Hastening The Work in Guadalajara: Zone Conferences!

We just finished our zone conferences for this quarter.
They were wonderful.
Our theme was effective teaching.
President taught several times, I taught, and the zone leaders taught and led practice sessions where the Elders and Hermana's seriously practiced what they had learned.
Each conference was unique and we felt the Lord's spirit guide our discussions and presentations.
We began our zone conferences with the Colima and Guzman zones combined.
It was a wonderful day together! These 4 zone leaders were well prepared and everything went very smoothly.
A quick picture before we got started

Zone leaders Elder Morris, Elder Robledo, Elder Quinones,
and Elder Vaifanua taught ways to invite their investigators to read, to

come to church, to be baptized, etc, and then discussed how

important it is to get a commitment that is genuine.

They taught using the patterns found in PMG,

and then modeled and demonstrated the pattern.

They also focused on teaching people, not lessons and

again demonstrated how vital it is to be led by the spirit

as we teach.

Practices.

I love how the zone leaders and President Clayton

listen to the companionship's as they practice and make

sure correct patterns have been understood and are

being focused on.

Colima and Guzman Zones

Next was our Manzanillo Zone Conference

President began his discussion by demonstrating and teaching how to tie a stopper knot.

He showed a picture of our son Scott, an avid mountain climber, and talked about how important

it is to teach concepts correctly. Our son's understanding of knots have saved his life,

Understanding of heavenly things can be done in a variety of ways.

As we teach the gospel of Jesus Christ, our

responsibility is to teach with power and clarity, allowing the spirit

to direct us and guide us along.

"How great the importance to make these things known unto the children of men..'

Some of the main ideas of my presentation were
* To effectively teach we must be clean, worthy and willing
then, we can become a mighty and a powerful tool in the Lord's hands
* Thus far (hasta este punto) how are we doing? (1Nephi 5:20)
* "Rise up... rise to the the great challenge which faces you" Gordon B. Hinckley
* "The Lord needs our best. He needs those who can run, not just walk". David B. Haight
* "Rescue all that is finest in us." Barbara Thompson
* Hebrews 12:1 Let us run with patience the race that is set before us
* opposition is a very real and valuable part of God's plan
* I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. Psalms 121:1
* Give me that mountain! (Numbers 13-14, Joshua 13,14 ) the story of Joshua and faithful Caleb
as they are about to enter the promised land.

President and I are always amazed at what outstanding teachers and role models each
of our zone leaders are. They add such a measure of spiritual maturity, and enrich each of our meetings. Here are Elder Jimenez and Elder Lozano as they teach.