Jesus Christ was the perfect example of the perfect teacher. When He visited the Nephites after his crucifixion and resurrection, He taught them many things. He was very perceptive to whether they learned and understood what he taught them. In 3 Nephi 15:2, it says, “ And it came to pass that when Jesus had said these words he perceived that there were some among them who marveled, and wondered what he would concerning the law of Moses; for they understood not the saying that old things had become new.”.....
He was able to perceive that the people did not understand it. He goes on to teach and clarify what he meant by this saying so that the people understood it. In 3 Nephi 17:2 Christ gives us another example of being perceptive to the people ability to understand what he was teaching them when he says “I perceive that ye are weak, that ye cannot understand all my words which I am commanded of the Father to speak unto you at this time. Therefore, go ye unto your homes, and ponder upon the things which I have said, and ask of the Father, in my name, that ye may understand, and prepare your minds for the morrow, and I come unto you again.” He not only perceives that the people do not understand all of his teaching but he also gives them instruction on what they need to do to be better prepared to learn.
Our ability to perceive whether our investigators are understanding the message we are teaching them is dependent on having the spirit. Praying to have the spirit, purifying our hearts, obeying with exactness, treasuring up the scriptures, teaching the gospel in way that is understandable and edifying, and exercising faith are some of the keys to having the spirit. It is also important to develop excellent teaching skills such as using the scriptures, teaching for understanding, asking questions, listening, and helping people resolves concerns. As we focus on the needs of our investigators and adjust our teaching to meet their needs, we will effectively invite them to come unto Christ by helping them develop their faith in Him and His atonement, repent, be baptized, receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost, and endure to the end. Let us do all that we can to be Christ-like teachers so that we may bring many souls unto Him.
We love you,
President May
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Thursday, January 29, 2009
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Presidente May escribe su nota cada semana a los misioneros...
Dear Elders and Sisters,
Always maintaining a vision of conversion is so important in missionary work. We know that we do not convert the people but rather the spirit does. We are instruments for the Lord so that people can receive His gospel.
Maintaining a vision of people entering in the waters of baptism, being confirmed, being active in Church, receiving the priesthood, entering in the temple and serving in Church assignments give us the excitement and motivation to carry out the Lord´s work with all of heart, might, mind and strength.
Let´s imagine we are lost in the ocean in a small boat with two oars. We are disoriented and without a map. We cannot see land anywhere, only water in every direction. How motivated would be to row? If suddenly an island appears on the horizon, what would are motivation be now? An island or a vision are like adrenaline to our spirits. Not only are we going to row with enthusiasm and excitement but our joy will increase even when we become more and more tired. Run and ye shall not be weary, walk and ye shall not faint! The island has had a miraculous impact on us.
Success or the battle is the Lord´s but the blessings come as a result of our diligence. Diligence is multiplied when islands are seen. The islands for us are the faces of our investigators who have tears in their eyes as they receive the gospel of Jesus Christ through our efforts to teach them by the power and authority of our calling and the influence of the Spirit. The effectiveness of our teaching can be measured by whether investigators are growing in their faith in the Savior, repenting of their transgressions, and earnestly preparing to receive the ordinances of baptism and confirmation. In other words, we have to prepare to be effective teacher with the same excitement and enthusiasm as if we were rowing to the island we see on the horizon.
It is my prayer that we maintain the vision of people coming unto Christ and that we work with more diligence each day to bring souls unto Christ so that they can have the joy that comes from receiving a remission of their sins and having the influence of the Holy Ghost in their lives on a daily basis and endure to the end.
We love you,
President May
Read more!
Always maintaining a vision of conversion is so important in missionary work. We know that we do not convert the people but rather the spirit does. We are instruments for the Lord so that people can receive His gospel.
Maintaining a vision of people entering in the waters of baptism, being confirmed, being active in Church, receiving the priesthood, entering in the temple and serving in Church assignments give us the excitement and motivation to carry out the Lord´s work with all of heart, might, mind and strength.
Let´s imagine we are lost in the ocean in a small boat with two oars. We are disoriented and without a map. We cannot see land anywhere, only water in every direction. How motivated would be to row? If suddenly an island appears on the horizon, what would are motivation be now? An island or a vision are like adrenaline to our spirits. Not only are we going to row with enthusiasm and excitement but our joy will increase even when we become more and more tired. Run and ye shall not be weary, walk and ye shall not faint! The island has had a miraculous impact on us.
Success or the battle is the Lord´s but the blessings come as a result of our diligence. Diligence is multiplied when islands are seen. The islands for us are the faces of our investigators who have tears in their eyes as they receive the gospel of Jesus Christ through our efforts to teach them by the power and authority of our calling and the influence of the Spirit. The effectiveness of our teaching can be measured by whether investigators are growing in their faith in the Savior, repenting of their transgressions, and earnestly preparing to receive the ordinances of baptism and confirmation. In other words, we have to prepare to be effective teacher with the same excitement and enthusiasm as if we were rowing to the island we see on the horizon.
It is my prayer that we maintain the vision of people coming unto Christ and that we work with more diligence each day to bring souls unto Christ so that they can have the joy that comes from receiving a remission of their sins and having the influence of the Holy Ghost in their lives on a daily basis and endure to the end.
We love you,
President May
Read more!
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Thoughts by the way...
Dear Elders and Sisters,
In my travels about town here in Sanitago, I drive quite a bit on the Vespucio Avenue. It is a street that generally has three lanes all the way along it. When I first began driving on it I would change from one lane to another according to whichever would allow me to travel faster.
Sometimes I would choose the left lane while other times I would choose the right lane. Sometimes I would just stay in the middle lane. I quickly learned something very important. There have been times that I have been traveling in the left and rights lanes and I have had to stop because of truck that was unloading something or doing some type of construction. I have also come upon a cars in these lanes that are stopped for one reason or another with their emergency flashers on. They are usually dropping person off or picking somebody up. When this happens I think have to try to cut into the middle lane to continue to travel. It can be very difficult to do so at times because of the long line in the middle lane.
I have found that it is best to travel in the middle lane. There are never any stopped cars or trucks and I always seem to travel faster when I do so. I also always have the option to briefly use either the right or left lane when needed. There is always the temptation to take one of the left or right lanes when the middle lane is going slower but it always seems to work out that I travel faster in the middle lane.
How does this relate to us as missionaries? When we are obedient with exactness we stay in the middle lane. We are able to have the Spirit and are able to make the necessary adjustments in our lives and the lives of our investigators need because of specific challenges and difficulties. These challenges and difficulties are like the trucks and cars that are stopped in either the right or left lanes. When we are disobedient we automatically put ourselves in one of these lanes and are subject to the trucks and cars that are unexpectedly stopped in our lane where as if we are obedient with exactness, we would have the ability to maneuver through them.
It is my prayer that we will always be in the middle lane by being obedient with exactness so that we will have the companionship of the spirit to guide us in this great work. Afterall, it is the spirit that carries our message of faith in Jesus Christ, repentance, baptism, the Gift of the Holy Ghost and enduring to the end to the hearts of the investigators and testifies of the truthfulness of the message of the Restored Gospel.
With love,
Presidente May
"Predicad Mi Evangelio para Bautizar, Retener, Reactivar!
Read more!
In my travels about town here in Sanitago, I drive quite a bit on the Vespucio Avenue. It is a street that generally has three lanes all the way along it. When I first began driving on it I would change from one lane to another according to whichever would allow me to travel faster.
Sometimes I would choose the left lane while other times I would choose the right lane. Sometimes I would just stay in the middle lane. I quickly learned something very important. There have been times that I have been traveling in the left and rights lanes and I have had to stop because of truck that was unloading something or doing some type of construction. I have also come upon a cars in these lanes that are stopped for one reason or another with their emergency flashers on. They are usually dropping person off or picking somebody up. When this happens I think have to try to cut into the middle lane to continue to travel. It can be very difficult to do so at times because of the long line in the middle lane.
I have found that it is best to travel in the middle lane. There are never any stopped cars or trucks and I always seem to travel faster when I do so. I also always have the option to briefly use either the right or left lane when needed. There is always the temptation to take one of the left or right lanes when the middle lane is going slower but it always seems to work out that I travel faster in the middle lane.
How does this relate to us as missionaries? When we are obedient with exactness we stay in the middle lane. We are able to have the Spirit and are able to make the necessary adjustments in our lives and the lives of our investigators need because of specific challenges and difficulties. These challenges and difficulties are like the trucks and cars that are stopped in either the right or left lanes. When we are disobedient we automatically put ourselves in one of these lanes and are subject to the trucks and cars that are unexpectedly stopped in our lane where as if we are obedient with exactness, we would have the ability to maneuver through them.
It is my prayer that we will always be in the middle lane by being obedient with exactness so that we will have the companionship of the spirit to guide us in this great work. Afterall, it is the spirit that carries our message of faith in Jesus Christ, repentance, baptism, the Gift of the Holy Ghost and enduring to the end to the hearts of the investigators and testifies of the truthfulness of the message of the Restored Gospel.
With love,
Presidente May
"Predicad Mi Evangelio para Bautizar, Retener, Reactivar!
Read more!
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