Zone Conferences May 2011

We had Zone Conferences last week from Tuesday through Thursday. Our theme was “The Gathering of Israel.” We always begin by having car safety information and videos. This was Elder Olsen’s first time speaking with the missionaries and inspecting all the cars. Sister Mayorga, who is our new mission nurse talked to the missionaries about digestive problems. Sister Mayorga is a local member who has been in nursing for over 25 years including 8 years in an emergency room. She is now taking sick calls from the missionaries. Sister Baker reminded missionaries that they should call their dinner appointments the night before to confirm and once they have confirmed, they must show up to be dependable and trustworthy.

President Baker led off introducing our theme and helping missionaries understand that they are participating in the urgent work of the Gathering as foretold by the Savior and repeated by Malachi and Moroni. He talked about the restoration of the priesthood keys by Moses, Elias, and Elijah and reminded the missionaries of how all gathering points toward the temple ordinances. He reviewed D&C 109:22,23,39 to help the missionaries understand how important the gathering is. I talked about the Holy Ghost, explaining why the Nephites prayed for the Holy Ghost as “what they desired most.” (3 Nephi 19:9). I got a lot of my material from Hearing the Voice of the Lord, by Gerald Lund.

The assistants presented the “conversion train.” If the missionaries are the drivers and investigators are in the caboose, they discussed why each of the cars is necessary for the investigator to reach their destination. After lunch, the zone leaders presented sessions on finding. We then had a few missionaries selected at the last moment share an example of their own finding. President Baker closed by presenting our mission goal for June (as discussed below.)

Westwood Zone

South Bay Zone

Penninsula Zone

Metro Zone

Marina Zone

Lakewood Zone

Central Zone

HONOR THE FATHERS

During zone conference this week, we have discussed our mission wide goal for June. Our entire mission will be honoring the fathers (our earthly fathers, the fathers of the covenant, our Priesthood leaders, and our Heavenly Father)by being exactly obedient. We have a goal to have each companionship baptise during the month of June, for a total of 93 baptisms. We will start our effort with a mission fast, which will begin with a kneeling prayer by all missionaries at 11:30 am on Friday May 27. We will pray for miracles to help accomplish our objectives and will finish with a kneeling prayer at 11:30 am on Saturday. These cards were handed out to be reminders to the missionaries.

Full Field Sisters

We had a short meeting with our full field sisters after this week's Fundamentals training to review dress standards. Sisters Clark, Milne, Nibley, Molina, Hales, Malani, Alcantara, Pinto, Fitzgerald, Johansen, Villaneuva, and Flake.

Revlon Run-Walk

Each year our missionaries participate in a service project to assist the Revlon Run-Walk for women's cancer. They are the only ones trusted to count the money. They are guarded in a room under the Los Angeles Coliseum while they work.

Clean Apartment Awards May 2011

Elders Howard, Myers, Shannon, Romney, Serrano and Jahng.

Departing Missionaries May 2011

Leaving us are (front)Melanie Contreras, Crystel Stout, Jessica Dansie, Edith Garcia, Kalie Phillipy, (middle)Juan Poemape, Marcelo Alarcon, Kyle Hoggan, Riley Groves, Adrian Medina, Scott Welling, (back) Paul Bluth, Cameron Ricks, Ethan Chambers, Anthony King, Brendon Billat, and Derek Welch.

Arriving Missionaries May 2011

Joing us are Sister Bodily from Utah, Sister Hall from Utah, Sister Thompson from California, Sister Johansen from Japan, Sister Pinto from Georgia, Elder Bucheger from Colorado, Elder Walton from Utah, Elder Steinbrecher from New York, Elder Harper from Montana, Elder Pace from Utah, Elder Ogden from Idaho, Elder Langli from Tonga and Elder Moon from Korea.

Trainers are Sister Brinkerhoff (Bodily), Sister Alcantara (Johansen), Sister Winn (Thompson), Sister Parra (Hall), Sister Villanueva (Pinto), Elder Gilbert (Bucheger), Elder Muse (Langli), Elder Payne (Moon), Elder McCulloch (Harper), Elder Carter (Pace), Elder Skousen (Walton), Elder Serrano (Ogden), and Elder Patten (Steinbrecher).

Mormon Helping Hands Day April 2011

Metro Zone:





Sorry, other zones have not sent me any pictures.

Mormon Helping Hands Day April 2011

Marina Zone:






Lakewood Zone:

Apostle Visit

We had a wonderful two hour conference with Elder and Sister L. Tom Perry of the Quorum of the 12 Apostles and President and Sister Whitney Clayton of the Seventy. President and Sister Pike and all the missionaries from the Arcadia mission joined us so the LA Stake Center was full. Sister Clayton compared the missionaries to Enoch who was young and “slow of speech” when he was called, but the Lord told him to “Open thy mouth” and promised him that he would “abide in me and I in you; therefore walk with me.” (Moses 6:31-34). Elder Clayton promised that if missionaries learning a new language would read the Book of Mormon out loud in their new language they would be able to teach with a fuller expression and greater feeling. He also explained that we are engaged in the great work of the gathering of Israel. Missionaries are seeking the elect and in order to find them, they have to talk to everyone they meet about the gospel.

Sister Perry told the missionaries that if they want to become close to Christ, they must pray daily. She reviewed the explanation of prayer found in the Bible dictionary and reminded missionaries that prayer is not a duty in the law but the natural extension of the relationship of a Father and his children. Many blessings are conditional upon asking for them. She said that the Lord is more mindful of each of us than we can realize. Elder Perry stated that missionary work has been the lifeblood of the church from the beginning and that for missionaries to be effective teachers they need to develop the capacity to learn, grow, and develop. He shared that even the Twelve continue to learn as they take turn preparing gospel discussions for the group. He reviewed the five steps to improve teaching that were taught by Elder Holland at the last Worldwide Leadership Training. 1) Ask, knock, and seek spiritually, 2) Use the scriptures, 3) Teach by the Spirit, 4) Open your ears, and 5) Never end without testifying. Elder Perry shared an experience he had as a young man when he met a man who had heard the testimony of Martin Harris. He closed with his apostolic witness that the Lord directs our prophet Thomas S. Monson today.

President and Sister Clayton, President and Sister Pike, President and Sister Baker, Elder and Sister Perry