Numbers Don't Lie 4/23/12

Dear Family and Friends, Well, another transfer down. We got the call last night and my entire district is staying put. I´m grateful for that because we are all really close. So as part of my calling as District Leader, my missionaries call me every night to check in, but also once a week with their numbers. Then I report to the Zone Leaders, and they to the Assistants to the Presdent. I´ve been doing this consistently for 6 weeks now, writing it all down and what not. So yesterday after weekly reports something told me to make a graph of my districts efforts this transfer. So I added up the numbers, grabbed my colored pencils and my ruler and got to work. About an hour later I had a pretty good lookin graph.... sort of. It showed me something that I knew, but didn´t fully realize. The types of numbers that we can do by ourselves were really high. This was contacting, new investigators, and normal lessons. But the numbers that are affected by the ward, such as when they give us a referral, or accompany us in a lesson, were kinda low. You might say so what? Well, my district had 2 baptisms last transfer. I learned that it doesn´t matter how hard one individual, or one missionary companionship, is working if they are not working with the ward. The secret is.... The job of the ward is not to help the missionaries. The job of the missionaries, is to help the ward. We report to you. We teach your friends and family members. We help you spread the gospel. You stay in the area after we leave. If the ward does not want to spread the gospel, the missionaries will find little, if any success. If the investigator is friends with the missionaries, they will go inactive after they leave, unless someone in the ward has developed a friendship and love with them. Our own conversion is not enough. We should not be satisfied or content when we have done the work for ourself. That is selfish. That is like eating a giant chocolate cake all by yourself. What´s the first thing Lehi did after tasting the fruit of the tree of life? He called out to his family and friends to partake as well. Alma tells us in chapter 36 of his own conversion, and that afterwards, he labored all of his days to convert others. The salvation of God´s children through missionary and temple work is the most important and sacred duty of all of us. EVERY member a missionary! I fully realize that everyone has family, work, and callings to provide for. But the Savior has said in Mark 8 that those try to save their life will lose it, and those that lose their life for His sake, will find it. If we try to save our time to do the things that we want to do, we will be lost. But if we do the Lords will, we will find peace, and true happiness. There comes a point in everyones life where they make the decision to serve Christ, and to give Him their will and time. This is the most critical decision that one could make. I have seen, that upon making this decision, every other decision is easy. We end up obeying the commandments, not because of obligation, but because of desire to serve our Lord. So after I made the graph, I prayed for guidance on how I can help the ward better, and encourage them. 3 hours later I found myself in a Priesthood Executive Committee with all the major leaders in the ward, and one from the stake. At the end the spirit was prompting and and placing scriptures in my mind. The spirit was so strong I couldn´t deny it and couldn´t sit there and pretend like I wasn´t supposed to say something. So I got up, talked about my graph, shared the scriptures the spirit gave me, and the bishop even backed me up. Then we made appointments to visit investigators and less active members together. There is no doubt in my mind that the Lord answered my prayer and gave me the opportunity and words necessary to fulfill His will. I had faith that He would. I had a sincere heart and real intent. It was a powerful experience. I love you all, Elder Nichols