…VAN EEN VERNUFTIGE
MAKELIJ…
(1 Nephi 18:1)
Belgium/Netherlands Mission
GREAT
WARRIORS
One
would be smart to pick his battles in life.
There are plenty of challenges and we cannot fight them all. So, focus on what can make a difference. I have said many times, we have control over
only a few things on our mission. We
control how well we prepare to become very good at what we do. We control how hard we work which is a
measure of our commitment to excellence.
We control our worthiness. Having
“control” of something does no good unless we make an effort to improve with
determination to succeed. We are
warriors in this struggle to successfully invite and help others to come unto
Christ and to convert ourselves in a deep enduring way. I hope each of us at the end of our mission
can truthfully say, “I never worked so hard in all my life, and I became the
best I could be.”
Since
July all missionaries in the mission have been improving to become very good at
what we do. A few of the skills and processes
we have taught are: the mission plan is
to follow the keys - the Stake Plan, Operation
Build a Stake, internalize attributes of Christ, become addicted to the
pursuit, eliminate self limiting beliefs, find the one each day, IFBP process
to invite for baptism, maintain 3-5 progressing investigators, shelf life, top
10, presentation skills, complement members, train your replacement, leaders
are responsible for performance of the group, increase exchanges to assist each
other, set an example, go on monthly home and visiting teaching assignments,
raise expectations to one baptism per month per companionship, etc.
I
stated that we are warriors, I am reminded of the story of great warriors,
Captain Moroni and Teancum (Alma 50,
51). Captain Moroni had been busy with
the people building fortifications to protect the people and their cities from
their enemies. This was a time described
as prosperous and there never was a happier time among the people of
Nephi. Then the people who possessed the
land of Morianton claimed part of the land of Lehi and not only contention but
war broke out between the two sides.
Morianton, the leader of one side, was a passionate man and beat his
servant, who fled to Moroni’s camp and told him that Morianton was planning to
flee with his people to the land northward and joint those people which created
a grave danger to the Nephites.
Teancum
lead an army to head the people of Morianton.
They successfully stopped them.
Later in a general election the people choose a free government supported
by Freemen as opposed to a dictator supported by the Kingmen. The Kingmen, being sore losers, would not support
the nation in battle. Therefore, while
Captain Moroni cleaned out the Kingmen and subjected the people to peace and
civilization, the Lamonites lead by Amalickiah came into the land and conquered
several of their cities with the fortifications. Captain Moroni again sent Teancum this time to
stop the advance of Amalickiah’s army.
Teancum was again successful. He
repulsed Amalickiah’s army and killed Amalickiah. Teancum’s secret for this great victory is
found as follows:
“…
Teancum and his men…were great warriors;
for every man of Teancum did exceed the Lamanites in their strength and in their skill of war insomuch that they did gain advantage over the Lamanites.” (Alma
51:31)
This
is a great metaphor for the Elders and Sisters in the Belgium Netherlands
Mission. I bolded the words above to draw attention to what this is saying. Can
you imagine this army? Teancum did not
take his B Team. These warriors must
have repeatedly practiced, studied, exercised and re-trained to have become so
skilled. Every man was skilled. They were not run of the mill warriors, each
of them were great warriors. All of the
warriors, not some of them or a few of them, exceeded the strength and the skill
of the Lamanites. These were the best,
not a rag tag group with a few good ones.
Captain Moroni understood the principle, “don’t take pea shooter to a
gun fight,” and he obviously understood the one thing they had complete control
over is how well prepared they were.
Apparently, by hard work and effort they became great warriors which
greatly increased their chances of success.
We
are great warriors in the battle we are waging to recover those who want to
join God’s chosen people. We are in the
front lines of this war, the oldest war on earth which began in the pre-earth
life. This week at Zone Conference we
will learn more simple, effective and necessary skills and techniques that will
make us great warriors in missionary work.
It will take some work and effort to internalize better skills but
becoming a great warrior is worth the effort.
It will bring about more success.
Come prepared for improvement. We
already have the basics of what it takes and each of us can improve personally
in specific areas so we can exceed the strength and the skill of Satan’s
opposition.
President
Robinson
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