How do we better “Teach Repentance”?
Dear Elders and Sisters:
Sister Clark and I are really very excited to be with you
in Zone Conference this week. Come
prepared to receive great teachings, understanding and revelations and to leave
changed!
I want to share a very short thought with you that may
help you place a greater emphasis on "Teaching Repentance". While the Christian world believes in Christ,
and we are dealing mainly with Christians here in this great valley, tradition
and time away from church has left them in a position where they don't really
have a great respect or understanding of who Christ is and what He has done for
them. When we talk of Him taking our
sins upon Him in the Garden of
Gethsemane, I think we too often pass over this much too quickly and
dare I say it, in a trite way. While it
is nigh impossible to reach an understanding of what He went through for us, as
you repent continually and desire to be changed, you come to know something of
His sacrifice for you. More importantly,
as you better come to understand the Atonement, you will be better teachers of
it. As PMG states: "As your
understanding of the Atonement deepens, your desire to share the gospel will
increase." This is so true! You shouldn't be surprised serving as a
missionary is so hard. It is designed to
be so it will draw you to and through the Atonement, so you will have a greater
understanding of it and consequently a greater desire to share the gospel. Further, it will increase your ability to use
and teach from the Book of Mormon and President Benson has stated that:
"The Book of Mormon is the greatest single tool God has given us for the
conversion of the world."
So, I issue you this challenge: Get a new Book of Mormon or use your main
scriptures. Read and study it for its
teachings of the Atonement (mentioned 54 times) and see if your ability to
teach repentance does not increase. My
challenge to this mission is to do this and to set a date to have accomplished
this by our next Zone Conference - at the end of March. Will you do this? I hear a resounding "yes" from the
great missionaries of the California Fresno Mission. Thank you!
With much love and appreciation for all you are doing to
bless so many,
President Clark
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