We were blessed to have Elder Allan Packer of the First Quorum of Seventy and his wife Terri here to instruct us during Zone Conferences.
Sister Packer reminded missionaries that we have made the big commitment to spend 18 months or 2 years serving the Lord. We shouldn't let the small committments (such as getting up on time or keeping apartments clean)keep us from feeling the Spirit. She reminded us of President Eyring's talk in which he stated our obligation to invite the Holy Ghost into our lives so that others will see and desire the fruits of the Spirit.
Elder Packer explained that as missionaries teach investigators principles they are creating dots like the kind that are in children's dot-to-dot pictures. Until the invesigator sees for himself the connections, they won't get the whole picture. Investigators have to follow 5 steps to conversion:
Hear - Remember - Understand - Apply - Become
A testimony comes when they begin to apply, but real conversion is a process of becoming.
As we help others reach real conversion, we need to speak the language of the Spirit. Many of our missionaries have learned Spanish. Many think they have learned it in the MTC only to find when faced with real life, they can't understand anything they hear. As they continue, they often "hit the wall" where they think they will never get it. But if they persist, they will suddenly find a big jump in understanding. The same process applies to learning to understand the Spirit. Many times missionaries and investigators will suddenly recognize "Is that what that is?" and realize "I've felt that before."
In order to invite the Holy Ghost into our lives, we have to understand the culture of the Spirit. Elder Packer gave the example of his brother who was a missionary in Australia and learned quickly not to ask investigators if they could return "at your convenience" when they learned that "convenience" was a word for toilet. Similarly, we offend the Spirit when we sin, show selfishness, are too casual or not paying attention. The missionary handbook explains the culture of the Spirit.
Elder and Sister Packer shook the hand of each missionary before conference began and Elder Packer reported that he had shaken the hand of President Monson last Friday so each missionary has shaken the hand of someone who has shaken the hand of the prophet. Just as Elder Packer represents the 12 in his assignment, missionaries also represent the prophet who has called them. He quoted 3 Nephi 27:27 and explained that missionaries should be the "manner of men" that represent Christ.
