Mission Leadership Council: Where Leaders Emerge and Flourish!

At the beginning of each month, we meet with the Mission Leadership Council, our mission leaders: zone and sister training leaders, some of the finest missionaries and leaders in the entire world! We wish you could all join us to feel of their spirit and their power. 

November 6, 2019 Mission Leadership Council

Our Vision is to "Be Disciples and Bearers of Light unto the World"

Our Missionary Purpose is to “Invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end.”

Sister Training Leaders: Front row left to right:
 Sisters Foster, Corder, Killian, Johnson, Durham, White, Weston-
 back row Sisters Briggs, Hammon Moore, Thompson 

Pizza, Salad, and Texas Sheet Cake and Ice Cream on the menu. Always a favorite at MLC.

We asked four questions: 1) What is a disciple of Jesus Christ? 2) How do we become disciples of Jesus Christ? 3) What are we doing to become and be a disciple of Christ? and 4) Am I living the gospel of Jesus Christ as His disciple?

Left to right around the table: Elders Evans, Hull, Barnes, Sister and President Hammon, 
Elders Abraham, Bytendorp and Mackay

Elder Uchtdorf teaches us: “The gospel is the way of discipleship…. As we walk in that way, we can experience confidence and joy—even during times of peril, sorrow, and uncertainty….When we hear the transcendent truths of the gospel of Jesus Christ, hope and faith begin to blossom inside of us. The more we fill our hearts and minds with the message of the risen Christ, the greater our desire is to follow Him and live His teachings. This, in turn, causes our faith to grow and allows the light of Christ to illuminate our hearts. As it does, we recognize the imperfections in our lives, and we desire to be cleansed of the depressing burdens of sin. We yearn for freedom from guilt, and this inspires us to repent” (Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Ensign, May 2009, pp. 75, 76, 77).

Often exaltation can be seen through a small lense, one that is hard to keep in focus as the myriad of challenges cloud the small aperture. Yet, once you see beyond the minuteness of the world and its plethora of distractions, climbing over them and then squeezing through the keyhole of what we sometimes see as our myopic life, you discover the larger and much more important view: eternity and your own exaltation!

Jesus Christ, the Savior and Redeemer of the world!

“Behold, [we are disciples] of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. [We] have been called of him to declare his word among his people, that they might have everlasting life” (3 Nephi 5:13).

Our two Assistants: Elder McLaughlin and Elder Abraham

Elders McLaughlin and Abraham taught this principle from Chapter 8 in Preach My Gospel: “Do all you can to leave your area [area of exchange] stronger than you found it. Meaningful goals and careful planning will help you accomplish what the Lord requires of you.” 

Sister Hammon spoke about the importance of temple and family history and will talk about it in multi-zone conferences. Stay tuned!

The Idaho Falls Temple (photo courtesy of Dennis D. Hammon, my photographer brother)

We had such a great time with these great leaders. It is no wonder we are continually blessed by serving here in the California Riverside Mission with these wonderful young people, truly servants and disciples of Christ.

Sunset on the Columbia River