Wow we have really been busy. Everyday is something to prepare for. This morning we had to be at the Frankfurt Stake Center for our Quarterly Zone Conference. We had it in conjunction with the young missionaries. I liked being there with them They have such a spirit of missionary work. The conference was under the direction of one of our Area 70's, Elder Kopischke. His opening remarks were that WE CAN NOT LEARN THAT WHICH WE ARE NOT WILLING TO RECEIVE. I knew this was going to be something I needed to hear.
He asked us to write down a question we wanted to have an answer to during the conference. In this way the Lord can direct the speaker through inspiration to answer your question. Your part is to listen intently for the answer. We have the right to receive personal revelation for ourselves but the Lord wont give it to us unless we ask him specifically. Just as Joseph Smith had to do when he was translating. (In my mind I asked the following question) Why have I not been able to find Elder Walters' Grandfather here in Germany? Should I be looking for my own relatives and stop looking for his? Keep that in your mind because I will tell you the answer I received during the conference.
Brother Kopischke did a role play and asked if the Young lady would like to come to church on Sunday and have three hours of ADVENTURE? He also asked her to have a question in her mind that she wanted to have answered during that time. The reason we go to church should be to receive revelation. As we listen to the spirit we will get personal revelation. He said he asked a 10 year old girl that question and she answered, yes all 29 of them. In England a Priesthood leader over Missionary work got in his car and the spirit told him the answer to his question that he had been asking for 20 years.
Read D & C 88: 67-68
" And if your eye be single to my glory, your whole bodies shall be filled with light, and there shall be no darkness in you and that body which is filled with light comprehendeth all things.
Therefore, sanctify yourselves that your minds become single to God, and the days will come that you shall see him, for he will unveil his face unto you, and it shall be in his own time, and in his own way, and according to his own will."
Brother McBride our Zone leader said, "How we receive this revelation is up to us. When we receive revelation we are receiving light. President Schwarz said that President Kimball received revelation pertaining to Germany when he said that this land would be covered with hundreds of Stakes and many temples. Bro Holland said in order for the church to grow in Germany, will all depend on the German people. In the early days of the church many converts left for America to be with the main body of the Church. Without them the church would have had a harder time to grow. It was their testimonies that helped the saints. The ones here in Germany today were the Saints that were left behind. Their testimonies are now needed here. The German people are of the house of Israel and we must find them. Membership will double in the next 2 years. The Mission had 1,000 baptisms last year and they know it will be more this year.
President Schwartz, the Mission President here said when he was 17 years old, he had no father and was not too close to his mother. One day he was contemplating about his life and the door bell rang. Two missionaries were there and they told him that he needed a blessing. He loves the missionaries. All of us need to lighten the burdens of the German people by sharing the gospel. Help the people learn to use the Internet and get on the many sites that the church has for them. Make sure you always have a good supply of passalong cards with your name on them. The Internet is a very useful tool. Did you hear about the 16 year old girl (not a member of the church) who invited everyone to her birthday party and she had 1,200 people show up. That is amazing but just think maybe that would have the same results in inviting people to church. On December 3 in Duisberg the Young adults will be in the Mall and will be caroling at different places. This is what they use to do in the first days of the church. Music always draws a big crowd.
Sister Schwartz said every time you bare your testimony someone is listening and someone will be blessed whether it be mortals or immortals. That testimony is recorded in heaven and your sins are forgiven. She gave the thought that we should bear testimony to each other often especially between husband and wife. (The spirit bore witness to me that it would make our relationships closer to each other as a family if we do this.)
We heard from Sister Kopischke who said that friends need to feel the spirit before anything else can happen. We must be humble in order to get the spirit. Bear testimony of the gospel and the Restoration of it. When you open your mouth have no fear.
Elder Kopischke then spoke again. The spirit will confirm your testimony. We are more powerful when we are positive. We all have Guardian angels, supporting us from the other side. We are not preparing people to be our investigators, the Lord is doing that before you even meet them. He knows who his sheep are, we are to gather his sheep. In 2003 he was released as the Stake president and was then called to be the President of the Berlin Mission. When he arrived, there was a feeling of hopelessness. He had interviews with all the missionaries and they all said they believed that the Prophecy about Germany would come about during their mission and it never did, so they were discouraged. They expected the Lord to do something. They didn't realize that it would have to come about from within. In the Gorlitz area he had one missionary that had 0 investigators. I helped them increase there faith first then they had to be taught to talk to the people. They were asked to , find and teach by the Spirit. I received a message from that missionary that he and his companion had given 17 lessons that month and one was going to be baptized. Missionaries should not get discouraged they can get at least one conversion while they are on their mission and that conversion is themselves.
He then talked about having dreams. Never bury your dreams, believe in them. Find what will make you happy. You have to have faith that those dreams will come true. Strong faith makes for happiness. GOALS REFLECT THE DESIRES OF OUR HEARTS AND OUR VISION OF WHAT WE CAN ACCOMPLISH. We will be judged by our works and the desires of our hearts whether they be good or bad. Before you get out of bed each morning, before your morning prayer, close your eyes and imagine yourself all dressed in white standing next to a baptismal font. You ask your Heavenly Father if he will help you find someone to teach today. THROUGH GOALS AND PLANS OUR HOPES ARE TRANSPOSED INTO ACTION.
2 years ago I was in a 1st Presidency Meeting and we set our goals. Retain our converts, keep our youth active and reactive the inactives. We can double the number of youth in the church. In the last 10 yrs. those numbers had been flat in Europe. They were all concerned. They went to the temple as a presidency and prayed about those goals. They went to their hotel and knelt and prayed again about those goals. We all felt good about the goals we had made. Elder Tom Perry testified that our vision was of God. The following things were considered:
1. How will we go about it?
2. Don't wait to start action. If you want to move mountains do not depend on the Lord to do his part until after you have done your part. If the Lord desires to assist us then fine , if not, continue to work at your goal. He told about the man who wondered why his faith was not strong enough to move a mountain but he attained that goal but taking a pick and shovel and removed that mountain little by little. Have the courage to make your goals happen.
In 2005 President Monson said that missionary work will only take off in Germany when the members learn to give out referrals . Find those that are unhappy, having problems in their lives and need answers, those who have a sick child or a rebellious one. Find out who just got married or if someone died in their lives. These are all reasons to want to hear the gospel. It gives answers to people. President Hinkley said in 1999 to the missionaries "As long as the members do not give referrals then you have to find them yourselves. He closed with the following scripture.
II Nephi 32:3-4 "Angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore, they speak the words of Christ. Wherefore, I said unto you, fest upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do. Wherefore, now after I have spoken these words, if ye cannot understand them it will be because ye ask not, neither do ye knock; wherefore, ye are not brought into the light, but must perish in the dark."
Remember I told you I wrote down a question at the beginning of the conference that I wanted answered? Well at the end of the conference Pres. Kopischke asked if we had any questions but first he asked what I did in the Mission field and how long I have been here. I told him almost 2 years and working in the Family History Department. I said we had relatives in Germany but was wanting to find where they came from. He asked me to do him a favor. I said yes. His request, if you can find one person that is living that want to hear the gospel your question will be answered. I was amazed. I felt the Spirit bear witness to me. Great Conference.
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