California Riverside Mission 2017-2020: Meatballs, Multi-zone conferences, a new Prophet, baptisms, Olympic games: the Riverside California Mission has it all!

President Russell M. Nelson

We were witnesses to a grand event in this dispensation. On Tuesday morning, prior to our first multi-zone conference with the La Sierra, Corona, and Jurupa zones, we were privilege to watch the announcement of the new prophet. The initial picture was the Salt Lake Temple, and then Elder Christofferson stood before the camera and introduced himself as one of the Quorum of the 12 Apostles and the Director of the Church’s public affairs. He spoke about the process and how it is all done with the senior apostle becoming the prophet of the church. He said, “This way there needs to be no novice trainer. There is no posturing in the Church.” Then he announced that the President Russell M. Nelson to be the 17^th President of Church with Elder Dallin H. Oaks as First Counselor and Elder Henry B. Eyring as Second Counselor.” The acting President of the Quorum of the 12 Apostles would be Elder M. Russell Ballard. All this came from inside the Salt Lake Temple. How wonderful and sacred was all of this!

With that, President Nelson, the prophet of God, spoke about the Quorum of the 12 Apostles holding “all the Priesthood keys in this dispensation.” He then talked about the release of Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf from the Presidency. He said, “He is where he is needed the most.” He then went on to say that all of us needed to “keep on the covenant path so that we can open the door for every spiritual blessing. He also said that the “temple is the place to help us resist the attacks of the adversary and where we will receive increased revelation and peace.” Then, both President Oaks and President Eyring spoke. President Eyring said, “This is a great time in the history of the Church” and that “the best is yet to come.”

We held four multi-zone conferences this week Tuesday through Friday in Jurupa, Moreno Valley, Lake Elsinore, and Hemet. Multi-zone conferences were spiritually fantastic!

Jurupa Zone

Corona Zone

On Monday and Friday mornings, President Norman of the Mission Presidency opened with his discussion of “Hope.” He focused on “hope in” and “hope for,” stating we need to look at both of them. He mentioned that one of his bosses used to say, “Hope is not a strategy. What is your plan?” Hope is like this: “If you are on the right path, you will get run over if you just sit there.” Hope requires movement forward and then focused on how the missionaries could apply hope, utilizing both faith and charity, understanding the faith, hope, and charity go together as a bundle. One with the other two may not help us at all.

La Sierra Zone

President Hansen, another member of the Mission Presidency, initiated Tuesday and Wednesday mornings with his discussion of “desires.” He asked the missionaries what they truly desired or what are their desires? He talked about Nephi, Enos, King Benjamin, Ammon and his brothers, and others about their desires. He told them that Elder Ballard had told a group of saints in California that the most important word was “desire” and then had the missionaries read Ether 12:6.

Mt. Rubidoux Zone

Sister Hammon presented the Addiction Recovery Program to help missionaries and their investigators with addictions and challenges. She discussed the program and how it can help with the repentance process.

Riverside Zone

I spent some time on the new Mission goals that the Mission Leadership Council (MLC) put developed at the first of the year. Plus, I spent the bulk of my time on the conference theme and the Mission theme of “Centering our Lives on Jesus Christ: An Eternal Focus. I discussed the following ten focuses:

1. We make Christ our Center as we see Him as the refiner and finisher of our faith.

2. We make Christ our Center as we accept Him as our Savior and understand and apply His Atonement.

3. We make Christ our Center by partaking of the Sacrament each Sunday and keeping the Sabbath Day holy.

4. We make Christ our Center as we endure to the end.

5. We make Christ our Center by reading, studying, pondering, and testifying about the Book of Mormon.

6. We make Christ our Center by serving others.

7. We make Christ our Center by being obedient to His teachings and coming unto Him.

8. We make Christ our Center by speaking of, teaching, and testifying about Him and His doctrine.

9. We make Christ our Center by loving Him with all our hearts.

10. We make Christ our Center by believing that the Father and He are the sources of all light, understanding, inspiration and revelation, and eternal blessings.

Moreno Valley Zone

We read a few scriptures under each of these topics and discussed how we can make Christ our center this year. It was a delightful discussion, with many missionaries participating. The spirit bore witness to me that these things are true.

Menifee Zone

The sister training leaders (STLs) tackled the topics of “Overcoming and Working Through Fear.” The zone leaders presented on the following topics: “How to Teach the Sabbath Day,” Having and Exercising Great Faith,” and Contacting and Navigating with the Book of Mormon.” The Assistants provided insight as to the “Whys of Missionary Work.” One of the comments from one set of zone leaders was: “Don’t let Celestial goals be distracted or affected by telestial activity.” The main reason we are here is help Heavenly Father bring His children home. We need to help them come to the remembrance of who they are by inviting them to become clean, so they can come unto Christ.

Lake Elsinore Zone

Overall, the multi-zone conferences with our 170 missionaries touched the spiritual cords of everyone. We laughed, cried, and sat in silence to together, felt the spirit, and listened to strong testimonies of the gospel of Jesus Christ. The outgoing missionaries—Sister Ford, Hermana Padilla, and Elder Braunstadter—bore strong testimonies of their missions and what they had learned. Powerful! Then, the incoming missionaries—Sisters Adams, Brown, Reese; Elders Evans, Francis, Gregson, Johnson, Moon, Nelson, Quinton, and Victorino—bore strong testimonies as well. They all have been here in our mission for four, almost five weeks. I am impressed by their growth and their progress.

San Jacinto Zone

Hemet Zone

We were fed well—from spaghetti and meatballs to an array of soups to lasagna to sloppy joes, plus desserts that were divine. The Relief Societies from the Jurupa, Moreno Valley, Lake Elsinore, and Hemet stakes were wonderful! Thank you!

Hemet Relief Society

A new year theme

Eating great food

One of the highlights at each multi-zone conference is we sing "Armies of Helaman." It can be an emotional time for many of them and us as some of sisters have family members serving a mission somewhere in the world. One of the sisters is the former Ann Fullmer of Menan, Idaho. We had a great visit. It truly amazes me when you meet people who know someone or is from somewhere you have been. The Church family is closely connected.

Jurupa Relief Society + High Councilor

Menifee Relief Society

Hemet Relief Society

Lake Elsinore Hemet Relief Society

We also celebrated birthdays at each of the multi-zones! We sing to them while they stand and soak it in (or be embarrassed!).

Elders Roper, Goodrich, Lewis, and Wilder; Sister Marks

Elders Hunt, Overman, and Day; Hermana Grover

Hermana Padilla; Sisters Davies and Harris; Elders Wilson, Parata, Escobar; Hermana Garcia; Sister Van Quakebeke

Elders Evans, McCracken, and Guymon; Hermana Whitaker; Sister Davis;
and one of the sisters in the Hemet Stake Relief Society Presidency

We also had baptisms this weekend and on Tuesday. President Norman, President Hansen, and we attended the different baptisms. What wonderful sources of spiritual awakening and commitments! The commitments and changes these people make are amazing. What forces of good they will become in their families and communities.