PEORIA/PHOENIX NORTH ZONE CONFERENCE 2/14

 PLEASE CLICK ON THIS LINE FOR ALL PHOTOS OF THIS EVENT

Last Friday was the Peoria/Phoenix North Zone Conference.
It was a wonderful day of conference, albeit one of the strangest ones for President Taylor and me.  If you see my next post about our Elders in a car crash, you will know where I am coming from.
President Taylor and I spent the night at the hospital and he came over the next morning to start conference while I stayed.  So, if I look tired in my photos, its because I truly was exhausted.

 I am not sure the order that things were taught.  I came over twice to teach my lessons...but I know that the Spirit was there and I know that everyone learned what they needed.  Conferences are a place of revelation.
The Assistants taught a great lesson today on OBEDIENCE vs PRINCIPLES that was really great.  They had everyone practice explaining beliefs based on principles instead of rules.
Many times members want to question missionaries about things like dinner policy or why we dress a certain way, or why we cannot do certain things.  You know how that is with non-members questioning beliefs like the Word of Wisdom.
How much better is it to direct them to the principle instead of just saying "WE CAN'T..."

I also know that the Spirit was there because of the music that was performed.  When we have musical numbers, it brings the Spirit in full force!  I really missed hearing these numbers!!
Above, Sisters Brown and Hale and then Sister Young is on the piano to the right.

 The Phoenix North Zone had a large musical group for their number.  And I know it was good because we have wonderful singers in our mission!

President Taylor then taught about the Godhead, then about being a consecrated missionary.  We learned how important it is to give our will to the Lord, to lay distractions or fear or pride or anything else on the altar that could hold us back from being the missionaries that the Lord wants us to be.
We learned that the difference between hot water and boiling water is only 1/2 a degree...yet that 1/2 a degree increases the power of that water by 1720 times!
We want to be the CONSECRATED MISSIONARIES!  We want to be like Ammon or Alma!

My first discussion was about PLANNING.
I illustrate how we can fit in all the things that we need to do if we start with the BIG ROCKS FIRST and then the smaller rocks, then the gravel and then we can even fit in the fluff...or water to fill the gaps.

If we start with the small stuff...there is not room for the big stuff.  A good lesson for life!



We also learned how to use the DOCTRINE OF CHRIST in our planning.  This means that as we plan for investigators or anyone else we are teaching, we look to increase their FAITH their REPENTANCE/CHANGE their DESIRE TO MAKE PROMISES WITH GOD, their EXPERIENCES WITH THE HOLY GHOST and to know how we can help them ENDURE WELL.
As we plan this way, and then evaluate how we do, we can really be SPECIFIC in our planning and the Spirit will definitely guide us.  Planning is a process of revelation.











We practiced using what we call our VGPTA
Vision
Goals
Plans
Tasks
            using the Doctrine of Christ.
            Then we also evaluated, or used our
Accountability to report how each person was doing using the same Doctrine of Christ.  "How did this persons FAITH increase?"

 

Lunch as usual is a highlight.  Time to visit with old friends and make new ones.  The local wards and stakes put on the lunch for us so I do not have to stress about feeding hundreds of missionaries every month.  It is a huge blessing to the mission!







We love seeing full tables of Sisters at our conferences now...sometimes 2-3 tables!












Today was VALENTINES DAY...and the stake that did the lunch decorated in style and had really cute cards that used the scripture John 3:16 and found the letters for VALENTINES within that verse

 We celebrated our February and March birthdays.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO:
Sister Barlow
Sister Brown
Sister Jackson
Elder Q Wilson
Elder Merrill
Elder D Jensen
Elder Perkes
Elder Schull
Sister E Walker

 We sing in all languages in our mission.
ENGLISH



SPANISH by all our Spanish Speakers in these zones.

 SAMOAN by Elders Moala and Laititi

KOREAN by Elder Jeong

and MONGOLIAN by Elder Enkhjargal

Font:  Sisters Young, Barlow, Brown, Hale, Jackson, Neary, Townsend, Meyer, Esplin, Bennett, E Walker and Turner.   Standing on floor:  President Taylor,  Elders Beck, Wainwright, Goldsberry, Maxey, Judkins, Allen, Enkhjargal, Moala, Laitit, Shin, Zaugg, Merrill, Dobson, Belnap, Greener, Young, Hernandez, Sister and Elder King and President Juchau. Sitting on Stage:  Elders Bryson, S. Smith, McFarland, N Nelson, Blackburn, Perkes, Hughes, Luke, D Jensen and Schull.  Standing on Stage:  Elders Nield, Handy, Jeong, Janzen, Mullinex, Lower, Sharon, Dickson, Q Wilson, Wade, Empey, Goehring, Syndergaard, Kroeger and Weiler.

After lunch the Zones broke out into their own training sessions.

Elders Lower and Q Wilson for Peoria


Elders Wade and Wainwright for Phoenix North

They both taught how to help teach to baptism and how to use the Doctrine of Christ in planning and helping people see that they know enough as they use progress records/Baptism calendars to mark off the things they are progressing in.
It is important for all of us to celebrate the things we are doing well and are learning as well as to see what we are needing to work on.
We are ALL works in progress!

It was a fabulous day with these two great zones.  They are amazing people that have made great commitments to live, love and teach the Gospel of Jesus Christ to others.  As they do this, their own understanding increases and they become the deepest converts of all.  It is all just so good!

DEER VALLEY and GLENDALE ZONE CONFERENCE 2/14

 PLEASE CLICK ON THIS LINE FOR ALL PHOTOS OF THIS EVENT
Our third day of Zone Conferences was down in the valley with the Deer Valley and Glendale Zones.
The day started with President Taylor teaching about the Godhead, then about being a consecrated missionary.  We learned how important it is to give our will to the Lord, to lay distractions or fear or pride or anything else on the altar that could hold us back from being the missionaries that the Lord wants us to be.
We learned that the difference between hot water and boiling water is only 1/2 a degree...yet that 1/2 a degree increases the power of that water by 1720 times!
We want to be the CONSECRATED MISSIONARIES!  We want to be like Ammon or Alma!

My first discussion was about PLANNING.
I illustrate how we can fit in all the things that we need to do if we start with the BIG ROCKS FIRST and then the smaller rocks, then the gravel and then we can even fit in the fluff...or water to fill the gaps.

If we start with the small stuff...there is not room for the big stuff.  A good lesson for life!
We also learned how to use the DOCTRINE OF CHRIST in our planning.  This means that as we plan for investigators or anyone else we are teaching, we look to increase their FAITH their REPENTANCE/CHANGE their DESIRE TO MAKE PROMISES WITH GOD, their EXPERIENCES WITH THE HOLY GHOST and to know how we can help them ENDURE WELL.
As we plan this way, and then evaluate how we do, we can really be SPECIFIC in our planning and the Spirit will definitely guide us.  Planning is a process of revelation.

We practiced using what we call our VGPTA
Vision
Goals
Plans
Tasks
            using the Doctrine of Christ.
            Then we also evaluated, or used our
Accountability to report how each person was doing using the same Doctrine of Christ.  "How did this persons FAITH increase?"

 The Assistants taught a great lesson today on OBEDIENCE vs PRINCIPLES that was really great.  We practiced explaining beliefs based on principles instead of rules.
Many times members want to question missionaries about things like dinner policy or why we dress a certain way, or why we cannot do certain things.  You know how that is with non-members questioning beliefs like the Word of Wisdom.
How much better is it to direct them to the principle instead of just saying "WE CAN'T..."

We had a sweet musical number by Elders Elliott, Murdock, Barrus and Ure today that was just incredible.  The harmonica never sounded so reverent as it did today..."SWEET HOUR OF PRAYER!"

 Lunch as usual is a highlight.  Time to visit with old friends and make new ones.  The local wards and stakes put on the lunch for us so I do not have to stress about feeding hundreds of missionaries every month.  It is a huge blessing to the mission!

 After lunch we sing Army of Helaman as a thank you song, then bring it in to sing our Mission Fight Song!  It is an amazing thing to behold!

We celebrated a bunch of February and March BIRTHDAYS!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO:
Elder Searle
Elder Lutz
Elder Elliott
Elder Pehrson
E;der D Jones
Elder Hunsaker
Sister Taylor
Sister Pickett
Sister Probeyahn

 We like to sing in every language that we have in our audience...
We always do English and Spanish for our mission languages.



Today we heard also from Elder Handley in German...

 Elder Anderson and Cook with the Kings in French...

...and Elder J Hall in Italian!!



Zone Conferences are a special time to learn a lot and to gain revelation on things that will bless each individual missionary in a very personal way.  I know that each one that came prepared, went home with what they needed to learn that day.

 Front: Sisters Barton, Brewer, Jones, Connell, Hutchinson, Taylor, Pickett, Palomino, Wade, Wardle, Vallejo, Probeyahn, Clark and Tolley.  Standing: President and Sister Taylor, President Juchau, Elders Barrus, Ure. J Cook, Silcock, Searle, Burgoyne, Baker, Anderson, Thiel, Cordero, J Hall, Murdock, T Anderson.  Back Row:  Elders Wardle, Lutz, D Jones, Elliott, Pehrson, Hunsaker, Parks, Severe, Lewis, C Cardwell, Nistler, S Cardwell, Parkinson and Handley.

My health presentation was on "Unproven Health Practices" so our Assistants poked some good fun at missionaries in general by pretending that our mission is the "APM...Arizona Protein Mission."  If you can blend it, it must be good for you.  Ok, we encouraged them to follow the Word of Wisdom and use moderation in all things and to let good nutrition be their source for most of their needs.  I love that the Gospel of Jesus Christ and latter-day prophets have given us guidance on pretty much every aspect of our lives!


The Assistants are great sports to help with these skits!  We all look forward to them very much!

Later in the afternoon, we had break-out sessions with each zone.

Elders Barrus and Ure for Deer Valley.


Elders Baker and Wardle for Glendale.

They both taught how to help teach to baptism and how to use the Doctrine of Christ in planning and helping people see that they know enough as they use progress records/Baptism calendars to mark off the things they are progressing in.
It is important for all of us to celebrate the things we are doing well and are learning as well as to see what we are needing to work on.
We are ALL works in progress!
It was a fabulous day with these two great zones.  They are amazing people that have made great commitments to live, love and teach the Gospel of Jesus Christ to others.  As they do this, their own understanding increases and they become the deepest converts of all.  It is all just so good!

PRESCOTT ZONE CONFERENCE 2/14

 PLEASE CLICK ON THIS LINE FOR ALL PHOTOS OF THIS EVENT
Our second day of Zone Conference was up in Prescott.
The day started with President Taylor teaching about the Godhead, then about being a consecrated missionary.  We learned how important it is to give our will to the Lord, to lay distractions or fear or pride or anything else on the altar that could hold us back from being the missionaries that the Lord wants us to be.
We learned that the difference between hot water and boiling water is only 1/2 a degree...yet that 1/2 a degree increases the power of that water by 1720 times!
We want to be the CONSECRATED MISSIONARIES!  We want to be like Ammon or Alma!

My next discussion was about PLANNING.
I illustrate how we can fit in all the things that we need to do if we start with the BIG ROCKS FIRST and then the smaller rocks, then the gravel and then we can even fit in the fluff...or water to fill the gaps.

If we start with the small stuff...there is not room for the big stuff.  A good lesson for life!
We also learned how to use the DOCTRINE OF CHRIST in our planning.  This means that as we plan for investigators or anyone else we are teaching, we look to increase their FAITH their REPENTANCE/CHANGE their DESIRE TO MAKE PROMISES WITH GOD, their EXPERIENCES WITH THE HOLY GHOST and to know how we can help them ENDURE WELL.
As we plan this way, and then evaluate how we do, we can really be SPECIFIC in our planning and the Spirit will definitely guide us.  Planning is a process of revelation.


We practiced using our
Vision
Goals
Plans
Tasks
using the Doctrine of Christ.
Then we also evaluated, or used our
Accountability to report how each person was doing using the same Doctrine of Christ.
We call it our VGPTA

 My health presentation was on "Unproven Health Practices" so our Assistants poked some good fun at missionaries in general by pretending that our mission is the "APM...Arizona Protein Mission."  If you can blend it, it must be good for you.  Ok, we encouraged them to follow the Word of Wisdom and use moderation in all things and to let good nutrition be their source for most of their needs.  I love that the Gospel of Jesus Christ and latter-day prophets have given us guidance on pretty much every aspect of our lives!


The Assistants are great sports to help with these skits!  We all look forward to them very much!

To reinforce what we were talking about, we played NUTRITION JEOPARDY to remind us of nutrition basics!

Love it when Elders get in the matching tie thing...today was bright jewel tones...I thought I matched their style!  Nice Job Elders!

 Lunch is a highlight as usual...time to visit and eat really good food provided by local wards.

We love having the Templetons in this zone, and we have loved having President Juchau come along to conference with us as well!  As usual, we have the Kings along to assist in their Presidency role, and they just keep everything running smoothly!  LOVE OUR OLDER MISSIONARIES!

 The Prescott Stake decorated the wall with great sayings about missionary work, they went to great efforts to bring the Spirit!

After lunch, we sing to the lunch preparers and then we do our Mission Fight Song.  It is really a blast!

 We celebrated our February and March birthdays.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO:
Elder Sutcliffe
Sister Muhlestein
Sister Jensen
Elder Westlund
Elder C Christensen

We enjoyed the Happy Birthday in French by our Canadian missionaries!
Tres bien! Eh?!!

 Front:  Elder and Sister Templeton, Sisters Muhlestein, A Walker, Stanley, Baumgartner, Polander, Matuauto, Jensen Moore, Sister and President Taylor.  Sitting on Stage:  Elders Stevens, Hicks, C Christensen, Brown, Wrigley, Westlund, Miller and Pollard.  Standing on Stage: Elders Burbank, Graziano, Davis, A Cook, Lundquist, Ford, Rushton, Gorham, Sutcliffe and Martinsen.

BEAUTIFUL musical number by Sisters Muhlestein and Polander and Elder Hicks with Elder Christensen on the piano!

 The Assistants taught about PRINCIPLES vs RULES which was a really good discussion and reminder!  They did a great interactive practice teach with it that got everyone up and moving.

Towards the end of the day, our fearless Zone Leaders Westlund and Wrigley took their zone to teach them about how to resolve concerns of those they are teaching towards baptism.  They talked about how to use a Progress Record/Baptism Calendar to help them see what they are learning and to help them see that they know enough as they progress in learning.

Zone Conferences are a special time to learn a lot and to gain revelation on things that will bless each individual missionary in a very personal way.  I know that each one that came prepared, went home with what they needed to learn that day.
These are skills and conversion that will bless each missionary in their future lives as well as during their mission.  The Gospel blesses each of us with all that we need to be happy and successful in all that we do.  How blessed we are!

COTTONWOOD/FLAGSTAFF ZONE CONFERENCE 2/14

 PLEASE CLICK ON THIS LINE FOR ALL PHOTOS OF THIS EVENT

This month we have been holding our ZONE CONFERENCES
Our first conference was up in Cottonwood with the Cottonwood and Flagstaff zones.

The day started with President Taylor teaching about the Godhead, then about being a consecrated missionary.  We learned how important it is to give our will to the Lord, to lay distractions or fear or pride or anything else on the altar that could hold us back from being the missionaries that the Lord wants us to be.
We learned that the difference between hot water and boiling water is only 1/2 a degree...yet that 1/2 a degree increases the power of that water by 1720 times!
We want to be the CONSECRATED MISSIONARIES!  We want to be like Ammon or Alma!


My health presentation was on "Unproven Health Practices" so our Assistants poked some good fun at missionaries in general by pretending that our mission is the "APM...Arizona Protein Mission."  If you can blend it, it must be good for you.  Ok, we encouraged them to follow the Word of Wisdom and use moderation in all things and to let good nutrition be their source for most of their needs.  I love that the Gospel of Jesus Christ and latter-day prophets have given us guidance on pretty much every aspect of our lives!
We played NUTRITION JEOPARDY to remind us of nutrition basics!

Lunch is a highlight as usual...time to visit and eat really good food provided by local wards.

With Valentines just around the corner, this weeks decor was definitely suited for that holiday!

 After lunch, we sing to the lunch preparers and then we do our Mission Fight Song.  It is really a blast!

 We celebrated our February and March birthdays.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO:
Elder Nield
Elder Salas
Elder Munoz
Sister Manwill
Elder Barley

Front:  President and Sister Taylor, Sisters Seaman, Coleman, Elders Nield and Weiler, Sisters Manwill, King, Magee and C Turner.  Standing:  Elders Graybill, Salas, Thompson, Arave, Scott, Buechter, Munoz, Rigby, Taylor, C Johnson, Blackburn and Canny.  On Stage:  Elders Barlow, Cardoso, Albrecht, A Hall, Hamilton, Livingston, Starr, Bryant, Meredith and Barley.

Great musical number by the Flagstaff Zone!

 Accompanied by our own Elder Starr!

 My next discussion was about PLANNING.
I illustrate how we can fit in all the things that we need to do if we start with the BIG ROCKS FIRST and then the smaller rocks, then the gravel and then we can even fit in the fluff...or water to fill the gaps.

If we start with the small stuff...there is not room for the big stuff.  A good lesson for life!
We also learned how to use the DOCTRINE OF CHRIST in our planning.  This means that as we plan for investigators or anyone else we are teaching, we look to increase their FAITH their REPENTANCE/CHANGE their DESIRE TO MAKE PROMISES WITH GOD, their EXPERIENCES WITH THE HOLY GHOST and to know how we can help them ENDURE WELL.
As we plan this way, and then evaluate how we do, we can really be SPECIFIC in our planning and the Spirit will definitely guide us.  Planning is a process of revelation.

We practiced using our
Vision
Goals
Plans
Tasks
using the Doctrine of Christ.
Then we also evaluated, or used our
Accountability to report how each person was doing using the same Doctrine of Christ.
We call it our VGPTA

The Assistants taught about PRINCIPLES vs RULES which was a really good discussion and reminder!

Towards the end of the day, our fearless Zone Leaders each took their zones to teach them about how to resolve concerns of those they are teaching towards baptism.  They talked about how to use a Progress Record/Baptism Calendar to help them see what they are learning and to help them see that they know enough as they progress in learning.

Elders Bryant and Cardoso above and Elders Barlow and Barley to the right, did a great job in their respective zones!

Zone Conferences are a special time to learn a lot and to gain revelation on things that will bless each individual missionary in a very personal way.  I know that each one that came prepared, went home with what they needed to learn that day.
These are skills and conversion that will bless each missionary in their future lives as well as during their mission.  The Gospel blesses each of us with all that we need to be happy and successful in all that we do.  How blessed we are!