Hello Again!

Talk about a fantastic but crazy busy week this last week! When Elder Bingham and I finished our planning and our weekly numbers last night we sat back and realized we were simply exhausted. It was worth it though.

We had our zone conferences this past week as well as 4 consecutive afternoon exchanges we conducted. It is amazing what you can learn from other people.

In our zone conference we focused on the subject of "Finding the Lord's Will in our Planning and in Everything that We Do." We started off by focusing on the principles of receiving personal revelation, maintaining the spirit in our companionship inventory, as well as some focused instruction given by various stake presidents in our mission. In the afternoon Elder Bingham and I were given charge to conduct the afternoon portion of the meeting. We decided that we would address topic of "Our Personal Plan of Salvation."

We all know that we have a purpose in life. Part of our mortal experience is to make mistakes, learn grow... the list is quite extensive. We are all in the search for finding happiness and, eventually, obtaining eternal life living in the presence of God with our family. What is interesting, however, is that the major steps that one needs to take are the same. We each need to have faith, repent, by baptized by one holding the authority to do so, receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, and endure to the end by obeying all the commandments that God has given us. This is known as following the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Even though the big steps are the same for each individual person, the smaller steps that comprise those of the larger are different and unique to each person. That is the principle that we wanted to get across to the missionaries in our mission. We cannot simply teach the same thing to every person and expect them to take the necessary steps. We need to identify those steps for each one of our investigators, find the principle of doctrine they need to know, make a plan, then teach it to their understanding. This is quite an extensive process but it is the only one that works in the Lord's work. 

So how does this principle apply to those who aren't missionaries? The Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ has the answers to life's questions. Many times we are faced with a decision and we aren't sure what choice we should take. Often times we are in a position where we are helping others make decisions (parents and teachers for example). What we need to realize is that each one of us can receive guidance from our Heavenly Father for those underneath our stewardship, or in other words, those who are our responsibility. Those people are God's children too. He loves them just as much as he loves you and me and he WANTS us to help them the best way possible. All he asks us to do is to work side by side with him to discover their needs and then address them so that both the teacher and the student are strengthened in the process. I know that as we actively seek the Lord's will he will help us along the way  and he will give us the guidance that we seek. We just have to be willing to put for the effort to find it.

By the end of this zone conference I had a whole different perspective of my calling. I have a strong testimony that this process works. We have been implementing it in our own personal area and the results have been incredible. It is the best feeling in the world to be able to go into a lesson, confident of what you are going to teach, and have to spirit present acting as the senior companion. I have found great joy in the work and know that as we continue to apply this principle in everything we do we will continue to see increased results and progress in each of our investigators.

Well, it's about time for me to sign off for the week. I pray that each of you has a safe and great week!

Sincerely,
Elder Klemme

January 17, 2011

Hey All,

For the most part this week was a very normal week. No major meetings or anything like that. We were able to spend a good amount of time in our area as well as do a couple of exchanges. Nothing crazy or outrageous.

I'll simply bear my testimony this week. This coming zone conference we will be focusing on the concept of personal revelation and doing the Lord's will. It's been an interesting study topic for the week. As I was studying some of the past General Conference talks on the subject, I came across this quote by Julie B. Beck from the General Relief Society Presidency:

"The ability to qualify for, receive, and act on personal revelation is the single most important skill that can be acquired in this life. Qualifying for the Lord’s Spirit begins with a desire for that Spirit and implies a certain degree of worthiness. Keeping the commandments, repenting, and renewing covenants made at baptism lead to the blessing of always having the Lord’s Spirit with us. Making and keeping temple covenants also adds spiritual strength and power to a woman’s life. Many answers to difficult questions are found by reading the scriptures because the scriptures are an aid to revelation. Insight found in scripture accumulates over time, so it is important to spend some time in the scriptures every day. Daily prayer is also essential to having the Lord’s Spirit with us. Those who earnestly seek help through prayer and scripture study often have a paper and pencil nearby to write questions and record impressions and ideas."

We also learn from President Benson that "Personal Revelation is necessary for salvation." I know for myself personally I have been able to expand my capacity to receive and recognize personal revelation while being a missionary. It is such a key part of what we do. I know that as we strive to seek personal revelation, to really seek guidance from Heavenly Father, we will be able to find true happiness in our lives.

I know that this gospel is true. I know that we can read the Book of Mormon, ask Heavenly Father if it is true, and if we listen he will manifest unto us of it veracity by the power of the Holy Ghost. I invite everyone to take this challenge: read or re-read the Book of Mormon and then pray to know if it is true. I know that you will receive an answer from our Heavenly Father. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Sincerely,
Elder Klemme

January 10, 2011

Hey Everyone,

I have really come to understand just how much Heavenly Father blesses us when we keep ourselves fully consecrated on the work and strive to do all that we can to bring others unto him. This week was filled with some polar opposite experiences but I have never been more sure of the power of the Atonement.

We started off the week with two days of leadership training with the zone and district leaders in the mission. They were very productive I feel and I think we are going to see good increases in finding and baptizing in our mission. The Lord has been blessing us with a plentiful harvest in this part of his vineyard.

As for Elder Bingham and I, after baptizing four of our investigators last month have been working on re-building our teaching pool. It hasn't been the easiest thing in the world but we know that as we do what the Lord asks of his he will bless us with those things we need. That was made manifest at the end of the week. On Thursday we received a referral from the Mesa Temple visitors center that we had basically no info on so we decided to check them out on Friday. When we knocked on their door the invited us right in, shut off the TV, and told us they have been going to church with her sister in Mesa for two months and were ready to get baptized. SOOO were were absolutely shell shocked about the situation but set a baptismal date with them for the 29th of this month! Talk about a miracle from the hand of the Lord. He is truly blessing our branch.

On the other side, I was on an exchange in one of the northern branches we had and met some...not ready people to put it lightly. We tracted for 4 hours but were only able to talk with 1 family. They invited us back so that was good but, for the most part it was a little more difficult day. However, it was a good day and I learned a lot from the missionary I went on exchanges with.

I just want to bear my testimony of the truthfulness of this message. I know that this is the only true church on the face of the earth that has the authority to act in God's name. This is the only place where there is a true and living prophet. I know that the Book of Mormon is true because I asked God in true and humble prayer and he answered me by the power of the Holy Ghost. I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God and that he was called to restore the truthfulness of the gospel to the earth. Most of all, I know every person in the world can know of the truthfulness of this message for themselves. It just takes desire to know if it is true. I invite each of you who are not members of the church to really consider the truthfulness of this message, go to mormon.org, talk with some missionaries and listen to the things they have to say. This message changes lives, it gives us the foundation we need to make it through the trials of life. This is my testimony in the sacred name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Sincerely,
Elder Klemme

January 3, 2011

Hey all,

Another transfer week come and gone and another new month and new year before us! I hope that everyone had a fun and safe New Year's holiday!

Things are going well in the APM! It looks like January will be a good month for us and will definitely start the year off right. There are just so many people here that are ready to accept the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. We have truly seen miracles across our mission.

As for my companion and I, we are seeing significant progress in our area. We were reviewing our numbers for December and came to the conclusion that the people we are finding, teaching, and baptizing are some of the most sincere, prepared people we have ever taught. We have complete confidence in the Lord that he will help us teach to their needs and help them come to the waters of baptism. We have also been working on a project to help members become more Preach My Gospel oriented and we are seeing incredible results. It is so exciting to be able to see some one's face light up when they understand and are able to apply a principle of Preach My Gospel.

Apart from that the week was a normal week. Minus the FREEZING cold temperatures we have been having. It was in the mid 30's for a couple of days last week and it even snow flurried down here in the valley. Up north and on some of the taller mountains in the valley there was quite a bit of snow on top. Crazy to think that, only 6 months or so ago it was still 110 degrees outside and now there is snow....The weather is crazy here!

That's about it for now. I hope that every has a great and safe week and until next post ihasta luego!

Sincerely,
Elder Klemme