South Africa Johannesburg Mission: 23-25, 30 Jan-2, 6, 8 Feb 2018 Interviews & Training

23-25, 30 Jan-2, 6, 8 Feb 2018 Interviews & Training

As each district comes to the mission home for interviews with President Leavitt, Sister Leavitt greets them and seats them in the front room.

We have a conversation about why Jesus taught by asking questions (PMG p. 183). In addition to the points listed, we come to discuss that because of agency, we choose which thought we will express and which expressed thoughts we will act on. We talk about Alma and Amulek's experience about why the Spirit constrained Alma from not saving those being thrown in the fire. Because of agency, we will be judged on what we choose to do--whether good or bad.

We discuss the effects on investigators as missionaries ask good or bad questions. We talk about how we can have the Spirit help us listen to our investigators and ask heaven-inspired questions as we teach lessons as outlined in Preach My Gospel.

We read through a talk entitled, Divine Companion: Teaching by the Spirit, (Key to missionary work is The Ultimate Teacher) given by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland at the New Mission Presidents Seminar at the Provo MTC in 2009 to 600 MTC missionaries and 100 new mission presidents and their companions. We discuss and learn from each paragraph.

We also discuss that they need to teach Christ's doctrine with boldness and clarity by the power of the Holy Ghost. In order to do this, they need to study the lessons and the scriptures.

Each companionship also has the opportunity to then go into the dining room and teach a role-play lesson to a new investigator they previously met once. The missionaries are to focus on listening to the investigator, teaching the doctrinal lessons as outlined in Preach My Gospel, asking inspired questions, and being led by the Spirit to answer the investigator's questions and concerns.

Sister Foxx and Sister Willis, (who finished their CES mission and have extended their mission to now be our 'training' missionaries for six months), take turns being an investigator or the teaching coach.

The missionaries follow the examples from The District and the role-playing they observed during training at Zone Conference. During the role-play, the teaching coach can stop the conversation and ask questions or make comments.

When the role-play is considered done, the teaching coach and the investigator evaluate the teaching missionaries. They can ask questions and discuss what was done well and what improvements could be implemented.

Below are some pictures from the training: