Mission Presidents Seminar

November 21-24—Mission Presidents Seminar in Manila

            As always it was a few days of wonderful training, inspiration, and wonderful visits. President Shayne Bowen began the conference by teaching the importance of Belief and that believing isn’t enough we need action. He shared the story of Roger Bannister and how we need to overcome false limitations. We need to have a greater vision. Elder Schmutz taught about how true doctrine understood helps motivate positive missionary behavior. We need more than an intellectual understanding of the gospel; we need spiritual understanding which is conversion. Elder Haynie taught about improving our efforts to find scattered Israel. A big focus of the conference training was following up with the missionary focus of teaching repentance and baptizing converts. During this conference we had the opportunity to have a Sisters’ breakout where we had the medical advisors teach and answer questions about medical concerns. We were also blessed to hear the wives of the Area Presidency teach and testify to us. The theme was the “Errand of Angels is Given to Women.” President Bowen taught about the importance of the Book of Mormon in conversion. President and Sister Andrada who had recently lost their son in an accident shared their powerful testimonies of the plan of salvation and the love of the Savior. President Bowen reminded us that although the Andrada’s son’s death was tragic it was only temporary. He taught that the “path of covenants” enables us to return to our Heavenly Father.  We are so thankful for the opportunity to be taught by the Area Presidency as well as the other mission presidents and wives. It is always a time of renewal and reminders of what matters most.