Elder David y Hna. Pam Johnson

Tuesday, July 14, 2009 (Our first full day at the MTC)

Training in “Preach My Gospel” is the curriculum for the next 4 days. Morning and afternoon we’ve been trained in the teaching principles of “Preach My Gospel” by some of the best young returned missionaries. The spirit of the Lord is so thick you can cut it with a knife. This afternoon we had a volunteer come to our room and pretend to be an investigator interested in the gospel. Pam and I gave her the 1st discussion on the “Restoration of the Church of Jesus Christ”. It was an awesome experience. I had missionary feelings I hadn’t had since I was a 19 year old serving in Mexico 40 years ago. Even though the pretend investigator was an active member of the church, it was truly an inspirational moment. Her name was Francine Potter and she was in tears as she listened to the message of the restoration. Wow! Back home our Ward Mission Leader, Bro. Boyd Ferguson, would love this and all of the other experiences we are having.

Today we were taught the method to commit an investigator to accept a challenge from a missionary. Things like committing to attend church or to know for themselves if the gospel is true or to read the Book of Mormon. In the book it is entitled “How do I Help People Make and Keep Commitments?” I remembered Nathan & Jacob speaking of this as “The Commitment Pattern” and what a wonderful tool it is to help an investigator. I found it interesting that our instructor didn’t call it “the commitment pattern” but used several different phrases to describe it like “a guide to commitment” or “Commitment Items”, etc. So… I asked why not. Sis. Owens, our instructor, said with a big smile the term “Commitment Pattern” has been banned. Then with a chuckle and a smile she said that if she where to use it in training she could get fired! She went on to explain the reason. The Brethren have completely changed the approach missionaries are to use in teaching investigators. There are no more ridged rules. No more memorization of discussions or teaching by rote. In fact no more strict teaching systems, agendas or anything that would interfere with the missionary feeling the spirit and following it’s promptings as he/she is teaching. Therefore there are no more strict “patterns” to follow to help an investigator keep commitments. All of the steps still exist and are taught here at the MTC. However the missionary, under the influence of the spirit of our Heavenly Father, can change the order, emphasis, how, when, or where he/she uses them. The gospel really is true!
This evening we attended our first MTC devotional. Our visiting general authority was Elder Robert R. Steuer of the Seventy. He was a Mission President in Saul Paulo Brazil from ’84 to ’87. He is a doctor by profession. He sure gave a wonderful talk on missionary work. My 4 pages of notes are way too long to put here but I plan to refer to them often once Pam and I get into the mission field.

OK, maybe just this one story. He wanted to point out that nothing happens by accident. There are no coincidences when it comes to the work of the Lord. His hand is in all of our lives and guides us. He told the store of two young missionaries that franticly called him one afternoon and said: President, I have three little fingers in my hand. What do I do? He replied; you have what? President, I have three little fingers in my hand, what do I do? The President said; Calm down Elder and explain to me what the problem is. The frantic Elder responded; we were walking down a street we’ve never been on before. There came a shout from a lady at her kitchen window: Elders come quick, I need you! Inside we discovered a little child has accidently cut off three of her fingers with a kitchen knife. I have the three little fingers in my hand, what do I do? The President (a doctor) instructed the Elders to wrap the child’s hand to stop the bleeding. Then put the fingers in a cup, sprinkle them with salt and get the child and fingers to the hospital so the fingers could be sowed back on. So… you see, there are now coincidences, the Lord has His hand in the lives of His people.

Another interesting thing that happened tonight before the devotional started. All of the Senior Couples were seated on the front 3 rows 15 minutes before start time. We have to be there early because that is when they open the doors to all of the young Elders and Sisters to find a seat. If we are not in our places, the left over seats are made available to the young Elders & Sisters. So, promptly at 6:45 all of the entrances (about 6) were opened at once and a flood of dark suits & ties, as well as sisters poured into the auditorium like a flood of water filling a maze. All of the senior couples stood up and turned around to see this amazing event. It was the “Army of the Lord” coming into the building. Then we all remained standing, facing them, as if to salute and honor these young people until they had all found their seats. It was a very powerful moment.