Weekly Training at the Liberty Jail and Visitors Center, Feb. 23 & 24...

Training...

Our emphasis this week was concerning Chapter 4

of Preach My Gospel about Recognizing and 

understanding the Spirit.  At the Jail we sang, "We

Thank Thee, O God for a Prophet" for opening and

Elder Lovell gave the prayer.  After announcements,

Some time was turned over for me for what they called

Words of Wisdom from Sister Peterson. I felt prompted

to speak to them about the Angels that are promised

to be round about them as they serve. (D&C 84:88)

The Prophet, Joseph Smith, declared that if we "live up 

to our privilege," the angels will not be able to be 

restrained from being our associates.  Our "privilege"

includes our covenants. (And our exact obedience

here on our mission) Therefore, as we live up to our 

covenants and are obedient, the angels will not be able

 to be restrained from being our associates. Or: As we

keep our covenants and obey, we can ask for angels to 

help us. Literally!

Jeffrey R. Holland once said, "Ask for Angels to help

you."  He also said, "God never leaves us alone, never

leaves us unaided in the challenges that we face." 

"He has watched over His mortal family constantly, 

heard their prayers always, and sent prophets and 

apostles to teach, counsel, and guide them.  But in

times of special need, He sent angels, divine 

messengers, to bless His children, reassure them 

that heaven was always very close and that His 

help was always very near.  From the beginning 

down through the dispensations, God has used 

angels as His emissaries in conveying love and 

concern for His children.  Examples are found in the 

scriptures and in our church History and in our own 

lives... If you can use a little more help on your 

mission, keep your covenants and mission rules 

with more exactness than you ever have before! 

Then ask for angels (a.k.a. your ancestors and other 

loved ones to help you with whatever you need. Or 

ask for them to be dispatched to help those you love.

Next, a senior couple, the Bronson's at Liberty Jail,

and the Wilson's at the Visitors' Center taught about 

the difference between the Light of Christ and the 

Holy Ghost...the influence of the Holy Ghost and 

the Gift of the Holy Ghost. They both did a wonderful 

job! And then George taught about the importance of 

personal revelation, recognizing the Spirit and the

Inspired teaching method...Which is to...

1. Ask Inspired Questions

2. Listen to Them and the Spirit

3. Discern their Needs

4. Teach according to their Needs

Sadly, we ran out of time and couldn't practice. We

say "How Firm a Foundation" and Sister Lovell

gave the closing prayer at the Liberty Jail.  

Picture of Sister's working at the VC...

Not a great picture with the lighting coming down

those stairs.  Next to me is Sisters Davidson, Guerrero, 

Zarate and Elder Peterson. Next row, Sisters Draper,

Eraso, Bingham and Bench.  Next row, Sisters Cummack,

Giraud Carrier, Cooper and Rust. Last row, Sisters 

Saling, Lifferth, Atkins, Anderson and Harley.

Here's the same sisters with two of our Senior 

Couples...Left, Elder and Sister Johnson and on

the Right is Sister and Elder Wilson.

President's Devotional, Liberty Jail, February 19...

Devotional...

This is a time when all recently baptized members come to 

share their conversion story and bear their testimonies.  It is a 

most interesting and uplifting meeting.  We hold one of these 

devotionals every third Sunday at the Historic Liberty Jail, 

(HLJ) for those that live nearest to that site.  One is also held 

the first Sunday of every month at the Independence Visitors' 

Center (IVC) for those living closer to there.  

Last night we had 5 recent converts stand up and give us their

stories and testimonies.  Each of them had a common concern,

"They wanted a church that lived what they taught...true 

Christians!"  They each had a story of how they got there, but

they each testified of the love they felt from the members, and 

the truth of what they learned from the missionaries.  They all 

testified of feeling that they had "come home", so to speak. 

One couple talked about how the gospel saved their marriage.

They had been searching for a church and were about to give

up when the missionaries knocked on their door.  The gospel 

"...saved our marriage", they said.  President and Sister Vest 

gave sweet messages and bore strong testimonies of the 

Doctrine of Christ!  It was a good meeting! I'm so glad we 

were there to witness the power of testimony and conversion!

Miracle Story shared...

I've asked the Sisters and Couple missionaries to share any 

miracle stories that happen in the Visitors' Center or Historic 

Liberty Jail.  I just received this one and wanted to 

share it here...

Story shared by Sisters Guerrero and Zarate...

"We took and group of three women on a presentation.  It was

such a wonderful presentation from the beginning.  They 

seemed so grateful to be there and appreciated so much the

history of this place.  It was such a spirit filled presentation.  

At the end when we went to the big screen where we see the 

video of the growth of the church, we asked them afterwards,

"What are some of the things that came to your minds that 

you want to do to be better disciples of Christ?" One of 

them said that she wanted to be a better example.  She then 

added that her heart has been so hard for a long time and

she felt it soften coming here.  She didn't even want to come 

to Missouri but she knew she had to come see her family 

and they brought her here to the Visitors' Center. The other

woman said that she wanted to go to the temple and receive 

her own endowments.  She has never been there.  Sister

Zarate and I both testified of the temple and told her that is a 

very special moment when you get to enter in the celestial 

room and see your mother there waiting for you.  We asked 

for their emails and told them that we would follow up with

them...all the way to the temple.  They thanked us for serving 

and it really touched my heart when one of them said before 

leaving, "You will be a wonderful mother in Zion...your 

children shall call you blessed."  It was a Spirit filled 

presentation, focused all the way through on the "Doctrine

of Christ".  As a result, a mighty change of heart occurred 

right before our eyes.

Weekly Training, February 16-17... Teaching Center

Training on the Teaching Center:

The meeting agenda at the Liberty Jail, Thursday, Feb. 16:

Sister Murdoch Conducted,

Sister Farnsworth was the chorister. 

Opening Hymn: #136 "I Know that my Redeemer Lives".

Opening Prayer: Sister Moulton

Sister Murdock taught about the Car Schedule for NKC.

MTC Learnings reportwas given by Sister Udall.  She had 

many quotes that were given while at the MTC that she 

shared. She said that probably the most important lesson she 

received while there was that a testimony was not enough. We 

must continue to work on our conversion and on our teaching 

skills. "Prepared people are sent to prepared missionaries."

We then had a History Moment from Sisters Dawson and Udall.

They gave a very powerful witness of the struggle of Joseph

Smith and the others in Liberty Jail. We may have our own 

struggles which could be a Liberty Jail type struggle.  Will we 

be able to hang on and make it through and let it get us down 

and discouraged or let it refine us as it did for them?  

Next, we had our Teaching Center Experts, Sisters

Farnsworth and Brower teach us some things to help us make 

better use of our time while working at the Teaching center. 

TC is where we teach online, through mormon.org, people 

who call in, email or want to Chat. The Sisters taught us the 

importance of working together as a companionship while 

teaching online.  Working together with your companion 

can help you teach more effectively and with the spirit. They 

testified of the importance of the "power of 2 witnesses".  

I expanded on the the Teaching Center logistics and the 

importance of seeing it as an opportunity to Teach just like

we do with our guests that come into the VC or Liberty Jail 

or any of those we teach in our areas.  Ask inspired questions 

and really listen. Be more personable... Don't treat it as a call

center that sends out bibles and chats ... We teach doctrine. I 

invited them to brain storm some good questions with their 

companion, write them done and come up with responses a

guest might have given.  Circle the questions that brought

desired results look and decide which ones you might try

when prompted at your next shift as Teaching Center.

George finished up the training talking about "Observations"

 that he has noticed while watching what goes on at both the 

VC and LJ...and then offered counsel on how to improve.

1. Be accurate with the History...use from the Site Guide

2. Find out guests agenda before going into the Presentation

3. Use the Book of Mormon more...be generous to offer one

4. Study and know the scriptures that go with the doctrine.

5. Don't talk too long as we close...short powerful testimony

6. Make presentations more conversational, don't just preach

7. Be careful what we promise. We don't know God's timing, etc

8. Don't park in front of VC which is no parking zone, use lot.

Closing Prayer:  Sister Bronson 

The meeting agenda at the Visitors' Center, Friday, Feb. 17:

Sister Giraud-Carrier conducted,

Sister Rust was our Chorister,

Sister Bench played the piano.

Opening Hymn: #144 Secret Prayer

Opening Prayer: Sister Saling

Car Czars... Sisters Anderson and Atkins talk about cars' 

Cleanliness, miles, and do not leave stuff in cars.

Sisters Draper and GC talked about having daily Prayers

of Faith to help you focus on goals. 

History Moment was shared by Sisters Harley and Lifferth.

Learnings from the MTC was then given by one of the

new sisters, Sister Lifferth.  Her thoughts came from the

one of the devotionals while at the MTC...We need to do

more than just "Go on a Mission".  We need to become the

"Powerful, Devoted Missionaries" the Lord called us to be.

Teaching Center Experts, Sisters Guerrero and Zarate talked

about the basics of how to use the Teaching Center, which

was very helpful to those of us that are still trying to learn

about it. 

George and I gave the same thoughts and teaching that we 

gave on Thursday to the Liberty Jail missionaries.

Closing Hymn: #60 Battle Hymn of the Republic

Closing Prayer:  Sister Harley

Transfers and Weekly Training... February 9,10 &11

Transfers...

                                        

Sister Williams finished her mission!  We will

miss her terribly!  She was a great missionary

and a wonderful leader!  We love her very 

much and wish her the very best!!  Our hope 

is to stay connected always!!

Sweet Sister Williams!

Sister McBride will be missed at the Visitors' 

Center.  She got transferred away from the VC 

and went to another area in the mission.  She 

did a wonderful job at the VC!

Sister Johnson is another one that has

left the VC for full time proselyting. She's a

sweetheart!

...and Sister Mudrow...We'll miss her smile and

positive attitude!

...and Sister Bishop... She has also

been asked to be a Sister Training

Leader in her new area... She's so good!

...And Sister Farnsworth!  However, she transferred

to Historic Liberty Jail so we still get to have her 

with us! Yes!! She does a great job!

And Sister Wilkins was transferred from Liberty Jail to

a full proselyting area!  Sorry to see her go!  She's a lot

of fun and works hard.

Sister Murphy left us too!  She's transferred to another area! 

She hasn't been here long...She came just a couple of weeks 

before we got here!  She was not actually called as a VC 

Sister.  President just put her there for one transfer!  We'll 

sure miss her!

We certainly will miss them all!  It's pretty tough to let them 

go!  We get attached to them pretty quickly! :-)

 We then had a quick Orientation on Thursday with the new Sisters 

at the Visitors' Center and Liberty Jail along with their trainers.  

We basically just introduced them all and reassured them of 

their call.  I passed out the sight guides and reminded them

that the resources for our teaching is the scriptures, PMG, 

and the Historic Site Guide book.  They do not have to learn it 

all at once! Just study everyday and it will come.  They can

do a lot of practicing presentations and study.  They should 

be ready to do a presentation right away!   I shared a quote

 for them from Mormon.org, "The journey to become our 

very best self (as a missionary) isn't one we have to take by 

ourselves.  God can help us along the way. Remember, He 

doesn't get impatient when change doesn't happen all at once,

 and neither should we.  When we commit ourselves to small, 

continuous progress, God will take our efforts and make 

them add up to something greater than we could ever 

accomplish alone."  George took them around to the different 

areas in the Visitors Center where they teach, not only 

history but the Doctrine of Christ, about the Restoration 

and Joseph Smith.  They all seem so excited and well 

prepared!  I'm anxious for them to have a positive 

experience here and in their areas. They go to their

  assigned areas for half the day and teach people there...

  and go to the Visitors Center or Liberty Jail to teach people 

the other half!  They have one day a week where the teach in

their area the whole day (full proselyte) and one day for off 

(P-day) where they can do their cleaning, shopping and other 

activities to help them be prepared for the upcoming week!

In our Weekly Training on Friday, February 10th at the 

VC and Saturday, February 11that Liberty Jail, I taught 

about our Faith in Jesus Christ.  We will be challenged

on our missions which can cause our faith to waver or 

weaken...  It might be discouragement because of 

rejections by those we teach, homesickness, realizing some 

weaknesses we never knew we had, etc.  In the scriptures 

the Savior often makes reference to the faith of those he is 

addressing.  Such as, to the woman who came to the Savior to 

have Him heal her daughter, He said "O woman, great is thy 

faith...", to His disciples after calming the storm, "...where 

is your faith?", in His Sermon on the mount, "Oh ye of little 

faith..." and of the centurion, He exclaimed, "I have not 

found so great faith, no, not in Israel. We might ask 

ourselves, "How does the Savior se your faith?" However, 

I reminded them…He has given us this promise:  “Whosoever  

... shall confess me before men, him will I confess … before 
my Father … in heaven.  I know that as you pray often 
and sincerely for opportunities to “stand as a witness of 

God,” those opportunities will come, and those who seek 
more light and knowledge will be put before you. Please 
don’t see your efforts to share the love of the Savior with

another as a pass/fail test with your grade determined by
how positively your referrals or investigators respond
to your teaching and testifying. As Elder Neil L. Anderson
once said, “With our mortal eyes, we cannot judge the
effect of our efforts, nor can we establish the timetable.
When you share the love of the Savior [and his teachings] 

with another, your grade is always an A+.” 
George finished his teaching about the Doctrine of Christ
and the importance of getting that message to those we 

those who come to the Centers and in our areas.  He then
taught the Parable of the Pearl and the Box.  The merchant

who acquired a pearl of great price had the finest craftsman
create a beautiful, magnificent box to display it, and then

observed that people who came to see it marveled more
in the beauty and workmanship of the box than of the 

Pearl of great price!  So it is with us...Our Pearl of great
price is the Doctrine of Christ and the Restoration of His 

gospel in these latter days.  That is more important than
any history or other principle that we could teach in these 

Centers or in our areas.  All of these things are great,
but we should always relate it back the that "Pearl", so
to speak.  It was a powerful message and we then

did some practices teaching with that parable in mind.
Wonderful training!

The Toronto's Visit... February 8

This is Elder & Sister Toronto who were the Directors of 

the Independence Visitors' Center and Historic Liberty Jail 

before we came.  When their time was done here, they had to 

fly home for a funeral. Their car was still here having repairs 

done, and so they flew here to pick it up and drive it home.  

They stopped in for a visit.

Here we are with the Toronto's and the Sisters that were on 

shift at Historic Liberty Jail.  From the left, Elder and Sister 

Toronto, Sisters Murphy, Dawson, Murdock and Anderson, 

Myself, and George.

President's Devotional at Visitors' Center... Sunday, February 5

Testimonies and Conversion Stories...

This was such an uplifting event!  There were eight recent 

converts that bore their testimonies along with telling a 

little about how they were converted.  What wonderful 

miracles and tender mercies that came about in the 

lives of these humble people.  Very inspiring!

Missionary from Tonga...

This is a missionary that came to hear one of his recently 

baptized member whom he had taught. He's from Tonga 

and knew some of the missionaries we had in our mission 

in the Philippines from Tonga!  It was fun to talk to him.  

He wanted to take a picture with us to send home.

February 4, "Friday Night Out" fireside...

"The Battle of Crooked River"

Brother Keith Bowen and Elder Lovell gave 

a slide/Powerpoint presentation and narration.

It was interesting and had about 30 people

who attended.  They are members of the 

 Missouri Mormon Frontier Foundation. Elder 

Lovell is from one of our senior couples!

February 2-3, Weekly Training...

Training at Liberty Jail...

Training this week involved a lot of practice teaching and the 

Sisters really felt the spirit and the importance of teaching the 

Doctrine of Christ and the Restoration with the visitors that 

come through!  To start the meeting, after opening song, 

prayer and announcements I talked about some issues that 

needed addressing.  I approached it with,

"Sister Peterson's 6 B's"  

1. Be responsible...with your cars...keeping track of 

your miles, keeping it clean, etc.  

2. Be on time...for your shift/prayer meeting...picking 

up sisters! 

3. Be faithful to your duties...Kitchen duty, callings, 

assignments, etc.  And assist others!

4. Be a witness as Elder Peterson taught...stay with and 

teach with your companion!

5. Be professional in the way you present yourself...

you represent Jesus Christ!

6. Be quick to share...Write your miracle stories, send 

them...and pictures too!

Two scriptures I used were D&C 112:10 "Be thou humble..."

and Alma 17:2-3, "...wax strong...search the scriptures 

diligently...know the word of God...given to much prayer 

and fasting...[teach] with power and authority of God..."

George taught them the "doctrine of 2 witnesses"...the 

importance of companions staying together when they teach!

  He also reminded them of the Three-fold mission of the Christ:

1. Preach the Gospel. 2. Perfect the Saints 3. Redeem 

the dead.  They all three come out of the Doctrine of 

Christ... Have faith in Jesus Christ, Repent, be baptized, 

receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost and endure to the end.

We then went to the Rotunda where the Jail display is

and practiced how to present and teach using the Doctrine 

of Christ and the importance of the Restoration.

Visitors Center Training...

We basically did the same thing at the Visitors Center.  We 

did our practice in different areas there.  The Sister Leaders 

demonstrated how to bring the Doctrine of Christ and the 

Restoration into their teaching the visitors that come.  We 

then let the other companionships try it! Good job, Sisters!  

Senior Couples dinner with President and Sister Vest...

We were just a few minutes late and missed getting in the 

picture!  Next time we'll know exactly how to get there since 

it's at the same place every other month!  It was a pot-luck, 

soup and salad dinner! It was fun to get together and meet all 

the couples in the whole mission. We have loved getting to 

know the ones working with us in the Visitors Center and 

Liberty Jail! They're wonderful and we love them already!

Great Day in Historic Liberty... February 1

We attended an Historic Downtown Liberty Inc. promotion 

meeting.  It was a lot of fun getting to know all the business 

owners...shops, museums, stage theater, as well as newspaper

 and town reps...as they came together to discuss the downtown 

improvements and business promotions. We are not a business,

 of course, but we want to promote visits to the Liberty Jail 

as people come to town, and to support the many businesses 

in this quaint delightful community.  We walked around in 

some of the shops yesterday and today...even had a nice 

breakfast in a little restaurant after the meeting. Fun day!

We met with Sisters Dawson and Murphy at the Liberty Jail 

Site after breakfast today.  We did some practice teaching 

and had a good time discussing how we can improve. They 

do a really nice job and are so sincere and insightful. 

Here they are at the sign outside the Site...

This is in the foyer area of Liberty Jail...

You can see the sculpture bust of the Savior behind us. We 

encourage the Sisters to point it out to visitors who come and 

let them know of our belief and faith in Jesus Christ before they 

begin teaching of the History of our church and the experiences 

that Joseph Smith and other church leaders had in Liberty Jail.