Mission Presidents Seminar

We attended a marvelleous Mission Presidents Seminar in Nauvoo, IL two weeks ago. Elder L. Tom Perry presided with President Ronald A. Rasband, President of the Presidency of Seventy, Elder Donald L. Hallstrom, Presidency of the Seventy, and Elder Lowell M. Snow of the Seventy and their wives. Eighteen mission presidents and their wives from the North America Central Area. Also attending were seven Area Seventies that serve these 18 missions, our Area Medical Director, Area Temporal Affairs Director, and Marvin VanDam, Executive Secretary to Elder Hallstrom.

As you can imagine, we were well instructed by the Spirit - the true teacher. Elder Perry discussed the importance of creating the image of the Church. He also instructed us to build from the centers of strength in our stakes and wards. He suggested that branches with less than 20 active Melchizedek Preisthood holders may not be the best place for full-time missionaries. If a ward has many less-active Melchizedek Priesthood holders then we should have full-time missionaries assigned to help reactivate these less-active brethren and their families. Elder Perry said that if the mission president doesn't move missionaries to productive areas within his mission, then the Church will move them to more productive missions. This counsel confirmed the feelings that I've had since arriving in the mission. Of course, the ultimate guide for missionary assignments is the Spirit. A member-oriented missionary effort is the best and Elder Perry reviewed the Ward Council process and how the missionary program needs to be led by the Bishop, Ward Council, and Mission Leader through the Missionary Coordination meeting.

We toured several sites in Nauvoo and attended a temple session. It was great to associate with other mission presidents and wives to seek their advice and get many of our questions answered. President and Sister Ludwig, Illinois Nauvoo Mission, were the host for the seminar and they did an absolute fantastic job in all the many preparations and seminar organization. Next year, the seminar will be held in Omaha, Nebraska!