Things are a little backed up due to other pressing matters in the mission office - so I'd like to do a little catching up today.
It's time to finally welcome the new missionaries that joined the mission on February 21, 2017. This picture was put in a safe place, and we were thrilled to find it so we could post it. Good things come to those who wait! We are excited to have you in the Washington Federal Way Mission!
We've had some change of assignments in the mission office with the last transfers. We want to thank the Assistant to the President, Elder Rex and our Office Elder, Elder Samuels for all you've done to help make the Washington Federal Way Mission flourish.
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| Elder Lowry and Elder Rex |
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| Elder Mortensen and Elder Samuels |
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| Our current Assistants to the President, Elder Knight and Elder Lowry |
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| Our current Office Elders, Elder Mortensen and Elder Bollwinkel Message from Sister Rasmussen: Hark - Mark - and Embark! 
On April 6th, we
started reading the Book of Mormon together as a mission. It is called
"The Washington Federal Way Mission Faith Feast...Hark, Mark and
Embark". Our goal is to build our faith as we harken to the word of
God, mark our scriptures, and then embark on sharing the doctrine of Christ
with everyone we see. We hope this will also help us feel more
unified as a mission. Each missionary was given a blue Book of Mormon and a set of 12 colored pencils at zone conference.
We are marking the doctrine of Christ which includes
faith, Jesus Christ, the Atonement, repentance, baptism, the Holy Ghost and
enduring to the end (3 Nephi 27:13-22). We read about eight pages a day
and will finish it in two transfer cycles or three months. That will be just
before our zone conference in June.
At interviews last week I had a chance to ask the
missionaries how they were enjoying it. Everyone had a positive response. As
missionaries, we recite our purpose before all of our zone conferences,
mission leadership council's and training meetings. Our purpose as stated in
Preach My Gospel is "To help others coming to Christ by helping them
receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and his Atonement,
repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost and enduring to the
end." One missionary said, "It seems like the doctrine of
Christ is on almost every page!" They can also include any other
topics of special interest to them.
We would invite you to join with us!
Sharing your experiences as you read with your missionary is a great
conversation to have in your weekly emails. Ask them what new things they are
learning about Christ's doctrine and how they are able to apply it in their
missionary work each day. We encourage you to share these faith promoting
experiences with us at cherylrasmussen@hotmail.com
and we will post some in the blog.
Looking back...
  President Whitney L. Clayton Bishop W. Christopher Waddell 
The entire Washington Federal Way Mission with visiting church leaders on October 21, 2016
Sister Rasmussen's reflections on this historic occasion:
Elder Rasband’s visit
We were blessed in
October to have Elder Ronald A. Rasband of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles,
President Whitney L. Clayton of the Seventy and Bishop W. Christopher Waddell
of the Presiding Bishopric visit our mission October 21st and 22nd.
President and
Sister Rasmussen along with the Washington Federal Way Mission stake presidents
and their wives, President and Sister Olsen and President and Sister Ogden from
the Seattle Temple and Elder and Sister Call (our area seventy from Tacoma) had
dinner on Friday evening. After a wonderful meal, Elder Rasband
informally spoke to us and answered questions.
The Spirit was
strong and we felt the love of these brethren for us, our missionaries and all
the saints in this area. They did a wonderful job of raising our
vision of the work we are all asked to do in these latter days.
As missionaries, we had the unique experience of
meeting in the Federal Way Stake Center Saturday.
An entire mission
meeting together is a rare occasion and we were blessed to experience this.
They wanted to
shake the hand of every missionary before the meeting began.
Along with Elder
Robert M. Call, they each addressed us and left messages we are still quoting
from. It was one of the greatest days in our mission
history.
Elder Rasband noted that it was probably the only time
in the history of the church that there were five sets of keys in one room at a
missionary meeting. They were held by Elder Rasband,
President Clayton, Bishop Waddell, President Nichols (Washington Federal Way
Stake President) and President Rasmussen.
Here is a synopsis of their messages to our
missionaries:
Elder Call
Every page of my
missionary journal is full of struggles but I only remember the good things.
In looking back in
myself journal I realize I had nothing so difficult, nothing so wonderful.
That struggle is
natural. You have a purpose and and message and
that is eternal life and joy.
He loves you and
trusts you to witness of Him
Sister Call
You are my heroes!
You have come to
teach and find His children. I lost my son just before his
19th birthday. He came in a dream to me and as dressed
just like you and he said, "Let not your heart be troubled."
I know he had
another mission. The Lord loves you and is anxious to
bless you. As we do His will he will bless us.
Bishop Waddell
This is such an
unusual meeting. It is very special. The Spirit is the instructor so listen and
write down impressions and thoughts .
They can be
completely different than what we are talking about.
D&C 138 tells
how you received lessons before you came to the earth.
He knew you would
be here in October 2016. This is where you are supposed to be.
Bishop Waddell sits
on the missionary executive committee with Elder Oaks, Elder Bednar, Elder Cook
etc.. You are where you are supposed to be.
If you weren't you
would have been born a few months earlier.
You are supposed to
be with President Rasmussen. Pay attention to him and learn from
him.
I have had a thought:
There is a
difference between serving a mission and going on a mission.
All missionaries
can say I went on a mission. Not all can say I served a mission.
Matt 25 teaches us a
principle in the parable of the sheep and goats.
You fed and clothed
etc. unto the least of these. When didn't ye do these things?
They were cast when
they didn't do these things. When we serve others we are reaching
outward, not inward. Be able to say, I served, I saw, I
blessed, I fed. I didn't just go.
Don't worry about the
weather, the members, the hardships.
It is not easy, but
necessary. Those looking in the mirror aren't
serving. Don’t be thinking I'm tired, think about home, don't
let challenges occupy your time.
You are called to
serve, not just go. You should be working and looking
forward. That's what the Savior did.
Go out and invite
others to come unto Him.
3 Nephi 17. Who is
sick bring them unto Him to heart. You will see the need as you obey, study,
pray, open your mouth and are on time in the morning.
Opportunities come
as you serve to teach, invite. Invite others to act.
Moroni 5 - You invite
and He heals.
President Clayton
Thank you for your
prayers.
I usually don't share
this but I was an attorney, a trial lawyer.
As a trial lawyer
you present evidence to prove something. In criminal cases the burden of proof is
without a reasonable doubt. In civil cases it is a preponderance of
evidence.
As missionaries we
baptize people. The Book of Mormon is evidence to prove
things to be true. D&C 20:8-13. Says the Book of
Mormon proves Joseph Smith is a prophet and therefore the church is true.
It is the
instrument of the gathering of Israel.
God restored the
church with Joseph Smith as an instrument.
This was God’s plan
from the premortal world. The Book of Mormon plays the central role in the
church. The church is the vehicle to carry the gospel.
President Hinckley:
Do we understand
and appreciate the church's wonderful position?
The church is true
or it is not true. In the introduction to the Book of
Mormon, last 2 paragraphs it tells us how we can find out.
Ask if the book is
true. It is or it isn't.
Investigators will
gain a testimony by the Holy Ghost.
You have to pray
with real intent which means you really want to capture something.
When you read and
ponder and pray it will be revealed to you. If this formula is followed the
truth will always come to you. It has to be "real intent"
which means if you get your answer that it is true you will change your life.
Ask with a purpose
and you will gain a testimony.
Repentance has an
improperly narrow definition. One is going through the steps of true
repentance. Like when we teach repentance and baptize converts.
But repentance is
also a choice to leave behind things that aren't good enough.
Adopt a new way of
life. It is saving.
The apex of the
week should be the sacrament at sacrament meeting.
As we repent
daily---all of us---when you invite others to read the Book of Mormon you
invite them the repent. An invitation to read the Book of
Mormon is an invitation to repent.
Follow up as you
invite and they're will come to God.
They have to pray
and read the Book of Mormon. This first commitment has to be right.
These must be
accomplished to progress. You don't have to do anything.
God will tell them
it is true. The Book of Mormon was provided to us
to turn to God
genuine converts know
the church is true.
Elder Rasband
Keys are given to
individual people. You missionaries are an asset to the
stake president to use his keys.
President Nichols
has the keys for missionary work in the Federal Way Stake.
Key holders are
called of God. You don't ask for keys. Keys are given
by those who preside over them. Some keys are only held by the Lord,
like resurrection. There are lots of key holders here
today:
Elder Rasband
Bishop Waddell
President Rasmussen
President Nichols
Elder Clayton as
senior president of the seventy
Elder Rasband said probably
the most key holders ever at a missionary meeting.
Missionaries, you are
living the two temple covenants of consecration and sacrifice now.
You are being asked
to live these laws now.
President Monson said
priesthood members have an obligation to serve a mission.
Sisters are invited
to serve a mission.
You live in the era
of hastening the work. 78,000 missionaries now up from 56,000
when the age was changed.
President Monson - if
he were here would say 2 things:
Elder Rasband asked
for questions about his talk "The Divine Call of a Missionary"
Elder Samuelson asked
why it was thrilling and humbling when his sons were called on missions.
Answer:
You want them to go
but you have to give something away for a season.
They go out because
they love Jesus Christ. The missionary force is bigger than the
Peace Corp. We are an army serving Jesus Christ.
Elder Sumsion asked
why he thought of where the missionary would end his mission as he called them.
Answer:
That was President
Eyring. I look at the Bishop and Stake Presidents remarks and
the ancestry before I assign. I kneel down and pray to know where you
want them to go. I labor at it a little before I assign.
Sister Huhme:
How do you prepare
to receive revelation? Answer:
I go fasting to
missionary calls. When we need to depend on the Spirit of
the Lord we go fasting. You clear your mind and focus one on
one.
Please never whine
about your assignment, your area, your companion.
When you get home
and have so many decisions to make, you will miss being assigned!
D&C 109:22.
Sister Zavala read this. Substitute your name in here.
Remember where you
went. Angels have charge of you.
It is your calling to
gather the elect and bring them to Zion.
Help all to come unto
Christ: Investigators, less actives.
Your Mission is closely
connected to the Temple.
When you get a tough
companion ask, what do you want me to learn from this?
What do you want me
to learn from this mission?
There was a survey of
the top problems in missions compiled from mission tours.
The #1 problem is obedience.
The Lord has asked
you to keep His commandments. You agreed to live the highest list of
commandments--the Missionary Handbook.
Do it!
Why are we obedient?
Teach the doctrine and they will behave.
Teach of Christ and
focus on the life of Christ. 57 categories on Christ in the topical guide.
We talked about
Christ in everything they did. Study and learn of Christ only Christ
for 3 month. Obedience soared.
Formula:
The more you know Him
the more you love Him. The more you know Him the more you will
want to serve Him. You become more obedient.
If you love me keep
my commandments. Live the white handbook for now.
You have agreed to
live a higher standard and it will be joyful out of love for your master who is
Jesus Christ.
He gave us an
Apostolic invitation to commit to obedience:
Will you strive to
be more obedient----100% obedient?
President Hinckley
would say I want missionaries to be 100% obedient.
I don't want fake
commitments. Strive in your heart to be 100%.
Do it out of love
for your Savior.
Elder Rasband's
testimony:
I witness:
This is the church of
Jesus Christ
The Book of Mormon is
the Word of God
President Monson is a
true prophet
Christ is love.
One by one he loves
people. 3 Nephi 17
Find them one by
one....name by name.
Be joyful and smile
Your life will be
blessed
Be happy
Be clean
Know Heavenly Father
watches over your family
Teach repentance and
baptize converts
You are part of the
hastening of the work.
D&C 88:72-73.
The day of the hastening
of the work of salvation.
Be happy, Christ
centered missionaries.
Sensational Seniors:
It was a day of bitter sweet
feelings as Elder and Sister Hunt's and Elder and Sister Draney’s missions draw to a close. They
have left big shoes to fill in the Washington Federal Way Mission.
Their love of the Lord, service and goodness they brought to Washington will
long be remembered.
Everyone here will miss you!
    be serving as CES missionaries.
And another big WELCOME to Elder and Sister Reynolds
  
Sister Giles and Sister Facer check in at the office to get safety gear - reflective vests are the latest fashion statement! Very popular, and very important!
Well done Sisters!!
More pictures - just for fun...
Fit in Auburn:
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