New Missionaries 3-2017

Transfers are so refreshing!  It is always so difficult to send your finest away and so heartwarming to receive such fine, fully prepared and worthy new Missionaries in exchange.  One of the great blessings to the mission is the "renewal" of the mission every six weeks with new missionaries.  It helps Trainers step up their Purpose as they train. It helps leaders be mindful of their duties to lift and bless!  It helps Sister Clark and I remember the fire Missionaries bring to the field and continually motivates us to keep the flame burning brightly! 

(Check out their "video" on Facebook)

Trainers & Trainees . . .

Back Row:  Elder Carnahan, Elder Noyes, Elder Park, Sister Feldman, Sister Anderson,
Elder Perkins
Front Row:  Sister Eastman, Sister Tompkins, President and Sister Clark, Sister Rhodus,
Sister Peterson

Fresno Yosemite Airport . . .

Companionships

 Top to Bottom:  Sister Eastman with Sister Tompkins. Sister Feldman with Sister Anderson, 

Sister Rhodus with Sister Peterson, & Elder Noyes with Elder Park

Departing Missionaries 3-2017

 While this was a small transfer, only three Missionaries, we had a very inspiring and wonderful time with Elder Van Vleet (departed on March 11th) and Elders Johnson and Lamoreau (departed on March 15th).  These were some fine, fine Missionaries and have served the Savior well...because they love Him!

Elder Van Vleet

Elder Johnson

Elder Lamoreau

Elder & Sister Buetler

What Manner of Men and Women Ought Ye to Be?

 What Manner of Men and Women Ought Ye to Be?

Dearest Elders and Sisters,

While serving as Young Men's President some years ago, one of 24 priests was a young man who was the "runt of the liter". While he was a senior at the time, he continued to be the smallest in the group. His brothers were all big strapping football players and his sisters accomplished volleyball athletes. But Matt, just didn't have the size. I watched him work hard at soccer and other sports and, while small, he competed quite well. I noted that his size never really troubled him though. I think he was always happy in his own skin so to speak. I believe he knew what his potential was. Matt was my good friend. We spent a lot of time together on our boat in the early mornings skiing and wake boarding and in the evenings as he and the other priests would drop by the house. We often hosted them and their dates at our home for date night. it was a pleasure to be associated with Matt and the other 24 priests in the Quorum - all who went on to serve missions. After Matt graduated he started to grow a little more and when he left on his mission at 19 he was almost 6 foot and maybe 145 lbs. dripping wet. Matt served in Portugal and based on his letters I could tell he was an incredible missionary. It was obvious his mission experience was going through him rather than he just going through the mission. When he returned after two years I couldn't believe my eyes. He had grown to 6'2", weighed about 180 lbs. (all muscle it appeared) and had increased in good looks more than just losing his teenage gawkiness. He was an Adonis, pleasant, happy, full of the spirit and the apple of every mother's eye for their daughters (as well as the apple of every 18, 19, 20-year-old girls' eyes). Our daughter was absolutely smitten by Matt but sadly she was only 17 and still in HS. Nonetheless, she was in love. This was the man (or type of man she wanted to marry). When Matt gave his welcome home talk the audience was astounded as he talked so eloquently and completely on the Atonement of the Savior and its role in conversion - including and especially his conversion. He had not only grown in stature but in spirit, in soul, and in his depth and breadth of the gospel of Jesus Christ. I can still remember and feel the spirit of that meeting. A few years later when I was serving as High Councilor and given the assignment of coordinating speaking assignments with return missionaries, I always assigned the return missionaries to talk of the Atonement and its role in conversion - theirs and their converts. I hoped that each missionary would in some way report like Matt. He had truly set a type.

I have an almost identical account/experience with a dear Sister, Shalyse, whom I sent on a mission as a Bishop. While she didn't grow in stature and weight she returned beautiful in every sense of the word - inside and out. She was an amazing missionary and just like Matt, her testimony and change of heart was profound.

When each of you got on the airplane, the bus, or were dropped at the curb of the MTC, the image in your parents and girlfriends/boyfriends eyes and mind of you changed. They knew they were sending out an 18 or 19-year-old but what they expected back was the equivalent of Matt or Shalyse. You see they knew then and know now that if you will let the mission go through you that is who you will become. They expect when you return in all your glory that you will be better looking, more fit, more trim, and especially more spiritual. They already have you slotted to be the youngest General Authority or General Young Women's President ever (we know this doesn't happen but this is the pedestal they place you on). They expect and know this will happen as a result of you consecrating and dedicating yourselves to Him for 18 and 24 months. This is what the Savior will give as you do what is required.

So, ask yourself; "Am I doing everything to let this mission go through me or am I picking and choosing what will go through me and avoiding some of the 'heavy lifting' that is required of me?" When I study the scriptures each morning are they going deep down in my heart or am I merely reading words on a page? When I seek to Find am I merely going through motions or am I letting the motion of Finding go through me and asking inspired questions?  When I Teach am I preparing spiritually and with meaningful role plays so that the spirit will work through me or do I simply have a good enough grasp of the principles I can vocalize the words anytime, anyplace? When I work with my companion in inventory, am I truly placing on the altar of the mission experience my differences, desires, pride, and indifference or am I simply complying with the requirement to have companion inventory? When I am corrected do I allow myself to feel the spirit and the intention of the correction - to help me become better, more, the best I can be - or do I feel the spirit of contention and allow myself to become offended with absolutely no desire or willingness to change? 

When the Savior uttered the words: "What manner of men (and women) ought ye to be? Verily I say unto you even as I am" don't believe for a moment that he wouldn't and didn't provide a way for that to happen, to come to pass in every aspect of that statement. And coupled with those words are His words: "If ye are not one, ye are not mine!" While there is a lifetime to work at it, there is not a time and opportunity to do so like a mission. As you have heard me say, "it is the best thing you can do for the blessing it will be to the rest of your life." Elder Maxwell said: "It is possible to go through the scriptures without the scriptures going through you." Similarly, and sadly, it is possible to go through a mission without the mission going through you. But please, please, please don't choose this path. Allow every aspect of the mission experience to go through you. It is uniquely designed by your Savior through Prophets and Apostles and other inspired leaders to help you become like Him - His admonition to all of us. Remember, your parents, aunts, uncles, nephews, nieces, cousins, and yes, girlfriends/boyfriends have a very high expectation of who you are becoming. They absolutely expect a Matt or a Shalyse to return. And the most sobering thing is that while this is perhaps the greatest spiritual smorgasbord and feast of your lifetime, only you can decide if you will partake.

My challenge to you is to partake of every, last morsel provided. Don't allow a single opportunity or facet of this mission and your unique experience here not to go through you and change you to become "the manner of men (and women) ye ought to be." I humbly pray we will all allow this incredible opportunity and blessing to go completely and absolutely through us that we may become, "even as He is" and "One with Him".

With all my love, prayers, and devotion,

President Clark

President's Weekly - "Little Red Scripture Wagon"

“Little Red Scripture Wagon”

Dear Elders and Sisters:

I have a lot of requests from Missionaries, often those who've been out "less than one year", to read books that are not on the approved list.  My response is almost always the same: "Not yet, you have too much to study in PMG!"  Please know I am not just putting you off with a standard line.  I really believe that to be true.  I truly believe PMG to be "about as near to canonized scripture as you can get" (quoting L. Tom Perry, of the Quorum of the Twelve, 2015).  While it looks like a manual which too often we shy away from, it is so much more! 

In 3 Nephi chapter 23, the Risen Lord states: "Behold, other scriptures I would that ye should write, that ye have not.  Bring forth the record which ye have kept" (verses 6, 7).  After reviewing the record he notes prophecies by Samuel the Lamanite Prophet have been excluded reviewing the prophecies with the people and then asking: "Was it not so?"  The people exclaimed: Yea, Lord, Samuel did prophecy according to thy words, and THEY WERE ALL FULFILLED." (verses 9, 10).  And then he asks: "How be it that ye have not written this thing?" (verse 11)

I believe the Lord wants us to have all things for our enlightenment, enrichment, edification, and ultimately to judge us righteously.  If we have but do not partake, we will be held accountable!  Later in this same record, Chapter 26, the Savior says: "These scriptures, (referring to the excluded prophecies of Samuel) which ye had not with you, the Father commanded that I should give unto you, for it was wisdom that they should be given unto future generations." (verse 2)

And then in verse 6, Mormon, the Prophet editor, makes one of his many laments that there "cannot be written...even a hundredth part of the things which Jesus did truly teach unto the people" and then adds this insightful commentary in verse 9: "And when they shall have received this (the Book of Mormon), which is expedient that they should have first, to try their faith, and if it shall so be that they shall believe these things then shall the 'greater things' be made manifest unto them."

I have often wondered what will the "greater things" be?  Another Book of Mormon containing the "fiftieth part", the "tenth part", something more?    Elder Neal A. Maxwell said: “The day will come, brothers and sisters, when we will have other books of scripture which will emerge to accompany the Holy Bible and the Book of Mormon and the Doctrine and Covenants and the Pearl of Great Price. Presently you and I carry our scriptures around in a “quad”; the day will come when you’ll need a little red wagon.”

Will you put in your "little red scripture wagon" your copy of PMG?  I believe it belongs there.  I believe it is the beginning of "greater things"!  I hope you fall in love with PMG almost as much as you have the Book of Mormon, especially the Lessons.  I will never forget the sweet experience that was mine as I prepared to serve by studying PMG in a serious way.  I was seeking to reclaim my Spanish and decided to read and learn the Lessons aloud in Spanish.  Many were the times I had to stop because I couldn't see the words through my tears - tears of sweet joy and emotion as the spirit bore such powerful witness that what I was reading was true!  Was doctrine!  And was needed to be heard by the people we teach in a powerful way!  I continue to "sup" from that book daily and it has been so enriching and rewarding to my personal conversion.

In chapter 27, Mormon puts an exclamation point on this powerful teaching of 'greater things', in my mind.  In verse 25 he states: "For behold, out of the books which have been written, and which shall be written, shall this people be judged, for by them shall their works be known unto men."  I'll put PMG in that category of "shall be written" and by which we will be "judged", especially as a called, set apart servant of the Lord! In the great review of my life at the Judgement Bar, I do not want to hear the Savior ask: "Was it not so" that I gave you PMG in order to become a "Complete Missionary"?

Are the Lessons sweet to you, Elders and Sisters?  Are the doctrines and principles of the Lessons deep in your hearts?  Do you know the associated scriptures with the lessons, how to quickly find them, read and teach them and help the "People" know of these teachings?  Or have you simply treated PMG has a textbook or a manual that you know well enough to pass the "pop quiz questions" of a Zone Conference or Zone/District Meeting?  I believe your teaching will improve as your study of PMG, particularly the Lessons, improves.  And I believe if we truly want to Rise Up to the Height of our Calls, to truly Journey to Higher Ground through exact obedience and sacrifice, it will be by becoming better teachers of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

I promise He, the one True Teacher, will send the Holy Ghost to "teach you all things" from PMG if you will re-dedicate yourself and your studies to this 'greater thing' in a meaningful way.  I bear my witness of the scriptures, especially the Book of Mormon, as the best way to help people come to know the truths of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and that PMG is just about as close to scripture as you may see for a long while.  It is truly one of the 'greater things' the Lord has given us as His servants and saints.

With much love, prayers, and appreciation,

President Clark

MLC 3-2017

Another great MLC!  These Elders and Sisters are just so good!  We were well taught by the Assistants in regards to giving our all, always!  Sister Clark provided a wonderful teaching on studying and using the scriptures and President Clark conducted a learning activity in PMG Lesson 3 which opened their eyes to the power of using the scriptures in their teaching.  They did a wonderful work at discovering how to better teach from the scriptures!

Back Row, Left to Right:  Elders Perkins, Rogers, Gray, Morrison, Van Vleet, Muir, Watson, Wilson, Quinn, Sullivan, Tongish, Rushton, Arebalo, Carnahan

Middle Row, Left to right:  Sisters White, Baldwin, Murray, President & Sister Clark, Sisters Jones, Maxwell, Anderson

Front Row, Left to Right:  Elders Kennick, Halliday, Cummings, Morales, McGraw

The traditional gathering to sing our "thanks,"  Called to Serve - California Fresno Style  to all of those who prepared lunch for us.  We are SO BLESSED!