On a Clear Day

Dear Missionaries,

Eighty years ago a musical called “On a Clear Day You Can See Forever” was performing on Broadway in New York City. I’ve never seen the musical and I don’t know anything about it – but I do like the name of it. I like the idea of expansive vistas, of unobstructed views, and of clear vision.

Once I had an opportunity to fly from New York City to Paris on a super-fast jet called the Concorde. The Concorde had an average cruise speed of Mach 2.02 (1,330 mph) with a maximum cruise altitude of 60,000 feet, more than twice the speed of conventional aircraft.

The jet flew so high the one could see the curvature of the earth when looking out the small windows. I couldn’t see forever, but I saw more than ever before.

It was a clear day in 1820 when fourteen-year-old Joseph Smith asked God which, if any, church was true. His own words record, “So, in accordance with this, my determination to ask of God, I retired to the woods to make the attempt. It was on the morning of a beautiful, clear day, early in the spring of eighteen hundred and twenty. It was the first time in my life that I had made such an attempt, for amidst all my anxieties I had never as yet made the attempt to pray vocally.”

The key differentiating feature of our religion is that we profess and believe that Joseph Smith, an uneducated farm boy from a poor family in rural New York, was a prophet of God. The same holy title -- with the same reverence and expectation --attributed to Moses, Elijah, Abraham, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Daniel.
To those of the established Christian churches and communities, this is blasphemy. They rebel quickly and vigorously against this claim – for if it be true, then all else is false.

Our religion is therefore a radical departure from the mainstream. It creates confusion and discomfort with many enemies and also many investigators.

For those who accept our invitation to ask God if Joseph Smith was indeed His prophet for His children in this dispensation, the walls of resistance and disbelief come tumbling down. And they are replaced with peace, understanding, knowledge and vision. We testify to all that Joseph Smith was called of God to be His prophet and to restore God’s truth and God’s plan to the earth.

A prophet is a person who has been called by and speaks for God. As a messenger for God, he receives commandments, prophecies, and revelations from God, which he imparts to God’s children. Teachings of ancient and modern prophets provide an anchor of eternal truth in a world of shifting values and help us avoid misery and sorrow.

A prophet is a righteous man with great faith who is called and chosen by God. The Lord reveals truth to him through the Holy Ghost and commands His prophet to teach truth to all people. Those who believe God’s words, as revealed through His prophet, are blessed.

Truth is knowledge of things as they really are, were, and will be. It does not change with conditions or time. Thus, it is the same in every age and culture. God is the source of all truth and wants all of His children to know the truth; thus, He reveals the truths necessary for salvation through prophets and apostles. He can reveal truth to you personally through the scriptures and personal revelation.

Christ’s Church has always been built on the foundation of apostles and prophets, who direct the Church by revelation. The Lord called Joseph Smith as the first prophet and head of this last dispensation. His successors who lead The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints today are also prophets and apostles. The President of the Church today is a living prophet.

All prophets are special witnesses of Jesus Christ. Apply this test to Joseph Smith. Consider these two verses from section 76 of the Doctrine and Covenants:

“14 Of whom we bear record; and the record which we bear is the fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ, who is the Son, whom we saw and with whom we conversed a in the heavenly vision.
23 For we saw him, even on the right hand of God; and we heard the voice bearing record that he is the Only Begotten of the Father.”

The following chart shows the prophetic nature of Joseph Smith’s calling. Lost truths have been clarified or restored, and our vision of who we are and what’s to come has been expanded. On a clear day, a prophet can see forever!

Preparing Investigators for Baptism

Dear Missionaries,

You and your companion should do all you can to achieve 1-2 baptisms every transfer. We have 70 companionships in PPM. If we have 1-2 baptisms per companionship, we’ll get 70-140 baptisms per transfer. But currently we are averaging only 40-45 baptisms per transfer. This is far below our goal – which we believe is completely achievable.

Reaching this goal will require missionaries and companionships to shift into a “new gear” in terms of planning, effort, faith and focus.

Be careful that you don’t create an “artificial ceiling” in your expectations. For example, you and your companion might be teaching 12-14 lessons each week. And you have become satisfied with this result. It might surprise you to learn that missionaries serving in your area one year ago were teaching 20-22 lessons each week. If this is the case, then you have created an “artificial ceiling”. Tear it down so that you can go to new heights!

You can use your Area Book to assess the performance of prior companionships. You can also study old “Transfer Evaluation Forms”. An artificial ceiling limits your vision and allows you to rationalize and justify your performance. We should never place limits upon ourselves in missionary work!

Be careful you don’t condemn your teaching area as one that is empty of baptismal opportunities. When a missionary “loses faith in his area” it is the same as a “missionary who loses faith”. This means that you have actually given up on God. Don’t let this happen to you!

Your transfer goals, weekly goals and daily goals provide the foundation upon which you build your success. A weak foundation assures weak results. Goals are to be reviewed constantly. Review your transfer goals during weekly planning. Review your weekly goals during 9PM nightly planning. Review your daily goals 2-3 times each day as you go about your work.

The purpose of your teaching is to help others develop faith in Jesus Christ and repent of their sins. The commitments that investigators make prepare them to make and keep the covenant of baptism. People who have kept the commitments that you invited them to make will be well prepared for their baptismal interview and for membership and activity in the Church.

As you teach investigators and prepare them for baptism and confirmation, make sure that they meet the qualifications for baptism. The 4-8 week time period leading up to a baptism is a time of change and repentance for your investigators. Old habits must be killed and new habits must be adopted. This is difficult to do! To help our investigators succeed in this time of change and repentance, we use the “Prepared Investigator Standard”.

The “Prepared Investigator Standard” is based upon the qualifications for baptism outlined on page 204 of Preach My Gospel. It is “non-negotiable”. This means that it is a requirement for all investigators in PPM. This standard, when combined with strong member involvement and Sacrament meeting attendance, leads to very high retention of recent converts. And this supports our mission goal of helping Build the Church!

Make sure you are completely familiar with the Prepared Investigator Standard. It should guide you in your teaching. It is a standard of excellence for our mission.

The Prepared Investigator Standard

Fulltime missionaries in the Pennsylvania Philadelphia Mission are to prepare their investigators for baptism, confirmation and a temple-worthy life in the Church using the following teaching standards. These are known as the “Prepared Investigator Standard”. An investigator may not be interviewed for baptism unless all of these standards have been met. In addition to these standards, the Teaching Record must be reviewed with the District Leader or Zone Leader prior to a baptismal interview.

• The investigator has attended Church for at least 4 Sundays (no exceptions). The investigator also must attend all three hours of Church for at least 2 of these Sundays.
• The investigator understands the First Vision, can explain the important parts of the event to you, has prayed about it and believes that it is true.
• The investigator believes the Restoration to be true, that Joseph Smith is a prophet, that the Church is the one true church on the earth.
• The investigator understands what the Book of Mormon is and can explain how it came to be. The investigator has read at least 20 pages of the Book of Mormon and has read daily for at least 10 days while being taught. If the investigator has a difficult time reading or comprehending, the missionary should read out loud for 10 days and at least 20 pages. The children’s version of the Book of Mormon can be used as a substitute in some situations.
• The investigator has been taught how to pray and understands the purpose of prayer. The investigator has prayed for at least 10 days while being taught.
• The investigator has been taught the principle of repentance and has repented from past transgressions. The investigator has cleaned up his or her life and has apologized to those whom they have hurt or offended.
• The investigator has been taught the Law of Chastity and has committed to live it. Boyfriends / girlfriends have moved out for at least 1 week before baptism and there have been no chastity issues (including pornography) for at least 1 week.
• The investigator has been taught the Word of Wisdom and has committed to live it. The investigator has been clean of any prohibited substances for at least 1 week.
• The investigator has been taught the Law of Tithing and is prepared to start paying tithing regularly as soon as he or she becomes a member.
• The investigator has been introduced to the Bishop or Branch President and the teachers and auxiliary leaders whom they’ll see every Sunday.
• The unit leader has assigned a Home Teacher and/or Visiting Teacher prior to the baptism. This person has committed to help during the first 6-12 months of membership and has preferably attended lessons before baptism.

We are experiencing great progress in the number of investigators with baptismal dates. Each week we now have 100 or more investigators in this category. Think of it: One hundred people have committed to baptism! This is wonderful. They each have a desire to take upon themselves the name of Christ and keep His commandments throughout their life.

Satan is aware of this situation. He throws everything that he can at our tender investigators. He does not want another baptism. It’s all out war! For this reason, only about 1 in 10 get baptized – even though all 10 had baptismal dates.
This is an area where we can greatly improve.

Treat each investigator like a precious and vulnerable nugget of gold. And once your investigator has a scheduled baptismal date, know that he or she will be under attack. You must be prepared for this. Stay close. Protect them. Love them.

Especially help them read the Book of Mormon everyday and talk to them about what they are reading. Be prepared if they receive anti-Mormon materials. Re-teach the First Vision. If God and Jesus visited Joseph Smith in this vision – and they did – then all else is true. Connect the dots so that they can have courage and confidence in their decision to be baptized. Involve members in EVERY lesson and help the members understand that importance of your nugget of gold. Do all you can to help each investigator with a date proceed successfully to baptism and then to the temple.

Joseph Smith once said, “A man filled with the love of God is not content with blessing his family alone, but ranges through the whole world, anxious to bless the whole human race.”

Fill yourself with the love of God and help us build the church in PPM.

All my love,

Pres. Murray

Cast Off Your Old Life

Dear Missionaries,

Effective missionary work requires that we ask our investigators and our less active members to make and keep commitments designed to bring them closer to God. The work of making and keeping such commitments is the same as repentance. Repentance is the essential and necessary work of turning oneself away from habits, attitudes and actions that separate one from the powerful guidance and influence of the Holy Ghost. To repent is to turn away from sin and to move in a new Christ-centered direction. To repent is to change ourselves from carnal creatures to celestial citizens. It requires work…hard work. But it is a necessary and essential part of everyone’s life.

In the parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-24), we learn that the steps of real repentance include the following:

• The recognition of and acceptance of personal responsibility for sin.
• A sincere feeling of remorse and sorrow for having sinned.
• A conscious decision to stop the wrong-doing.
• An actual "turning away from" the sin. This is a change of direction in behavior.
• A confession of sin and a humble request for forgiveness. The request for forgiveness is made to Heavenly Father and to the one who has been hurt by the sin.
• An offer to make amends for the hurt that was caused by the sin.

Repentance is not just an intellectual exercise of "feeling sorry" for sins. Repentance involves a "turning" or "reorientation" of one's life. The evidence of that change is seen in the "fruit," or how a person lives.

When one truly repents he earns the miracle of forgiveness. Evidence of this gift, which is available through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, is taught throughout the Book of Mormon. One of my favorite examples is that of Alma the Younger (Mosiah 27).

Alma undergoes an astonishing spiritual awakening after which he exclaims, “I have repented of my sins and have been redeemed of the Lord; behold I am born of the Spirit.” He goes on to say, “Marvel not that all mankind…must be born again; yea, born of God, changed from their carnal and fallen state, to a state of righteousness…And thus they become new creatures.” To become a new creature means that one’s outlook on life has completely changed, as has his value system, his belief system and his definition of happiness and success. He thinks, acts, feels and lives different than before. He is a new person.

There is different kind of repentance, or change, that missionaries can experience while serving in the mission field. As we strive to serve with our heart, might, mind and strength, we are occasionally weakened by a misguided mind. Some missionaries bring into the mission field baggage from their youth that has colored their outlook on life. This baggage consists of an improperly defined view of life, including how one relates to others and to God, how one trusts and loves others and how one defines the overall purpose of life. For some missionaries their view of life has been corrupted, even though they don’t believe it. Their view of life is inconsistent with the Plan of Happiness. It is a counterfeit and a fake. And yet they try to succeed as missionaries – a testament to their sense of duty. But it must be like running a marathon with a 50 pound cement block chained to one’s ankle. It can be done, but not very well. And there is very little joy in the effort.

Most often this incorrect life view got its start at an early age when an innocent young person tried putting together the pieces of a puzzle called “How Does Life Work?” This could have been prompted by early childhood trauma, by complex family relationships, by poor choices, by an enquiring mind or all four. During one’s teenage years this false view of life was tested and perfected -- warts and all.

Because Satan is the master of deception, he supported this false view and provided evidence that there was nothing wrong with it. He applauded the teenager for his brilliant, but flawed, insights and understandings (as false as they were).
How does one determine if he has fallen victim to this trap? If you answer “yes” to any of the following questions, it’s highly likely that you are a prisoner of a false and deceptive view of life:

• I have a very difficult time trusting people, including my friends, families and leaders.
• I get angry or very frustrated with people, including my companion, several times each week.
• I find myself often blaming others for all kinds of things.
• Obedience to God’s law is required of missionaries, but it’s not essential for success in life outside of the mission field.
• My happiness is determined by how other people are treating me.
• I am unable or unwilling to rely on God to guide me in my life.
• When I finish my mission it will be great to be able to be my “real” self again.

If you answered “yes” to any of the above questions, you have most likely created a view of life that is not consistent with the gospel of Jesus Christ. EVEN THOUGH YOU THINK YOU HAVE. This is what deception is all about. To be deceived means that you truly believe you are doing the right thing.

I cannot think of another time in a person’s life when he or she will be given the opportunity to “sort it all out” for an extended period of time and while under the loving influence of the Godhead (Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost). This is why you hear me often saying, “Replace fear with faith” and “Let go and let God”. This is why we invite you, while on your, to come unto Christ and live His gospel.

Our purpose is to invite others to come onto Christ. But we must begin with ourselves, otherwise we know not what we teach.

I strongly encourage every missionary to contemplate his or her view of life. Is it 100% consistent with the teachings of the restored gospel? Does it consistently bring you happiness, hope and peace of conscience? If not, I invite you to repent – meaning I invite you to let go of your old view and allow God to introduce you to the correct, healthy and proper view of life. There is a verse in Alma (13:27) that helps make this point. I’ve changed a couple words – shown in brackets. “And now my brethren [and sisters], I wish from the inmost part of my heart, yea, with great anxiety even unto pain, that ye would harken unto my words, and cast off your [old view of life] and not procrastinate the day of your repentance.”

This invitation is also made in Romans (12:2), “And be not conformed to this world; but be ye transformed [changed] by the renewing [e.g. changing] of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

When you let go of old deceptions, you come unto Christ in a most powerful way.

Through his Atonement, you will become a new creature and will be made free. You will become more intelligent, more powerful, more peaceful, more authentic and happier than you have ever been. If you sense that you are a candidate for a “new view” or a “mind makeover”, please visit with me and I’ll help you begin this life changing repentance process.

All my love,

President Murray

Copernicus and Missionary Work

Dear Missionaries,

For centuries people believed that the earth was the center of the universe and that the sun, moon, planets and stars all went around it. This belief was known as the geocentric model of the universe. The great philosophers (Aristotle in 300 BC), scientists (Ptolemy in the 2nd century AD) and religious experts (see Joshua 10:12-13) all said it was true. With such strong support, it had to be true!

It’s easy to come to this conclusion. The earth is very, very large, stable and solid. It doesn’t seem to be going anywhere. And the sun, moon, planets and stars all seem to be orbiting around the earth. Hence it must be the center of the universe.

And then in 1543, over 1800 years after Aristotle and others proved that the earth was the center of the universe, Nicholaus Copernicus published a remarkable book entitled On the Revolutions of the Celestial Spheres. His heliocentric model placed the sun at the center of our universe with the earth and other planets rotating around it.

Copernicus undid centuries of incorrect thinking by the smartest people on earth.

All of this is surprisingly important and relevant to our work in the Pennsylvania Philadelphia Mission. Our goal is to help Build the Church. We do this by inviting others to come unto Christ. To be effective, we must (1) come unto Christ ourselves and (2) become Master Teachers.

Many young people enter the mission field with a view of themselves that is similar to Aristotle’s and Ptolemy’s view of the universe. These missionaries believe that they are the center of the universe. They believe that everything else and everybody else rotates around them. This view is called the self-centered model. It is a model that guarantees failure as a missionary and as a human, but many hold firmly and stubbornly to their belief!

It’s easy to come to this view. Our mother’s take care of our every need. They feed us, clothe us and protect us. They wipe our tears, claim that we’re brilliant, defend us against all intruders, and spoil and pamper us. After 19 years of such treatment, one might easily conclude that he is the center of the universe!

A self-centered person cares only about himself and his own needs. He expects those orbiting around him to serve him, to make him happy, and to take away any pain or discomfort.

There are times we all have been guilty of being like this, but what sets self-centered people apart is that they behave this way all the time. Missionaries who are self-centered tend to treat companions badly because they view their companions as nothing more than objects that are in place to feed them emotionally.

For thousands of years, prophets have been teaching a very important lesson: We are not the center of the world. We are to put our love of God and His son Jesus Christ at the center.

Moses taught: “And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might,” (Deuteronomy 6:5).

And again in the New Testament we are taught, “And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment,” (Mark 12:30).

When we are self-centered, we are being selfish. We are being the “natural man”. We fail to think beyond our own needs. Such people go through life running away from their trials and failing to grow from adversity. As children of God, we have heavenly potential. But that potential must be earned through our faith and actions.

In a very important lesson, Moses learned that he was not the center of the universe. He saw God and spoke to Him face to face. God showed him the vastness of His creation:

“And it came to pass that Moses looked, and beheld the world upon which he was created; and Moses beheld the world and the ends thereof, and all the children of men which are, and which were created; of the same he greatly marveled and wondered…

And it came to pass that it was for the space of many hours before Moses did again receive his natural strength like unto man; and he said unto himself: Now, for this cause I know that man is nothing, which thing I never had supposed.” (Moses 1:8-10).

In the New Testament we are taught that we are not to seek after our own needs, but to build the Church: “Wherefore, seek not the things of this world but seek ye first to build up the kingdom of God, and to establish his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you,” (JST Matthew 6:38).

In the Book of Mormon we learn that the self-centered man is an enemy to God, “The natural man is an enemy to God.” And that he must move out of the “center” and develop that attributes of a child -- “submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him,” (Mosiah 3:19).

It is impossible for a self-centered person to help build up the kingdom of God. We must let go of our old selves and let God teach us how to live. We must replace our fear of change with faith that the best is yet to come!

We must step out of the center and into a new orbit that surrounds those who need our help, our love and our faith. Once we are in this new orbit, our eyes will be opened to the many, many opportunities for helping and serving. And we will see that we, like Moses, “are nothing” and that we must cry to the Lord for help.

Building up the Kingdom of God requires obedience and sacrifice. It requires commitment and perseverance. We must be proactive – always thinking about it and always looking for ways to engage. We must endure, persevere and refuse to stop.

President Ezra Taft Benson (1899-1994) helps us find the proper perspective with these good words:

“[In the pre-mortal life,] we rejoiced at the upcoming opportunity for earthly life that could make it possible for us to have a fullness of joy as they had. We could hardly wait to demonstrate to our Father and our Brother, the Lord, how much we loved them and how we would be obedient to them in spite of the earthly opposition of the evil one. And now we're here--our memories are veiled--and we're showing God and ourselves what we can do. Nothing is going to startle us more when we pass through the veil to the other side than to realize how well we know our Father and how familiar his face is to us. And then, [as] President [Brigham] Young said, we're going to wonder why we were so stupid in the flesh.

God loves us, he's watching us, he wants us to succeed, and we'll know someday that he has not left one thing undone for the eternal welfare of each of us. If we only knew that there are heavenly hosts pulling for us--friends in heaven, whom we can't remember now, who yearn for our victory. This is our day to show what we can do--what life and sacrifice we can daily, hourly, instantly bring to God. If we give our all, we will get his all from the greatest of all. (Source: Jesus Christ--Gifts and Expectations, Dec 10, 1974, BYU Speech.)

Christ must be in the center of our hearts, our lives and our purpose. Let’s forget ourselves and go to work!

President Murray

Come to Christ!

Dear Missionaries,

I hope you have reviewed the notes you took while being taught by Elder Lynn G. Robbins of the Seventy. He is a “master teacher” and customized his messages for each of the three Zone Conferences at which he spoke.

Elder Robbins was highly impressed with our mission because of our great focus on helping others come unto Christ while striving as missionaries to come unto Christ in our own lives.

How are you doing in your own personal quest to come unto Christ?

Do you know what this means? It means that you desire to rid yourself of any trait, characteristic, habit or thought that is selfish, self-centered, doubtful, prideful, or mean-spirited. It means that you desire to follow all of Christ’s commandments no matter what. It means that you believe that there is only one way to live your life – and that way is defined by and exemplified by Jesus Christ. It also means that you will repent frequently and thoroughly because you know the only way to be cleansed from sin and strengthen from adversity is through the Atonement of Jesus Christ.
Are you willing to examine all parts of your life – the way you think about missionary work, the way you react to others, the way you approach each day, the way you deal with challenges, the way you pray, the way you think about God, and the way you think about the very purpose of life?

One who is coming to Christ is willing to open up every nook and cranny in his mind and heart – to be inspected by his conscience and by the Lord. And is then willing to change anything and everything in order to become whom he is meant to be. This is perhaps one of the most difficult things to do – ever. And it’s one of the most important things to do – ever.

Change of this nature is always difficult – especially for those who say, “I don’t need to change because I like who I am,” and “I’m don’t want to change because my friends at home may not like me,” and “Don’t tell me what to do – nobody ever tells me what to do.”

Recently an experienced missionary made a comment – with which I agree - about his younger companion: “He hasn't been changing at all yet. He has gotten through life the way he is, and although he thinks it is working for him, it doesn't work for those around him.”

Many of us develop a wrong thinking approach to life as teenagers. We create a way to survive and sometime even thrive, based upon incorrect (or wrong) principles. These principles are almost always based on self-preservation, self-protection, pride and fear. They may work for a few years, but they will always result in damaged relationships and a lack of success. When the world crashes down on such people, they will blame others for unhappiness.

The author James Allen said, “A noble and god-like character is not a thing of favor or chance, but is the natural result of continued effort in right thinking, the effect of long-cherished association with god-like thoughts.”

If you want to change who you are, you must change what you do. This includes your thoughts, your actions and your reactions. This takes conscious, daily effort. There is no better time to embark on this journey than right now. Put Christ at the Center of your life – and then join His club!

You were called to serve in this mission for some very important reasons. If you are unable to give yourself wholly to the Lord for your 18 or 24 months, then you’ll never learn why you were sent to this mission. Blessings and spiritual instruction always require faith and action. We cannot receive the blessing and spiritual instruction if we are not willing to exert real faith and to work diligetly.

When a missionary turns his life to Christ, he is entitled to the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost. The Spirit’s constant companionship is one of the greatest blessings you can receive in mortality. The Spirit will guide you in the paths of righteousness and peace, leading you to eternal life.

Full enjoyment of the gift of the Holy Ghost includes receiving revelation and comfort, serving and blessing others through spiritual gifts, and being sanctified from sin and made fit for exaltation in the celestial kingdom. These blessings depend on your worthiness and your desire; they come a little at a time as you are ready for them.

As you bring your life in harmony with God’s will (which is the same as “coming unto Christ”), you will gradually receive the Holy Ghost in great measure. The Prophet Joseph Smith declared that the mysteries of God’s kingdom “are only to be seen and understood by the power of the Holy Spirit, which God bestows on those who love him, and purify themselves before him.”

Remember that “the Spirit of the Lord doth not dwell in unholy temples” (Helaman 4:24). Even though you have received the gift of the Holy Ghost, the Spirit will dwell with you only when you keep the commandments. He will withdraw from you if you offend Him by profanity, anger, uncleanliness, disobedience, rebellion, or other sins. Keep yourself clean. Fill you mission life with goodness so that you can be worthy of the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost.

Some might say that coming unto Christ places too many restrictions on one’s life. That it takes away one’s free agency. That it puts one in a prison or a cage. Such thinking is completely wrong and immature – although it is completely supported by Satan and the natural man (an enemy to God). Obedience brings ultimate freedom and peace of conscience. Obedience also brings power to the mind and the soul!

A simple, but powerful, verse of scripture is found in Alma 32:27. The verse invites all to “awake and arouse your faculties (e.g. senses)” and then to “experiment upon my words”. The “words” are the teachings and doctrines of Jesus Christ.

One who experimented with the “word” was Parley P. Pratt. In 1830, while traveling to visit family in western New York, Pratt had the opportunity to read a copy of the Book of Mormon owned by a Baptist deacon. Convinced of its authenticity, he traveled to Palmyra, New York and spoke to Hyrum Smith at the Smith home. He was baptized in Seneca Lake by Oliver Cowdery on or about September 1, 1830. He was also ordained to the office of an elder in the church. Continuing on to his family's home, he introduced his younger brother, Orson Pratt, to Mormonism and baptized him on 19 September 1830.

Parley was original member of Quorum of the Twelve Apostles from 1835 until his murder in 1857. He was also a missionary, poet, religious writer and longtime editor of the religious publication The Latter-day Saints' Millennial Star. Parley “experimented with the word” and, through his obedience and personal refinement, learned about the reality of the Holy Ghost. He wrote these stunning words about the Gift of the Holy Ghost:

“It quickens all the intellectual faculties, increases, enlarges, expands and purifies all the natural passions and affections, and adapts them, by the gift of wisdom, to their lawful use. It inspires, develops, cultivates and matures all the fine toned sympathies, joys, tastes, kindred feelings and affections of our nature. It inspires virtue, kindness, goodness, tenderness, gentleness and charity. It develops beauty of person, form and features. It tends to health, vigor, animation and social feeling. It develops and invigorates all the faculties of the physical and intellectual man. It strengthens, invigorates and gives tone to the nerves. In short, it is, as it were, marrow to the bone, joy to the heart, light to the eyes, music to the ears, and life to the whole being.”

I invite each of you to come with us as we come unto Christ.

All my love,

Pres. Murray

Remember This...

Dear Missionaries,

On August 1, 1831 the 25-year-old Prophet, Joseph Smith, received a revelation from the Lord providing instruction to the elders of the church. This revelation is known as section 58 of the Doctrine and Covenants. The first five verses teach that those who endure tribulation shall be crowned with glory.

What is tribulation? Tribulation is great affliction, trial, distress or suffering. Perhaps you or someone you know has been required to endure tribulation while serving as a missionary.

Please study the first five verses of D&C 58:

1 Hearken, O ye elders of my church, and give ear to my word, and learn of me what I will concerning you, and also concerning this land unto which I have sent you.
2 For verily I say unto you, blessed is he that keepeth my commandments, whether in life or in death; and he that is faithful in tribulation, the reward of the same is greater in the kingdom of heaven.
3 Ye cannot behold with your natural eyes, for the present time, the design of your God concerning those things which shall come hereafter, and the glory which shall follow after much tribulation.
4 For after much tribulation come the blessings. Wherefore the day cometh that ye shall be crowned with much glory; the hour is not yet, but is nigh at hand.
5 Remember this, which I tell you before, that you may lay it to heart, and receive that which is to follow.

This is a wonderful scripture for missionaries. The Lord knows that missionary work is difficult. Your leaders know that missionary work is difficult. But without our work, and that of 50,000 other missionaries around the world, Satan will win. We simply cannot allow this to happen. We must go forward, arm in arm, two by two, bringing the extraordinary message and reality of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ to all.

Anything less than this will fail to qualify as success. Your success as a missionary is measured primarily by your daily and constant commitment to find, teach, baptize and confirm people and to help them become faithful members of the Church who enjoy the presence of the Holy Ghost.

You can know you have been a successful missionary when you:

• Feel the Spirit testify to people through you.
• Love people and desire their salvation.
• Obey (all rules) with exactness.
• Live so that you can receive and know how to follow the Spirit, who will show you where to go, what to do, and what to say.
• Develop Christlike attributes.
• Work effectively every day, do your very best to bring souls to Christ, and seek earnestly to learn and to improve.
• Help build up the Church (the ward or branch) wherever you are assigned to work.
• Warn people of the consequences of sin. Invite them to make and keep commitments.
• Teach and serve other missionaries.
• Go about doing good and serving people at every opportunity, whether or not they accept your message.

If you need to improve on any of the above items, then write down a few goals for improvement in your Daily Planner and discuss with your companion during Nightly Planning. You may want to ask your companion to hold you accountable for these goals!
On the last page of Preach My Gospel there is an important list of reminders, all designed to help you remember the key elements of missionary work. The page starts with the words: “Remember This…”. Think back to the fifth verse in D&C 58. It also starts out with these same important words: “Remember this…”.

Here are the things to remember – for continued missionary success – from the last page of Preach My Gospel. In this mission you are expected to review this list frequently to and to build your life as a PPM missionary around these principles and activities.

• Your purpose is to bring souls to Christ.
• Prepare people to meet the qualifications for baptism in Doctrine and Covenants 20:37 and the baptismal interview questions.
• Pray often for yourself and for others.
• Rely on the Spirit to show you where to go, what to do, and what to say.
• Be exactly obedient.
• Study the language of your mission each day.
• Plan every day and focus on the key indicators.
• Work effectively all day, every day.
• Ask for referrals from everyone!
• Teach when you find; find when you teach.
• Read the Book of Mormon with those you teach.
• Teach people that an important way to know that Joseph Smith is a prophet of God is to read and pray about the Book of Mormon.
• Contact every investigator daily.
• Bear testimony frequently.
• Have a member at every lesson possible.
• Always set specific dates and times for the next lesson.
• Invite all investigators to baptismal services.
• After each lesson, provide investigators with something to read and ponder in preparation for the next meeting.
• Build relationships with members by serving them and working with the leadership of the ward.
• Help ward leaders with retention and activation activities.
• Help everyone you teach make commitments that will bring about repentance and will strengthen their faith in the Savior.
• Love the Lord and serve Him the very best you can.

Elders and Sisters, there are so many things to study and remember as a missionary! Our goal in PPM is to help Build the Church. We do this by (1) coming unto Christ in our own lives and (2) by becoming Master Teachers.

A Master Teacher is always moving forward. They never coast or put themselves in neutral. A Master Teacher always has personal goals for improvement. In PPM we have several places where improvement is currently needed:

1. Far too many New Investigators fall away too quickly. Your New Investigators are not statistics on a Key Indicator Report. They are individuals who need to gospel to assure completion of their earthly mission! Treat them like valuable nuggets of gold!
2. Far too many “Strong Investigators” never get baptized. This indicates that we are not doing all we can to help these investigators make and keep essential commitments. And that our investigators have failed to develop a vision of what it means to come unto Christ. It is your job to get this done.
3. Far too many “Prepared Investigators” never get baptized. This is the ultimate war with Satan. The Adversary will do all he can to stop our investigators from getting baptized. During the week before a baptism, make sure you are doing all you can to help your investigator stay strong and committed!
4. We need many, many more Member Present Lessons. This means we need to become better at helping our Ward Mission Leaders, Bishops and Ward Councils understand the need for member involvement in all aspects of missionary work. You are the glue that makes this happen. The reason we keep missionaries in an area for 6 months is to make sure we get very, very connected to the members!
5. We need to be more thoughtful about how we use our time. Some missionaries are spending too much time in their cars, driving too many miles. They feel busy, but they are not. Other missionaries are spending too much time in active members homes without any goal or purpose. We have a 30/30 Program in PPM. When you are at an active member’s home, you can eat for 30 minutes and then you teach them about member missionary work for 30 minutes, and then you say a prayer and leave!

Sister Murray and I marvel at the faith, commitment, desire and testimonies of our incredible missionaries. We love you so very much. Never give up and you will be crowned with glory!

Pres. Murray

Temple Dedicatory Prayer

Dear Missionaries,

There are 130 temples in the world, each dedicated by a living prophet. The prayer for the dedications is written and read by the president of the church. Following is the text of the prayer offered in dedicating the Oquirrh Mountain Utah Temple, August 21-23, 2009, by President Thomas S. Monson. You will learn much by studying how a prophet writes a prayer to dedicate a temple.

“O God, our Eternal Father, Thou almighty Elohim, Creator of the heavens, the earth and all things thereon, in the name of Thy Beloved Son, Jesus Christ, we come before Thee this day with bowed heads, full hearts and subdued spirits.



We are grateful for the knowledge Thou hast given us that Thou art our Father, to whom we may turn for inspiration and guidance, for revelation and strength in time of trouble and distress.

O Father, wilt Thou grant unto us Thy guidance and Thy Holy Spirit while we are gathered on this sacred occasion. May the channels of communication between Thee and us be open, and wilt Thou smile upon us and cause us to feel and know that we are partakers of Thy divine Spirit. Overlook our follies and our weaknesses and let us come before Thee in sincerity of heart and purity of life, that what we say and do here will be in harmony with Thy mind and will.

We thank Thee for the gift of Thy Beloved Son, who came into the world according to Thy divine plan to establish on earth the way for us to return to Thy presence.

We thank Thee for the infinite love manifested in the atoning sacrifice of Thy Son, who gave Himself a ransom for all, who broke the bands of death and opened the gates of salvation to all of Thy children. We praise His holy name. His atonement gives purpose to our being and turns our thoughts heavenward.

We are grateful for the gift of the Holy Ghost to lead us to a knowledge of Thy everlasting truth, and that as we accept and follow that truth and cleanse and perfect our lives, we may become worthy to stand spotless before Thee at the last day.

We express our gratitude for the ushering in of a new dispensation, even the dispensation of the fulness of times, by Thine own appearance and the appearance of Thy Beloved Son to the boy Joseph Smith, to open the heavens and to restore to the world the knowledge of Thee and Thy Son and Thy holy purposes.

We are grateful for this long-awaited day of dedication, when this, Thy Holy House, has been completed. Bless, we pray Thee, those faithful members here and throughout the world who have contributed their tithes which have made possible this magnificent edifice for Thy name's honor and glory and for the blessing of all who enter herein. We are grateful for those who have given so generously of their means, their time, their skills, and their strength to make possible this sacred house. May each contributor rejoice in the opportunity to assist in Thy holy work. Wilt Thou open the windows of heaven and pour out blessings upon them. May they be assured of the gratitude of those uncounted millions who have passed beyond this life, for whom the prison doors may now be opened and deliverance proclaimed through the devoted service of Thy people in this and other sacred temples.

The Plan of Salvation taught in the temple with simplicity, yet with power, will be as a never-failing beacon of divine light to guide our footsteps and keep them constantly on the pathway of eternal life.
Father in Heaven bless, we pray Thee, the President of the Church and his counselors who comprise the First Presidency, the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, the Quorums of the Seventy and the Presiding Bishopric, that they might always have Thy guiding influence and inspiration. In every thought, word and act may they glorify Thy name.

Bless those who preside in the stakes and wards, the districts and branches of the Church, that they may be equal to the responsibilities placed upon them.

Bless thy servants who preside over the missions of the Church, together with all of the missionaries who have gone forth to proclaim to the peoples of the earth the restoration of the gospel and the Plan of Salvation. Protect them from all harm. Bless them with the gifts and powers of their ministry. Bless their families, that they may be sustained in peace and comfort.

Let Thy Spirit be poured out upon all who teach in Thy Church, that they may build the faith and increase the understanding of those they instruct in the principles of the gospel.

Frustrate the designs of the adversary against Thy people and Thy work, and may the efforts of all who fight against Zion come to naught. May Thy glorious work roll on in majesty and power to fill the whole earth.

Bless the temple president and his counselors, together with their wives, and all who will assist in the operation of this temple.

Bless thy children throughout the world who know hunger, who have no shelter and who face daily suffering. May we reach out in a spirit of love and true charity to those who yearn for our help.
In a time of departure from safe moorings, may youth of the noble birthright carry on in the traditions of their parents and grandparents. They are subjected to the sophistries of Satan. Help them stand firm for truth. Open wide to their view the gates of learning, of understanding, of service in Thy kingdom. Bless them with a lengthened view of their eternal possibilities.

We express our gratitude for all who have participated in the preparations for this day of dedication, as well as for those who made possible the successful open house event. We ask Thy blessings to attend all who walked within these sacred walls and felt stirring thoughts course through their minds and hearts. May the spirit of the temple continue with them.

Now, Father, according to the pattern Thou hast given, and in harmony with the course established by Thy servants who have gone before, and acting in the authority of that priesthood which is after the order of Thy Son and in His holy name, we dedicate this, the Oquirrh Mountain Utah Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We dedicate it as a house of baptism, a house of endowment, a house of sealing, a house of righteousness—for the living and for the dead.

We humbly pray, Father, that Thou wilt accept this holy edifice. Pour out Thy blessings upon it and let Thy spirit attend and guide all who officiate herein, that holiness will prevail in every room. May all who enter have clean hands and pure hearts, and may they participate with faith in the ordinances to be given herein and depart with a feeling of peace, praising Thy holy name.

We dedicate the ground on which the temple stands. We dedicate the beautiful structure, from the unseen footings to the majestic figure of Moroni crowning its highest point. We dedicate the baptistry, all of the facilities for administering the sacred ordinances, the endowment rooms, the sealing rooms with their sacred altars, and the lovely celestial room, together with all ancillary facilities and the beautiful grounds with their lawns, flowers, trees and shrubs. Protect all from any devastating influence, destruction or defacement.

May all that is done herein be done with an eye single to Thy glory and to the building of Thy kingdom here upon the earth.

O, Holy Father, bless us with the peace promised by Thy Son. Shield us from selfishness or sin and provide the power that we might rise above all that is sordid or below the dignity of Thy children.

And now we dedicate this temple as an abode for Thee and Thy Son. Wilt Thou place Thy ratifying seal of approval upon this dedicatory service and upon all we have done and shall do in this, Thy Holy House, which we now present to Thee.

May we, Thy children, merit Thy bounteous blessings and Thy watchful care, we pray, in the name of Thy Beloved Son, even the name of Jesus Christ, the Lord. Amen.”