October

August 2009
D&C 101:63-4 . . . I say unto you, I will show unto you wisdom in me concerning all the churches, in as much as
they are willing to be guided in a right and proper way for their salvation--- that the work of the gathering
together of my saints may continue . . . for the time of harvest is come, and my word must needs be fulfilled.

Message from the President

“Goals reflect the desires of our hearts and our vision of what we can accomplish. Through goals and plans,
our hopes are transformed into action. Goal setting and planning are acts of faith.” PMG pg. 146

Dear Elders and Sisters,

At zone conference we established a mission goal of ten baptisms per month. Goals are a very important part of a
successful life, without them we can become complacent and fall way below our potential. It is a truism, ‘he who aims
at nothing is bound to hit it.’ However, any goal without a plan to reach that goal is just wishful thinking. A plan is a
way to work toward a goal and know how we are coming toward the goal by providing a step by step blueprint that
allows us to know the specifics of what needs to be done to reach the goal. It also provides us with direct feedback on
a daily basis on how we are doing in reaching our goal.

With regards to bringing people unto Christ and baptizing them, our leaders have given us key indicators that
have been identified that will help us focus on this purpose. PMG page 138 and 146 states, “As you focus on these
indicators, you will help people progress toward baptism, confirmation, continued activity in the Church, and lasting
conversion…SET GOALS FOR EACH KEY INDICATOR. Do everything within your power to achieve your goals while
respecting the agency of others. The ultimate measure of success is not in achieving goals alone but in the service you
render and the progress of others. Goals are a means of helping you bring about much good among Heavenly Father’s
children.” Elder Caffrey calculated what we need to achieve in each of the key indicators in order to reach our goal.
This provides us with vital information on where we need to focus our efforts. For example, based on Elder Caffrey’s
calculations each missionary pair needs to obtain 3.50 new investigators a week in order for the mission to reach the
goal of ten baptisms per month. As you go about your activities and you see that you are below the standard you have
set for yourselves in finding new investigators you can do things immediately to increase that number. Perhaps you
focus on contacting in your companion study. You prepare approaches for different people atheists, mothers on the
run, students, Christians etc and then practice contacting on each other during companionship study. If the Lord has
inspired us to set a specific goal and sees that we are taking the goal seriously He will bless us to reach that goal. The
quality of our preparation shows our faith that the Lord will prepare the way to reach our goal.

“As you set goals and make plans, evaluate what you do in terms of how your efforts will add to the numbers of
people represented in each of these key indicators. Your goal should be to have increasing numbers for every key
indicator.” PMG pg. 139 We need to review our key indicators every day because they are key in indicating where we
are in reaching our goal of bringing people unto Christ. We need to make daily adjustments in our schedule and plans
to compensate for what is happening in our area. The saddest thing would be to have a goal, make a plan and then
make no adjustments in our work if we are not hitting our key indicators.

With Our Love,

President Armand D. Johansen and Sister Johansen

 October 2009

Message from the Assistants

Dear Elders and Sisters,

We have enjoyed the recent zone conferences we have attended and due to a solid effort and a
proper attitude, we all learned significant things. We learned about the importance of humility and a desire
to build and strengthen the church in Norway. We need solid converts who are doctrinally rooted in the
truth. People can choose to accept the message or not, but our responsibility is to teach clearly and
powerfully so that people can make the correct choices. Preach My Gospel states, “People are better able
to believe the message of the Restoration of the gospel when they understand the message, (PMG, pg. 182).
We must become the best teachers we can by developing Christlike attributes, studying the doctrine,
perfecting our language skills, and relying upon the Spirit. When people truly understand the doctrine, they
change.
We must develop Christlike attributes. Elder David A. Bednar has said, “The gospel of Jesus Christ is
a plan that shows us how to become what our Heavenly Father desires us to become.” Jesus Christ gave
this commandment to the Nephites saying “What manner of men ought ye to be? Verily I say unto you,
even as I am.” By exercising faith in the Atonement, repenting, renewing our covenants and heading to the
voice of the Spirit we can become what we need to become. We can’t expect to commit others to become
more like Jesus Christ if we ourselves are not developing those attributes. Ultimately, we need to become
the message, and when that conversion takes place, the Lord can use us to bring His children unto Him.
Just recently we were teaching a woman who has been investigating for some time now. She has
had all principles taught to her in chapter three and still has some concerns, but as we were teaching her
this past week a thought came to mind to read from D+C 39:10. It was a powerful experience and exactly
what she needed to hear. The scripture had only been reviewed once before, but it was there and the spirit
brought it to rememberance. When people are spiritually thirsty we must be able to give them what they
need. Elder Richard G. Scott said it best when he said, “you cannot draw water from an empty well.”

We Must Become the Best Teachers!

Teaching with good clear language skills is vital in helping others understand the message. It’s like
listening to good music. Music is enjoyable when presented clearly and fluently. None of us enjoy listening
to a CD with scratches on it. Imagine your language ability as a CD. When we speak we allow others to hear
our CD. It is enjoyable for others when the language is naturally and fluently presented. We all have
different scratches on our language CD’s, but these scratches can be repaired, through a process of faith and
diligence. Let us never become content with our language skills, remember what were presenting, and who
we are representing. Continued Page 3
 October 2009

Teaching will be enhanced when we rely upon the Spirit. Being able to rely upon the Spirit is
something that does not occur by chance, but in the preparation. Having the Spirit is something that we
cannot demand or force immediately, but we qualify for the spirit in our preparation and obedience. We
cannot rely on something that is not already there. We must be obedient and live worthy in every aspect of
our lives. We qualify through obedience in the small things.
In closing, “You are called to teach the restored gospel to as many people as will receive you. Teaching is
central to everything you do. You develop Christlike attributes, study the missionary lessons, improve your
ability to speak your mission language, and rely on the Spirit in order to teach with convincing power,” (PMG
pg.175)

MKH,

Eldste Henshaw og Eldste Phillips

Notes from the Office

NO ARRIVALS OR DEPARTURES SCHEDULED IN OCTOBER

Http:// norskemisjon.blogspot.com
Will keep parents and family connected to Norway!
Picture Rosters Kingdom sheet Harvesters 2009 Jan to current Map of Stake & Mission
Elder and Sister Arnesen

An Arriving Missionary Surprise! October 2nd 2009

Elder Joseph Hyrum Stoops

Stavanger, Norway
El Eldste Stoops will be on temporary assignment awaiting his visa to the Yekaterinburg Russia Mission
 October 2009
Our Miracle Column
We stepped in to the library to check our plans, and to ask God for some guidance in contacting. As
soon as we stepped out the doors, we contacted a 18 year old man sitting on some benches nearby, and he
said he had some time to talk about faith.

We sat down in the library with him and touched on Joseph Smith saying that he translated a book
by the power of God. Trying to get to know him, we asked him what he thinks a lot about in life. He first said
love, but we did not feel he was serious. We then asked him what he has thought about doing in the future.
He said how much he would like to help establish peace in his home country. Immediately we flipped open
to the title of liberty and explain in detail Amilikiah and Moroni. He said this story is exactly what is
happening in his home country. He asked questions about the story to find out what happened. At the end
he said that he really liked this book and that he wants to meet with us again. The spirit touched him. It was
a miracle. I know that if you listen with love and use the book of Mormon the elect will feel the spirit!

……….
This last week as a companionship we spent a lot of time focusing on building up the branch in our
area. We figured there are two ways to accomplish the goal of doubling the active membership in Norway.
One, we can go out and find and baptize all the people that are chosen and ready to be members .Or, two
bring all those that are already baptized back to church. We chose the latter or it chose us. We scheduled a
lot of less active teaches for the week. All were committed to renew their baptismal covenants! By the time
Sacrament meeting rolled around, we were feeling kind of bad. My companion and I had no investigators in
church. We looked around and noticed the room was remarkably full! We were stunned when we counted
10 less active members in church. We did something and the Lord did the rest. Now we must follow up and
get those less active to let us teach their friends.
……….
A week ago we tried to go to the local newspaper and get a reporter to write an article about the
work we are doing in Norway. They told us they did it before and did not want to do it again. So, we left a
little discouraged. We continued to include in our prayers a plea, that the Lord would provide us an
opportunity with something to help us promote public awareness in our area. About 5 days later, contacting
in the sentrum we met a guy that said “I don’t have time to talk right now, I am on my way to report
something, but I would love to interview you two some other time. What is your number?” Without even
knowing it we had contacted a well known reporter for our local newspaper! AND, he wanted our number!
The Lord didn’t just answer that part of our prayers. During the middle of our conversation with the
reporter, I happened to notice someone staring at us. I felt I had to excuse myself and go talk to him. So I
did! He was very receptive. It turns out, he was new to the area working on his master degree in
engineering and he had just asked himself, which church should I attend? I know and my companion knows
the Lord answers our prayers and wants the work to progress. This is His work and we are His servants and
He provides us with miracles.
……….

Baptisms Reported in September YTD 49 as of 9/30 Goal 84

Baptism Confirmation
Name Date Date Location Missionaries
Kumar, Anil 5 Sep 6 Sep Fredrikstad Stake Elders Jaffa/Wright
Sipola, Ilze 19 Sep 20 Sep Stavanger Mission Elders Pratt/Severson
Askeland, Bjarte 26 Sep 27 Sep Bergen Mission Elders Miller/Buckley
Saunes, Eelend 26 Sep 27 Sep Bergen Mission Elders Miller/Buckley