and testimony.

So your invitation to study this week is to 

1.  look at this picture in the Restoration Pamphlet and come prepared to share the doctrine and principles you found to support it.

2.   Read 3 Nephi 17

3.   Read  "The Atonement",  by Elder Boyd K. Packer  Oct. 2012

4.   Another talk to read suggested by Missy Roberts is "The Enabeling power of the Atonement" in the current March Ensign.  

Please come prepared to teach us what you have discovered.

Now for the missionary news!!  We have 5 sister missionaries leaving this week or next.  This is Sister Allie Bate.  She gave her talk today and will leave next week to serve in Frankfurt Germany, where her father also served.  So exciting that her family will continue to share the gospel in Germany.  We know she will touch the hearts of the people there!  Good luck Allie.

Ashlynn Clegg also spoke in Sacrament meeting today and will enter the MTC on Wednesday.  She will be serving in Sydney Australia. She will be missed in class but will make a real difference wherever she goes!

Lindsey Nicholes got away before I could take her picture but we have enjoyed getting to know her and her sister and will miss her great comments.  She also leaves this week to the MTC and will serve in Seattle Washington.

This is Missy Roberts.  She will leave next week for Sacramento, California.  Thank you for sharing your thoughts today.  We felt the power of your testimony about the Atonement of Jesus Christ.  As you share that on your mission, many will come to know for themselves, that it is real.  

This is Kaitlin Hooker- our daughter :-) and will also leave on Wednesday.  She will be serving in the Salta Argentina Mission.  As a mom, I have a special love for all of our sister missionaries, and elders as they go forth to serve.  We will miss your smiles, but know without a doubt that we are turning you over to the Lord and you are now in His Hands and that gives us such peace.  See you all in 18 months and we look forward to hearing your testimonies and mission experiences.  You will all be in our prayers.