Wednesday March 2, Zone Leader Council Revelatory Experience

Zone Leader Council on Wednesday, March 2 was an excellent experience. We listened to and learned from one another in powerful ways as we received personal revelation concerning our own assignments.

We felt the Lord's love as President Laycock invited us as leaders in this mission, to remember the Doctrine taught in Proverbs 29:18:

"Where there is no vision, the people perish:

but he that keepeth the law, happy is he."

As missionaries, we are invited to follow the example of Jesus Christ as we lead, guide, and direct others. To be effective leaders, our communication and teaching must be clear.

Together, we studied, "Jesus: the Perfect Leader" by Spencer W. Kimball. Then we discussed the principles of leadership that Christ emulated during his earthly ministry. President Laycock reminded our leaders that they are the examples to our missionaries. He asked them if they are reading and sharing the Book of Mormon as we have asked every missionary in our mission to do. They responded positively by sharing examples of how they have been able to use the Book of Mormon in their teaching.

We reminded all of our leaders how important it is to focus on the Book of Mormon, to work to receive revelation through personal study of the Book of Mormon, to double our efforts to find new investigators, and to lead with love. The Savior's leadership was selfless. He put himself and his own needs second and ministered to others beyond the call of duty, tirelessly, lovingly, effectively.

We asked, "What kind of leaders are we? Do we listen with love?" Jesus sought to be discerning with others, never seeking to control them, but always working to lead with love.

As we sat in our circle and looked into each others' eyes, we felt the Lord's love and approval. We all shared our feelings about how we can strengthen one another and invite every missionary in the Chile, Santiago East Mission to move to a higher personal spiritual level. Our dear young leaders shared heartfelt suggestions that will definitely move our entire mission to higher spiritual ground. What a blessing it is for us to serve with our missionaries!

March News

Happy March 1st!

President Laycock often reminds our missionaries to enjoy every day of their full-time mission service because it is a privilege to serve, and because the time in the mission flies on wings of lightning. Happy mission days pass all too quickly. How can it already be March 1st? In Santiago, the leaves are just beginning to change colors, and the air is starting to cool. People have come home from their long summer vacations, and the children are back in school. Traffic in the city has returned to its normal hustle and bustle, and we are looking forward to being able to find many more people with whom we can share the the Lord's love and the beauty of His true Gospel. Life is good!

March will be another month where we focus on Chapter 5 of Preach My Gospel. We will continue our united efforts as we study the Book of Mormon together. We are looking forward to Zone Conferences which will be held this week, and we are taking our theme for this Zone Conference from the introduction to the Book of Mormon, paragraph 8:

"We invite all men everywhere to read the Book of Mormon, to ponder in their hearts the message it contains, and then to ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ if the book is true. Those who pursue this course and ask in faith will gain a testimony of its truth and divinity by the power of the Holy Ghost. (See Moroni 10:3-5.)

Also, this month we will be conducting trainings with every missionary on the initiative: "Fundamentals from Preach My Gospel Teaching More Effectively" to continue to help missionaries become more powerful gospel teachers.

It is a privilege for us to serve with these fine young people. They inspire and uplift us in marvelous ways, and we love each one of them very much.

The Work Moves Forward Every Day

37 And again, by way of commandment to the church concerning the manner of baptism--All those who humble themselves before God, and desire to be baptized, and come forth with broken hearts and contrite spirits, and witness before the church that they have truly repented of all their sins, and are willing to take upon them the name of Jesus Christ, having a determination to serve him to the end, and truly manifest by their works that they have received of the Spirit of Christ unto the remission of their sins, shall be received by baptism into his church.

D&C 20:37

Landoncito Returned to Santiago After "Summer" Break in Alpine

Our son Landon returned to Chile after a few weeks of vacation at our home in Alpine, Utah. It was a joy to receive him back in the mission. We missed him very much. He is preparing his mission papers and should have his call some time in March of this year. We are very excited to see where he will be going.

Nunoa Stake Relief Society

President Laycock and President Villar attended Nunoa Stake Relief Society! They felt great love for each Sister as they visited with them and learned more about them.

Chile, Santiago East Mission Presidency

Left to Right: President Villar, President Laycock, President Leiva

These men enjoy a wonderful relationship as they serve together in the Presidency of our Mission. We love them and know that the Lord loves them, too.

During February, President Laycock, President Leiva, and President Villar attended trainings where they and our Assistants and our Office Elders shared Preach My Gospel training and instruction with the Stake Leaders, Bishops, and Ward Mission Leaders in our mission. We are hopeful that these trainings will help us all to be able to better work together as we do the Lord's work. We provided to each ward, a binder filled with suggestions and ideas to help with missionary work in their ward.

Two More "Practically Perfect" Missionaries Completed Their Mission Service on Monday, February 21

Elder Thompson and Sister McDaniels returned to their homes on February 21. They were such a wonderful blessing to our mission. They were both full of love and happiness. Their smiles will always be a part of our hearts and memories. We are grateful for the opportunity to have served with these two faithful and obedient missionaries. They left a powerful and loving legacy in the Chile Santiago East Mission that will live forever.

Five Excellent New Missionaries Arrived on Tuesday February 22

Left to Right: Elder Walker, Elder Medina, President Laycock, Sister Laycock,

Sister Fabrizio, Sister Castello, Sister Mancia

Orientation with our newest missionaries was a great blessing.

We learned that these new missionaries are obedient and dedicated in every way.

We received Elder Walker and Sister Fabrizio at the airport. They greeted us with huge smiles and great enthusiasm. We received Sister Mancia, Sister Castello, and Elder Medina from the Chile CCM. They were also very excited to begin their mission service. They are all excellent missionaries and will be a tremendous blessing to our mission.

We Love Our Sisters!

The Chile Santiago East Mission is filled with Sisters who love the Lord.

They are powerful and loving representatives of our Savior in all they do and say.

We love them very much!

February Zone Leader Council

In addition to our Zone Leaders, we invited all of our District Leaders to attend our February Zone Leader Council. It was truly a "revelatory experience" for all of us. Elder Wilkey and Elder Saenz (Assistants) testified and encouraged all of us. Sister McDaniels testified about working with members. Elder Powell and Elder Walters talked about how to work with members. Elder Jewkes testified about the power of obedience. Elder Tello testified about the power of prayer. Elder Deviagge testified about the law of sacrifice. Elder Caligari spoke about baptism and the vision to baptize. Elder Bennett taught about the Fourth Missionary. Elder Adams and Elder Muniz helped us to feel excited about the work. Elder Martin testified about the love of the mission. Elder Maxfield performed a beautiful and inspiring musical number. Then President Laycock spoke to all of us about the need to be unified and to do the Lord's work in the Lord's way through obedience and love. It was a wonderful day together. We were truly edified together.

Zone and District Classes During February

We (President and Sister Laycock) enjoyed meeting with every Zone in the Chile Santiago East Mission during January and February. We reminded one another of the Law of the Harvest (2 Corinthians 9:6-7). We talked about the importance of being one (D&C 38:27). We asked and answered questions together. We discussed concerns, desires, and plans for our Mission. We talked in detail about the importance of doing the Lord's work in the Lord's way. We reminded one another to be obedient and to follow the mission schedule. Together, we studied 1 Corinthians 13 and reminded one another to strive to do all we do with true Charity.

Zone and District Classes During February

We Love Our Missionaries!

Elder Costner, Elder Nielsen, President and Sister Laycock

7.0 Chile Earthquake on February 11, 2011

Many of you have heard by now that a 7.0 earthquake occurred today in the Southern Region of Chile near Concepcion and Bio Bio. All missionaries in the Chile, Santiago East Mission are accounted for, well and doing fine. We felt the earthquake and its "replica" (aftershock) in Santiago, but we did not experience any injury or damage in our mission. Thank you, as always, for your love, prayers, and concern. "If ye are prepared, ye shall not fear" (D & C 38:30). We (President and Sister Laycock) just completed our inspection of every apartment in our mission. We checked on the 36 hour kits, and reminded each Elder and Sister to keep their bags ready and be prepared. We have wonderful Missionaries. They are obedient. They know how important it is for them to be prepared in every way. We are grateful for the life-lessons we are all learning as we serve the Lord as His full time missionaries.

February Focus: Preach My Gospel, Chapter 5

In the Chile, Santiago East Mission, during the month of February we decided to focus together on Chapter 5 of Preach My Gospel, "What is the Role of the Book of Mormon?" We invited family, friends, investigators and others to study along with us with the hope of finishing the entire Book of Mormon by Easter (April 24th). We began a study of the Book of Mormon where we each took a clean copy of the Book of Mormon and began marking it as we read, focusing one color on each reference to Jesus Christ (any of His names or pronouns referring to Him), one color on His words (spoken by Him or by prophets when they say, "thus saith the Lord") and one color on His attributes (PMG p. 114). It is interesting to note that Elder Holland told us that he and his missionary companion, Elder Cook, read and marked the Book of Mormon in this way while serving together as young missionaries in England. We were excited to begin this spiritual adventure together. We knew that focusing on the Book of Mormon would help us become better missionaries. Preach My Gospel says that "the Book of Mormon combined with the Spirit is our most powerful resource in conversion." (PMG p. 104).

Doctrine: WHY? The Book of Mormon contains the fulness of the Doctrine of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. "The Lord Himself has stated that the Book of Mormon contains the fulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ." (D&C 20:9). In the Book of Mormon, we find the fulness of the Doctrines required for salvation, taught plainly and simply so that even children can learn the ways of salvation and exaltation.

Principle: WHAT? The Book of Mormon is the keystone of our Religion. "Take away the Book of Mormon and the revelations, and where is our Religion? We have none." (History of the Church, 2:52). Joseph Smith called the Book of Mormon the "keystone of our Religion." He taught that the Book of Mormon holds our Religion together. President Ezra Taft Benson explained that the Book of Mormon is the keystone in three important ways: (1) witness of Jesus Christ; (2) fulness of doctrine; and (3) foundation of testimony. (PMG p. 104).

Application: HOW? The central purpose of the Book of Mormon is to convince all people that Jesus is the Christ (see title page of the Book of Mormon). It affirms the reality of His life, mission, and power. It teaches true doctrine concerning the Atonement. We used the Book of Mormon in every possible teaching opportunity to testify of the reality of Jesus Christ and the restoration of His true church. We did this by using the Book of Mormon to answer the great questions of the Soul. In the words of President Boyd K. Packer, "In a world ever more dangerous...the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ has the nourishing power to heal starving spirits of the world." (Ensign, November 2001, 64).