Latest Updates

I suppose I ought to add some pertinent updates to our mission preparation.

We were assigned mentors and received a series of lessons covering the key responsibilities of MLS (Member and Leader Support Missionaries) from Brother and Sister Johnson. They first sent us a document outlining the MLS Missionary Pre-Field Orientation Workbook, which has been prepared since our last MLS mission. It outlined the key definition of MLS missionaries:

"Under the direction of local priesthood leaders, Member and Leader Support (MLS) senior missionaries help their assigned units accomplish the Church’s divinely appointed responsibilities of living the gospel of Jesus Christ, caring for those in need, inviting all to receive the gospel, and uniting families for eternity."

They followed this up with a Zoom meeting, where we talked about each of the key areas in detail. They then told us there would be a fifth, follow-up lesson concerning member retention. We received that a few weeks later from Brother and Sister Roos, outlining a new pilot program that started in one of the New York missions, and has been extended to the Canada Toronto mission. Broadly stated, this involves having the MLS missionaries take over the responsibility of new converts from the full-time missionaries after they are baptized, teach (or help the missionaries teach) the new-member lessons, and work with the Ward Council and Ward and Stake leaders to help these new members progress in the Covenant Path.

The principles guiding this program are:

1. Focus on helping others make and keep covenants - use the My Covenant Path section in Gospel Library. 
2. Work closely with Ward/Stake leaders.
3. Mentor and minister
4. Encourage self-reliance
5. Help new convert YSA's serve missions

These will support different challenges new converts have as they assimilate into a ward and strengthen their testimony and conversion, such as fellowshipping, transportation issues in participating in church and church activities, finding new friends as they see their social circles change, establishing patterns and habits of church attendance, family home evening, scripture study, self-reliance, and temple attendance. 

In addition, with new converts in the YSA age-range, we'll encourage and mentor them in preparing to serve missions, support and assist ward and stake mission preparation classes and activities.

We feel like our most recent assignments in the Stake leadership, and in Elders Quorum and Relief Society callings in West Valley has prepared us for this assignment, and we are excited to be serving in this new way.

On a side note, during the Saratoga Springs Temple closure for maintenance in cleaning in early June, we were able to visit the temples in the Pacific Northwest, and in Vancouver British Columbia. It was a fun trip, and we enjoyed seeing the countryside, the cities, the mountains, as well as worshipping in the temples there. In Vancouver, we met the temple President in our Sunday meetings, and he gave Molly and I a tour of the temple we had just attended the day before. It was a fun trip.

Here's Molly in front of the Vancouver, British Columbia Temple:

And, last but not least, we've been asked to speak in our Pacific Springs ward on July 13th at 10:30 am before we enter the MTC on the 14th.