Mission Blog: Elder Ballard

Showing posts with label Elder Ballard. Show all posts

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

First there was one. Now there are two.

September 15, 2013

The members of the Rome Italy Stake were so excited The prospect of having two stakes is breathtaking. Knowing that an Apostle would be there was the icing on the cake. There wasn't a church building large enough to hold the conference so it was held in a hotel. They do that for all stake conferences. It's hard to believe there are enough people for two stakes. They aren't like the stakes in Utah. When the Rome Stake was first created, it had 550 members. With the division of the stake, each stake will have approximately 650 members. The new stake includes the island of Sardegna. That means the new stake president will have to do a lot of traveling between the mainland and the island.

As a mission, we flew all the missionaries serving in Sardegna to the conference. Many of the members living there made a special trip to Rome to be in attendance in person. Those who were unable to come watched via satellite. (Modern technology is wonderful.)

There wasn't an empty seat in the entire room. It was filled to capacity. Those who were in attendance were greatly blessed by putting forth the effort to come. Many of the missionaries had investigators who also made the trip to Rome for the conference. After sustaining the new members of the two new stake presidencies, the remainder of the conference was spent talking about being member missionaries.

Elder Ballard said he had never heard of a missionary dying from over work and he wanted the members of the wards and branches to keep them so busy they didn't have any empty space in their planners. He extended a challenge to spread the gospel and bring so many new members into the church that it won't be long before another stake if formed in Rome.

At the end of the meeting, Elder Ballard asked the two stake presidents to stand next to him and then had Elder De Feo stand between them. Next he added Pres. Waddoups next to Elder De Feo. He asked them to raise their right arms and commit to do all they can to spread the gospel. At this point, he invited all the missionaries in attendance to come and stand in front of them. He then had them raise their hands and commit to working with the brethren standing on the podium to further the work. At this point, Elder Ballard asked all the bishops and branch presidents in the audience to stand and commit to the same thing. It was an awesome sight and experience.

The last thing Elder Ballard did was to leave an Apostolic Blessing on the saints in Rome, Italy. There's really no way to describe the feeling in the room at the time. The spirit was so strong. I feel privileged to be here and be part of this.

Mormon Minute has an entry from the Beekeeper in Italy. We have been eager to meet him since our theme is "Bee the best you can bee!". He is the brother of our Stake President and was at conference.

Missionaries and an Apostle

September 15, 2013

The missionaries were so excited to have the opportunity to have Elder Ballard speak to them. We were hoping he would have a chance, but we didn't know for certain it was really going to happen until just before we left France on Friday afternoon and Elder Ballard said he had arranged to meet with them at 8:00 am before the conference to split the Rome Stake at 10:00 am on Sunday morning. By the time we got back to Rome late that evening, the office couple and the assistants had everything arranged so all the missionaries serving in the area affected by the change would be in Rome. That meant having some of them from the outlying regions of Rome come in by bus and train. The missionaries from Napoli rode in a bus and the missionaries from Sardegna had to fly in. The real shock was that they had also arranged for 34 of the missionaries to spend the night at the villa. It's an interesting life we live. We hadn't been there all week and were just getting back ourselves. We had every bed full and actually had 6 mattresses laid out side by side in the laundry room. Luckily the missionaries are young and love being together so they love it. We're happy to have them here, but it sure leaves a mess.

The missionaries who spent the night at the villa rode the metro to the hotel where the conference was being held. They got up at 4:30 and left at 6:00 am so they could be there for the meeting at 8:00. Everyone wanted to be there early so they could get the best seats. We were so proud of them with their modest dresses and their suits and ties.

Not only did Elder Ballard speak to them, but we also had Elder Maynes, who is in the Presidency of the Seventy speak to them also. Elder De Feo who is an Area Authority Seventy, and Pres. Petronelli, the Stake President, were also there.

The missionaries were pumped and ready to go to work at the conclusion of the meeting.

Everything is ready for the meeting.

The first ones there get the front row.

Saving the good seats for the meeting with Elder Ballard.

First time they have seen each other since leaving the MTC.

Maybe we should just ban soccer.

Brother and sister who live in the Milan Mission but are serving in the Rome Mission. They have never served in the same zone, but both came to Rome for the split of the Rome Stake.

Monday, September 16, 2013

European Mission President Seminar in Versailles, France

September 10-13, 2013

The European Mission Presidents gathered together in Versailles, France for a three day seminar to be instructed by the European Area Presidency. We were also privileged to have two apostles and a member of the presiding bishopric with us. It was a spiritually charged event.

The main concept taught was that "Nothing is too hard for the Lord". Some of the highlights of the seminar that I jotted notes about were the following:

Elder Ballard told about President Kimball who taught we should Lengthen our Stride and at the following conference said we should Quicken our Pace.

There is no work that is too difficult for the Lord.

President Monson handles things on earth, but the Lord oversees everything.

Alma taught the poor people because they were the ones who would listen to him and they rose up to be the leaders. (Very appropriate because financially Italy is in terrible shape. There is lots of unemployment and people are struggling.)

The early saints who crossed over in boats and then across the plains did so because missionaries had taught them the gospel.

We can't slow down the tsunami. (The Hastening)

Elder Ballard said when he was mission president he had no time to sleep. (Something we totally understand.) He told the Lord if there was anything else he needed to know he would have to teach him while he was asleep because he didn't have anymore time.

Most important thing we are doing as mission presidents is preparing future leaders of the church--maybe even a new general authority.

Many people join church because somebody had put them in the area book prior to that time. The Area book becomes controlling source to know that the Lord's vineyard is being watched over. How would you feel if the Savior asked to see how you are overseeing his vineyard?

When you get to be 80 and you don't have a planner, you'll be toast. Missionaries have to have a plan if they are going to get where they are going.

Mosiah 18:21 taught there should be no contention one with another.

3 Nephi 27:13 says even as ye have seen me do, that, too, shall you do.

Concentrate missionary work on those who are under 40 years old. That is the age group that asks Who am I? Where am I going? Why am I here? Young families bring children up in the church. Don't ignore others, but concentrate on younger ones.

Elder Teixiera, the Area President, taught the importance of goal setting. There is something about believing that we can do it. Don't let previous traditions affect your work.

The theme of Elder Maynes talk was we should Find, Teach, and Baptize.

Referring to the missionary purpose, Elder Mayne said: "If you know a principle, you should live it. There is a difference between stating the missionary purpose and actually doing what it says."

Everything a missionary does all day long should be connected to the purpose.

You can't baptize unless you teach and you can't teach unless you find.

Get out and teach with your missionaries.

Preparation Day is not a play day. Are missionaries preparing or are they so exhausted they can't work the next day.

Zone leaders are like the tide. When they rise up they bring all the boats with them.

Get missionaries out of cars.

Missionaries need to become as Nephi as old. They need to have FAITH.

You must shoot beyond your goal. Goal is not baptism, but temple.

President Dyches referred to D&C 6:33-39 and said to Fear not, Doubt not.

Mission Presidents and Stake Presidents need to work in harmony.

Missionary work is like a zipper. There are two sides, missionaries and stake and ward leaders, and the Holy Ghost binds us together. There is power on both sides, but unless there is something to combine them something is lost. The keys on both sides need to align.

Prior to baptism, ask the investigator who he/she would like to come to their baptism so the missionaries can go and teach them about what they are doing and why.

Elder Oaks said to teach the missionaries it's not their mission but the Lord's mission. You are giving time back to the Lord because it really is His mission. You will never have this opportunity again.

When missionaries rise to a higher level, they feel worthy to ask the Lord to bless them with miracles.

Important to pray for the Lord's will to be done instead of ordering Him around and telling him what we want done.

Sometimes we convert people to the church, but not to the gospel. Our main purpose is to invite others to come unto Christ.

Difference between those who baptize and those who don't is commitment. Moroni 10:4 is a call for commitment.

Bishop Davies taught the words of Christ will show unto you all that what ye should do.

D&C 100 tells us doors will be opened.

Pres. Kearon said missionaries need to be a physical presence in the wards on Sunday.

SEMINAR