Departing Missionaries 1-2017

We said goodbye to 12 of our finest missionaries!  We are going to miss them, but are excited to see the great things they are going to accomplish going forward. 

Top Row, left to right:  Elder Hibbert, Elder Call, Elder Valenzuela, Elder Walker
Middle row, left to right:  Elder Noffal, Elder Collins, Sister Blocker, Sister Aguilar
Bottom Row, left to right:  Sister Aboussou, Sister Johnson, Sister Tyler, Elder Agazzani 

President's Weekly - Whether By Mine Own Voice

Whether By Mine Own Voice

Dear Elders and Sisters;

I'm just not sure life could be any better in the California Fresno Mission! A visit from the President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles; To be taught by three more of the Twelve Apostles and other Members of the Missionary Executive Committee; To be taught by Sister Wendy Nelson, Elder Carl B. Cook and J. Scott Dorius of the Seventy and their wives; To enjoy one of the highest baptizing weekends and months in the CFM in quite a while; It was truly a Pinnacle Week in the CFM to be sure!!!

And weren't you so highly complimented to have President Nelson and Sister Nelson comment on your obedience. While they observed something of it in the way you conducted yourself for the picture and privilege to shake their hands, they made mention of it again in our home. The Cooks, having presided over a mission themselves (New Zealand), observed and mentioned it as well. All of them said that it wasn't only something they observed but something they felt. Sister Nelson referred to it when she shared her observation of your "high wattage" of the Spirit - always the blessing of obedience.

As I pondered all of this early this morning, a sweet peace came over me and the spirit directed me to D&C 1:38; "Whether by mine own voice or the voice of my servants, it is the same." Jesus Christ Himself observed those things in you and communicated them to/through His Prophet, Seer, and Revelator, and to those of his company as well. And in an overwhelming stamp of approval, His Prophet stands at a pulpit in the CFM and states; "I can feel you're an obedient Mission and desire to serve the Lord."

What a compliment to be paid to you by the Savior Himself through His anointed servant! Doesn't it just make you want to be better! To serve even more obediently, more exactly obedient! Doesn't it give you an overwhelming sense of how His watchful eye is upon you! Of how aware He is of you! Of how much He loves and cares for you! Doesn't it just confirm that "He knows your works"! After all, you are working at His side in this part of His vineyard!

And as I considered what was taught in the Worldwide Broadcast I was so "well pleased" with you and how you are endeavoring to "Teach Repentance and Baptize Converts" in this mission. In my studies Thursday morning I went back and reviewed the full talks and instruction from last year's Worldwide Broadcast and was so edified by how well this mission has incorporated those teachings, especially on Faith from Elder Anderson and Teaching Repentance from Elder Oaks. I compliment you and firmly believe that if you'll truly learn and assimilate the teachings from each of these Broadcasts into how you live your Missionary Purpose, this Mission will simply be "On Fire".

And as you might guess, I am absolutely on board with you becoming "Agents unto Yourselves"! What an historic time to be a missionary. The Lord, through His servants the Prophets, has told you He trusts you and wants you to simply "learn correct principles and govern yourselves". Now doesn't that just make you want to "Rise to Your Call" in a manner never-before seen and experienced! Again, Jesus Christ has spoken about as directly to you as He ever has - through His servants and said: "I trust you! I've taught you, now Choose The Right! I trust you!"

And we trust you! We join with Him and His Apostles and Prophets in observing and complimenting your obedience, your faith, your diligence and send you forth with our love and approval to govern yourselves well and live up to the Lord's high opinion and esteem of you.

Thank you for sharing and teaching me from your "Experiment Upon the Word" experiences and observations. It has been truly uplifting and edifying! Save your pots and dirt! We'll want to do this again (in warmer weather)! And please share with me at least one thing the Holy Ghost taught you on Wednesday and/or Saturday. Can't wait to hear!!!

We bid our Missionaries returning home a fond farewell and thank you for your example of service and devotion to the Lord! "Well done, good and faithful servants!" You've truly served with No Regrets!

Sister Clark and I will forever cherish and joy in this great week and in every week we serve with you.

Love,
President Clark

PRESIDENT RUSSELL M. NELSON!!!

A Visit by a Prophet, Seer, and Revelator:  The CFM was blessed to be gathered by Elder Russell M. Nelson, President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and his wife Sister Wendy Nelson.  They were joined by Elders Carl B. Cook and J. Scott Dorius of the Seventy and their wives.  We were blessed to receive their counsel for nearly two hours where President Nelson reminded us we are "Spiritual Physicians" who need to determine where people are hurting spiritually and then direct them to the doctrines and teachings of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and His Atonement which will heal them.  Sister Nelson taught and reminded us that there are Angels all around us seeking to help in this great work of Salvation.  

We were blessed to host President and Sister Nelson, Elder Cook and Dorius and their wives for lunch in the Mission Home.  What a delight.

Sister Clark's grandfather, George T. Frost was operated on by President Nelson in 1977 when he was serving as a Mission President in the Montana Billings Mission.  When she inquired as to whether he remembered, he said: "Oh yes" and pulled up on his iPhone a list showing her grandfather's name and date of the surgery.  He was very keen to have this picture take of just him and Sister Clark - very sweet!

President's Weekly - The Power is in you!

The Power is in You!

Dear Elders and Sisters:

Sister Clark and I truly enjoyed our Companion Studies, Role Plays, and Pamphlet Training with you this week and trust you are greatly motivated to invest more deeply in studying and discovering the doctrine in the scriptures, using the words of the scriptures more to help Investigators discover the doctrine, and keeping them in the scriptures by "dragging the words and phrases along with you".  I also enjoyed our "walk about" interviews and am always edified by your greatness, the wonderful gifts, skills, and abilities you possess, and your deep commitment to serving the Master, Jesus Christ.

I feel guided to impress upon you an important teaching from modern day revelation.  I believe it is the basis to the Introduction of the MHB.  It comes from Doctrine & Covenants 58:26-28: "26 - For behold, it is not meet that I should command in all things; for he that is compelled in all things, the same is a slothful and not a wise servant; wherefore he receiveth no reward. 27 - Verily I say, men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness; 28 - For the power is in them, wherein they are agents unto themselves. And inasmuch as men do good they shall in nowise lose their reward."

One of the great blessings of serving a Mission under PMG standards is that the Lord and the Brethren would have you learn how to be agents unto yourselves.  Doing so will be the key to your success as a Missionary and in life!  In these scriptures, I note the command to be "anxiously engaged", "DO many things of our own free will", and "bring to pass much righteousness" ("Accomplish").  And then the Lord reminds us something of our divinity - "For the power is in them [us], wherein [we] are agents unto [ourselves]."

If you consider what we studied, prepared, practiced and role played last week, I think you'll arrive at a conclusion that you can be more "anxiously engaged", better "Do things of your own free will", and then will be able to "bring to pass [more] righteousness".  I've given you a model to "Teach Repentance" in-order-to "Baptize Converts."  What will be the model you discover to better teach the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Plan of Salvation (Sister Clark has provided you a most excellent start with both of these), and the Gospel of Jesus Christ?  What will you "Do" to be more "Anxiously Engaged" in-order-to "Accomplish" more righteousness?  Elders and Sisters, I promise "The Power is in You to more fully Rise to Your Call!"

It is an important week as we will be blessed to have Russell M. Nelson, President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles gather us for a Mission Conference.  This will occur on Saturday at the Fresno West Stake Center and will begin at 9:00 am.  Please be in your seats no later than 8:30 studying. This is only for full-time Missionaries.  [No guests, please!  They will not be permitted to attend.]  Also in attendance and speaking to us will be Sister Wendy Nelson, Elder Carl B. Cook of the Seventy and his wife, Lynette, and Elder J. Scott Dorius of the Seventy and his wife, Rebecca.

Also, we will be blessed this week to participate in a Worldwide Missionary Broadcast on Wednesday, the 25th beginning at 9:00 am.  Please be in your seats no later than 8:30 studying and preparing to receive.  For the three southern Zones (Hanford, Visalia, and Porterville), please meet at the Visalia Stake Center.  For all other Zones, please meet at the Fresno North Stake Center at 8:30.  Immediately following the broadcast, Sister Clark and I will provide some additional training which will be broadcast from the Fresno North Stake Center to the Visalia Stake Center where the Assistants will conduct and President Mann will preside.

It's a busy week.  Please make sure to make it a productive week as well by being "anxiously engaged, doing many things of your own free will, and bringing to pass much righteousness!" Remember, "The Power is in You!"

With much love and great appreciation!

President Clark

Interviews and much much more.

We had a wonderful week as we met with all of the Missionaries in their individual Zones and conducted Companion Studies, role plays, pamphlet training, and then interviews.  They are all excellent missionaries who strive to live their Missionary Purpose in faith, diligence, and exact obedience!  They are truly doing wonderful work as they participate with the Lord in the Hastening of the Work of Salvation!

Visalia Zone

Back Row, Left to Right:  Elder Blume, Elder Tongish, Elder White, Elder Morrison, Elder Pacer, President Clark, Elder Paukovic, Elder Stojka, Elder Van Vleet, Elder Jensen, Elder Burke
Middle Row, Left to Right:  Elder Rust, Elder Richardson, Elder Fernández, Elder Wright,
Elder Mountford, Elder Gollner
Front Row, Left to Right: Sister Johnson, Sister Miller
Not pictured:  Elder Bingham, who was caring for Elder Millburn who had surgery for a broken hand today.

Porterville Zone

Back Row, Left to Right:  Elder Davis, Elder Keeley, Elder Talbot, Elder Anderson,
President Clark, Elder Mendez, Elder Nelson, Elder Halliday, Elder Levie
Middle Row, Left to Right: Elder James, Elder Derbidge, Elder Baconawa, Elder Matienzo,  Elder Rearte, Elder Atkinson, Elder Wilmoth
Front Row, Left to Right:  Sister Sprouse, Sister Jones, Sister Anderson, Sister Troseth, 
Sister Levie

Fresno Zone

Back Row, Left to Right: Elder Del Carmen, Elder Lillywhite, Elder Schaff, Elder Nesom, President Clark, Elder Wilson, Elder Park, Elder Muir, Elder Medero, Elder Hibbert, Elder Lopez
First Row, Left to Right: Sister Padilla, Sister Plummer, Sister Dowdle, Sister White, Sister Windham, Sister Bermúdez

Fresno North Zone

Back Row, Left to right: Elder Bagley, Elder Sullivan, President Clark, Elder Stegelmeier,
Elder Smith, Elder Call, Elder Vawdrey
Middle Row, Left to right:  Elder Biggs, Elder Kennick, Elder King, Elder Poulsen
Front Row, Left to right:  Sister Murray, Sister Rendon, Sister Larsen, Sister Jordan

Fresno East Zone

Back Row, Left to Right: Elder Fischer, Elder Morales, Elder Flores, Elder Smith, Elder Garner, President Clark, Elder Toombs, Elder Ruston, Elder Rose
Middle Row, Left to Right: Elder Sparks, Elder McGraw, Elder Carnahan, Elder Davis, 
Elder Watts, Elder Johnson
Front Row, Left to Right: Sister Kokol, Sister Malpica, Sister Whitney, Sister Aguilar, 
Sister Frazier, Sister Tyler

Hanford Zone

Back Row, Left to Right:  Elder Allen, Elder Witt, Elder Collins, President Clark, Elder Quinn, Elder Ennis, Elder Merrill
Middle Row, Left to Right:  Elder Perez, Elder Stakebake, Elder Lopez, Elder Walker,
Elder Nelson, Elder Lamoreau, Elder Sparks, Elder Aguilar, Elder Valenzuela
Front Row, Left to Right:  Elder Kloepfer, Sister Tompkins, Sister Blocker, Sister Gough,
Sister Wadham, Sister Jefferies, Elder Lopez

Fresno West Zone

Back Row, Left to Right:  Elder Ekpo, Elder LaMay, Elder Woodmansee, Elder Larson, Elder Maas, President Clark, Elder  Gibson, Elder Arebalo, Elder Ford, Elder Herman, Elder Belmont
Middle Row, Left to Right:  Elder Nielsen, Elder Corless, Elder Kauai, Elder Austin, 
Elder Watson, Elder Agazzani, Elder Bishop
Front Row, Left to Right:  Sister Pachner, Sister Maxwell, Sister Baldwin, Sister Peterson

Merced Zone 

Back Row, left to Right:  Elder Jones, Elder J. Wright, Elder Rogers, Elder Strommen, President Clark, Elder Thornton, Elder White, Elder Flores, Elder Cummings, Elder Estrada
Middle Row, Left to Right:  Elder Ikimau, Elder Taylor, Elder Gray, Elder Pettit, Elder Edwards
Front Row, Left to Right:  Sister Jeppesen, Sister Aboussou, Sister Tatakamotonga, Sister Balls, Sister Willmore