Sunday, May 19, 2013

AN AMAZING ZONE CONFERENCE



HYDE PARK CHAPEL/VISITORS CENTER

On Thurs 16 May, we went to our first zone conference.  It was amazing. 
President Jordan gave two instructions.

1. The importance of how we present ourselves:

He talked about “verbal ticks”.  They make you less effective as you teach and interact with people.
  Examples are the following:  Like, Sort of, I guess, Kind of, just.  They marginalize your message. 
Example:  We are just members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
Like, we would appreciate it if you would give us just a few minutes of your time.
He told the missionaries, ye and yea are reserved for scripture, they are acceptable.  Ya is not, it is a poor way of saying yes.  Don’t use it.

2, He gave a very good talk on the Holy Spirit and teaching with the Spirit.  

The highlights of President Jordan's message:
·        The only way to return to our Heavenly Father is by being sanctified through the Holy Ghost.
·        On the missionary’s side: The Holy Ghost makes it so we are not “confounded by men”. 
D&C 100: 5
·        On the investigators side:  The Holy Ghost touches their hearts and testifies of the truth of the message.
·        The Spirit is the most important element in missionary work.  You will never succeed without it.
·        President Jordan likened the Holy Ghost to a light bulb that is controlled by the switch. He said it is not like a light with a simple on or off.  It is like a light with a dimmer switch.   Because we have agency, we are at the controls of the switch.  When we make the wrong choices, the light becomes continually dimmer.  By making good choices the light is increased.
·        D&C 50:24  That which is of God is light; and he that receiveth light, and continueth in God, receiveth more light; and that light growth brighter and brighter until the perfect day.
·        Look at the picture of Christ at the door.  He is waiting to enter but there is no knob.  It has to be opened from within. 
·        Agency is the difference between unto and into.  The missionary takes it unto the investigator.  The investigator has to take it into his heart.
·        How to distinguish the Holy Ghosts’ promptings from our own thoughts. 
We feel it in our heart and our mind
Don’t over-analyse it.  If it is good, act upon it.
·        D&C 11:13

President Jordan had invited a young lady that had been baptised 5 days ago and the missionaries that had converted her.  

    It was amazing to hear her describe her feelings as she was converted.  The missionaries talked about how they helped her identify the whisperings of the spirit.
   President Jordan, ask questions that, as she and the missionaries answered, made you understand the importance of “the testifying of the spirit” in conversion.
Example:  How did you feel when you came to church with us, what did you think.  Her reply, “It was like a family.  No one judged, everyone accepted and made me feel welcome. “ 
    We all laughed when they told us that the first official meeting with her was at the Kentucky Fried Chicken.  They said the place was packed.  They ask her if they could have an opening prayer, and they did, right in the middle of the fast-food restaurant.  They ask her if she felt the truth of their words as they talked about the restoration…in the middle of Kentucky Fried Chicken.  She said she knew it immediately.  
    The one missionary had been out only two weeks when they met her.  He said he wished everyone’s mission could start that way. 

Sister Jordan talked about the importance of keeping journals.

  It is a good way to remind ourselves of experience’s that strengthen our testimonies.  Again, record your thoughts as we feel the holy spirit.  This is my effort to record my feelings during a very special zone conference.

 

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