MLC - 10-2016

Yes, it is Halloween and the work keeps moving forward.  We held our MLC meeting at the Mission Home on the afternoon of the 31st.  It was lovely outside, however as the sun went down it did get a little chilly - but it was a fun time.  The Amsburys brought "dinner in a pumpkin", President and Sister Clark and the assistants gave trainings, we had an object lesson, and counseled together.  Love the CFM!

Back Row, Left to Right:  Elders Speer, Watson, Valenzuela, Cummings, Gray, Carnahan, Halliday, Knapton, Sullivan

Middle Row, Left to Right:  Elders Van Vleet, Vargas, Tongish, Walker, Noffal, Agazzani, Nelson, Wilson, Perkins, Olsen

Front Row, Left to Right:  Sisters Bangerter, Tyler, Blocker, President & Sister Clark, Sisters Anderson, Maxwell, Johnson

PRESIDENT'S WEEKLY - I'm Trying To Be Like Jesus

I’m Trying To Be Like Jesus

Dear Elders and Sisters:

Sister Clark and I have just returned from our Mission Presidents' Seminar and like you after Zone Conference, are more energetic than ever having been taught and instructed so very well by those who are called to lead and guide this great work.  We were blessed to be instructed by Elders Rasband, Hallstrom, Cook, Ardern, and Clayton and their wives and truly felt the spirit confirming and placing deep in our hearts their inspired counsel, teaching, and trainings.  We'll share what we've been taught in our next Zone Conference.  We can't wait!!!

Elder Rasband was asked a question: "If you could go back and be a Mission President again, what would you do different?"  One of his responses really stood out to me as being timely for this mission.  He said: "I would teach the Missionaries more of the Character of Christ and help them better understand who He is."  As he said this I thought of each of you here in the great California Fresno Mission providing water, sun, and light to your seeds you've planted as you've undertaken to study in earnest the Character of Christ and Faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement - each inextricably linked.  I will be anxious to hear from you today as to how your "experiment upon the Word" is progressing and what signs you are seeing that this is a good seed that has taken root and is beginning to grow.

As I have undertaken the same challenge that was issued to you, I have chosen to use PMG Chapter 6 as my initial guide and then expand and augment from there.   Not only is my understanding from the scriptures being "enlarged" but my testimony of PMG is deepening as well.  I think most importantly, I have noted that while I am learning more of His attributes and character, I am discovering a great disconnect in my life between what I know to be "the way, the truth, and the life" and my ability to personally emulate His patterns, truths and doctrines.  As we discussed, it is one thing to build faith in Jesus Christ through worship and adoration, but it is an entirely different and somewhat difficult thing to emulate Him.  Yes, we will have to "know of Him" through our studies and searching but I think you will find with me that the way we come to "know Him", comes as a result of trying to be like Him.  This endeavor should make the oft sung Primary song "I'm Trying To Be Like Jesus" swirl around in your head again and again - which isn't a bad thing to have happen.

We applaud you in this undertaking!  We hope you recognize this to be more than a "study of doctrine" but a discovery of characteristics to be desired and emulated.  I think King Benjamin described it so perfectly at the end of his great sermon and discourse that left his people prostrated on the ground recognizing their fallen state when he said: "How knoweth the man the master whom he has not served, and who is a stranger unto him, and is far from the THOUGHTS and INTENTS of his HEART?" (Mosiah 5:13).  Our testimony and promise is that as you truly seek Him, you shall find Him and as you seek to emulate Him, you will come to know Him and "be like Him" (Moroni 7:48).

With our heartfelt love and admiration for the great disciples you are becoming,

President Clark

President's Weekly - Building the Character of Christ Through Emulation

Building The Character of Christ Through Emulation

Dear Elders and Sisters:

It was such a blessing to be with you in Zone Conference this past week and I am so thankful for how prepared and ready to receive revelation and training you were.  I will trust there was something for each of you in what was taught and presented.  I am deeply appreciative of Sister Clark and her wonderful training, especially her excellent instruction on "Teaching with the Spirit".  Likewise, I am grateful to Elders Speer and Olsen for all they taught, particularly how we can and should plan in great faith!

As reinforcement and to provide future study material for you, I am providing below many of the quotes and insights from my training on character.  If there is one thing that would be on the top of my list to teach you, for you to learn, and to ultimately become, it is someone with the "Character of Christ".  As we discussed, we must move from worship to adoration and ultimately emulation of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  A study of His life as contained in the Gospels and studying and observing His character through a study of Faith in Him and His Atonement in the Book of Mormon will help you do so.  In the end, wouldn't you want to teach as He would, invite as He does, and lift and love our Heavenly Father's Children towards home as He has.

From Brigham Young: ". . . I will take the liberty of saying to every man and woman who wishes to obtain salvation through him (the Savior) that looking to him, only, is not enough: they must have faith in his name, character and atonement; and they must have faith in his father and in the plan of salvation devised and wrought out by the Father and the Son. What will this faith lead to? It will lead to obedience to the requirements of the Gospel;..." (Journal of Discourses, Vol.13, p. 56, Brigham Young, July 18, 1869)

Jesus' character necessarily underwrote His remarkable atonement. Without Jesus' sublime character there could have been no sublime atonement! His character is such that He "[suffered] temptations of every kind" (Alma 7:11), yet He gave temptations "no heed" (Doctrine and Covenants 20:22). Someone has said only those who resist temptation really understand the power of temptation. Because Jesus resisted it perfectly, He understood temptation perfectly, hence He can help us. The fact that He was dismissive of temptation and gave it "no heed," reveals His marvelous character, which we are to emulate (see Doctrine and Covenants 20:22; 3 Nephi 12:48; 27:27). (O How Great the Plan of Our God, Maxwell, Feb 1995)

From President Spencer W. Kimball: “Integrity (which includes the willingness and ability to live by our beliefs and commitments) is one of the foundation stones of good character, and without good character one cannot hope to enjoy the presence of God here or in the eternities… Some ['pick and choose between'] standards as important and denigrate the other as trivial and as intruding on their freedom of choice. These 'persons' fundamentally miss-perceive the question, which is not whether the [standards of excellence are] wise, but whether they should consider themselves bound by a promise. It is not that such a [standard] is forced upon anyone; there is free choice to come here.  Once having elected to come here and to participate in this [mission] with its special calling to represent the Church and its highest standards, you must not compromise your integrity by promising what you will and will not do.”

“This [mission] has no justification for its existence unless it builds character, creates and develops faith, and makes men and women of strength and courage, fortitude, and service—men and women who will become stalwarts in the kingdom and bear witness of the . . . divinity of the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is not justified on the basis of [baptisms] only.” (adapted from “On My Honor” BYU devotional address, 1978 and quote from Mission Tour given in England by Spencer W. Kimball)

From Elder Oaks: "“Character is not about what we know but about who we are – and who we become.” (Oaks, Ensign, Nov 2000)

One observer stated: "The heart cannot be taught in a classroom intellectually, to students mechanically taking notes. . . . You can’t teach it or email it or tweet it. It has to be discovered within the depths of one’s own heart when a person is finally ready to go looking for it. What a wise person teaches is the smallest part of what they give. The totality of their life, of the way they go about it in the smallest details, is what gets transmitted.  Never forget that.  The message is in the person.” (Brooks, Road to Character)

“In addition to Christ’s example, the gospel of Jesus Christ offers us access to the truths of the plan of salvation, the gift of the Holy Ghost, and the redemptive, transforming power of Christ’s Atonement. These inestimable gifts provide a comprehensive framework that gives us the opportunity to ultimately perfect our character. If we keep these things active in our lives, we can have the faith we need to keep going when we stumble—as we all will—and the power to improve—as we all must.” (Worthen, Building Character, BYU Speeches)

And from Elder Bednar: “Let me suggest that you and I must be praying and yearning and striving and working to cultivate a Christ-like character if we hope to receive the spiritual gift of charity--the pure love of Christ. Charity is not a trait or characteristic we acquire exclusively through our own purposive persistence and determination.  Indeed we must honor our covenants and live worthily and do all that we can do to qualify for the gift; but ultimately the gift of charity possesses us--we do not possess it (see Moroni 7:47). The Lord determines if and when we receive all spiritual gifts, but we must do all in our power to desire and yearn and invite and qualify for such gifts. As we increasingly act in a manner congruent with the character of Christ, then perhaps we are indicating to heaven in a most powerful manner our desire for the supernal spiritual gift of charity. And clearly we are being blessed with this marvelous gift as we increasingly reach outward when the natural man or woman in us would typically turn inward.” (Bednar, The Character of Christ)

Thank you for coming to serve and allowing your service to bless and change lives, including and especially your own.

With much love, respect, and admiration!

President Clark

Mission President's Seminar 10-2016

Mission Presidents' Seminar - the Zone Conference of all Zone Conferences for Mission Presidents and their Wives.  We gathered in Coronado Island, CA for three days with Elders Hallstrom, Cook, and Ardern of the Seventy and their wives and Elder Rasband of the Quorum of the Twelve and his wife joined us for two of those days with the Area Seventy joining us for the last day. 

President & Sister Clark with President & Sister Jardine from the
CA Sacramento Mission

President & Sister Ballard - Oregon Portland: President and Sister Tateoka - Oregon Salem: President and Sister Mella - California San Jose

President and Sister Dixon - California Redlands 

Three Weber High School Warriors - Elder Cook of the Seventy

Too many Mission Presidents & Wives to count . . . .  on their way to the beautiful San Deigo Temple

President and Sister Blatter - Washington Tacoma

Our daughter, Kristen Nicole, 

Zone Conferences 10-18,19,20- 2016

We love zone conference, being with every one of the missionaries in our mission is the very best!  We love learning and growing together!  We talked about the Joy of Learning, Faith based goals, Amulek, Teaching with the Spirit, and Missionary Purpose and Character.  We left the meeting energized and ready to teach, preach and live the Gospel.

It is a great day to be a missionary!

SOUTH ZONES

Hanford, Visalia, Porterville

BACK ROW, LEFT TO RIGHT:  Elders Sparks, McGraw, Fernandez, Rust, Wright, Stojka, Mapp, Wilson, Toombs, Blume, Frei, Davis, White, Ekpo, Perez, Fischer, Lopez
3rd ROW, LEFT TO RIGHT: Elders Collins, Matienzo, Keeley, Wilmoth, Call, Flores, Nelson, Baconawa, Wright, Merrill, Muir, Walker, Tongish, Quinn, Davis, Mountford
2nd ROW, LEFT TO RIGHT: Elders Lamoreau, Atkinson, Kloepfer, Anderson, Morrison, Milburn, Biggs, Nelson, Strommen, Maas, Dean, Arebalo, Van Vleet, Vargas, Bingham, Bishop, Derbidge, Speer, Olsen
FRONT ROW, STANDING: President Denison (Visalia Stake), Sisters Kokol, Tompkins, Jones; SITTING: Sisters Gibby, Windham, Wright, Johnson, Anderson, Elwell, Elder and Sister Hammond, President and Sister Clark, Elder and Sister Gressel, Elder and Sister Levie; STANDING: Sisters Whitney, Jefferies, Blocker 

NORTH ZONES

Merced, Fresno West

BACK ROW, LEFT TO RIGHT:  Elders Taylor, Perkins, Kauai, Ordonez, Valenzuela, Morales, Rearte, Richardson, Cummings, Witt, White, Herman, Ikimau, Corless, LaMay, Rogers, Ford
MIDDLE ROW, LEFT TO RIGHT: Elders Speer, Larson, Nielsen, Burke, Flores, Bennett, Hopkins, Mederos, Watson, Gibson, Schmid, Talbot, Jones, Edwards, Woodmansee, Vastbinder, Belmont, Estrada, Olsen
FRONT ROW, LEFT TO RIGHT: Sisters Wadham, Balls, Plummer, Baldwin, Elder and Sister Richards, President and Sister Clark, Sisters Maxwell, Jeppesen, Troseth, Aboussou

DEPARTING MISSIONARIES

Elder Bennett and Elder Vastbinder

FRESNO ZONES

Fresno, Fresno North, Fresno East

BACK ROW, LEFT TO RIGHT:  Elders Del Carmen, Lee, Allen, Mendez, Bagley, Schaff, Smith, Park, Smith, Stegelmeier, Thornton, Garner, Nesom, Vawdrey, Sullivan, King, Gray, Draney, Halliday, Poulsen
MIDDLE ROW, LEFT TO RIGHT: Elders Lillywhite, Warren, Austin, Johnson, Pettit, Hibbert, Watts, Noffal, Agazzani, Kennick, Rushton, Knapton, Carnahan, Smith, Gollner, Paukovic
FRONT ROW, LEFT TO RIGHT: Sisters Willmore, Malpica, Bermudez, Gough, Miller, Dowdle, Rendon, Padilla, Elder and Sister Beutler, President and Sister Clark, Elder Speer, Sister Winter, Sisters Tyler, Bangerter, White, Frazier, Aguilar, Jordan, Larsen, Murray

DEPARTING MISSIONARIES

Elder Draney, Elder Speer, Elder Knapton

Trainer/Trainee & District Leader Trainings

It was wonderful to have so many missionaries at the office for training!  We were inspired and enlighted by their spirits and are continually amazed at their strength & depth in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  We are truly blessed to know all of these great missionaries!

Trainers & Trainees

Back Row:  Left to Right: Elders Warren, Ordonez, Morrison, Blume, Lillywhite, Hopkins, Vawdrey, Mederos, Rogers, LaMay, Rearte, Jones
3rd Row: Left to Right: Elder Speer, Sisters Larsen, Jordan, Tompkins, Elders Kauai, White, Stegelmeier, Schaff, Sisters Whitney, Jefferies, Blocker, Elder Olsen
2nd Row: Left to Right: Sisters Miller, Dowdle, Balls, Gough, Bermudez, Wadham, Elwell, Anderson, Jones, Kokol
Front Row: Left to Right: Elders Davis, Lopez, Derbidge, Edwards, Anderson, Mendez,
Perez, Fischer

 District Leaders

Back Row; Left to Right: Elders Speer, Hibbert, McGraw, Call, Morrison, Mapp, Muir, Quinn, Collins, Smith, 

Morales, Olsen

Front Row; Left to Right: Elders Del Carmen, Lee, Gray, Hopkins, President & Sister Clark, Elders Kennick, Rearte, Ordoñez, Keeley

President's Weekly - Do Whte Is Required To Accomplish What Is Desired!

Do What Is Required To Accomplish What Is Desired!

Dear Elders and Sisters:

A young man asked Socrates the secret to success. Socrates told the young man to meet him near the river the next morning .They met. Socrates asked the young man to walk with him toward the river. When the water got up to their neck, Socrates took the young man by surprise and ducked him into the water. The boy struggled to get out but Socrates was strong and kept him there until the boy started turning blue.

When Socrates pulled his head out of the water the first thing the young man did was to gasp and take a deep breath of air. Socrates asked: " What did you want the most when you were there?" The boy replied: "Air." Socrates said: "That is the secret to success. When you want success as badly as you wanted the air, then you will get it. There is no other secret."

When Nephi responded to his Prophet/Father: "I will go and do the things which the Lord has commanded..." he was demonstrating his resolve to do whatever it took to "accomplish" the Lord's will, desires, and commandments.  And it is clearly demonstrated in this account of Nephi and his brothers that oft times what is required to accomplish the Lord's will often, if not always, requires significant effort and may be very, very difficult. 

Is living your Missionary Purpose the thing you want the most...like air to the boy in the Socrates story?  Is the way you conduct yourself every hour of every day aligned with the mark of a successful Missionary: "Your success as a Missionary will be measured primarily by your DESIRE to find, teach, baptize and confirm people and to help them become faithful members of the Church who enjoy the presence of the Holy Ghost."

Our Zone Goals combined throughout the mission is 70 baptisms this month.  This will only come to pass if YOU desire it more than anything and then "go and do" so that the Lord can bless you to "accomplish" this thing!!  If your faith is lacking, please lean on mine and then go to work and give God a reason to bless you.  I know, I absolutely know that we can accomplish these goals and bear my witness that as we "do" what is required we will "accomplish" what is desired.

Sister Clark and I love you and are honored to be serving with you here and now!

President Clark