Rome West Zone Conference - July 2014

July 1, 2014

The theme for this round of zone conferences is "Learning From and Teaching From the Scriptures".  President Benson said that the Book of Mormon is the most powerful teaching tool we have.

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Preach My Gospel - Pg. 180

Your ability to teach with power from the scriptures comes in large measure from the time you personally spend studying them.  As you daily feast upon the word, your ability to teach from the scriptures will improve.  In addition, your invitations to study and ponder the scriptures will be more powerful because you are doing the same thing in your life.  Help people gain faith in the scriptures--particularly the Book of Mormon--as sources of revealed truth.  When people come to believe the scriptures, you will be better able to help them understand doctrines correctly. 

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During part of the conference, we separated the anziani and sorelle into two rooms.  In my section, I asked the Sister Training Leaders to give a short adestramento on Preparing to Step Up.  We have 22 of our seasoned missionaries returning home during the next transfer and another huge group the transfer after that.  We are preparing our younger missionaries to take their place as leaders in the mission.  The STL's were asked to share valuable things they have learned on their mission, things learned that helped make them a good leader, and what younger missionaries need to know and do to be the future leaders of the mission.

The STL's wanted to impress on everyone the importance of understanding that each missionary has unique and special qualities and that we are all different.  They put pieces of paper on every one's back and then each missionary had the opportunity to write something positive about that person on the paper.  The goal was to help each sister understand they each have special gifts and talents and that we are all good, even if we are all different.

They talked about the importance of "Beeing the best you can bee".  (Of course, I loved that.)  They quoted from a talk titled "The Fourth Missionary" by Lawrence E. Corbridge that said:

"The United States Army [Sister Waddoups] says "Be all that you can be".  But neither the Army nor you know all that you can be.  The Lord says:  "Let me make of you all that you can be."  As measured by men's standards Army Rangers are impressive, but when compared with what the Lord can make of you, compared to the realization of your divine potential they truly are nothing.  The realization of your amazing, astounding, and true potential happens only in the hands of the Lord.  But you and only you can place yourselves in those masterful, loving hands."

Rome West Zone - July 2014