2 Months Out!

Good Morning!

Today marks my 2 month mark on the mission. It is my second 'click day' (because I entered the MTC on the 1st, my click day is the 1st of every month). It also marks the end of my first transfer. I've been in the field for 6 weeks! Life is crazy!

There are two awesome experiences I have had this last week I want to share with you.

First Experience: We went to an appointment for a first lesson with a member with us, she wasn't home, so we knocked on her neighbor's door down the hall in the apartment complex. A girl, about 20 probably going to college, opened the door and I said "We are missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. We have a message about Jesus Christ we would like to share with you. Would you be interested?" She said yes and welcomed us in. We talked for about 5-10 minutes about the basic summary of the Book of Mormon and what we believe. She told us that she was expecting a child in 8 months and she was looking for a faith to strengthen her child. She didn't look like she was pregnant at all. The cool part of this experience was that when we opened the door, I had the thought come into my head, "say we have a unique message about families." As I said before, I didn't say that, but God gave us a second chance to talk to her. And see that it was the spirit telling me to say that to her. But I thought twice about it and said what I thought made sense. But we got her number, and although she wasn't there for the return appointment we set up, she seemed genuinely interested and so we are going to try again this week.

Second Experience: A week and a half ago I had the thought to put a copy of the Spanish Book of Mormon into my backpack. I figured, "why not? it's just a little more weight." After I did I didn't really think about it again. When we were heading to an appointment with a Less-Active, I saw a man and had the thought "go talk to him." I ignored it and then we went and knocked on the door of this Less-Active. He wasn't home, so we went to go back to the car and I was backing Elder Flint when this man I saw before came up to us. He told us that he was told in thought "to go and talk to these men about God." So he came up to us. He told us that he was 70, and he was nearing death. He is a Mexican man and he was headed to Mexico the next morning for 15 days. He asked us to come by when he got home. He knew about the devil and that the devil has angels. Because God knew this experience was going to come, he told me days earlier to put the Spanish Book of Mormon in my backpack, I followed the thought, that I didn't realize was the spirit at the time, and was able to place that Book of Mormon. God gave me a second chance in this scenario as well to help one of His children and to show me He is talking to me.

The Lord is Always talking to us. Especially after we have had the opportunity to receive the Holy Ghost. But even before that, we have the opportunity to feel the Light of Christ and to experience "the power of the Holy Ghost" (Moroni 10:5, emphasis added).

What exactly is the "Light of Christ?" Elder David A. Bednar explains it beautifully and simply in a three-part series of Mormon Messages called "Patterns of Light." 

Patterns of Light: The Light of Christ (part one)

http://mormonchannel.org/mormonmessages?v=1737858982001

Patterns of Light: Discerning Light (part two)

http://mormonchannel.org/mormonmessages?v=1737858984001

Patterns of Light: Spirit of Revelation (part three)

http://mormonchannel.org/mormonmessages?v=1737858986001

Preach My Gospel, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints' Missionary Training Manual, describes the Light of Christ as thus (pg 90):

   A person is capable of receiving spiritual guidance before being baptized and confirmed. This spiritual influence begins with the Light of Christ, which “is given to every man, that he may know good from evil” (Moroni 7:16; see also verses 14–19).

   “The light of Christ is just what the words imply: enlightenment, knowledge, and an uplifting, ennobling, persevering influence that comes upon mankind because of Jesus Christ. . . .
   “The light of Christ should not be confused with the personage of the Holy Ghost, for the light of Christ is not a personage at all. Its influence is preliminary to and preparatory to one’s receiving the Holy Ghost. The light of Christ will lead the honest soul who ‘hearkeneth to the voice’ to find the true gospel and the true Church and thereby receive the Holy Ghost” (Bible Dictionary, “Light of Christ,” 725; see also D&C 84:46–47).
   President Boyd K. Packer said, “It is important for a . . . missionary . . . to know that the Holy Ghost can work through the Light of Christ. A teacher of gospel truths is not planting something foreign or even new into an adult or a child. Rather, the missionary or teacher is making contact with the Spirit of Christ already there. The gospel will have a familiar ‘ring’ to them” (“The Light of Christ,” address delivered at the seminar for new mission presidents, 22 June 2004, 2).

I hope we can all see the Light of Christ at work in our lives, and strive to follow it! Listen to Jacob's advice in the Book of Mormon. Read Jacob chapter 6 verse 12.

Remember to S.M.I.L.E.! (Book of Mormon, 2 Nephi chapter 9 verse 39)

I love you all! And God loves you more!

Elder Zachary R McKenzie

Iowa Des Moines Mission

    D&C 6:34, 36

Doubt Not, Fear Not.

Nauvoo

Hey Everyone!

So I took my first two trips to Nauvoo this last week. One was for Zone Conference and one was for Stake Conference. I didn't get to go to the temple or anything, but I have now seen the temple. 

Here is one random fact from Nauvoo that I thought was really interesting: back when the saints were there before they were kicked out, they had built up a prospering city and the population was anywhere from 8,000 to 15,000 when the saints were there. After they had left, there was a population left of 1,100. The population is now 1,100. It just goes to show that when the people aren't righteous on the land, there is no growth.

I sang in the Stake Choir for the conference because it was a choir taken from the Kirksville 1st and 2nd wards. We sang a medley of "Where Can I Turn for Peace," "Be Still My Soul," and "Our Savior's Love." It was a nice medley of three of my favorite hymns. Then we also sang a beautiful arrangement of "If You Could Hie To Kolob." It was fun singing in a good ward choir. Being in the choir, I was on the screen pretty much the entire conference. After the conference, I was on the stand and up the aisle I saw Alli Perkins from my BYU freshman ward. She was in Nauvoo visiting her fiance. It was weird! But it was great to see her!

This last week was one of great inspiration and receiving great revelation from both of those conferences. It was one of "improvement and progression" ("If You Could Hie to Kolob" verse 3. But really look at the entire song).

The Doctrine of Christ. The Gospel of Jesus Christ, focuses on 5 simple steps. I say simple because they are easy to understand. Actually doing them is another story. It is in the 4th article of faith, it is the purpose of a missionary, it is in lesson three of chapter three of Preach My Gospel. 

• Faith in Jesus Christ
• Repentance
• Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins
• Receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost
• Enduring to the End

These are the keys to living a gospel-centered life. All are centered on the Atonement of Jesus Christ. It requires an attitude of "willing to accept, and even seek, correction" (Elder D. Todd Christofferson, "The Will of God" Mormon Message).http://mormonchannel.org/mormonmessages

It's tough, but always looking to the Savior is the key to life.

There is an article about teaching in the July 2012 Ensign called "The Lesson is Inside the Learner" by Sunday School General President Russell T. Osguthorpe (http://www.lds.org/ensign/2012/07/the-lesson-is-inside-the-learner?lang=eng). It is a wonderful article that shows 4 main points of teaching the gospel "that all may be edified of all” (D&C 88:122). These points are:

1. Conversion is the Aim.
2. Love is the Motive.
3. Doctrine is the Key.
4. The Spirit is the Teacher.

It is a wonderful article and I am starting to implement these steps and I suggest that you try to use them too.

I love you all and I will update you next week!
Elder Zachary R McKenzie

Iowa Des Moines Mission

    D&C 6:34, 36

Doubt Not, Fear Not.

Another Week in the Field

Hello!

 

This week was good, we continued to work and I am learning so much and trying to improve myself continually.

 

One of my new favorite scriptures is Alma 36:3. It is awesome advice from Alma the Younger, one of the coolest prophets in the Book of Mormon, to his son, Helaman, commander of the 2,000 stripling warriors. SO heed it well! :)

 

I get to travel to Nauvoo twice this week, once for Zone Conference and once for Stake Conference (I'm singing in the choir). I'm so psyched!

 

One of our investigators got married yesterday, so she is living more fully the Law of Chastity, which is great! Now she just needs to quit smoking before her baptismal date next month! We got an awesome, ready-to-work ward mission leader last week and it is going to be a great jumpstart to the work here in Kirksville!

 

The work always continues, as well as my realizations of what I can do better.

 

I remember "It is Better to Look Up" and to just S.M.I.L.E.! Spiritually Minded Is Life Eternal (2 Nephi 9:39)

 

The work is ever progressing and "the field is white already to harvest" (D&C 4:4)

 

Love from the Mission Field of Dreams!

Elder Zachary R McKenzie

Iowa Des Moines Mission

    D&C 6:34, 36

Doubt Not, Fear Not.

I've been out 6 weeks!

Hello Everyone!

 

This Wednesday marks 6 weeks of me being on my mission. It has gone by so slowly, yet so quickly! The work is ever progressing.

 

I don't have a whole lot of time today. But know that all is going well.

 

I have been having more productive studies and as I'm serving and teaching and studying, I am learning a lot about myself.

 

Missionary work and life in general is all about giving up our desires or wants, giving up our will, and letting ourselves be an instrument in His hands, to bring peace and joy for all others.

 

These are a few of the scriptures that are my favorites right now:

• Alma 36:3
• D&C 4
• Jacob 4
• Alma 32:28
• 3 Nephi 12:14-16
• Alma 36:20
• Alma 4:3
• Alma 7:11-12
• D&C 33:8-10
• Alma 17:2-3

I hope they are able to bring some light into your life like they have mine.

 

I love you all and I hope you are living a life where you can fully experience the joy of God. I am not yet, but I intend to always be thinking in a way where I am giving myself up to God. Share your experiences with me!

 

Because it is September 11th, I studied some scriptures this morning that brought some Partriotism and enlightenment to my thoughts. Here is what I studied if you want to follow my path:

• 1 Nephi 13
• D&C 87
• Revelations 5-6
• D&C 135

 

Love,

Elder Zachary R McKenzie

D&C 6:34, 36

Doubt Not, Fear Not

My Mission Address

Here is Elder McKenzie's address:

Elder Zachary R McKenzie

Iowa Des Moines Mission

8515 Douglas Ave Ste 19

Urbandale, IA 50322

United States

If you send a package, please send it Priority Mail, it is the only service that will forward his package to his actual apartment address.

Week 2 in the Field

Hey Everyone!

It has been an interesting second week in Kirksville. I am actually starting to find it is rubbing off on me. I could see myself living in a place like this.

The highlight from my week was probably exchanges with Elder Prows. He goes home at the end of this transfer, and though he is trunky, he is working hard. I got to know him better and I actually got to do some knocking on doors. It freaked me out to be talking to people. I am shy at first when I talk with people, and because I am extra new at this with being shy, it makes things hard. But it was some good experience.

I was going to bring my journal to remember what has happened in the past week, but I forgot. I did bring my study journal though, so I will share some insights from both my mind and my study journal.

We had dinner at the Potter's on Friday night. And yes, Brother Potter's first name is James. Sister Potter made 4 different kinds of Stromboli, or homemade calzones, or whatever you want to call them. They were delicious. We then taught them the 400 lesson. The lesson about our goal of 400 baptisms in the Iowa Des Moines Mission for 2012. For part of the lesson we share this DVD that some elders made based on the efforts of member missionary work. The DVD first shows a story put to music of how a girl shares a Book of Mormon with her testimony in it with a boy from her high school. They take the discussions and then the entire family is baptized. This part ends with a quote from the scripture Alma 37:6 "By small and simple things are great things brought to pass..." Then it shows part of a conference talk from President Eyring about the importance of members doing missionary work. The Potter's have 3 little kids, Addison who is 4 and a half, Denton who is 2 and a half, and Mikaela who is 5 months old. They remind me of Paul and Eve and make me a little bit homesick each time we go see them. When we were watching the excerpt of the talk, the kids were in their pajamas, the girls were being held by their parents and Denton was playing with blocks. It was about this time that I could have curled up on the couch and been perfectly at home. The spirit in members homes and the cleanliness is amazing. Even if you don't think it is too clean, it is better than the houses/trailers we go into that are filled with smoke and random piles of garbage. Going into any member's home feels like home. But that is when it hit me that they are our homes away from home. The reason they have the spirit, other than their testimonies is their way of life. They abide by the precepts set in D&C 88:119, 124-126.

May I ask that you all read Jacob chapter 4 this week. I read it this morning for personal study, and through applying it to myself, and really paying attention to what it said, I received some choice words of wisdom through the spirit. A few things I gleaned from my studies are as follows. Humility is the key to our Salvation. Read verse 8 after reading the Bible Dictionary entry on Mystery. When mystery is used in the scriptures, it doesn't mean what the modern meaning is. Give our glory to God (3 Nephi 12:16 (14-16)). God has control of the earth, don't try and tell Him what to do, listen to Him. The Spirit teaches plainly. Don't try and over complicate things. The Spirit teaches the truth; the Real Truth. Learn how to recognize the spirit as Jacob did. Not to only recognize, but to act on it after you recognize it.

There are some of my spiritual experiences. Read the scriptures and treasure up what you find, so the spirit can use them later (D&C 84:85). "Scriptures are like packets of light that illuminate our minds and give place to guidance and inspiration from on high. ... They can become stalwart friends that are not limited by geography or calendar." -Elder Richard G. Scott (The Power of Scripture, Oct 2011 General Conference, Saturday Morning Session)

I challenge you to reach out and to have a missionary experience. And when you do, share it in your next Fast and Testimony Meeting. You will have one if you pray for it and seek for it. "Ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. Amen." D&C 4:7.

Until Next Time,
Elder McKenzie

Week 1 in the Field

Greetings from the Mission Field!

My first area in the Iowa Des Moines mission is, drumroll please... the Kirksville 2nd Ward in Kirksville, Missouri. My trainer is Elder Haden Flint from Layton, Utah. He will be training me for his 4th and 5th transfers. He went to Northridge High. He is 6'5" and about 270. He played football, defensive end, for his high school. After his mission he has a scholarship to go play ball down at Dixie State. The funny part is, is his girlfriend's name is McKenzie.

The Elders in my district are pretty weird, but not too bad. Elder Flint is pretty normal. Then in the Kirksville 1st Ward, we have Elder Prows and Elder Smith. This is Elder Prows last transfer, and he is feeling trunky.

It is weird out here. Small town life. Kirksville has a population of about 17,000, but it is the "big city" for about 30 miles, so it feels extra small. There are outlying farming communities with populations of 400. So I should be grateful that I live in the big part. Although my area is pretty large.

There are 3 types of areas in my mission. One has cars all the time. One has cars every other week. One is no cars, and instead you bike or walk. My area is one with cars every other week. We switch off with the other Elders in our district each P-Day.

The ward I am in has a lot of young couples with a kid or two and they are in their late twenties. A. T. Still University is in Kirksville. It is a school for doctor management, so we have lots of mormon families from Utah or Idaho. They are quite awesome. I've already had dinner at a few people's houses and am looking forward to more in the near future. We get probably between 3-6 dinners a week. Me being here not a full week yet, I'm not sure, but that's what Elder Flint says. So you can get an idea of a little bit of the student demographic, there are 10 babies due by December and 2 due this week. I love seeing the little kids, and it kills me not to be able to hold them or anything. But it is the rules and I will abide by them.

Of course there is a Wal-Mart in town so that takes care of any needs I'll come across.

I walked into a baptism. It was pretty crazy. She is a nice 64-year-old lady named Margie. She was baptized Saturday and confirmed Sunday in church. So far we don't have any new investigators out here, but we're going to contact some referrals this week and get out there. We've been building member trust because there were some issues with it before my trainer was whitewashed in when he first got here. (Whitewash is when they pull both elders out of an area and put a new companionship in the area). And it has also been a little crazy with the baptism. I feel like we haven't worked our hardest yet, and I am eager to apply everything that I learned in the MTC. This week is looking to be a lot more promising. We have a good full day today and the rest of the week is looking like good time for spiritually finding and such. President Jergensen doesn't believe in tracting, because we pray about where to go and then go knock on doors. I'll probably say tracting sometimes, but know that spiritually finding and tracting are virtually the same. Spiritually finding is guided tracting.

So I finally discovered why we can only listen to MoTab in this mission. Last December they had a Zone Leader council and they discussed our mission goal of baptisms. For 2011 the goal was 500 and we only got about 350. President Jergensen asked everyone to pray about a number before the meeting and come to the meeting with their ideas. At the meeting they spent a long while having heated discussion about what it should be. Some said 500, 600, 700. Some said 250 so we can actually meet their goal. This went on for at least a half an hour. Finally, one of the Elders said, "This is the Lord's number, why don't we ask him?" So they quieted everyone down and this Elder said a very simple prayer, asking how many people the Lord had prepared to be baptized for this year. After that prayer, President Jergensen announced, "The number of baptisms is 400. And the sacrifice we will make for this goal is to only listen to MoTab this year." So that is why.

We are at 230 baptisms as a mission right now, with 67 baptism dates. Please pray for those in my mission that we may find them. We are working with the members right now. We go and help get them psyched to help us reach our goal. Elder Flint shared some statistics from a General Authority that astounded me. Statistically speaking, 1 in 1000 people tracted to will be baptized. 60 in 1000 people recommended that the missionaries see them from a friend will be baptized. 660 in 1000 people taught in a members home will be baptized. I didn't realize members were that big of a deal. But they are! Do your part at home to help others come to Christ. Invite them to come to your house and invite the missionaries to teach in your home. When someone is invited to their home, they already have that framework and support system of friendship before they are overwhelmed with the gospel too. We don't have that with people we tract. Be a friend first.

That is all from me this week. I love getting letters! I only promise letters to those that send me one first. I wish I could write you all, but I simply don't have time to send them all out.

With Love from Missouri,
Elder Zachary R McKenzie