Elder Nelson Fireside

Fireside with Elder and Sister Nelson of the 1^st quorum of the 70 on July 21^st, 2013

Sister Nelson:  The Spanish brought the Catholic religion, so only Asian country that is Christian.  Bottom part is Muslim. The church has been there for 50 years.  The first 4 missionaries there are still alive.  There are now 85 stakes, 2 temples and one being built, 21 missions and 670,000 members out of 97 million people in a land mass as big as Arizona. 

They speak to the MTC there every 6 weeks.  All are going to Asian countries.  880 chapels, 12-20 K people baptized a year.  10 area authorities are from the Philippines.  Over 100 dialects, but almost all speak English.  They are a happy humble people and due to the love of family and having children they accept the gospel.   Michael Tae, the youngest 70 in the church who has only lived in the Philippines is going to Salt Lake City.

They lived in New Zealand for 2 years.  They they go a meeting with everyone.  A picture of their face comes up and they tell you where you are going. 

Elder Nelson:

Mark ch 2- most important thing- I can heal your hearts!

John ch 6 Why point out the bread and fish left over? He is the living bread!  I am the one that can help you.  My Grace is sufficient for all of you and there is enough and to spare. 

Question about blessings:  Exercise agency in all we do.  Ask! We will receive all the father has, after all we can do.  Elder Eyring’s talk in conference mentions Spencer W. Kimball- give me another mountain!  Challenges make us grow.  No challenges – the plan is not working for you.  

Question about China: The Lord can do his own work.  Miss are coming out of China.  The wealthy Chinese are sending their kids to USA, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand to get educated and are joining the church.  We have districts and branches in China.  The church is already there!

Tonga is 45 % LDS.  It’s like Provo.  Samoa has 22 stakes.  He’d rather have his car break down in the Philippines than on Blue Lakes because it’s a very family oriented.  The church struggles with the gospel in other places because they are not family friendly and don’t have kids.

Question about worries:  We live below our spiritual privileges.  Read Elder Oaks talk in the August Ensign.

The principles of Preach my Gospel are now in the new curriculum for youth.

Question about missionaries on Facebook:  The brethren have been trying to combat Satan for the last 10 to 12 years so he doesn't get control over the internet.  We want you on the internet. They have to be on 1 hour a day.  People don’t want us in their homes any more.  They chat, text, send messages.  We are going to trust the missionaries.  They will send Mormon messages to investigators in morning when it’s not productive time.  They make initial contact on line and then they want us in their home.  Soon missionaries will all have I-pads with GPS.  Don’t have to train them; they already know how to use it.   With the change in the missionary age there is 33 thousand more missionaries in 1 year!

Question about Temple building and Money:  The church doesn't spend money until it’s been in the bank for 1 year.  They have to allocate it differently.  Building projects are on hold.  Missionary work is the focus.

We can have personal ministries.  What can we do at the moment that the Holy Ghost tells us?  It’s not about you- your there for others.  Who is your person this week you need to help/touch?  Quit thinking about our life.

Question about Marriage:  Traditional marriage- we are behind the rest of the world in wickedness concerning same sex marriage.  We are not anti-anything. We are pro-marriage. We stand for truth and righteousness.

Question about Pres. Monson: He is 85 years old.  He was a member of the 12 at age 37. He always tell the GA’s  Who the Lord calls he qualifies.   He’s a minister.  He’s not in his office, he’s out ministering. 

Packer says It’s so hard to get old on stage.  We will always have old prophets.  As the world gets worse the Lord is hastening his work.

Ends with his testimony:  Come unto Him,  See, partake, feel, serve, understand.  The More Righteous than they.  Repent, be converted that I may heal you is what he said in 3 Nephi. 

Book Review: Every Day Missionaries

Today will be a broadcast from the church about missionary work.  It's nation wide and will be rebroadcast to the rest of the world. You can learn more about it here:

http://www.lds.org/church/events/the-work-of-salvation-missionary-broadcast?lang=eng

I recently read this book.  I loved it because it taught HOW to get it into the investigators heart; HOW to pray, HOW to keep the Sabbath day holy, HOW to study a book of scripture.  All things that most don't know how to do.  We often baptize people who don't get it, who don't know how to do these things, but this tells us HOW to help get it IN to them!

Mr. Christensen is a member of the 70.  

I took copious notes and I'd like to share them here: 

Part 1 Finding People for the Missionaries to Teach

Ch 1:  1. We don’t need to transform our relationships into friendships as a pre-requisite to invite others to learn about the gospel. (p 21)

2.We don’t have to prepare them.

3. You don’t know who will say yes or no.

4. Asking is success in itself regardless of how it turns out.

Ch 2:  1. Use Finding NEMO (not in the book, but same idea)  NEMO: Natural expressions missionary opportunities.  2. When they ask you a question, ask them “why?” so you know how to answer something they are interested in and you know how to respond.  People joined a. closeness to God they saw in others, b. happiness and sense of peace, c. better sense of purposefulness and direction.   3. Decoupling: “I’m going to ask you a question, but before I do we need to agree that our friendship won’t be affected if you decide this isn't of interest to you.”  4. Compare the questions WE ask, not our answers, i.e.. Joseph Smith question, Council of Nicea- stopped asking questions after words.  Ask them questions as explanations.

Ch 3: Ask them to help us: teach, move, career nights, basketball team.  Focus on a. getting members involved in community organizations. b. invite them to serve with us!  People want to help! 

Ch 4:  Share at work through 1. Words (NEMO) 2. Use the gospel to solve problems.  See the 5 things he learned p 67-68.

Ch 5: Set deadlines to goals and it will happen.   The desperation principle.   It happens near the end!

Ch 6: Sharing the gospel online.  a. create web sites b. call online missionaries c. have non-members read it and help with editing for effectiveness.  See these web sites: 

ablogaboutlove.com

mormonperspectives.com

youngandmormon.com

Part 2 Teaching Toward Conversion

Ch 7: Teach how to pray: ask investigator to listen and notice while 3 people pray.  They usually notice the beginning, how to end, thanking and asking.

Ch 8: Teach how to study the BOM. Have them come with questions.  Give them 2 short assignments to read. Have them pray, read, write, pray read write pray. The writing forces you to think about it.

Ch 9: Teach how to keep the Sabbath day holy.  1. Schedule a mtg with the missionaries at the church.  Teach a wonderful lesson.  2. Teach to take the sacrament; teach to keep the rest of the day holy.  Read Mosiah 3: 16-19   Ask what are some unholy things people do on Sunday?  What are holy thing to do?

Ch 10: Teach about temptations: Our opponents are not passive.  1. Disobey God’s commandments – It’s easier to keep them 100% of the time than 98%.  2. Personal apostasy.  We need to teach that questions lead to revelation. We will learn more and more, but the whole complete truth has already been there!

Part 3 Building the Kingdom of God. (amazing results)

Ch 11: U-night, a mtg in church, each proselyting family brought another family.  Movie- then discussion in home, then U-night with more families, etc. 

Ch 12: In Boston, a twig.  12 people met in a home, then 20, then 40, then 80, 120, a branch.  All because after every meeting they asked themselves who didn't come and then went out and brought them back in! 

Ch 13:  2 wards, 2 branches made into 8 branches and that brought growth.  People called to serve that were not prepared or worthy, but in the desperation it worked.  Strong people trained and there was amazing growth.  Leaders saw themselves as trainers.

Ch 14: The Lord trusts these words to love the new members, to embrace new people when they came in and to do missionary work because they did it!  Amazing number results in Ireland, affluent ward in Boston, and New Hampshire mission area.

Ch 15: Spanish Branch with not enough priesthood.  They fasted for a weekend for god to send a man to lead to bring change.  Next Sunday a 15 year old stuttering Jamie came.  He had a way with children, helped the missionaries out with kids, people joined.  When he came home from his mission no one left the room after his talk.  13 boys came up and promised to go on missions when they turned 19.  12 did.

Ch 16: The thoughts and ways of God

1.      The simple and weak D&C 1:19-24

2.      Friends, responsibilities and nourishment's

3.      The good shepherd “How think ye?”  Who could have been here today that didn't come?”

4.      Love one another.  God trusted these wards. It wasn't miraculous, it’ was predictable.  D&C 58:26-29

Epilogue  My Testimony.  He thinks about missionary work and many other things every day. (He's a Harvard professor)  He simply has been trying to learn fundamental truth and falsehoods that affect us.  He leaves us with a web site to help us do all the things he taught in the book.  

http://www.everydaymissionaries.org/