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

President's Weekly - The Divine Order of Our Purpose

The Divine Order of Our Purpose

Dear Elders and Sisters:

Some years ago, I was traveling from a service project in Guatemala with some dear friends when our discussion lead to an analysis of the "First Principles and Ordinances of the Gospel".  I remember, like it was yesterday, the witness of the Spirit then, that their order was divine.  So many doctrines of the Restored Gospel do have a divine order.  Another example is "Faith, Hope, and Charity" with the need to develop each in an order in order to be able to develop all.  I firmly believe your Missionary Purpose has a divine order to it - developing faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and His atonement will lead to a desire to repent which will lead to a willingness to receive baptism and a desire to enjoy the Gift of the Holy Ghost and then Endure to the End.  I also believe another example of divine order was powerfully taught last January when Elder Oaks, as Chair of the Missionary Executive Council, announced we are to systematically "Teach Repentance and Baptize Converts". 

A few Zone Conferences ago as you taught different concepts from the Pamphlets to the Assistants, Sister Clark. In this teaching exercise, I requested you teach me about the Atonement.  As you did, I received another powerful witness of the need to follow this divine order of "Teach Repentance and Baptize Converts!"  As you taught me, so often I felt doctrine was being left out and skipped over as you rushed to get to a baptismal invitation.  It seemed many of you feared to teach me about repentance and yet you were trying to teach me about the Atonement of Jesus Christ. 

Now, please do not mistake this for a slackening of the need to challenge people to be baptized.  It is not!  But please seek to do a better job of teaching faith and repentance first!  Your DWMs are similar.  Unless your teaching increases faith, you don't earn the right to ask the Members who God has revealed to them that would benefit from this message.  Faith must be increased first. In my teaching experiences this last year with many of you, I have been receiving this ongoing witness that the sincere in heart desire to repent.  They want to be reconciled with God (this is what occurs when we repent) but they simply do not know how.  Our duty is to teach in such a way that faith is increased, they understand how to repent, and then the invitation to be baptized will be a powerful and natural.   

Not too long ago I was in a conversation with a contact about religion (imagine that).  She had told me she was a very spiritual person (meaning she doesn't feel a need to attend church).  The next question that came into my mind was: "Ask her how she repents."  So, I did.  I simply said: "May I ask you a very personal question that you don't need to answer if you aren't comfortable?"  She said: "Yes."  So then I mustered my courage, following and relying on the spirit and said: "If you don't go to church and partake of the Sacrament, how do you repent?"  Her response was instructive. She simply, with some emotion said: "I wish I knew how to repent.  I really don't and it troubles me."

Saturday, Sister Clark and I were blessed to teach the Plan of Salvation with the Assistants to one of their Progressing Investigators who surprisingly brought a friend.  As we began our lesson, this lovely lady said something that struck a chord with the spirit and me indicating how she simply wants to become reconciled with God (Repent).  Her faith in Jesus Christ had been building as she has been reading and keeping commitments.  The Lesson started to adapt to her needs (Teach People, Not Lessons) and we ended up referencing and reading from some of the wonderful doctrine in the Book of Mormon which teaches repentance and the beautiful cleansing and enabling power of the Atonement.  It was an exhilarating and spiritually fulfilling lesson to say the least and the invitation for baptism was simple and so very natural (actually a confirmation to be baptized for the one) which was confirmed and accepted with enthusiasm. 

Elders and Sisters.  Please look for and discover the divine order in the doctrine.  And as you seek to "Live Your Missionary Purpose and Fear No Man" this year, please follow the divine order of "Teach Repentance and [in order that you will] Baptize Converts"!

With great love, many prayers, and much respect and admiration!

President Clark

President's Weekly - A New Beginning

A New Beginning

Dear Elders and Sisters:

Happy New Year!  It's going to be great year!  Several things will ensure that.  1.  Live your Missionary Purpose and Fear No Man!  2.  Establish a Vision for your Mission and "Do" to "Accomplish".

Live your Missionary Purpose and Fear No Man!  This is much more than a tag line but has deep implications on how you conduct yourself.  It speaks volumes about many things and will be best served as you endeavor to become a Complete Missionary.  This means you will treasure up the word, knowledge and experience in the areas of:

1. Preach My Gospel - to be studied in a meaningful way daily.  Learn it!  Live it!  Love it! (See D&C 11:21; 84:85) 2. Scripture Knowledge (Particularly the Book of Mormon) - this means it will be the central theme of your study...now and the rest of your life. "Your ability to teach with power from the scriptures comes in large measure from the time you personally spend studying them.  As you daily feast upon the word, your ability to teach from the scriptures will improve.  In addition, your invitations to study and ponder the scriptures will be more powerful because you are doing the same things in your life." (PMG p.180)

3. Pamphlets - become master teachers of the pamphlets developing and using as directed by the Spirit short, powerful statements of truth (see PMG p.158 Teach When You Find, Find When You Teach)    

4. DVDs/Media - you must be versed in the available DVDs (District 1 & 2) and Church Media available to teach people the principles of the Restored Gospel.  District 1 & 2 should be regarded as game film and reviewed often, very often! In your training you spent time becoming familiar with Mormon Messages and other wonderful church issued and approved teaching tools.  Please spend time on Preparation Days staying up to date on the recently created Messages to add to your "Reservoir" of learning and knowledge the spirit can draw upon to teach the Children of Man.

5. Personal Testimony - this is you!  This is why the Lord sent you here and assigned you to the areas you will serve in.  You have something special about you, your testimony, your personality.  Role play this with your companion to ensure your statements are short, powerful statements of truth the Holy Ghost can bear witness to.

6. Personal Ministry based on Exact Obedience - Exact Obedience brings miracles and we need miracles.  Conversion to the Gospel of Jesus Christ is a miracle.  Finding those the Lord has prepared to receive as He hastens His work is a miracle. But these blessings and miracles are only predicated on exact obedience and you'll need to check yourself constantly to ensure you are being exactly obedient by accounting (to correct yourself) and correcting, in love, those around you who are not living in exact obedience.  This one principle will either make or break the success of a missionary and a mission!

Establish a Vision and "Do" to "Accomplish"!  You have been working so diligently on your Mission Vision Statements and I am impressed with what you have developed.  This is worthy of work, real work, including and especially emotional and spiritual work.  Let the Lord teach you and guide you in this.  From the classic Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland comes this great truth: “Alice: Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?

The Cheshire Cat: That depends a good deal on where you want to get to.

Alice: I don't much care where.

The Cheshire Cat: Then it doesn't much matter which way you go."

It really doesn't matter where you aim the arrow, if you are not shooting at a target.  Carefully select "targets" you desire to reach/hit which will ultimately define who you are and where you are going.  Never forget Elder Richard G. Scott's great teaching: "We become what we want to be by consistently being what we want to become."  As illustrated by Nephi in seeking to do the will of the Lord (in this case retrieve the Brass Plates) you must "do" the right things in order to "accomplish" His will.  And sometimes this takes multiple attempts and measures.  I am sure God could have easily delivered the Plates to Nephi and his brothers but in His way to teach, mold and shape, and lift Nephi and his brothers to higher understanding and faith, He placed stumbling blocks in their way to ultimately bless them by fortifying and building their faith.  He does the same for us, especially while we serve a full-time mission.  But we must stick to it!  We must "do" the right things and as many right things as are required to ultimately "accomplish" His will and purposes.  

It's going to be a great year!  Faith will be increased, repentance will be experienced and enjoyed, and you will live your Missionary Purpose, Fearing No Man, in a manner heretofore yet accomplished.  This will be the ultimate in "accomplishing" the Lord's purposes for you and His children.  Your Vision of how to do this will help you truly become His disciple and servant.

With much love and appreciation and hopeful anticipation for the year that lies ahead, 

President Clark

Hmong New Year 12-2016

Nyob zoo xyoo tshiab!  Or as most of us say it, Happy New Year!

THE VISION

Our fantastic four Hmong elders have kept busy this week at the celebration of the 2017 Hmong International New Years here in Fresno, California!  The festival here is the largest Hmong cultural event anywhere in the world.  Heavenly Father's Hmong children have crossed oceans and continents to join in the celebration.

To follow the highly successful proselyting efforts of last year, many prayers have helped this year's Hmong missionaries gain the Lord's direction to go for more!  Some fundamental changes have been made, inspired by Doctrine and Covenants 29:10:

  "And ye are called to bring to pass the gathering of mine elect; for mine elect hear my voice and harden not their hearts."

To reach out to the Hmong-elect, the booth space at the Fresno fairgrounds has become a place for gospel instruction.  Short, powerful statements of truth have been the approach that has opened many hearts to accept the message of the restored gospel.

CHANGES

Speaking about this change, Elder Bagley from Rexburg, Idaho, said "I have felt, honestly, that we feel the Spirit more this year than we did last year.  We are actually contacting by the Spirit, and that is exciting!"

Elder Cummings from Madison, New Jersey, added, "I would say we are meeting less people, but we are finding more people who have real intent.  We have had people come up to the booth with an actual desire to be baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  I do not remember that happening once last year."

Other changes that have been noticed from last year have been a significant increase in part-member families and men who have signed up for lessons.  Hopes are high as we look forward to the fruits of this week of proselyting.

THE PRESIDENT'S NEW CLOTHES

This year President and Sister Clark became officially inducted into the Hmong culture.  Complete with a traditional-yet-flashy coin vest, President Clark fit right into the crowd with the missionaries, and Sister Clark received a Hmong-inspired charm for her California Fresno Mission bracelet.  A special shout-out goes to Elder Biggs from Glenwood Springs, Colorado and his second-language bartering skills for securing the gifts.

A WET ENDING

New Years Day, the last day of the Hmong New Years celebration, was finished off by the baptisms of Lexia, Summer, and Elly Vang.  A great start to 2017!  We love our Hmong elders!

FOREVER HMONG

2 Nephi 1:6 reads:

"That there shall none come into this land save they shall be brought by the hand of the Lord." 

Speaking of this scripture, Elder Gray from West Jordan, Utah says "I know that Heavenly Father has led the Hmong people to America to have the opportunity to hear His gospel. I love them and I know that Heavenly Father loves them. I am grateful to have received the call to become part of their culture. FOREVER HMONG!"

Left to Right:  Elder Cummings, Elder Bagley, Nathan Vang, Summer Vang, Ellie Vang,
Jonathan Lee, Lexia Vang, Devyn Vang, Elder Biggs, Elder Gray

Left to Right:  Elder Gray, Elder Biggs, Elder Cummings, President Clark, Elder Bagley

Left to right:  Elder Gray, Elder Cummings, Elder Biggs, Elder Bagley, President Clark
Dinner at the Mission Home after a great day at the Hmong New Year