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Elder Nelson - Inviting Missionaries

Dear Family,

Mission News
Return and Report was on Tuesday. It is always fun to be with the young missionaries. One sister, who was completing her mission in a few days was invited to share advice for the young missionaries. She said a number of things. Here are 3 that I remembered.

If you want to baptize often you have to find people to teach. To find people to teach talk with ever one.

Be comfortable with being bold.

“I certainly did not baptize everybody I taught. But everyone I taught knew that I knew that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the Lord’s one true church and this church has the fullness of the Gospel. It isn’t just another nice Christian Church. It is the true church.

I am preparing to teach a class to members who are called to be “Inviting Missionaries” for 3 months. Their calling is to invite friends and people they meet to “Come and See and Come and Help”. I am putting together a power point presentation I hope the first draft will be done by next Sunday. The principles of the training come from Elder Uchtdorf’s remarks in April general conference, “The Power of Everyday Missionaries” a book by Clayton Christensen and Preach My Gospel chapters 9 and 11.

Friday Morning I went tracking with the missionaries for a couple of hours. It was just as fun and effective as 48 years ago. The elder I went with had a very soft approach. The few houses where people opened the door, he usually said volunteered to help them with yard work or any other kind of service. My companion did all of the doors.

Fun Stuff
When you get old you have to deal with RMD – Required Minimum Deduction. Uncle Sam requires that you cash in some of your IRA each year so they can tax you. We finished this task last week. Uncle Don showed us how to send some of this money directly from Schwab to the Church that we would normally pay in tithing and other donations. The benefit of doing this is that we don’t get taxed on that money we sent to the Church.

It is fall in Virginia. Last week we came out of our apartment to go to the office and this is what we found.
WES NewsOur next door neighbor, Banner Industries, will lease our unit starting on Dec 15. This is a big relief.
Dennis Wightman is helping out with several little tasks which is a big help!

Family News
Derek had a business trip to the DC area and came by Monday night for dinner. Mom had to make a big batch of potato soup for Return and Report on Tuesday. Derek peeled and chopped potatoes. He was a big help and the soup was very good. Fortunately there was a good amount left over and we enjoyed it several days.

Love you all,
Dad

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