April 2015

     In April we said goodbye to these beloved missionaries--front: Elders Kim & Benton, with Pres. & Sis. Eaton, and Sis. Cass; back: Elders Turney, Benhoff, Dawson, Thomas, Erekson, and Kim.

     We said hello to--front: Elder Clayburn, with Pres. & Sis. Eaton, Sisters Cole, Lyman, and McMakin; back: Elders Christiansen & Saydyk, Sisters Worthen and Stewart.

     For this month's update, I've included President Eaton's summary of the training emphasis for the last quarter.

           Before we move on to a new quarterly emphasis in May, I want to pause to reflect on some of the things we’ve learned since zone conference in February.  Few things are as important in missionary work as having the companionship of the Holy Ghost and teaching with the power that brings.  The Lord put it bluntly:  “If you receive not the Spirit, ye shall not teach” (D&C 42:14).  My prayer is that teaching and being guided by the Spirit will become a lifelong part of your fabric, not just a flash in the pan.

President Eyring taught priesthood holders last week that they have received “the right to speak and to act in the name of God,” but he cautioned, “That right will become a reality only as you receive inspiration from God. . . . The power to speak and act in God’s name requires revelation.”  Such revelation, President Eyring taught, comes when the Holy Ghost is our “constant companion.”  Similarly, all members of the Church have been granted the gift of the Holy Ghost, but receiving the Spirit is another matter.  And all of us have been set apart as full-time missionaries, but only with inspiration from the Holy Ghost can we truly do what we’ve been set apart to do: represent Jesus Christ.

President Eyring taught that receiving the Spirit and the revelation He brings requires much more than a casual interest on our part.  “You will not survive spiritually without the protection of the companionship of the Holy Ghost in your daily life.”  That reminds me of Elder Holland’s probing question:  “Was the Holy Ghost the senior companion today, the junior companion, or was He even in our companionship today?”  I invite you to reflect on what you have learned since last zone conference about inviting the Holy Ghost into your companionships and teaching with the power necessary to help bring about lasting conversions.

            Many of you have learned that the prayer of faith is a crucial part of the price we must pay to receive the Spirit.  As the Lord himself said:  “And the Spirit shall be given unto you by the prayer of faith” (D&C 42:14).  (Note for perfectionists: please don’t feel bad if you cannot yet recognize the promptings of the Spirit as clearly as you would like.  You’re doing great.  Keep studying, praying and teaching, and your ability to recognize promptings will grow little by little, line upon line.)

What does the prayer of faith look like?  Quoting President Joseph F. Smith, President Eyring taught, “You pray that God may recognize you, that he may hear your prayers, and that he may bless you with his Spirit.”  In his own words, President Eyring further described the mentality of someone who offers a prayer of faith:  “It is not a matter so much of which words to use, but it will take some patience. It is an approach to your Heavenly Father with the intent to be recognized by Him personally. He is the God above all, the Father of all, and yet willing to give undivided attention to one of His children.” 

Those words pricked me as I heard them.  Too often my prayers, especially my evening prayers, are rushed and lack focus.  Imagine that you had a chance to speak with your favorite apostle at the end of the day for a few minutes.  How much more focused, respectful, and less hurried would that conversation be than the ones we get to have with the Almighty God?  I have vowed to improve the quality of my prayers—to more fully take advantage of the fact that Heavenly Father himself is granting me his undivided attention.  I am going to seek to pray with greater faith, patience, reverence, and specificity.

In addition to the prayer of faith, we can more fully enjoy the companionship of the Spirit as we study and teach from God’s word.  “Getting that guidance will take more than casual listening and reading,” President Eyring taught.  “You will need to pray and work in faith to put the words of truth down into your heart. . . . The Holy Ghost will be your guide as He reveals truth when you study the words of prophets.”

I am so grateful that so many of you have taken to heart the very specific counsel I felt inspired to give you to study the Book of Mormon daily.  I have asked you to go far beyond casual reading as you basically ask these two questions as you study the Book of Mormon each day:  (1) How can I come more fully unto Christ?  (2) How can I use the principles and doctrines I study to help others more fully come unto Christ?  As you actively search for answers to those questions and record them in some kind of study journal, you are seeking learning by faith.  Your scripture study is becoming more active and less passive and your testimonies are being strengthened. 

As you use the scriptures generally and the Book of Mormon particularly in finding and teaching, you are also discovering that you teach with greater power.  As Elder Wade Johnson wrote me, “I have loved contacting using the Book of Mormon. . . . I wish I would have figured this out sooner. There is no more awkward connecting with no direction, but good questions that lead to powerful points taught in the Book of Mormon!”

            As we have the Spirit with us, we are also able to have greater discernment and inspiration to teach people rather than merely cover material.  We will come to know their true doctrinal needs and be inspired with questions that help them discover those doctrines for themselves.  Recently, I was teaching a young man with two of you.  Based on the investigator’s previous comments, we had assumed his doctrinal need was a willingness to walk in faith.  He seemed to want a clearer answer before committing to baptism, even though he’d already had the Spirit bear witness of Joseph Smith.  But during our lesson, one missionary asked an inspired question: “Which commandment will be most difficult for you to keep?”

            “The law of chastity,” answered the young man, without hesitation.  “I’m 18.”  As we talked, we quickly realized that what had been holding him back from firmly committing to baptism was not wanting a clearer answer.  Instead, it was that he knew he wasn’t ready for baptism because he wasn’t yet living the law of chastity.  After we helped him discover the importance of the law of chastity and the faith to keep it, he then committed to baptism.  That is why, as President Eyring taught, “you will pray for the way to know their hearts, to know what things are amiss in the lives and the hearts of people whom you don’t know well and who are not anxious to have you know them. You will need to know what God would have you do to help them and to do it all, as nearly as you can, feeling God’s love for them.”

            Many of you have discovered that receiving such inspired insights into people’s needs and teaching to those needs requires better planning and a different kind of planning.  There is nothing mechanical about Spirit-led planning.  Instead, as you prayerfully ponder the needs of individual investigators and how to study for them and teach them, planning and companionship study and personal study become revelatory experiences.  Even finding becomes an exercise in inspiration.

            Finally, you may wonder how the doctrine of Christ training fits in with this quarter’s emphasis on the Spirit.  Only as we exercise faith in Christ, repent of our sins, and renew our baptismal covenants by partaking of the sacrament meaningfully can we fully receive the gospel of the Holy Ghost, which gives us power to endure faithfully to the end.  Without these first three steps that culminate in baptism, neither we nor our investigators can receive the companionship of a member of the Godhead, which prepares us for eternal life with God the Father.

Indeed, the Holy Ghost is not only crucial to our quest to receive eternal life, but enjoying his companionship gives us a small taste of what eternal life will be like.  In 2 Corinthians 5:5, Paul writes that God has “given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.”  Many translators render the Greek word translated as “earnest” (like “earnest money”) in the King James Version as down payment or guarantee.  I especially like the Weymouth translation.  In verse 4 of that translation, Paul speaks of our desire to have our mortality “absorbed in Life.”  In verse 5 Paul then adds, “And He who formed us with this very end in view is God, who has given us His Spirit as a pledge and foretaste of that bliss.”

            I testify that as we and those we teach exercise faith in Christ, repent, and make or renew our baptismal covenant, we will enjoy that the companionship of the Holy Ghost, which is, indeed, a foretaste of that bliss that is to come in eternal life.

March 2015

   

We said good-bye to these beloved missionaries on March 2nd--Front: Elders Brown & Peay, with Pres. & Sis. Eaton, and Elder Gardner; Back: Elders Curtis, Cook, Nebeker, Maxwell, Anderson, and Taylor (missing Sister Moore who had to leave early to catch her flight).

     On March 3rd, we were joined by these wonderful missionaries--Sisters Palmer, Williams, Linker, Bailey, Sis. & Pres. Eaton, and Elder Cabrera; Sister Tremmel is in the tree.  Notice anything different about the pictures?  You can tell we had to close some areas to elders and replace them with sisters.

     President Eaton and I regularly send out "blasts" to the missionaries.  These are voice mails sent to all the missionaries by telephone.  Once a week I share an insight I gained from my study of the Book of Mormon to encourage personal study of that marvelous work and wonder.  For this month's blog post, I thought I would include one to illustrate this part of the mission experience.

     In Alma 23 we read about the Lamanites who were converted by some extraordinary missionary efforts.  In verses 16-17 we read about their decision to take on a new name—Anti Nephi Lehis—to distinguish themselves from their brethren the Lamanites.  That got me thinking about opportunities we have to take on new names. 

     New names can help us make changes, to think of ourselves differently.  When I married President Eaton, I took upon me his name, signifying the formation of our new family and our commitment to one another.  At baptism we each took upon ourselves the name of Christ, repenting of our sins and seeking to follow him.  We received a new name when we accepted a mission call.  It seems to me to be sort of an extension of our baptism, but now we are a recognized representative of Jesus Christ and all that we do, say, and even wear should reflect that.  That new name sets us apart and helps us live a higher standard.

     In D&C 130:11 we read about the need to receive a new name to enter the kingdom of God: “And a white stone is given to each of those who come into the celestial kingdom, whereon is a new name written, which no man knoweth save he that receiveth it. The new name is the key word.”  I feel there is more to it than simply receiving the name.  I think it is in allowing ordinances to change our nature and overcome Satan that we truly receive new names in a spiritual sense.  In Revelation 3:12 we read, “Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.”

     My goal is to be with each of you in the kingdom of God one day, to go no more out.  I’m grateful for the new names that I have received that are stepping stones to that destination.  In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

February 2015

     February began with a temple trip for the second half of the mission.  This first picture is Elders Moon, Curtis, McDowell, Moses, Tima, Berkheimer, Tavo, and Hisita.The second is of Elders Brown, Alcazar, Berkheimer, Chappell, Moses, Buckner, Oliphant, and Anderson with Elders Hisita, Noh, Albrecht, and Nelson in back.

     Our theme for zone conference was the Holy Ghost and His role in our missionary work.  For the next 3 months our district meetings and zone training meetings will relate to this theme.  Elder Holland asks missionaries to ponder, "Was the Holy Ghost the senior companion today, the junior companion, or was He even in our companionship today?" Preach My Gospel teaches missionaries, "Trust the Spirit to guide you in every aspect of your work."

Sister Eaton with Sisters Webb, Flamm, Walker, and Ripplinger

Elders Holtry, Gardner, Anderson, Freeman, Anderson, Holden, Downing, and Jenkins

Elders Downs, Davidson, Gonzalez, Polson, Johnson, and Quackenbush

Elders Brown, Warner, Allen, Herbert, Clauson, and Lemmon

Elders Taliauli, Snyder, Anderton, Cairo, Lee-Wen, and Gonzalez

Sisters Sasagi, Peterson, Loeak, Jeffrey, Wright, and Singer

Elders Nelson, Bakes, Jones, Johnson, Eliason, Quist, and Kim

Singing our thanks to Auburn for our lunch

Elders Noh, Kim, Hisita, Mousser, Cook, Erekson, Berkheimer, and Moses

Sister Davis, Simmons, Gray, Ballard, Walker, Higashi (seamstress), and Nowlin

Celebrating birthdays

Thanking the lunch sisters

Elders Wagstaff, Barron, Smith, Takooa, Thomas, Russell, and Ludlow

Elders Tan, Maxwell, Lappalainen, Olsen, Bennett, Kelly, and Palo

Sisters Hill, Webb, Soliz, Peacock, Heiner, Clement, Halford, and Cauley

Birthday and clean car awards

January 2015

     Mission Leadership Council this month focused on faith to find investigators (a follow up from Elder Hamula's visit) and working with members. (Front: Sisters Pearson, Flamm, & Ballard, Pres. & Sis. Eaton, Sisters Ah-Hong, Clement, Goaslind, and Heaton; Middle: Elders Gamble, Quackenbush, Wilcox, Eliason, Russell, Gardner, Moses, Meyer, and Ludlow; Back: Elders Tuimaualuga, Freeman, Johnson, Downing, Berkheimer, Erekson, Batchelor, Kim, and Cook)

     We said goodbye to these beloved missionaries--Front: Sisters Goaslind, Carlin, Dubon, Sis. & Pres. Eaton, Sisters Parry, Ah-Hong, Pearson, and Heaton; Back: Elders Johnson, Tuimaualuga, Grant, and Rogers

     And welcomed these! (Front: Sisters Ketchum, Lucky, Gray, Caulley, and Heiner; Middle: Sisters Oh, Mortensen, Sis. & Pres. Eaton, Sisters Leach, and Wright; Back: Elders Lappaleinen, Fenton, Smith, Takooa, Benton, and Anderson)

     We had a special training for district leaders and a special training for sister training leaders as well.  (Front: Sisters Flamm, Hill, Clement, with Sis. & Pres. Eaton; Back: Sisters Ballard, Walker, and Webb)

     Elder Daniel Johnson of the Seventy called a meeting this month with all stake presidents and bishops in the mission as well as our mission leadership council.  He outlined a protocol where missionaries would meet with members, have a prayer, teach a gospel principle, and then extend the invitation to the member to ponder who the Lord has prepared in their sphere of contact to meet with the missionaries.  Members are then challenged to invite the person who came to mind.  As I sat in with one break out group where missionaries were trying to implement this counsel with the stake president and bishops from their zone, the Spirit was very strong.  President Eaton, with the help of the assistants, also outlined a series of steps to help those who aren't ready for that challenge to take steps in that direction.  The missionaries would serve as consultants for ideas to move along that path, with the end goal to meet Elder Ballard's invitation of having members invite people to meet with missionaries once each quarter (see October 2014 General Conference).

     Another highlight of the month was our annual trip to the Seattle temple!  Half of the mission went in January, and the other half will go the first week in February.  Hopefully I'll be able to post more pictures of these excursions next month. Here's one showing Sisters Peterson, Orr, Frischknecht, Cauley, Halford, Heiner, and Sonasi.

December 2014

      We had the largest group of departing missionaries in the Washington Federal Way Mission history this month!  The record number of incoming sisters 18 months ago has led to a record number of departing sisters now. (Back: Sisters Syphus, Alder, Wolfe, Hansen, Clark, Goble, Evans-Bottoms, Mobley, Biggs, and Mitchell; Front: Sisters VerHoef, Creager, Muir, Eaton, Barlow, Hehl, Mecate, and Judd)

     And here is the entire group! (Back:Elders Thomson, Garr, Draper, Holmes, Cannon, Spillsbury, Hardt, Rodgers, and Tibbitts; Middle: Sisters Syphus, Alder, Wolfe, Hansen, Clark, Goble, Evans-Bottoms, Mobley, Biggs, and Mitchell; Front: Sisters VerHoef, Creager, Muir, Sis. & Pres. Eaton, Barlow, Hehl, Mecate, and Judd)

   

 We also welcomed a wonderful group of new missionaries--Back: Elders Sumsion, Cook, Bohne, Odell, Czarnecki, Garrison, and Nelson; Front: Sisters Orr and Parsons, Pres. & Sis. Eaton, and Sister Li.

     The article below is from a message President Eaton left for missionaries following up on Elder Hamula's visit last month.

     Since you’ll be discussing consecration today in your district meetings, I wanted to share a New Testament scripture chain with you this morning. Let’s start with Matthew 16:24 JST: “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. And now for a man to take up his cross, is to deny himself all ungodliness, and every worldly lust, and keep my commandments.”

     In other words, to follow the Savior, we have to leave behind the world. In Mark 4:19, the Savior explains how worldliness can mess with our spiritual growth. I’ve made a couple of changes to apply this verse more directly to us: “And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the [missionary], and [he] becometh unfruitful.” When we let “other things enter in” and become preoccupied with the vain things of this world, it chokes out the power of the gospel in our lives and we become less fruitful and less happy.

     I love the word deceitfulness in this verse. Those who advertise soda pop promote it as a great way to quench your thirst, but have you ever noticed that you only get thirstier when you drink it? What this world has to offer is just like that. The world tells us that its riches and praise and pleasures will make us happy, but they don’t bring lasting happiness any more than pop quenches thirst. It’s a sham, a fraud. It’s deceitful—because when we give in to the things of the world, we cut ourselves off from the things of God that bring true happiness. So to follow Christ, we must deny ourselves of all ungodliness.

     This is especially true for those of us who are called to represent Christ, to be what Paul called “a good solider of Jesus Christ” (2 Timothy 2:3). In 2 Timothy 2:4 Paul taught: “No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.” If we are going to go to spiritual battle for Christ, we can’t afford to plaster our apartments with photos and trinkets from the world that distract us. We can’t fill our minds with lesser things or even things Christ has asked us to set aside for a season. To please Christ who called us, we must leave the world behind.

     Finally, in Luke 14:27 JST, the Savior adds an interesting admonition to his invitation to bear our cross, come after him and be his disciple: “Wherefore, settle this in your hearts, that ye will do the things which I shall teach, and command you.” The word “settle” in this context means “to make a final decision.” For most of us, we have settled in our hearts that we won’t violate the Word of Wisdom. That decision is final. But are there some other aspects of worldliness that we are still struggling to make a permanent decision to leave behind?

     Together, these scriptures teach me the importance of deciding, once and for all, to leave behind the things of this world and focus fully on my call. Imagine what it would feel like at the Judgment to see clearly just how glorious and desirable eternal life is, only to realize that we sold out for a cheap consolation prize this world had to offer. I pray that with eyes of faith, we can see clearly and settle in our hearts that we will choose the consecrated path that leads to eternal life rather than the selfish path that does not, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

November 2014

Elder Hamula visited our mission and led zone conferences, a fireside for stake and ward councils, a dinner and FHE for senior missionaries, and our mission leadership council.  As we discussed his training during leadership council, we distilled the training into the plan of action outlined below. (Front: Sisters Goaslind, Judd, Pearson, Ballard, Clark, Jin, Syphus, Alder, and Heaton; Middle: Elders Holmes, Erekson, Meyer, Rodgers, Pres. & Sis. Eaton, Elders Russell, Wilcox, Gardner, and Quackenbush; Back: Elders Freeman, Dold, Thomas, Tuimaualuga, Downing, Elder Hamula, Elders Ludlow, Eliason, Berkheimer, Kim, and Bennett)

Expect Miracles

Five Righteous Routines for Exercising Faith

Elder Hamula inspired us all to exercise greater faith—the faith to succeed.   “When you give your best, you can expect miracles,” he promised.  As you exercise faith by internalizing these five righteous routines, expect miracles!

Ø  Every day and week, set inspired goals that stretch you and focus your efforts.  Elder Hamula taught us that “goal setting and planning are acts of faith.  If you’re sincere, they draw more effort out of you. Goal setting is intended to draw out of you full purpose of heart, full consecration.  The goal is your consecration, your full exercise of effort.  Not until you give in that way is grace extended to you to succeed.”  When you set goals in faith, you own them and care about them, whether they are personal goals to acquire the character of Christ or goals relating to key indicators.  They inspire you to do things you otherwise would not have done.

Ø  Study the life and teachings of Christ to become more consecrated.  “If you really want to go to the next level, individually or collectively, you need to consecrate yourself wholly and completely unto him,” Elder Hamula taught.  “A good number of you are still holding on to what you were.  Not until you are willing to give it all away do you get the most out of this experience.”  As you study the four gospels and 3 Nephi 11 – 27 over the next three months, ask yourself how you can become more fully consecrated.  Keep and study journal and write down ways you can live as he lived. 

Ø  Account to God daily and weekly for what kind of witness you have been.  Elder Hamula taught that “contacting earnestly and prayerfully everywhere you go is the price you pay to be trusted with the kind of people who will be baptized.”  Remember that “as in teaching, your efforts in finding will be effective if you are guided by the Spirit.  Have faith that you will know what to teach and what to do to find those who will receive you” (156).  Elder Hamula urged us to “stop talking yourself out of the first impression you get.  You are too worried about whether it’s you or Him.  Go with what you have.”  Each night “as you give the Lord an accounting of your day’s activities” (95), include an accounting of what kind of witness you have been that day.  And each week during the sacrament, ponder how well you have represented Jesus Christ during the past week and how you can better represent him the following week. 

Ø  Focus on people as you plan with faith, so that planning becomes a revelatory experience.  Elder Hamula said, “You have faith to be here, but you need to develop the faith to succeed here.  You do that by utilizing the faith-promoting tool of regular planning to draw out of you everything that there is to draw out.  As you utilize that tool and give all that you are, the miracle comes.”  Use those tools to focus on people, not just time slots.  Every night and every week, follow the 12 steps from page 3 of the planner to strategize about how to help each of your investigators progress and how to move the work in the area forward.  Talk about their needs throughout the day and soon your eye will become more single to God’s glory.

Ø  Update area books daily and use them regularly as a finding tool.  “The area book is a reflection of your planning and your faith,” Elder Hamula said.  “When the area book is being kept up and used regularly, there tends to be greater faith and greater outcomes.”  As you make your area book “the lasting record of your day-to-day efforts”—a record that is “neat, current and accurate” (140)—it becomes an invaluable time capsule for future missionaries.  Use the area book daily as a source of inspiration as you seek new investigators and help current investigators and less-active members progress.

October 2014

     Mission Leadership Council was on the Sabbath Day and receiving revelation through Church Attendance. We tried a photo in front of the mission home this time. Front: Elder Davis, Sis. & Pres. Eaton, Elder Rodgers; 2nd Row: Sisters Alder, Syphus, Clark, and Taylor; 3rd Row: Sisters Muir, Goaslind, Judd, and Heaton; 4th Row: Elders Maxwell, Russell, Garner, Myers, Meyer, and Grandstaff; 5th Row: Elders Berkheimer, Bennett, Kim, Ludlow, Grant, and Dold;Back: Elders Thomas, Downing, Freeman, and Erekson

     Our October departing missionaries are front: Sisters Taylor & Olson, Sis. & Pres. Eaton, Sisters Lee & Hopkins, and Elder Davis; back: Elders Garner, Grandstaff, Bushman, Warren, Jenkins, Bodily, Butt, and Myers

     Our incoming missionaries are Front: Sisters Loeak & Singer, Pres. & Sister Eaton, Sisters Davis and Frischkneckt; Middle: Elders Nelson, Allen, Brice, Lee-Wen, Li, and Nelson; Back: Elders Vuyk, Willardsen, Chambers, Davidson, Mousser, and Polson

     President Eaton's article from the October edition of the Mission Newsletter:

 Simple Formula to Facilitate Conversion

     I always enjoy reading your letters, but these last few weeks have been especially delightful as you’ve focused on helping investigators seek learning by faith. I particularly love how you are helping them discover principles in the Book of Mormon that can bless their lives.

     So what will you do personally to sustain these changes? How will you make sure that helping investigators act to seek learning by faith—especially using the Book of Mormon to do so—is something that becomes engrained in what we do? What can we do now so that missionaries in this mission a year from now are still helping investigators discover truths from the Spirit for themselves?

     Let me suggest a three-step formula to apply to every investigator for the rest of your mission. If you use it daily, I believe it will soon become a lasting part of you and of this mission. I am encouraging zone leaders and district leaders to use these questions with you about one investigator each week during your calls. The purpose of their calls is not to audit or inspect your plans but to collaborate with you and help you help your investigators. Here are the questions:

1. What is each investigator’s real need?

2. What doctrine or principle—especially one from First Nephi—can best meet their need?

3. What questions can we ask to help them discover those truths for themselves?

     Identifying real needs. Preach My Gospel repeatedly says that we must teach to meet the needs of our investigators. But to do that, we must know what those needs really are. Occasionally, an investigator’s greatest needs are obvious, but often, they are hidden. As Preach My Gospel states:

     "Sometimes people’s concerns are like an iceberg. Only a small portion is visible above the surface. These concerns can be complex and difficult to resolve. For this reason you need to follow the Spirit and respond in a manner best suited to the situation. Pray for the gift of discernment and follow your impressions. Heavenly Father knows the hearts and experiences of all people (the complete iceberg) and will help you know what is best for each person."

     When you help others resolve their concerns, first seek to understand their concerns by asking questions and listening. Rely on the Spirit to help you know how to help them resolve their concerns.

     To this analysis, I might add that we need to look beyond behavioral issues, such as drinking alcohol or not attending Church, to discern what mistaken belief or lack of belief gives rise to the behavior. Recently, I taught a wonderful less-active member with the assistants. What stood between him and the temple seemed to be smoking. But as we asked questions, we learned of some deeper concerns that helped explain why he had not yet been able to overcome his habit. First, after smoking for over 40 years, he doubted it was possible for him to stop. Second, his lack of faith in his ability to overcome that habit kept him from truly pouring out his heart in prayer, he said. He didn’t want to kneel down and really pray because he was afraid of what God would tell him. Yes, overcoming his smoking habit was a need, but to know how best to meet that need, we had to understand these deeper issues that were beneath the surface.

     Identifying the principle that can help. When we discover our investigators’ real needs with the help of the Spirit, we can then ponder what doctrine or principle can best help them meet their need and overcome their problem. We can point them to principles anywhere in the scriptures, but when we can draw them from the first few chapters of the Book of Mormon, it will be especially helpful. It will allow us to give them a reading assignment that can jump start their reading of the entire Book of Mormon. Certainly there will be times where we will include other scriptures to help them. But like most of you, as I have searched First Nephi recently for principles to help our investigators, I have been impressed. The Lord inspired Nephi and Mormon to fill those early chapters with examples of such critical principles as walking faith, doing hard things with God’s help, resisting the mockery of the world to receive God’s sweetest blessings, making sacrifices to receive blessings, and obtaining confirming revelation from God for ourselves.

     Helping them discover the principles. This final step is beginning to come naturally already for some of you. You have learned that if you can help investigators discover truths for themselves, they will retain and cherish them so much more than if we simply teach the doctrine or principle to them. Thus, coming up with simple but inspired questions is a critical step in the process of helping investigators act and seek learning by faith.

     Occasionally, you may do this when using a scripture chain with investigators during a lesson. For example, before studying 1 Nephi 4:6, the story of the brother of Jared and the 16 stones, and D&C 50:24 together, you might ask your invest to ponder this question: “What can these scriptures teach us about walking in faith?” More often, you will give investigators a reading assignment that includes several chapters from First Nephi, with a question that applies to more than one verse or chapter. You might assign 1 Nephi 1 – 5 and ask, “What can we learn from the example of Lehi and Nephi about receiving direction from God in our lives?” (Incidentally, that last question could be a pattern or formula you could use to create many other questions: What can we learn from the example of ___ in these chapters about [and then mention the principle or topic you want them to ponder]?)

     This summer, Elder Bednar told mission presidents, “If we always do what we have always done, then we will always get what we have always gotten. May I suggest that what we have always done and always gotten were good in their time but need to improve as the Lord is quickening the pace.” I genuinely believe that helping investigators discover principles from the Book of Mormon for themselves is a change that will help us get results we have never gotten before. I pray this simple three-step pattern will help you cement some of the wonderful changes so that we can help bring about more lasting conversions in this mission than we have ever seen before.