Standard of Excellence

We have established a Standard of Excellence in the Chile Santiago North Mission to raise our vision, increase our level of faith, help us stretch, work effectively, and reach higher levels of performance. We should never lose sight that our purpose in achieving the Standard of Excellence is to baptize by water (Redemption) and by fire (Power of Holy Ghost) each and every week so that our converts will become clean and have the Gift of the Holy Ghost in their lives to remain faithful in the Church throughout their lives. Last week Elders Gunnell and Pini were the first companionship to achieve the Standard of Excellence in our mission. This should serve as a “Model of Success” in our mission so that every companionship can achieve the Standard of Excellence consistently each week.

We have used the analogy of “The Three Gardens” in our illustrating what is needed to be done to reach the Standard of Excellence. Each and every week the we must be diligent in working in the “Planting Garden”, “Cultivating Garden” and “Harvesting Garden”:

Weekly:
Planting Garden:
10 New investigators
10 Investigators with a baptismal date
8 Referral received and contacted
20 Contacts daily

Cultivating Garden:
6 Investigators attending Sacrament meeting
10 Lessons taught to an investigator with a member present
10 Other lessons taught
10 Progressing investigators
5 Lessons taught to recent converts and less active members

Harvesting Garden
1 Investigator baptized
1 Investigator confirmed
1 Investigator prepared for baptism next week (Fase 3)

There are many blessings that come from working as hard as we can in each of these gardens. (D&C 18:15-16) We can choose to receive all of these blessings for ourselves or we can bless the lives of the members of our wards and branches by inviting them to work alongside of us in each of these gardens. As we work in unity with the ward leaders and members, the harvest can be multiplied many fold. President Monson has said, “We will never achieve the success we seek in the Mission Field without the help of the members." We must gain the trust of the leaders and members so they will have a desire to work together with us in these gardens. The following is a list of suggestions that can help us achieve this:

1. Working hard all day and every day. Develop a reputation as an obedient, hard working missionary.

2. Making personal calls to stake presidents, bishops and ward mission leaders to keep them informed on the progress of the work and to thank them for their support.

3. Inviting members to have a discussion in their homes with their families with an investigator present.

4. Being on time for all meetings, especially with leaders.

5. Going on division to teach investigators, work with inactives and part member families, find new investigators, etc.

6. Occasionally teaching Sunday School and priesthood classes.

7. Teaching good lessons in Gospel Essentials class.

8. Inviting members to participate in baptismal services well in advance.

9. Inviting members to tell their conversion story at baptismal services.

10. Having the bishop, ward mission leader, or other members baptize your converts.

11. Bringing quality families into the Church that are well taught and committed to the gospel.

12. Blessing their house and family during visits.

13. ALWAYS BEING POSITIVE AROUND THE LEADERS AND BEING ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT THE WORK. DON'T TELL THEM THE PROBLEMS OR THE FRUSTRATIONS. LOOK ON THE BRIGHT SIDE.

14. Looking sharp, dignified - a step above the crowd.

15. Smiling - greeting members on Sunday - being friendly