What You Focus on Expands: Lessons from a Missionary Zone Conference

I was honored to be asked to facilitate a breakout session at Zone Conference for the Oregon Portland Mission during the last 3 days of October. The topic of my class was focus! And how a shift in focus can change everything!

Section 1: What do you see?

All the missionaries were asked to consider the graphic. I asked them "What do you see?"

Most needed a hint or two!

Think of the dark shapes as self-focus. Think of the white portion of the page representing Christ-focus. Hint: To see the image, shift your focus on the white areas.

Here's the correct orientation for the image. Does that help? Hint: It's a word!

You may need extra help! Help = The Holy Ghost that we ALL need to help us clearly see what is often right in front of us. I invited the missionaries who could see the message to act as the Holy Ghost for their neighbors and help them also see.

How about now?

Everyone arrives in the mission field with a different back story. Everyone has a different level of commitment and testimony. The goal of course is for all missionaries to FLY! Meaning to break free from bad habits, doubts and fears that hold them back and to have great growth and success. Yes, in fulfilling their missionary purpose, also in growing as individuals.

I invited each person to consider something they fear. I wasn't talking about snakes or the dark, but something they fear as a missionary. Answers included things like: Rejection. Failure. Not living up to expectations. Not being or doing enough.

We discussed the following pattern: 

FOCUS → Thoughts → Feelings → Choices → Actions → Habits → Character = Destiny

We considered fears as well as faith and how which we choose to focus on makes all the difference. First, fear.

FOCUS = FEAR

Thoughts: OH NO! I'm going to fail. Nobody is going to like me. Why should I even try? They are going to slam the door in my face, not accept me or my testimony, etc.

Feelings: Anxiety, terror, panic, decreased confidence, doubt, insecurity.

Choices: I think we should just stay home. Let's not knock on that door. I won't share my testimony. I think I'll wait for another day to invite them to receive a copy of The Book of Mormon-Another Testament of Jesus Christ.

Actions: When it comes time to act, you've already decided. So, you don't share your testimony, extend the invitation, give a copy of The Book of Mormon.

Actions repeatedly done become HABITS! And Habits are the foundation of CHARACTER!

Character then becomes the backbone of our destiny.

Next, FAITH!

FOCUS = FAITH

I'm still scared of failure, rejection, etc. But my focus makes ALL the difference!

Thoughts: I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me! I have the gift of the Holy Ghost to help and guide me! Think of all the times God has shown up for me in the past! He can do that again!

Feelings: Hope. Confidence. Decreased fear. Excitement. Exhilaration.

Choices: I think I'll try. I'll share my testimony. I'll give the book. I'll knock that door.

Actions: When it comes time to act, you've already decided. So, you SHARE your testimony, EXTEND the invitation, GIVE a copy of The Book of Mormon.

Actions repeatedly done become HABITS! And Habits are the foundation of CHARACTER!

Character then becomes the backbone of our eternal destiny!

Section 2: Self or God?

Next we considered some questions:

Is God our Heavenly Father? Is He ALL powerful. Is He Omniscient? Good? Is Jesus Christ our SAVIOR? The answers to all of these questions was an enthusiastic "YES!"

We considered Helaman 12:6 and this verses can be restated as "You're not the boss of me." Uh oh. It's fascinating how we declare "YES" over and over to the questions I posed a moment ago, and yet we do not want that all powerful, loving and all-knowing God to guide us. We think we know better.

We also considered John 3:30 (He must increase, I must decrease) the foundation of the HE>i brand that I love!  

However, what we often do is live it like this: he<I or, I am greater than he. I am the center of the universe. I know everything. Who cares about God? It can look like this: I know better than you God. I got a 4.0! My dad’s an attorney! My cousin is a social media influencer with x of followers. We won State!

We then considered the brand written correctly: HE>i

Our focus on Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus Christ, their will, their commandments, their attributes must increase while self-focus must decrease. This does NOT mean we mean less to God! We are all His precious children! It does mean that we must choose to submit to their will as a child submits to a parent. (See Mosiah 3:19).

Everyone was invited to think about their own attitude and write down one mission rule or commandment they react to in the "You're not the boss of me" way. All were invited to consider how a shift from hei can change their attitude toward that rule or commandment.

Section 3: Communication 

We began in 3 Nephi 18:24. In this verse we learn that Jesus Christ is the Light we shall hold up; what we have seen Him do!

We considered 5 ways missionaries communicate:

• Social Media

• Prayer

• Emails/calls home

• With Members and Friends

• Companion

We then reviewed all kinds of examples in each category when we focus on self. They all result in one common outcome: COMPLAIN!

he<I focus: 

• Social Media: COMPLAIN (Politics, the weather, traffic)

• Prayer: COMPLAIN (You're not answering my prayers)

• Emails/calls home: COMPLAIN (My companion is a jerk, where's the stuff you said you'd send)

• With Members and Friends: COMPLAIN (Why don't they keep commitments, they say they are "BUSY." )

• Companion: COMPLAIN

I asked who has clued in to the fact that companionships are preparation for marriage.

I invited them to consider how they treated their companion over the last several days. Did they pray for them? Did they do things to help them? Did they set their own needs aside in favor of helping their companion? Can they imagine treating their future spouse the way they treat their companion? Would they speak to their spouse the way they speak to their companion?

I shared a quote from Elder Howard back in 2003, that when you want something to last you need to treat it differently.

We also discussed how gossip about a companion is one of the quickest way to destroy mission culture.

We reviewed all kinds of examples in each category when we focus on GOD. These likewise result in one common outcome: CHRIST.

HE>i focus: 

• Social Media: CHRIST (Sharing testimony, miracles and inspirational content of all kinds)

• Prayer: CHRIST (Gratitude and repentance)

• Emails/calls home: CHRIST (Sharing miracles, inviting family to pray and fast with you)

• With Members and Friends: CHRIST (Sharing how Christ has blessed your life and how He can help them)

• Companion: CHRIST (Prays for this person, speaking kindly about them)

Final invitation:

One of my favorite traditions when I served in the Oregon Portland Mission was reading the 4 gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) every year stating on November 1st and continuing through Christmas. We also read 3 Nephi chapter 11 through the end of the book. To spend the holiday season immersed in the life of the Savior is a beautiful way to learn of Him and focus minds and heart on Him.

This is crux of my lesson! It's not quite the same as being there, but I hope you gained something that will help you FOCUS as well!

Choose faith over fear. Choose Christ over self.

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