PRESIDENT'S WEEKLY - He Will Hasten His Work

He Will Hasten His Work

Dear Elders and Sisters,

First of all, I read all of your letters this week but please accept my apology for not responding to your letters. Every now and then I will have a week like this when I just won't be able to respond and this last week was one of them - but for good reason.

Sister Clark and I had the wonderful opportunity to be with all of the Mission Presidents and their wives from California, Oregon, Washington, Vancouver BC, Alaska, and Hawaii last week and be instructed by Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Twelve, President Maynes of the Presidency of the Seventy, and Elders Brent H. Nielson and Daniel Johnson of the Seventy. Wow! What a pinch ourselves week! There is so much to share but for now I will focus on three important things and some highlights from each one:

1. "[The] Lord is Hastening His Work in [His] time"; This has moved way beyond a theme. It is now the way and we are living in such an incredible time to witness and participate as He Hastens His Work! It is time for Saints everywhere to ask themselves the questions;
a. "Will I keep pace? Will we as individuals and collectively as a church keep pace with the Lord's hastening? Or will we insist on doing things the way they have always been done, or the ways we are accustomed to or comfortable with?"
b. "Will we learn and teach the Savior's way? Will each of us...learn, repent, change, and teach more effectively the Savior's way (teaching correct principles/lessons and allowing heaven to open to the recipients)? Or will we be so entangled in the traditions and patterns of the past that we will be unable to keep up with the pace of the Lord's hastening? If we always do what we've always done then we'll always get what we've always gotten."

2. He is completely in charge of the hastening of His Work: No surprise but it was very confirming that 34 Mission Presidents are receiving the same Inspired Visions as to what to do in their missions. No surprise that when Elder Nielson was here he confirmed we were on the right path and with Elders Christofferson, Maynes, Nielson, and Johnson we received confirmation that the Lord would have us:
a. Teach the lessons to LAs, PMs, and AMs in order to invite the spirit into their lives and help them open heaven so they can know what to do. Remember, we are not there to re-activate, that is the duty of the Quorums. We are simply there to TEACH in order to FIND those the Lord would have us TEACH. Teach to Find, Find to Teach.
b. As we teach, we must ask inspired questions like; "What have you felt as we have taught?", "What has come to mind that you might do as a result of our lesson?", or "Who has come to mind that You might help as a result of what you've heard tonight?"
c. Be Complete Missionaries so the Spirit can work miracles through you. Focus on teaching NMLs and assisting in FH. Use FH in Finding.

Elder Christofferson Highlight: The Lord has provided the Book of Mormon as the "key to conversion" in this dispensation. We must be converted to it then our hearts will change and we will lay down our weapons of rebellion. We are all like prodigals who must "come to ourselves". Don't just preach obedience for the sake of obedience. If you really want to come unto Him, you must live like Him doing only those things He has asked you to do.

Elder Maynes Highlight: Missionaries always recite the Missionary Purpose but do they live it? Living it gives them the moral authority to teach it and bless lives. When Missionaries focus on Member Missionary work from the time they open their eyes until they close them at the end of the day, then they are living their purpose and are granted the Moral Authority to be instruments in His hands in the Hastening of the Work.

Elder Johnson Highlight: Missionaries need to learn how to "open the connection to heaven with/for Members and Non Members" when they teach and then ask different questions like: "What has come to mind that you might do as a result of our lesson?", or "Who has come to mind that You might help as a result of what you've heard tonight?" Nothing is more important right now than teaching Members to work with Missionaries and Missionaries to work with Members! It is the merger of the two churches!

Elder Nielson Highlights: Begin with end in Mind! It's about the temple. It's about Missionaries becoming converted to the gospel for the rest of their lives and making and keeping sacred covenants in the Temple and helping their children do so as well. It's about Missionaries opening the door to the temple for new converts through the gateway we call baptism. Help new missionaries find a convert soon so they can help them get to the temple soon and follow their progress throughout their mission (and life) as they get to the temple to receive the endowment and be sealed.

We are so blessed to be here, now as the Lord Hastens His Work! I trust you will determine what you need to do more of (or less of) in order to "keep pace" and "teach in His way".

With much love,
President Clark

P.S. Please ask your parents again not to post your letters to Face Book and Blogs in first person (cut and paste them in). This continues to cause problems as you write things to your parents about your companions and/or ward councils, etc that are inappropriate to have posted on the internet (and based on what I've seen, are simply inappropriate!).

General Authority Mission Tour

Our Best Mission Tour Ever!!!!  (It was our first but hard to imagine any better in the future)  Elder Brent H. Nielson of the First Quorum of the Seventy and his wife were with us beginning Sunday afternoon through Tuesday evening.  They were absolutely delightful to be with and we enjoyed every minute with them. From Elder Nielson’s teachings on the Atonement to answering our gospel questions to Sister Nielson teaching the Sisters before Zone Conference to her wonderful teachings on Companionships to the entire Zone we were greatly blessed and richly fed spiritually.

President & Sister Clark with Elder & Sister Nielson

Zone Conference/Mission Tour with Elder and Sister Nielson.  10-13-2014

Zone Conference/Mission Tour with Elder and Sister Nielson.  10-14-2014

President's Weekly - How to Juggle

Dear Elders and Sisters,

I believe it’s time to learn how to juggle in the CFM. I have been studying up on this and have learned quite a bit. I have noted a couple of key words as I was reading and watching. They are:
1. Focus on the right ball at the right time.
2. Learn the correct movement and then keep moving.
3. As soon as you drop one ball, you must start over so as to not create bad habits. Plus, if you are juggling three balls and drop one, juggling two balls is just not very interesting.
4. Practice is key so keep practicing. Don't be discouraged. Just follow the steps and you will get it.
5. Timing is so important. Once you get the timing right, you can go faster and faster.

Well, I think there are some parallels to missionary work. We need to be jugglers! We need to focus on multiple things, each at the right time, so we don't drop any one "ball". The multiple things we focus on are; Finding, Teaching, and Baptizing (let's leave Planting and Retaining and Repeating out of this discussion for now as they come very naturally). Just as in Juggling, if we drop or stop Finding, it just doesn't work. It's not very interesting and ultimately nothing happens. Focus on the right thing at the right time. You need to be Finding each and every day. If you are just going through the motions without any results, then change what you are doing. If you don't, you'll continue to get the same results - too often nothing. Learn the correct movement so you can have better timing and more interesting results. More people will be interested when you get the timing right - I.E; 3:30:3, Pamphlets, etc. Practice is key so keep working at it as diligently as you can.

It appears to me that as we have focused on getting the lists of LAs and PMs and moving toward this model in our Inspired Vision, we have discontinued Finding in the traditional ways. This is the equivalent of juggling two balls which isn't juggling at all but rather just motion that is yet to be compelling or powerful. I didn't ask you to cease your traditional Finding. You need to keep doing it until you are so busy with LAs and PMs that there just isn't time for traditional Finding and in comparison, traditional Finding does not yield the same great results that working with the LAs and PMs yield. But you must juggle. We are seeing too much lumpy performance. We baptize and then we have to go Find again so we can Teach and Baptize again. We have a great month and then a not so great month. Remember, we want a positive slope to our Teaching and Baptizing x;y graph line and the best way to do that is to have a steeper, more positive slope to our x;y Finding graph line. "Nothing happens in missionary work until you FIND someone to Teach!" So, please invest more in Finding so you can and will Teach and Baptize more. Be great jugglers so that what we do moves from being interesting (60 - 75 Baptisms/month) to compelling and powerful - 90 to 110 Baptisms/month!!!!

One last thing that will help you with your focus. As you consider what things you will do to Find, please consider also what things you should cease doing in order to merit the blessing of Finding, Teaching, and Baptizing! I fear many are holding on to thoughts, actions, and conversations that are holding us back and not allowing us to fully participate in the Hastening of the Work.

Now, I know something very important and I think you do as well. It is that "with God all things are possible." So, I believe if we'll do better at juggling and dismiss some things from our lives God will bless us with our righteous desires - in this case the Strength of 1,000! Please exercise faith and works appropriate to call down the powers of Heaven in this great cause. I know we can do it but I know that we will only be allowed to accomplish this if we increase in our "juggling" capabilities, work harder, stay focused, and eliminate things from our lives that are impeding the work.

I love you and pray in earnest for you, the work, and the Mission each and every day. Sister Clark and I continue to pinch ourselves that we are blessed to be here, now, with you as the Lord Hastens His Work.

Love,
President Clark

Transfer Week #3

I can't believe that we have already had 3 transfers since coming on our mission.  Each and every transfer is amazing.  We love the missionaries who go home, and we rejoice in the missionaries that come in on that very emotional day!  I posted the video of the new missionaries on Facebook (Bonnie Campbell Clark)  for all of you Moms and Dads who want to catch a glimpse of your missionary on their first and second days in the mission field!  I know I would have loved to have seen my missionaries when they first arrived in their missions.  Don't we love technology!

Our "Transfer week"  starts on Tuesday with the Temple, testimony meeting, dinner, snacks, interviews, teachings and pictures with the outgoing missionaries.  Wednesday we take the outgoing missionaries to the airport, and pick up our new missionaries.  Yahoo......

PRESIDENT'S WEEKLY - The Single Greatest Tool

The Single Greatest Tool

Dear Elders and Sisters,

As I ponder General Conference relative to the Inspired Vision the Lord has given us I continue to clearly see how He is Hastening His work. Then in the recent Ensign, there is a wonderful article written by Elder Bednar which is an excerpt from his talk given to us at the MTC entitled: "Missionary, Family History, and Temple Work" I would like you to read this article on-line so you can watch the videos embedded in it. The all-inclusive article is wonderful and as you can tell it drives so much what our Inspired Vision is we are working from/towards. I noted several key quotes I will share here. Please remember these and have them available in your apartments/journals etc.:

"The Book of Mormon in combination with the Spirit of the Lord is “the greatest single tool which God has given us to convert the world.”4 This Restoration volume of scripture is the keystone of our religion and is essential in bringing souls to the Savior. The Book of Mormon is another testament of Jesus Christ—a vital confirming witness of the divinity of the Redeemer in a world that grows ever more secular and cynical. Hearts are changed as individuals read and study the Book of Mormon and pray with real intent to learn of the truthfulness of the book"

"The spirit of Elijah is “a manifestation of the Holy Ghost bearing witness of the divine nature of the family.”5 This distinctive influence of the Holy Ghost bears powerful witness of the Father’s plan of happiness and draws people to search out and cherish their ancestors and family members—both past and present. The spirit of Elijah affects people both inside and outside of the Church and causes hearts to turn to the fathers."

"The time has come for us to capitalize more effectively on the potent combination of the mighty change of heart, made possible primarily by the spiritual power of the Book of Mormon, and the turning of hearts to the fathers, accomplished through the spirit of Elijah. A yearning for connection to our past can prepare an individual to receive the virtue of the word of God and fortify his or her faith. A heart turning to the fathers uniquely helps an individual withstand the influence of the adversary and strengthen conversion."

And from our Mission Culture Statement: "We know that "the Book of Mormon [is] the most correct of any book on earth, and the Keystone to our religion, and a man will get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book."

Many of you have been reporting on our Book of Mormon reading project and relating the wonderful discoveries and re-discoveries, the great spirit of conversion, the new found truths and doctrines. Isn't it wonderful!!!! And can you tell, see, and most importantly feel that now, more than ever, not only in this mission but in the world, the Lord is going to Hasten His work of Member Missionary work through the Book of Mormon and Family History. I trust it feels right, feels appropriate and inspired to be doing what you are doing, here and now. Thanks for your faith, diligence, worthiness, commitment, sacrifice, and obedience. Thanks for blessing the work. Let's go Baptize!!!

Today and tomorrow we will be blessed to hear from Elder Brent H. Nielson of the Seventy as he tours our mission. It has been a blessing to be with him Saturday and Sunday with Fresno North's Stake Conference and this afternoon and evening in our home. You will be/have been blessed to be with him and his wife and I trust you will be more than entertained but rather changed.

I love you all and know that the Lord can trust the Missionaries of the California Fresno Mission to assist the Lord in the Hastening of His Work!

Love,
President Clark

President's Weekly - "We Thank Thee Oh God for a Prophet"

We Thank Thee Oh God for a Prophet

Dear Elders and Sisters,

Wow! Is there a really a word or words that can describe the spiritual feast we have been blessed with over the weekend with General Conference? Amazing! Exhilarating! Inspiring! Instructive! Revelatory!...and on and on with the superlatives. What a blessed time we live in when it is becoming so much more obvious the peace a prophet brings to our lives. With every talk I found myself saying: "That was the best talk yet and just for me now"...and then the next and the next were the same. Isn't it such a testament of a Father in Heaven's love for us that these Prophets and Apostles and other inspired men and women of Christ would provide so much of what is needed to a world in need. And to literally sit at the feet of Apostles and Prophets and "hear the pleasing word of God" is just such a blessing in and of itself with what the Lord has provided through technology to spread the gospel to "all nations"! I trust you were more than entertained but rather changed as a result of the spiritual smorgasbord and feast placed before us Saturday and Sunday.

I was reminded of this great teaching from Elder Holland: “In order to establish a church that would continue under His direction even after He was taken from the earth, Jesus "went . . . into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.”
"And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles."
“Later on, Paul would teach that the Savior, knowing the inevitability of His death, had done this to give the Church a "foundation of . . . apostles and prophets."
Why? Among other reasons, so "that we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive."
“Thus the apostolic and prophetic foundation of the Church was to bless in all times, but especially in times of adversity or danger, times when we might feel like children, confused or disoriented, perhaps a little fearful, times in which the devious hand of men or the maliciousness of the devil would attempt to unsettle or mislead. Against such times as come in our modern day, the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve are commissioned by God and sustained by you as "prophets, seers, and revelators," with the President of the Church sustained as the prophet, seer, and revelator, the senior Apostle, and as such the only man authorized to exercise all of the revelatory … keys for the Church.”
“…the incomparable Ralph Waldo Emerson rocked the very foundations of New England ecclesiastical orthodoxy when he said to the Divinity School at Harvard: "It is my duty to say to you that the need was never greater [for] new revelation than now." "The doctrine of inspiration is lost. . . . Miracles, prophecy, . . . the holy life, exist as ancient history [only]. . . . Men have come to speak of . . . revelation as somewhat long ago given and done, as if God were dead. . . . It is the office of a true teacher," he warned, "to show us that God is, not was; that He speaketh, not spake."
In the very year Mr. Emerson gave his Divinity School address implicitly pleading for such, Elder John Taylor, a young English immigrant to this country, was called to be an Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ, a prophet, a seer, a revelator. In that calling Elder Taylor once said in sympathy with honest seekers of truth: "Whoever heard of true religion without communication with God? To me the thing is the most absurd that the human mind could conceive of. I do not wonder," said Brother Taylor, "[that] when the people generally reject the principle of present revelation, skepticism and infidelity prevail to such an alarming extent. I do not wonder," he continued, "that so many men treat religion with contempt, and regard it as something not worth the attention of intelligent beings, for without revelation religion is a mockery and a farce. . . . The principle of present revelation . . . is the very foundation of our religion. "
The principle of present revelation? The very foundation of our religion? Let me return from those foundations to the present, the here and now, the 21st century. For one and all—ecclesiastics, historians, and laymen alike—the issue is still the same. Are the heavens open? Does God reveal His will to prophets … as in days of old? That they are and that He does is the unflinching declaration of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to all the world.”
“We do ‘thank thee, O God, for a prophet to guide us in these latter days,’ because many of those days will be windblown and tempest-tossed.” (Holland, GC)

I love you and pray for you and for all your investigators. May the Lord bless us as we strive to help 1,000 come to know that God has placed His prophet and His church with Apostles and Prophets here upon the earth in these the latter days.

President Clark