Dear
Elders and Sisters,
The
beginning of each new transfer period is an opportunity to start anew. It is an
opportunity to progress and improve, which, I might add, is best accomplished
through personal change and repentance. When you receive a new assignment, do
you look forward to a new start, and afford one to your companion? I hope you
are learning to find out about your new companion by talking with him or her
and discovering their talents and strengths. You may be pleasantly surprised!
And don’t we all hope our companions will do the same?!
I assure
you that, as I prepare each transfer, I carefully consider every missionary
individually. I always start by asking myself, who can bless this missionary by
being his or her companion? More important to me than where you serve or what
is your assignment, is who will be your companion. I plead with Heavenly Father
to help me assign the right companion for each missionary. I am grateful for
the sacred calling to serve as your mission president. I know I can rely on the
Lord to sustain me as I do my best to prepare each move call. I also know that
He will sustain you as you serve in each assignment. I do not make perfect
decisions, but the Lord, in sustaining both you and I, will enable each companion
to be the right one for you.
Starting
with this transfer we will no longer email the entire move call to each
missionary. I hope this will decrease the tendency that some missionaries have
to compare themselves to others and concern themselves unnecessarily with those
assigned to be senior companion, district leader, etc. Please focus on your
companion and those in your district. As we seek to be more consecrated
missionaries, let us focus on serving others with all our hearts. Let us put
aside all gossip, competition, etc., that our hearts may not be divided by envy
nor pride. Let us follow the example of the Savior, who taught, “Every idle
word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of
judgment” (Matt. 12:36).
Please remember that missionaries are not to give their new
phone number to members, investigators, friends, etc., when moving out of an
area. When you leave an area, your primary method of communication [with
members, RCs and others in that area] should be through email or written
letters of encouragement. Politely discourage phone calls, texts and visits
from members and friends from prior areas. If people insist on calling,
texting, or making visits, please let me know so I can help you stay focused on
your current area. See R&C, 27.
It will be our great privilege and blessing to have a
mission conference this Friday with Elder Gary E. Stevenson of the Quorum of
the Twelve Apostles. With the increasing size of the Church, such opportunities
are more difficult to come by and should be cherished! I can still remember a
mission conference with Elder Ezra Taft Benson when I was a young missionary.
He went on to become a great prophet and president of the Church! Elder
Stevenson has asked that we study 2 Nephi 2 and 9 this week in preparation for
our meeting with him. He would like us to come prepared to share our insights
and feelings about these two great doctrinal chapters of the Book of Mormon.
Please be in your seats by 12:40pm and quietly prepare yourselves for a rich
spiritual experience. Let’s show him that we are well-trained, obedient and
reverent missionaries. We look forward to seeing you all!
President Blickenstaff
Mentor of Champions
No comments:
Post a Comment