Learning and Growing Together in Multi-Zone Conferences!

Multi-zone Conferences

Recently, we had multi-zone conferences. We have divided the mission into three parts, and the missionaries gathered together in three different groups on three different days. While the messages that Sister Hammon and I shared were the same, the zone and sister training leaders from their respective zones trained on similar topics but presented according to their inspiration on those topics.

Corona Zone

Jurupa Zone

Riverside Zone

Overall, Sister Hammon and I thoroughly enjoyed multi-zone conferences with the missionaries! The musical numbers were sensation. Sister Hammon had asked each zone to sing “Consider the Lilies” as one of the special musical numbers. Wow! Impressive and incredible! 

Moreno Valley Zone

Here are some of the topics we discussed:

New Beginnings—I spoke about three major changes in our mission: 1) the new 2019 Mission Plan, 2) Missionary Community Service Test, and 3) mission boundary changes (more below). We now have four new mission priorities: To become disciples and bearers of light unto the world, we will:  

1.      Fulfill our missionary purpose

2.      Be exactly obedient

3.      Become spiritually self-reliant

4.      Encourage members to be active participants in missionary work

Each missionary received a copy of the Mission Plan 2019. All district, zone, and mission goals will adhere to these four mission priorities. Many of your personal goals will also.

Hemet Zone

Menifee Zone

 Disciples of Christ and Being a True Light— President Norman and President Hansen addressed this topic. President Norman said “We all carry light. If our light is dull, what image are we showing?” He also taught: “Disciples serve and love others, no matter what. President Hansen approached it from outward thinking vs. inward thinking. In order to be a light unto the world, he taught that we need to 1) liken the scriptures unto ourselves, 2) strive to look at our outward thoughts and 3) consider what our inward thoughts really are. He spent a great deal of time in Mosiah 27 and Alma, discussing the importance of repenting of our sins, seeing joy in the work, laboring much in spirit, blessing people with our light and the gospel of Jesus Christ, and doing things a prophet 
does—by and by.

Lake Elsinore Zone

Faith to Reap—Sister Hammon discussed the important of “faith to reap.” She taught that we must have “faith enough to know to put our trust in/on Him to know and do. We need to rely on Christ and turn to Him to help us solve our problems and challenges eventually comfort us.” She also taught that “the Lord refines you, tries you, helps you grow and develop, helps you find out who you really are.”

Relief Society Sisters in the Menifee Stake who prepared a delicious meal!

Relief Society Sisters in the Riverside Stake who prepared a delicious meal!

Obedience—Elders Loveridge and Moloney spent a great deal of time of teaching us the importance of obedience. They asked questions about being obedient and what we must do. Sister Tanner answered with this: “We cannot expect to become like our Heavenly Father or Jesus Christ if we don’t live a life like they did. They live disciplined lives.” They also taught, “The biggest reason we are obedient is because we love the Lord. We are just happier when we are obedient.” Plus, when we are exactly obedient, we are constantly repenting.

Corona Relief Society and Priesthood who prepared a delicious meal!

Diligence—We learned much from Hermanas Chase and Peters, Whitaker and Kaiser, and Sorensen and Maxfield about diligence. We will be successful if we couple persistence with diligence, obedience, and patience. Sisters Maxfield and Sorensen taught that “All of our heroes and those we look up to are diligent and energetic.” Their counsel was: “Don’t wait to do what you are Asked to do! Just do it! Be anticipatory!”

L-R: Sisters Anderson, Sorensen, Longshore, Esplin, Ruben; Elder Schaeffer; Sister

Communicating to Unify—Sisters Moffit, Loranger, and Gray discussed communicating with our Heavenly Father and having Christlike communications. They taught that we must all help to develop “a culture of unity, obedience, compassion, caring, vigilance, and accountability, and the ability to work in unity.” Sister Loranger said, “We look to this mission as our unified family.” Elder Tippetts chimed in: “When you let your light shine, you liberate yourself and others.”

Golden Plunger Wards: Elder and Sister Dickinson; Hermanas Grant and Hernandez

Golden Plunger Awards: Elder and Sister Troxel; Elders Escobar and Wise

Fulfilling our Missionary Purpose—Elders Santos and Castro, Moon and Davis, and Carlisle and Lance discussed the blessings of dedicating and setting apart the hours of 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. as prime-finding and teaching time.

Birthdays: Sisters Stettler, Van Quakebeke, and Gray; Elders Escobar and Wilson

Golden Plunger Ward: Elder Troxel (Sister Troxel in the back); Elders Hite and Wilson

Fulfilling our Missionary Purpose—Elders Parata and Royce, Su’a and Heilbut, and Beddes and Tippetts enlightened us on how we can fulfill our missionary purpose. One of the invitations for us was this: “Will YOU more fully ‘come unto Christ’ so YOU can more powerfully invite others to do the same?” Additionally, Elders Tippetts and Beddes asked us this question: “Why is it important to have a spiritual testimony of your missionary purpose? How can we best gain a spiritual testimony of our missionary purpose?” I will use these as our questions to contemplate.

L-R: Elders Akana, Webb, Nelson, Greathouse, Ngatuvai, Komers, and Treviño

L-R: Sister Peterson; Elders Campbell, Lowry, Casper, Barnes, McConahay, Egbert, and Hunt

L-R: Sisters Winters, Bascom, Neerings, Preator, and Fountaine; Elders Carlisle, Moloney, and Loveridge

Mission Boundary Changes

There will be mission boundary changes on July 1, 2019. We will be gaining three new stakes. From the Rancho Cucamonga Mission, we will receive the Chino Stake that currently has 20 missionaries: two sisters and 18 elders; four Spanish (two sisters; two elders). From the Carlsbad Mission, two stakes—Murrieta and Temecula—will be coming to our mission. These two stakes currently have 40 missionaries: 12 sisters and 28 elders (two Chinese elders and four Spanish—two sisters and two elders). The changes will occur on July 1, 2019 although the June 18, 2019 transfer in both the Rancho Cucamonga and Carlsbad missions will place the missionaries in those stakes who will eventually become a part of our mission on July 1, 2019.

L-R: Sisters Foster, Hackley, Durham, Begay, Brown, Cardiel, and White

L-R: Sisters Gaughan, Whitaker, Kaiser, Andersen, George and Davies

Mission Leadership Council (MLC)

The same week we were able to meet with the zone and sister training leaders in the MLC. We were wonderfully taught by President Hansen, 2nd Counselor in the Mission Presidency, about repentance. His main message was that “We need to get the people we are teaching into the scriptures. Help people recognize the change they need to change. Don’t skim over the principle of repentance. We do know we need to repent.”

 

The Mission Leadership Council (MLC) on February 1, 2019. Transfers are February 11, 2019

Sister Hammon discussed unity and being an “extraordinary force for good.” She asked the question: “What are you doing in your zones and districts to build unity?” Sometimes, in order to be unified, we must change ourselves.

Elders Loveridge and Moloney, Assistants,  taught us about “Be Thou an Example.” They discussed five important traits of a leader: 1) A leader recognizes and relies upon the Holy Ghost. 2) A leader utilizes the strengths/spiritual gifts of those they serve to bless them. 3) A leader speaks by the power of the Holy Ghost to inspire and lift those they serve. 4) A leader radiates light. And 5) A leader is a spiritual rock (like the Savior, Peter...)

My comments hinged on this topic: “Leadership Principles: Fear of Being Exceptional vs. Being Aspiring—Alma to Shiblon.” Please read Alma 38, all 15 verses, paying particularly attention to the qualities/Christlike characteristics that Shiblon’s father talked to him about. I also visited with the MLC about the “Doctrine of Working with Leaders and Members.” 

We had a panel of the outgoing sister training leaders—Sisters Moffit, Loranger, Gray, Sorensen, and Whitaker. Their insights about missionary work were wonderful they each answered this question: “What carried you through the mission?” Their answers: “My love for the gospel of Jesus Christ (H. Sorensen). My love for Jesus Christ and my willingness to put Christ first” (S. Loranger). “It’s the happiest I have ever been. It’s been the little victories. I wanted to see people grow” (S. Gray). “My relationship with God. I have never been happier” (Sister Moffit). “The nitty-gritty of seeking with faith. It rejuvenates me! Just doing things that brought me joy” (H. Whitaker).

We also made some incredible goals and heard about numerous miracles.

We love being with the missionaries!

Sister Hammon sharing her lasagna with Elder Voellger!