November 2015

     What a privilege it was to hear the departing testimonies of these missionaries--front: Elders Lewis & Buchanan, Pres. & Sis. Eaton, Sis. Peacock, and Elder Andrasko; back: Elders Gamble, Downing, Holtry, Bennett, and Holden.

     We welcomed this outstanding group--front: Sisters Huhem, Hammond, & Zavala, Sis. & Pres. Eaton, Elders Meyer, Lloyd, and Palmer; back: Elders Pyper, Mitton, Tripp, Jolley, Lesh, Higginson, Kofford, Fullmer, Payne, and Chugg

     We had zone conferences this month.  We opened by memorizing together our ponderizing verse for the week from Alma 6:6--Nevertheless the children of God were commanded that they should gather themselves together oft, and join in fasting and mighty prayer in behalf of the welfare of the souls of those who knew not God. Our goals for the conference were to do the following:

· Help missionaries understand what mighty prayer is and choose to use it in their own lives.
· Help missionaries seek, recognize and act on revelation on their mission and throughout their lives.

     Missionaries completed the preparation assignment below and we were taught by the Spirit together.

Dear Elders and Sisters,

     In the last few weeks, as a mission we’ve discovered some of the blessings that can come from mighty prayer.  That’s why I am excited for next week’s zone conference, in which we’ll talk about receiving revelation through prayer—as missionaries, as disciples after our missions, and for our investigators.  We believe that one of the most important keys to being able to fulfill our missionary purpose and mission goal and baptize far more people on a consistent basis is for each missionary to discover the power of mighty prayer and the blessings it can bring, including revelation that can guide you in every aspect of missionary work.

     As always, how much you get out of zone conference will hinge in great part on the faith you exercise in preparing for it.  To prepare, we’re asking you to do several things spread out throughout your week.  Take some time in personal study, companionship study, and in your conversations as you travel and during meals to do these things:

·              Read Chapter 4 of Preach My Gospel.  Choose your favorite three sentences.

          

           Read one of these three talks:

o   Elder Richard G. Scott, “Using the Supernal Gift of Prayer” (https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2007/04/using-the-supernal-gift-of-prayer?lang=eng)

o   Elder David A. Bednar, “Ask in Faith,” (https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2008/04/ask-in-faith?lang=eng )

o   Chauncey Riddle, “Prayer” (Brother Riddle was not a General Authority but a philosophy professor at BYU; some of you will love this one and some of you will . . . not) (https://www.lds.org/ensign/1975/03/prayer?lang=eng )

     In addition to those resources, use the scriptures to prepare a 3-minute talk on one of these three subjects:

• ·         The Keys to Making Prayers Mighty Instead of Lame
• ·         Keys to Receiving and Recognizing Answers to Prayer
• ·         How We Can Use Mighty Prayer to Receive Revelation That Will Help More People Get Baptized in the Lord’s Way

     Finally, take the test on p. 95 of Preach My Gospel.  Use a scale of 1 – 9 to grade yourself on each question, with 1 being fair and 9 being good.  Add your total score and keep it some place.  Be honest and candid in your answers.  We will have you confidentially submit your total score at zone conference for this pre-test about your prayers.  Then, at the end of the transfer I’ll ask you to take the test again and send me both of your scores to see if you improved.

     We look forward to learning with and from you next week!