Yesterday’s News or the Beginning of a Legacy?
Dear Elders and Sisters:
What a wonderful blessing to participate with the Lord in
His hastening and be permitted to baptize over 1,000 people in 2014. It's such
a great time to be a missionary in the California Fresno Mission and I am very
much looking forward to 2015 and the opportunity to participate with the Lord
in the hastening of His work at an increased pace.
I was reflecting upon last year and was reminded of a
great basketball legacy - the UCLA Bruins and Coach John Wooden. From 1964 to 1975 they won the NCAA Championship
10 out of 11 times and went undefeated four of those seasons. They were a powerhouse, formidable, and never
before or since has their success been replicated. In 1964, after winning the first Championship
they could have rested on their laurels and pointed to their success of the
prior year, but they didn't. They got
even more focused and disciplined. According to one writer, they: "built
[their] dynasty on simple precepts...{the team] meticulously prepared and
[were] in top physical condition. No detail was overlooked....workouts were so
grueling that former players said they often were relieved to play in
games."
The year just passed with its great success is our 1964
as it was to the UCLA Bruins. What we do
next will largely define who we are. Will
we simply rest on the laurels of baptizing over 1,000 people and have a single
year to "brag" about or will we mark it as the beginning of a legacy
and become a powerhouse, formidable, and see a continued success never before
seen or experienced? Remember;
"Where much is given, much is required." The "New New" is upon us, Elders
and Sisters.
If this is your desire, if you truly want to become part
of a legacy called the California Fresno Mission, then now is the time to
commit and be even more focused. I draw
your attention to a very important part of the UCLA Bruins success - It was
based on a culture. It had to be since
the players came and went every few years...just like a mission. So, with that
in mind, what will you do to better live and be dedicated to our culture of
"Serving because we love Jesus Christ" and "Being worthy,
obedient, committed, and focused and serving with No Regrets"?
Legacy builders point to and focus on the future. They employ cultural principles to focus on
the greater good rather than on themselves.
We must re-dedicate ourselves now to Exact Obedience in
order that we may better keep pace with the Lord in the hastening of His
work. In this regard, I must point to a
few things that are of concern to me;
1. Living the Missionary Schedule and Way. Are you up on time? Do you exercise as
directed? Do you study as outlined? Is your apartment in compliance with
"Model Home/Temple Clean"?
2. Working: Do you spend your time "anxiously
engaged" in the Work of Salvation Finding to Teach and Teaching to
Find? Is the focus of your planning to
Find, Teach, Baptize, and Rescue? Are you doing time or using time?
3. Following the Lord's Inspired Vision for this
Mission: Are you following it or waiting
for that "fad" to go away? In
other words, are you following your leaders or are you cutting your own path -
the path of apostasy?
4. "Complete Missionaries": Are you Missionaries that the Lord can trust
and work through to bless His children who are prepared? Are you willing to do whatever is necessary
to baptize these sons and daughters of God?
5. Living the rules with exactness: I don't think there
is a single concern greater than this. It has been our DNA. Will it continue to be?
Now is the time to decide, Elders and Sisters. Will we simply be "one shot
Johnnies" or will we be legacy builders?
Will we rest on our past laurels, pointing to the results of
yesterday/yesteryear or are you desirous to more fully participate and keep
pace with the Lord in the hastening of His work? Will you become even more
focused and disciplined?
Our Mission Culture is built on simple precepts but you
must ask yourself if you will now "meticulously prepare and be in top
[spiritual] condition"? Will your
daily workout as a missionary in the Work of Salvation - Finding, Teaching,
Baptizing, and Rescuing - be grueling with the only relief to be participating
in Baptisms?
I couldn't be more excited for the future of this mission
and couldn't feel more blessed to be here now, with each and all of you. Onward and upward! 2015 will be the best year yet!
With much passion for the work and love and affection for
you,
President Clark
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