Let the Holy Spirit Guide 8/27/12

Hey there family!

This week was another great week for missionary work in Oregon City, even when we basically had to take two days out. I guess it is just that time of year, but this week we had Elder Corbridge of the *Seventy come visit our mission for two days. (The person who wrote "The 4th Missionary" talk.) Elder Corbridge (with much love and appreciation) ripped us to shreds and said missionaries think they know how to teach....but they really don't. He basically tore us down and then built us back up. It was funny because when we had our break for lunch, we all kinda felt a little depressed cause he kinda left us in a spot where it felt like we just had no idea WHAT we were teaching and no idea HOW to teach.

With that being said, I really enjoyed his visit to the OPM (Oregon Portland Mission). He talked A LOT about "What is the M.I.T." (most important thing) when we teach in Lesson 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. Now, we're missionaries. We KNOW what's in the lessons. But I guess not as well as we should. We went lesson by lesson talking about what the most important thing was in each lesson. I'll just talk about lesson 1 (The Restoration) right now.

What do you guys think it is?....well it wasn't what any of us missionaries said but at the same time we were all SUPER close. We would just raise our hand and Elder Corbridge would write in on the whiteboard. I raised my hand and said that "the blessings of the gospel were on the earth". I thought that was a good answer....and it's kinda the correct answer too, but only kinda. My answer was dang close. The most important thing is "THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST." The reason that we teach people is so that they will understand that "When we are baptized unto repentance, we can be redeemed of our sins, be endowed with power from on high, and have eternal life and joy today." That is the most important thing. No matter what lesson, what topic, or anything. I am here to invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel thought faith in Jesus Christ, and His atonement. All people can achieve this by repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end.

So now we missionaries know WHAT to teach. Next he taught us HOW to teach. I'm gonna give you the notes that I think were the most important.

1.Destination (Doctrine) [Why?]

2.Route (Principles) [How?]

3.Conclusion (Application) [What?]

This is what stood out to me the most.

This is what I am now trying to implement into my teaching. I am sorry if I am bad at explaining this, but I'll give it a try. If  I'm teaching "The Restoration" or "Eternal Marriage" my goal is to use this teaching method. The words I say and the way I say it will not be the same because I am teaching different topics, but the method by which I can teach can be used with any lesson. I need to always let the Holy Ghost guide my thoughts and words, but sometimes missionaries (including myself) "say" a lot of extra things. In the end the person we are teaching gets the point, but it could have been done much more efficiently, effectively and successfully.

Yes, what a missionary says can bring the spirit in, but the ideas Elder Corbridge talked about showed us how to teach logically, clearly, simply, and powerfully. Missionaries need to get out of the way and let the Holy Ghost teach powerfully, logically, simply, and clearly. Once the missionaries get out the the way, we can really "Let the Holy Spirit Guide," and if missionaries can connect the "Doctrine" with the "Principles" people can understand our purpose even more.

I hope this was clear and not to complicated. I loved what Elder Corbridge taught us and each day I am trying to get better and better at teaching with the Holy Ghost as my guide. With clear, simple, powerful logic and most importantly the Holy Ghost testifying of truth, one can come to know that the "most important thing" which is Jesus Christ and His Gospel.

Love,

Elder Morgan

*Seventy: This is a priesthood office in the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Traditionally, a Latter-day Saint holding this priesthood office is a "traveling minister" and an "especial witness" of Jesus Christ, charged with the mission of preaching the gospel to the world under the direction of the twelve apostles. Anciently, the office of seventy was conferred upon the seventy disciples mentioned in the Gospel of Luke 10:1-2.