President's Weekly - The Role of The Book of Mormon

The Role of The Book of Mormon

Dear Elders and Sisters:

I feel guided to remind you of the Role of the Book of Mormon in conversion.  Recently you have been studying it with "real intent" to better understand Faith in the Atonement of Jesus Christ and to recognize His Christ-like characteristics.  PMG states: "The Book of Mormon is powerful evidence of the divinity of Christ."  Your personal testimony of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon will give you "confidence that the Holy Ghost will testify to anyone who reads and ponders the Book of Mormon and asks God if it is true with a sincere heart, real intent, and faith in Christ.  This witness of the Holy Ghost should be a central part of your teaching." (PMG page 103)

I offer a few quotes from Prophets to remind us of what we desire these investigators discover.  I think that if you'll consider them as "un-baptized members" perhaps your perspective may change just a bit.  The Prophets' council on reading and studying the Book of Mormon is clear to the members of the church and as you remember that you are trying to ultimately help your investigators achieve the same love for and desire to read and study the Book of Mormon, this slight shift in perspective will help you.

From President Benson (our Great Book of Mormon Prophet): "It is not just that the Book of Mormon teaches us truth, though it indeed does that. It is not just that the Book of Mormon bears testimony of Christ, though it indeed does that, too. But there is something more. There is a power in the book which will begin to flow into your lives the moment you begin a serious study of the book. You will find greater power to resist temptation. You will find the power to avoid deception. You will find the power to stay on the strait and narrow path. The scriptures are called “the words of life” (D&C 84:85), and nowhere is that more true than it is of the Book of Mormon. When you begin to hunger and thirst after those words, you will find life in greater and greater abundance."  

And he went on to say: "The Book of Mormon is the greatest single tool God has given us for the conversion of the world." (Ensign, October 1986)

"The Book of Mormon is the instrument that God designed to sweep the earth as with a flood (see Moses 7:62), to gather out HIs elect.  This sacred volume of scripture needs to become more central in our preaching, our teaching, and our missionary work.  My beloved brothers and sisters, we hardly fathom the power of the Book of Mormon, nor the divine role it must play..." (Ensign, Nov 1988)

From Elder Bruce R. McConkie: “We are so wound up in programs and statistics and trends, in properties, lands and mammon, and in achieving goals that will highlight the excellence of our work, that we have ‘omitted the weightier matters of the law.’ … However talented men may be in administrative matters; however eloquent they may be in expressing their views; however learned they may be in the worldly things--they will be denied the sweet whisperings of the Spirit that might have been theirs unless they pay the price of studying, pondering, and praying about the [Book of Mormon].” (In Regional Representatives’ Seminar, 2 Apr. 1982, pp. 1–2.)

"Few men on earth either in or out of the Church, have caught the vision of what the Book of Mormon is all about.  Few are they among men who know the part it has played and will yet play in preparing the way for the coming of Him of whom it is a new witness...The Book of Mormon shall so affect men that the whole earth and all of its peoples will have been influenced and governed by it...There is no greater issue than this: Is the Book of Mormon the mind and will and voice of God to all men?" (Millenial Messiah, pp 159, 170, 179)

Once you have placed a Book of Mormon and taught a lesson, when you return to teach the next lesson and you discover your investigator has not read the Book of Mormon, will you please adopt Elder Holland's attitude and be "devastated"?  Will you then put on hold what you were going to teach and read the Book of Mormon from the Introduction Page with them for the next 20 minutes, bear your testimony of the Book as Another Witness of Jesus Christ, pray, and then set up your next appointment thus letting them know how important and central reading the Book of Mormon is to "knowing" the truth of your message. This will help them know that it is truly the "cornerstone" of our religion and they will need to read it in order to know of the truthfulness of the doctrines of the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ? 

Remember, it "is the greatest tool the Lord has given us for the conversion of the world"!  Let us it as such! Help your soon-to-be members discover the rich blessing of the Book of Mormon in their lives as soon as possible and over and over again.

With much love for the Book of Mormon and for you!

President Clark

President's Weekly - As tThe Tree Beginneth To Grow

As The Tree Beginneth To Grow

Dear Elders and Sisters:

"...as the seed swelleth, and sprouteth, and beginneth to grow, then ye must say that the seed is good;...And behold, as the tree beginneth to grow, ye will say: Let us nourish it with great care, that it may get root, that it may grow up, and bring forth fruit unto us.  And behold, if ye nourish it with much care it will get root, and grow up, and bring forth fruit."

I am hearing some wonderful accounts of how your seeds have sprouted and taken root.  It is quite exciting to observe you "experimenting upon the word" and watching the literal experiment of "planting the seed" as you do so spiritually, seeking to better know the character of Christ (as you study the Gospels) and observe it through the His Atonement as taught in the Book of Mormon. More important than your sprouts/trees, I am deeply appreciative of the spiritual discoveries you are making as you study the Character of Christ and His Atonement and thank you for sharing these with me.  They are truly instructive and up-lifting. 

It has now come time to do some thinning. If and when you have multiple starts and your starts are about 3 to 4 inches high, choose the strongest one and keep it and carefully pull the other starts and give them away or plant them in the "nethermost parts of your vineyard".  Given the size of the pot I gave you, it will be best to retain only one "tree". 

Sadly, for some of you, your seeds have not sprouted.  I will review my instructions here and you can plant again.  We will bring seeds with us when we come to interview this week or have them available with the mail pick up Friday.  The instruction, though subtle, was to plant the seeds a bit apart from one another about 1/2 to 3/4 inch deep in moist soil and keep them in heat and sunlight...in your window...and not outside during this time of the year.  So hit the "reset" button and experiment again on the word as prescribed. 

I want to thank each of you for your very kind birthday present.  The compilation of "Favorite Memories of President Clark" is and will be a treasure to me for decades to come.  You can just picture me growing old, sitting in my rocking chair, and reading these sweet thoughts and accounts.  Thank you!  Thank you!  Thank you! 

We are plodding forward towards our goal of the Power of One for the entire Mission.  Again, achieving this will take much faith coupled with exact obedience and true diligence (heart, might, mind, and strength kind of diligence).  Please re-double your finding efforts, focus your studies and role plays, re-commit yourself to exact obedience in all things, and teach repentance and you will baptize converts. 

With much love, care, and concern,

President Clark

New Missionaries 11-2016

Sister Clark and I never ceased to be amazed at the wonderful spirit of love and acceptance that accompanies the new missionaries as they arrive in-field.   They come so prepared and excited to serve and while nervous, they get right to work and quickly get fully invested, losing themselves in His work.  It's another great day to be a Missionary, especially if you are in the Great CFM! 

(Don't forget to check out the "Transfer Video" on Facebook - bonniecampbellclark)

Back Row, Left to Right:  Elders Perkins, Cox, Matienzo, James, Fernandez, Facer, A. Jensen, Quinn, Valenzuela, Collins, Call, Aguilar, S. Jensen, Olsen

Front Row, Left to Right: Sisters Daugherty, Murray, Baldwin, Peterson, President & Sister Clark, Sisters Pachner, Maxwell, Tatakamotonga, Jeppesen

Top row, :eft to Right: Sisters Jeppesen & Tatakamotonga, Elders Call & Jensen
Middle Row, Left to Right: Sisters Maxwell & Pachner, Elders Matienzo & James
Bottom Row, Left to Right: Elders Valenzuela & Aguilar, Sisters Baldwin & Peterson

Top Row, Left to Right:  Sisters Murray & Daugherty, Elders Quinn & Jensen
Bottom Row, Left to Right:  Elders Collins & Cox, Elders Fernandez & Facer

Senior Dinner - 11-2016

At the end of every transfer, we have the opportunity to host the Senior Missionaries for dinner at the mission home.  We love spending time with these wonderful Elders and Sisters, they have so much to offer, they build our testimonies as we share a meal together.

Back Table, Left to right:  President Mann, Elder Hammond, Sister Hammond, President Clark, Sister Gressel, Elder Gressel, Sister Mann

Middle Table, Back left to right and around: Elder Bradshaw, Sister Bradshaw, Sister Henderson, Brother Henderson, Elder Richards, Sister Richards, Sister Levie, Elder Levie

1st Table, Left to right and around:  Sister Beutler, Elder Beutler, Elder Gunderson, Sister Gunderson, Elder Winter, Sister Winter

Departing Missionaries 11-2016

What a great looking group of departing Missionaries.  We are sad to see them depart but very, very pleased and honored to have served with them.  They are wonderful young men and we wish them well.  They have served with honor and truly allowed their mission to "go through them."  Farewell, but never goodbye!

Back Row, Left to Right:  Elder Bennett, President & Sister Clark, Elder Dean
Front Row, Left to Right:  Elders Vastbinder, Draney, Speer

Elder Vastbinder

Elder Dean

Elder Speer

Elder Bennett

Elder Draney

President's Weekly - Entrusted

Entrusted!

Dear Elders and Sisters:

A few days ago I received the following message: "A Sister from the ______ Stake phoned.  She had some concerns about Missionaries.  She has tried to befriend a recent convert and help her strengthen her testimony.  The recent convert told her of some questionable comments and actions by Missionaries. When the Sister called the Missionaries phone they answered with 'what?'  She realized the Missionary was expecting someone else but was concerned they didn't see it as unbecoming behavior.  She has too often observed Missionaries as unfocused and casual in their behavior either within their companionship, their District, and too often Members.  She wondered if Missionaries today are serious and committed.   To add to her dismay, when she spoke to her son, he told her about Missionaries in his area where the Elders and Sisters seemed to spend a lot of time together just visiting outside the apartments.  She said she would not like to think her children would behave in these various ways if they go on missions."

While I don't want to condemn the many great Elders and Sisters who are constantly on their best behavior as Missionaries, this very sad case is cause for great alarm and a helpful reminder to us all of the need to be constantly vigilant of our behavior.  I, with Elder Holland, wish to evaporate the great gap that too often exists between "what we believe and how we behave."

Alma speaking to his son Corianton used these words of rebuke: "Thou didst that which was grievous unto me; for thou didst FORSAKE THE MINISTRY....Thou shouldst have tended to the ministry wherewith thou was entrusted."  Now I am sure Corianton was not too different from you as a young person serving and while Alma is pointing out the "grievous" nature of his ultimate sin, I have to wonder how Corianton got there.  Did he start with the bending of a few rules?  Did he become casual in his conversations with his companions?  Was he perhaps not vigilant in who he visited with or casual in visiting with members of the opposite sex?  I truly do not believe he simply woke up one day and thought: "I think I'll 'go over into the land of Siron among the borders of the Lamanites, after the harlot Isabel' today."  No, I am sure he did many small things wrong, many "bendings" of the rules, many little disobediences which ultimately drew him away from his purpose leading him to "forsaking" who he had been called to be and what he had been called to do.

Alma went on to rebuke him noting he "shouldst have tended to the ministry wherewith thou wast ENTRUSTED."  I love that word (Entrusted) because it denotes so well how the Lord feels about your "call to serve".  It is a sacred trust!  And that means in all things, at all times, and in all places!  And later on in his rebuke he is telling Corianton what this Sister is telling us in this mission when we become relaxed, casual, or unfocused on our purpose forgetting who we are ALWAYS representing: "Behold, O my son [Elder or Sister], how great iniquity ye brought upon the Zoramites (insert Fresno-ites, Visalia-ites, Porterville-ites, Hanford-ites, or Merced-ites here if applicable); for when they saw your conduct they would not believe in my words."

May I stress here that while I am seeking to teach and have you be mindful of (as pointed out by this Sister) the damage a thoughtless act, an unfocused comment, or casual conversation or behavior can cause in our efforts to "find constantly, teach repentance, and baptize converts" and rescue less active Members, this "forsaking of your ministry" is not limited only to Members and Non-Members.  No, it is equally damaging and damning amongst fellow missionaries!  I can't imagine anything more devastating to a young missionary than to witness less than appropriate behavior of a missionary leader or any missionary senior in time, growth or development, or any CFM Missionary for that matter.

Elders and Sisters.  I am calling for a redoubling of your efforts!  A recommitment to exact obedience - at all times, in all things, and in all places!  I never want to receive a call again from a Stake President requesting I transfer a Missionary out of a Ward or Area because their behavior is "unbecoming that of their entrusted calling".  Never again!  NO, NEVER AGAIN IN THE GREAT CFM!

"And now my [Elders and Sisters], I desire that ye should let these things trouble you no more, and only let your sins trouble you, with that trouble which shall bring you down unto repentance."

"And now, O my [Elders and Sisters], ye are called of God to preach the word unto this people.  And now, my [Elders and Sisters], go thy way, declare the word with truth and soberness, that thou mayest bring souls unto repentance, that the great plan of mercy may have claim upon [the people of the Great CFM].  And may god grant unto you even according to my words, Amen."

With much love and concern for your success!

President Clark

Returned Missionaries

Look who popped in to say "Hi" --- Sister Niumatalolo and Sister Parshall!  It was so good to see them. They are here to go through the temple with one of their converts.  WONDERFUL! SO FUN TO VISIT WITH THEM!