M. Russell Ballard Foretold Dramatic Growth in West Indies Mission that Brings About New Stake

This weekend will be a momentous occasion for the West Indies Mission. During the past two years the West Indies Mission has had dramatic growth under current mission president Reid Robision baptizing over three thousand members. This growth has put them in line for the creation of the first Trinidad stake on 1 March 2009.

The earliest records about Trinidad indicated that missionaries from the Venezuela Caracas Mission came to take care of a few referrals in March 1975 and November 1976 and finally January 1977. The first two missionaries actually stay in Trinidad came at the request of Liz Rogers Dopson to then President Spencer W. Kimball from the Venezuela Caracas Mission. In November 1976 a set of missionaries came but were deported. Then in January 1977 Elders K. Don Bigalow and La Mae Olds came and got started as full-time missionaries on site staying a few months at a time. Interestingly the first baptism on 22 June 1977 Lucy Josphine Payne, an Afro-Caribbean member, was confirmed by Hartman Rector's son Daniel Rector, a missionary in the Caracas Mission.

In 1983 the West Indies Mission was created and included Jamaica, the Bahamas, part of Haiti, the Lesser Antilles, Barbados, Trinidad, and Tobago with headquarters in Barbados. In 1991 the West Indies Mission was realigned with headquarters in Trinidad. The West Indies Mission includes the remaining islands in the Lesser Antilles and the neighboring South American countries of Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana.

In 2007 the Ensign reported the mission would revert to the Trinidad and Tobago Mission but it was decided to retain the name West Indies Mission in the end.

The current West Indies Mission will remain headquartered in Trinidad and will be renamed the Trinidad and Tobago Mission. It will cover French- and Dutch-speaking countries and islands in the Caribbean Area and will continue to oversee English-speaking Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, Grenada, St. Lucia and St. Vincent, and the Grenadines.

The French-speaking areas are Guadeloupe, Martinique, French Guiana, and St. Martin. The Dutch-speaking areas include Suriname and the northern islands of the Netherlands Antilles, including St. Maarten, St. Eustatius, and Saba.

In 1980 a missionary couple Elder and Sister Richardson came and lived to try to get official recognition for the church but were unsuccessful. It almost a decade to get official recognition and entailed the efforts of many men.

The first chapel in Trinidad was built in 1995 in the Port of Spain Branch on the very spot of the dedication. It is interesting to note that M. Russell Ballard dedicated the region for the preaching of the gospel on 22 February 1990 and later in 2005 as executive director of the missionary committee called President Robison from Ontario, Canada the very mission Elder Ballard presided over as mission president. So there is a Toronto Canada Mission connection at work in the Caribbean. The people of the region are very deserving of to have a stake in their midst.

In the Ensign in 1990 recorded the events of the dedication by Elder M. Russell Ballard at Port of Spain, Trinidad:

Late in February, Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve dedicated Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, and the island nation of Trinidad and Tobago for the preaching of the gospel. The first three countries are on the north coast of South America, and the two-island republic of Trinidad and Tobago is located just off the north coast of the continent.

Elder Ballard was accompanied by Elder Charles Didier of the Seventy, President of the South America North Area.

Trinidad and Tobago was dedicated February 22 at the proposed site of a meetinghouse in Port of Spain, Trinidad. Guyana was dedicated February 23 in Georgetown. Suriname was dedicated February 24 in the city of Paramaribo. French Guiana was dedicated on February 27 at a spot about five miles from Kourou; Elder Didier translated Elder Ballard’s prayer into French for the members present.

In the dedicatory prayers he offered, Elder Ballard asked the Lord to bless the leaders of governments in the countries involved. Members were promised that the Church would grow steadily, that there would be wards and stakes presided over by local leaders in their areas, and that their countries would help in the work of the Lord by sending missionaries to other nations. The Church has been established for less than two years in each of the four countries.

Noting that his grandfather, Elder Melvin J. Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve, had dedicated South America for the preaching of the gospel sixty-five years earlier—in 1925—Elder Ballard commented that it was a “warm and beautiful experience” to take part in the four dedications.

The actual words of Elder Ballard's prayer are recorded here:

Our beloved Heavenly Father, we thy children, meet here in the name of thy Beloved Son Jesus Christ, and humbly present ourselves before thee for the purpose of dedicating the land of Trinidad and Tobago to the building of the kingdom of God among these good people, thy sons and daughters. We count it a great privilege, Holy Father, to be assigned by the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve Apostles, to fulfill such a sacred responsiblity.

In the name of thy Beloved Son, we ask thee to stay the influence of the evil one, that he may not have power over the honest in heart that dwell here upon this land. Bless thy children as they come in contact with the missionaries and the members of the Church, that they may be nurtured and cradled by the spirit as they are taught the saving doctrines and receive the ordinances of thy church and kingdom here upon the earth.

We pray, Heavenly Father, for a blessing to be poured out upon the heads of the national leaders, those who preside in important offices in this country, that thy spirit might touch their hearts and enlighten their minds, that they may know that we come in the name of thy Son and that this is thy Church as it has been restored to the earth in these latter days. We pray for the Prime Minister and for the parliament and for others who have responsibility at local levels, any who make decisions for permits or clearances that thy church may require. May they be blessed to give governmental approvals. We ask thee to walk before the face of those who have responsibility within the Church that they may be inspired to know what to say and what to do to bring about the legal recognition to carry on the affairs of thy church and kingdom.

We invoke, Heavenly Father, a blessing upon the people, the fathers and the mothers, the children, the boys and girls. Wherever they may be living in Trinidad and Tobago, may they be blessed with a desire kindled in their hearts to know the truth. May the missionaries, particularly, be inspired and enlightened of thee to know how to approach them and teach them so that the spirit and power of the Holy Ghost may abide in the teaching process and truth might be transferred by those who are blessed to hold it to those who are seeking to know the truth.

We pray, Heavenly Father, for the local leadership of the Church. We ask thee to watch over the branch presidencies, the leaders in the branch, the mission presidency, and particularly President Jeffs and his wife. We invoke a special blessing upon them of protection as they travel among these islands for which they are responsible.

Now, Holy Father, in the name of thy Beloved Son, and by the power of the Holy Apostleship vested in me, I turn the key and unlock the door and open this land to an increased outpouring of thy spirit for the enhancement and development of the church and kingdom, that by thy spirit, Holy Father, the work will progress. We ask thee to watch over these lands, keep them safe from untoward natural disaster, calm the winds, calm the storms, give them what they need, Holy Father, in the way of rain to raise their crops, but stay anything that would devastate the land or harm the land. Bless the people, Holy Father, as we have asked, with every blessing they desire in righteousness. Cause thy spirit to fall upon thousands of thy sons and daughters who are honest in heart and seek to know the truth. Open up opportunities, Holy Father, for exposure of those who are honest in heart to the members of the church and the missionaries.

Now, we are grateful for the priesthood that we bear, that has been restored through the Prophet Joseph Smith, and we acknowledge, Heavenly Father, that this priesthood has the power to perform miracles in these lands. Bless the leaders and the missionaries that they will raise up local men, that they will teach them, and magnify them to honorably and powerfully use their priesthood to the blessings of thy sons and daughters. Bless them that they may heal the sick, that they may grant blessings of health and strength, of counsel, of direction, in the lives of they sons and daughters.

This is our prayer, Heavenly Father, as we dedicate this land unto thee, placing a priesthood blessing upon the land at the direction of the President of thy Church, the Prophet of God. We do this in deep gratitude and in humility and all in the sacred and beloved name of the Lord Jesus Christ, amen.

The words of Elder Ballard have realized prophetic fulfillment after a nineteen year period as the four countries membership has grown steadily particularly the last five years. It is fascinating that he predicted thousands would have their hearts open to the gospel.

The first President to visit Trinidad was Gordon B. Hinckley who stopped over in May 2002 after dedicating temples in Brazil and Paraguay when he met with the prime minister Patrick Manning.

On Saturday, 14 February 2009 Dr. Diane Robison, wife of the mission president wrote:

Conference for the Creation of the Trinidad Stake

That is so nice to type!

Here are the details on the creation of the first stake in Trinidad (and in the entire West Indies Mission):

Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Presidency of the Seventy will create the stake on March 1, 2009 in Port of Spain Trinidad. He will be accompanied by Elder Francisco J. Vinas, second counselor in the Area Presidency.

There will be a Priesthood meeting from 3:00-5:00 p.m. and an adult general session from 6:00-8:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 28. The Sunday session will be from 10:00-12:00 a.m. on March 1. The meetings will be held in the chapel in Port of Spain.

We are looking forward to that momentous weekend.

It approximately nineteen years since the country was dedicated and brings to fruition the first stake in the mission. Her husband Reid Robison is ecstatic when the announcement was first made to him on 12 February 2009 as his missionaries realized a goal of 2008 baptisms in 2008 which gives them the necessary members and leadership to support a stake. Just as Elder Ballard predicted thousands of people have been blessed at the hands of the missionaries with the creation of this new stake this weekend.

Baptismal Wave: Should Missions Have Special Practices to Celebrate Baptisms

President Reid Robison and Sister Diane Robison "Hurray for Israel" Wave

A couple of days ago I unleashed a violent reaction from a few of the West Indies missionary couples when I suggested that their mission president was a charismatic leader who used revivalistic practices. I had come to the conclusion after viewing multiple pictures of baptisms and reading all of the blogs (many on my sidebar here). Let me just say up front I have no problem with missions doing waves or being exuberant.

I had come to my conclusion after viewing the photos and reading posts about a motivational technique that was being done at most of the baptisms in the West Indies Mission called the Hurray for Israel wave. The mission experienced a wave of mass conversions and show great joy after each baptism to celebrate their success. They had a goal of 2008 baptisms in 2008, which they accomplished. All the missionary blogs talk about their goal and give numerous descriptions of many faith-promoting experiences that lead up to the celebratory wave. After many baptisms they held hands and did a unique mission wave. The purpose of this post is to present the evidence I viewed and let my readers make up their minds about whether or not missions are influenced by waves.

Every missionary will defend their mission president since most believe they are such exceptional leaders that they should go on to become general authorities. This mission president is actually quite good and he really motivates his missionaries. I was not demeaning Reid Robison since my favorite brand of mission president is a vibrant and dynamic leader just like him. I served under M. Russell Ballard who is a very fiery preacher and I judge mission presidents by how he acted. Robison in my opinion is cut out of the same cloth.

In a spirit of disclosure I have decided to let my readers decide if I did or did not misjudge this practice so I have found descriptions from their own blogs and several pictures for you to review. I will show you the pictures in a slide show below and take a poll after. Usually a picture or description gives a good indication of the practices but maybe President Robison is an extroverted introvert as he was characterized as having quiet dignity.

I don't dispute President Robison is a spiritual giant since I don't find any real fault with his using a wave as a technique to motivate his specific group of missionaries and members to produce more baptisms. I think we should call a spade a spade and that it is just a device he used effectively to produce results for his particular team of missionaries. I don't know if it will catch on in other places but who knows we could use a little more excitement in increasing convert baptisms.

I really think you can be dynamic and dignified and still charismatic. I personally think they were just being a wee bit oversensitive so I edited my previous post entitled Replicating Results from One Field to Another. I apologize if it seemed I was not respectful to the mission president. I was simply showed a cool practice that I thought was charismatic. I shouldn't have used the word "revivalistic" since that implies a fervor among participants.



If all the missionaries and members in the West Indies Mission have been saying absolutely nothing but quietly do the wave you see in the photo above and sideshows below than it is even more harmless than reported by me. After all appearances can be deceiving. In revival meeting people line the banks of the river or seas watching their friends and family go down in to the waters of baptism. I frankly don't see how that is any different than my slide show on the very bottom shows. The slides can go either way when viewed in their context. A lot of times in the posts they were just stuck in.

I am a little baffled since in my 35 years of membership I have never witnessed one baptism where everyone grabbed each others hands then bowed down clasping hands and stood up in a human chain while continuing to hold up their hands in unison or if a solo baptism making a fist and holding it in the air. I certainly have never seen a woman tossed up in the air after her baptism like I saw on a West Indies Mission blog slide show. I guess my confusion was thinking they might say something like Hurray for Israel or possibly "We done it" since sometimes it looked like their mouths were moving.

Some couple missionaries are spinning that nothing is said it is just a traditional conservative baptism with a song, a prayer etc. with nothing out of ordinary happening. I wonder how they explain the wave part or maybe they are suggesting it is a totally quiet wave just for photographic purposes. By the way I have no problem with this practice but apparently some missionaries are spinning something different for reasons I don't quite understand.

As earlier as 2007 in a post called Christmas in July, Sister Diane Robison declares that they missionaries do indeed say "Hurrah for Israel"!!!:

As your sons may have written, we have a tradition in the mission of saying “Hurrah for Israel!” It has become a fun way of reliving the experience of Brigham Young and Heber C. Kimball as they said “farewell” to their families when they left for a mission to England. Here you see an image of our Elders and newly baptized members saying “Hurrah for Israel.” It is interesting to note that the mission was split on July 1, 2007. We gave 5 islands and 16 missionaries to the Puerto Rico San Juan East Mission. However, instead of seeing a decline in baptisms, we experienced a “White Christmas in July” and had 105 baptisms. The only other time the mission had over 100 baptisms was last December when we experienced a White Christmas of 111 baptisms. Hurrah for Israel!

It doesn't really matter if they say it with words or gestures it stirs up the participants and that is a technique to stir the hearts of those in attendance. It creates a sense of excitement and a desire to join in.

Reid Robison explained the wave in great detail in a post entitled Hurray for Israel and how he came to make it the logo of his mission:

You have seen the mission slide shows. What is the story behind the missionaries and new converts raising their arms in the air?

The wife of one of the students in the Grenada branch commented on how she loved to see the West Indies missionaries and their converts in those slide shows saying "we did it!" as they came out of the water.

Early in our mission, I related the Brigham Young/Heber C. Kimball story in a zone conference and I started signing letters with Hurrah for Israel! at the bottom of the letter. Shortly thereafter, Elder Thomason and an elderly man raised their arms high above the head in the water on the island of Dominica and his companion captured the moment in a photo. At that instant, the mission logo was born. (A year later, Dominica was given to the Puerto Rico San Juan East Mission, but the image of that baptism stuck in our minds.)

Hurrah for Israel became the mission theme as we strived to foster a band of brothers feeling. It was on letterhead, zone conference printed orders of service, and training handouts.

Here is the actual Hurrah for Israel story:

In the October 2004 General Conference entitled "What is a Quorum?", Elder L. Tom Perry related the Hurrah for Israel story: "We have a rich tradition of the work of the Twelve as we have traveled throughout the world proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ. For example, it was on Sunday, the 4th of June of 1837, that the Prophet Joseph Smith approached Heber C. Kimball in the Kirtland Temple and whispered to him, saying, "Brother Heber, the Spirit of the Lord has whispered to me: 'Let my servant Heber go to England and proclaim my Gospel, and open the door of salvation to that nation' " (quoted in Orson F. Whitney, Life of Heber C. Kimball [1945], 104).

The account of Heber C. Kimball and Brigham Young leaving their homes for England certainly shows the sacrifice they were willing to make for the callings they had received. The account reads:

"September 14th, [1839], President Brigham Young left his home at Montrose to start on the mission to England. He was so sick that he was unable to go to the Mississippi [River], a distance of thirty rods, without assistance. After he had crossed the river he rode behind Israel Barlow on his horse to my house, where he continued sick until the 18th. He left his wife sick with a babe only three weeks old, and all his other children were sick and unable to wait upon each other. Not one soul of them was able to go to the well for a pail of water, and they were without a second suit to their backs, for the mob in Missouri had taken nearly all he had. On the 17th, Sister Mary Ann Young got a boy to carry her up in his wagon to my house, that she might nurse and comfort Brother Brigham" (quoted in Life of Heber C. Kimball, 265).

Heber C. Kimball's family were also ill. Charles Hubbard sent his boy with a team and wagon to help them on their way. Elder Kimball records: "It appeared to me as though my very inmost parts would melt within me at leaving my family in such a condition, as it were almost in the arms of death. I felt as though I could not endure it. I asked the teamster to stop, and said to Brother Brigham, 'This is pretty tough, isn't it; let's rise up and give them a cheer.' We arose, and swinging our hats three times over our heads, shouted: 'Hurrah, hurrah for Israel .' " Sister Young and Sister Kimball came to the door and waved a farewell which gave Brother Brigham and Brother Heber much comfort as they continued "without purse or scrip" towards England. (See Life of Heber C. Kimball, 265–66.)

At the time our oldest son, Justin, was getting ready to leave on his mission, the family gathered behind our home and did a Hurrah for Israel, without knowing that is what we would later call it.

I for one celebrate the success of this mission particularly the new members, missionaries, and the mission president. This mission's wave just signifies the entrance of a person in to the church and kingdom of God as being something worthy of cheering about. The Prophet Joseph and Brigham Young and others sang and danced in the Nauvoo Temple. There must be some reason they got upset with what I said earlier about baptisms appearing to be revivalistic. People clapping, cheering, and jumping in the air is not a traditional conservative Mormon practice and if you view the links in their entirety you might draw a similar conclusion.

Raising your hands and doing a special mission wave while saying Hurray for Israel is no big deal to me. I guess they could be worried a general authority who is a more reserved type might be offended and stopped the practice or maybe it reflects negatively on them in ways I can't even imagine. I think the practice would have been called in to question of the leaders in Salt Lake City had a problem because I have a few who occasionally peruse this blog. I am sure they read my posts on this particular mission as I have be enamored with their great work and accomplishments. If any leader was concerned about the practice and called the mission president I am sure he would have stopped using the wave.

If there really was something amiss I am sure the bloggers including the mission president would have sanitized their blogs of offending pictures if there was even a hint of something wrong. I can't really see anything degrading in what they have been doing. Not to mention it fires up the missionaries and members and frankly it is just one small practice that is pure fun. I would like to see it done in other places. I really find it a refreshing practice.

We should celebrate not be worried that we are employing different methods. Albert Einstein said: ""Insanity: Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." Reid Robison is doing something different and is getting results.

Jan Meyers rebutted me by saying: "In reading this article, I took offense at the description of our work here as a "revivalistic process used as the participants cheer, chant and sing." We neither cheer nor chant, but we do sing the same LDS hymns sung the world over." Maybe she doesn't cheer nor chant but take a look at the pictures which obviously show something is happening. I think in some places they might do a quiet wave in other elders and members express themselves vocally.

In a post on her own blog We Hope They Call Us On A Mission is a description of what happens after baptisms maybe where she is serving elders which include her husband and her are a little more reserved and silently do the wave:

Elder Myers and I were the speakers at the baptism. After our talks, we all walked across the street, through the wood mill, balancing on the logs down to the river’s edge at low tide. It was a glorious site to see the four people all dressed in white walking into the water to be baptized just as the Savior was, accompanied by the Elders Owens and Kippen and another priesthood holder from the branch. We all waited at the river’s edge for them to complete the baptisms and then return to the shore, giving the “Hurrah for Israel” wave, a symbol in our mission.

Sister Robinson posted an actual Hurray for Israel slideshow that shows some missionaries having a good time on their missions including performing the wave and dancing. It looks like one elder's mouth is moving in one slide. One sister is being held up in the air acrobatically as she performs the wave.

On the returned missionaries alumni page Reid Robison himself posted another slide show Remembering 2008 which shows them engaged in the practice in some other baptisms. Also the same show was posted by Sister Diane Robison on the West Indies Mission blog. In multiple slideshows the wave is featured.



The Returned Missionaries from the West Indies blog in a post entitle Hurray for Israel explains why the wave was adopted and how it drives the results in the mission:

Like in the days of Heber C. Kimball and Brigham Young saying Hurrah for Israel as they left on their missions, so too do the elders of the West Indies Mission. Hurrah for Israel as every companionship baptizes a family every month in the West Indies Mission.

In a post entitled Picture of the Day Sister Di says:

Doesn't Elder Guy look determined as he and Elder Barton perform this baptism in Tobago? You see, there is no font in Tobago so baptisms are done in the sea. Occasionally, the water doesn't calm down and cooperate. But dedicated Elders always find a way to get the job done. They told me that the water looked somewhat calm when they walked out but just as they finished the baptism a big wave rolled in. They quickly moved to shield and steady the young lady and took the hit themselves.

At a missionary training meeting the following was reported in A Preparation Day to Remember when a group of elders spontaneously gave a loud Hurray for Israel cheer:

Then it was Trinidad South time. Elder Guy started off their part of the meeting by sharing inspiring scripture from the Doctrine and Covenants, rallying the Elders and preparing them for the speech of Elder Mundy. Following his remarks, the focus shifted to Elder Mundy. He read from D&C 123:17, loudly declaring that all should, "Stand still...to watch the Salvation of God." He rehearsed to them the number baptisms that we need, as a Band of Brothers, to reach 2008 and be able to say, "All present and accounted for!" Then, he delivered his famous "Brave Heart" like speech, "Lying in your beds...many years from now...would you be willing to trade all the days? From this day to that, for one chance, Just one chance, to come back here, and tell the people, that in 2008 we baptized 2008!" During that speech, without notice, the Assistants (Elder Williamson and McDaniel) snuck off and around the luscious green hill that the Elders backs were turned to. With the blood pumping and the elders on the edge of their seats, Elder McDaniel then walked around the side of the hill and yelled, "My brothers..." Heads snapped to attention, facing the area from whence the voice came. He began describing the attributes of the great Captain Moroni and relating it to them as missionaries, called to serve here in the land of the Book of Mormon. His address was concluded with, "You are a chosen generation, a Royal Priesthood!" Just when everyone thought that the hilltop display was finished, Moroni, also known as Elder Williamson, appeared on the higher portion of the hill waving his Title of Liberty and exclaiming, "What say ye my sons? Will ye go to battle with me? Will you fight manfully for your Lord and Savior? Shake off the chains which doth bind you down to destruction, and we will baptize 2008! HURRAH FOR ISRAEL!!!" His shout was followed by a combined shout of every elder, "HURRAH FOR ISRAEL!!!" Following Moroni, the Band of Brothers stood and sang "Called to Serve." The spirit filled that little basin that day as all of the Elders remembered their call to serve and gained a greater excitement for bringing souls unto Christ in this great month of Thanksgiving, which West Indies Missionaries have decided to dedicate to the Lord as a month of gratitude. A Closing prayer was then offered by Elder Huntsman, who prayed fervently for the success of the mission. Not only was there a greater sense to go out and do the Lords work, but their was a greater sense of unity and love among all the elders gathered that day. Everyone wandered around the beautiful sight for a few minutes, taking pictures of the great beauty that surrounded them before heading back down the mountain.

I would find it hard to believe that elders after baptisms don't occasionally let a Hurray for Israel slip out of their mouths. I guess they must be rogue elders.

Sister Jan Meyers in her post Baptism in the River – Crabwood Creek, Guyana describes giving the Hurray to Israel wave at a baptism:

Elder Myers and I were the speakers at the baptism. After our talks, we all walked across the street, through the wood mill, balancing on the logs down to the river’s edge at low tide. It was a glorious site to see the four people all dressed in white walking into the water to be baptized just as the Savior was, accompanied by the Elders Owens and Kippen and another priesthood holder from the branch. We all waited at the river’s edge for them to complete the baptisms and then return to the shore, giving the “Hurrah for Israel” wave, a symbol in our mission.

She doesn't say anything about what is said just that the wave is done.

Sister Robin Bulloch has a detailed description of some baptisms performed with nice pictures but doesn't say anything about the wave in any of her posts entitled Baptism Bliss, What Makes a Missionary Smile and 2008 baptisms in 2008.

Carol and Truman Leishman in their post Our First Beach Baptism share an interesting mishap:

We finally had our first beach baptism in the West Indies on Thursday, Jan. 15th, 2009. Actually, most baptisms in the West Indies are in fonts now. But, every once in a while an investigator requests a beach baptism. Jessie, 20, and Latesha Ramnath, 22, brother and sister, were found in a new area that we helped open at the first of December. Their parents had been baptized over 10 years ago but quit going to church a few years later. Jessie and Latesha were too young to be baptized with their parents and eventually fell between the cracks. When we found them in December, Jessie and Latesha both expressed a desire to be baptized on the 2nd visit. They wanted a beach baptism so we went to the closest cleanest beach, Maracus Beach, a 1 1/2 hour drive away. It was so worth it. It was such a beautiful day! Check out the waves. They knocked Truman down and he lost his prescription glasses in the ocean. Thanks goodness he brought an old pair with him. Truman baptized Latesha and Elder Endemann baptized Jessie. Elder Endemann's new companion of one week, Elder Thomas, went out in the water as the 2nd witness.

Some of the best examples of people doing the Hurray to Israel Wave is in a colorful slide show in the Leishman's post More Joy in Trindad that shows multiple new converts and missionaries participating in the Hurray for Israel Wave.



In the Sherwood's Home from St. Lucia blog in a post entitled Wrapping It Up in Vieux Fort the mouths are definitely moving as it looks like words are being formed. Sister Robison also included a beautiful slideshow done by Sister Sherwood while on her mission showing baptisms performed in St. Lucia with the wave being demonstrated.

I am very much in favor of adopting this wave in other places. I think the Hurray for Israel wave defined the West Indies Mission and waves can be focus points for other missions. I hope other missions adopt waves. Take my brief survey at the end of this post and let me know what you think about the Hurray for Israel Wave and if you think waves should be initiated in other places. Also let me know if you feel the wave is inappropriate.

I have extracted all the pictures I could find of baptisms and anything involved so you can make you own opinion whether this is a quiet wave or vocal wave.

See my slide show here:

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Parents and Missionary Serving in the Same Mission

I discovered an interesting thing I didn't know as I have been studying up on the West Indies Mission for a different post. I discovered that parents and missionaries can serve in the same mission which I didn't know was possible. The West Indies Mission has turned out to be a very innovative mission field.

I was reading the blog of the Williamson family. It turns out their son was called to the West Indies Mission back in December 2006. After being out a short time the mission president Reid Robison contacted his parents and invited them to serve a mission in the very same field as their son.

They even ran in to their son on their mission at a conference:

We were scheduled to move to the mission office in Trinidad after a few months of training in Guyana, but a few weeks after we settled in, an unexpected call from President Robison changed those plans.

He explained that help was needed in a new branch in Vieux Fort on the Island of St. Lucia.

How soon were we needed?

Now.

Ten days later we were on the way to St. Lucia with a stop-over of two nights in Trinidad to attend Zone Conference at the Mission Home.

As a highlight, we got to spend time with the younger Elder Williamson who was then serving in Trinidad. We compared our mission experiences and caught up on Elders we now knew in common. We enjoyed the Conference together, and then we gave each other "Missionary Hugs" and a heartfelt farewell.

The parents complete their mission in February 2009 and the son finished up in December 2008. One thing that appeals to me is their desire to find their own replacement. I will keep this in mind when I go on my own mission in about eleven years when my youngest daughter turns 21. I guess there is some advantageous to serving together as you will have similar people and experiences in common.

Local Man Called to Be Mission President in Own Area

A couple of days ago I discussed the angle of replicating results and wondered where they would call a counselor in the West Indies Mission. I thought they might call him to another Caribbean mission or even to Africa. In an interesting assignment twist the LDS Missionary Executive Committee has assigned the man to head the very mission in which he currently lives. Yesterday in an email an announcement was made on the West Indies Mission blog that Brother Gamiette has been called to lead the West Indies Mission when missionaries and the mission president were notified.

Diane Robison shared this on the West Indies Mission blog:

We are thrilled to announce the new West Indies Mission president!

He will be Claude R Gamiette from the island of Guadeloupe in the West Indies

He will begin serving on July 1, 2009

He is an absolutely wonderful leader and teacher

How do we know this?

He is currently serving as President Robison's 1st counselor in the Mission Presidency and before that he served as President of the French District in the West Indies. We know him and his family very well.

And he knows this mission well

People here love him and his family

We do to!

West Indies missionaries will be blessed under his leadership

We can't think of anyone we would rather see take over this mission

Sister Gamiette is a great mother, beautiful sister, and experienced returned missionary. She is also lots of fun (and makes amazing french chocolate cakes!). Here is a funny little story I did on her last year.

The family is darling. I think this may be the first time a family has lived in the mission home. It will be so nice for the missionaries.

The missionaries all found out the news this morning in an email. Those that know President Gamiette have been wondering and wishing - now they get their wish!

Sister Di also included the following flyer!

I think it is interesting that the Executive Missionary Committee would call someone from the same area in which they live. It sets a new precedent. This will make the transition between the two mission presidents much easier as the new mission president won't have to be brought up to speed.

It isn't uncommon to call a man in Brazil to a different city but it is the first time I have seen that a man was called to his own mission area in the same geographic boundaries. It really is a creative calling and shows the revelation can take differing forms. I wonder if there have been similar assignments in recent years. I know it wasn't uncommon in the early days of the church for a man to return to teach relatives but today it is more rare. It will be interesting to track his results. There might be more callings of local men if this assignment proves successful.

Replicating Results From One Mission Field to Another

Last week I read the newly called mission president from the Church News. One of the newly called mission presidents Claude Remy Gamiette is a counselor in the West Indies Mission under Reid Robison. I am sure the 2008 baptisms accomplished in 2008 would bring the mission and its mission officers to the attention of the LDS general authorities. Probably the fact that Brother Gamiette has worked closely with the mission president and there has been some dramatic growth has he been chosen. I don't doubt he was called by revelation nor that he has been involved in some very successful mission work. I am also sure that in a time of declining numbers that some see calling someone with his background as a way to test what he has been involved with for the last year.

The mission has realized unprecedented growth under this mission presidency as reported on the LDS Church Growth blog by Sister Diane Robison wife of the mission president:

Sister Robison of the West Indies Mission reported that approval for the first stake in the West Indies Mission was given and the stake will be created the weekend of February 28th. In addition to strengthening the existing branches in the country for the past year to prepare for stakehood, a new branch was created last Fall in Port Fortin. Converts are joining the Church more than ever before in Trinidad and Tobago and missionaries are doing their best to keep them active. Last year the West Indies Mission baptized over 2,000 converts, most of whom were in Guyana.

I tried to see how much influence or what things Brother Gamiette or his wife might have done by examining the West Indies Mission blog but I couldn't find much. The only post I could find on Wednesday, October 1, 2008 was one in which the mission president's wife compared Sister Gamiette to Sarah Palin and mentioned that "The last picture is of Sarah Palin - the US vice presidential candidate and the first three are of Sister Gamiette, wife of the first counselor in the Mission Presidency (her husband was just released last Sunday as the French District President and replaced by President Eclar)." I assumed that Brother Gamiette must have been both the district president and first counselor in the mission presidency but I couldn't determine that. I also thought but couldn't prove whether he lived in Guyana where all the growth was but couldn't determine that from his Church News bio.

The atmosphere in the mission has been one of exuberance as hundreds of Afro-Carribbean people have joined the church. Success has been feeding on success as people bring friends and family to their baptisms in a bus. I checked Brother Gamiette's picture to see if he was of the same ethnic background but he appears to be of French descent as does his wife. (I have since learned that he and his wife are of Afro-Caribbean descent which makes me more confident in his ability to relate to other diverse groups.) It would have been cool if a minority person had been called. I noticed that both of the Gamiette's were returned missionaries. He served in Florida Jacksonville and she in Washington Seattle Mission about 20 years ago. He works for the CES which means he has been trained in working with youth and church bureaucracy. I am sure as a mission counselor he has been involved in the process that President Robison used for about a year. I suspect he will try to duplicate it whereever he is called. There are a lot of factors that might make it so that may or may not be possible.

I am very interested in his calling as a mission president and wonder if a pattern exists from previous successes that he will carry to his new assignment. Have the counselors of men like Richard G. Scott, William Bradford, Hartman Rector, Carlos Asay been called as mission presidents and did their success in terms of baptisms mirror their mentors. I am going to go back and check the Church News and see if any residual success happened.

The West Indies success I have been following closely and I believe that the background of the people involved from mission president to missionaries to members to new members has something to do with the mass success in baptizing so many. I am not discounting the superb job the mission president and his wife have done to prepare the missionaries but I have seen a charismatic process that is very effective. It is really quite a contagious process and feeds on itself as members are bringing in their family and friends in large numbers. I have argued for a long time that results are mission specific and depend on the mission president, the missionaries and the receptivity of the investigators.

My question is can you replicate charismatic programs throughout the world if conditions are different. I have yet to see where Brother Gamiette being called will lead but it will be interesting if in a more subdued atmosphere with a different demography of people if the West Indies model can be internationalized and used by him to achieve similar results. I suspect he is a different person than Reid Robison with different skill sets. I also think he will feel a lot of pressure to produce which can be a barrier to his success. I am not a doomsayer and would be excited to see him succeed but with a doctorate in adult education I realize there are many factors involved from the ability to the mission president to put forward his mission and vision to the missionaries ability to translate that in to their teaching to investigators even wanting to be baptized. I believe the success of the West Indies is a great deal influenced by the socialization factor or families and friends joining each other. Most are homogeneously the same background which creates different challenges for former members.

I am not discounting Brother Gamiette's background the CES is a good place to train men to relate to young men and women. I think we need a little more excitement in the training of missionaries. Reid and Diana Robison are master trainers as they have come up with slogans like Hurray for Israel or Band of Brothers. I hope Brother Gamiette can replicate the results but I am a doubting Thomas. I am sure of one thing that his missionaries will think he is the greatest mission president of all mission presidents.

I have a few concerns: Can you really transfer one approach from one field to another? Will a different set of missionaries operate the same as the those in the West Indies Mission? Can a mission president create in a different place the same excitement and reception by the members and potential investigators? Just because you witnessed something can you really replicate it?

I will be watching Brother Gamiette for the next three years to see if in the one short year he worked with President Robison if he can accomplish even a fraction of the results. I might become converted to the Hurray for Isreal movement but I suspect it will pan out like the Rector Harvesting the Lord's Way or the baseball baptisms. Where will these members be in twenty years will we have 18% retention. I am certain Reid Robison will join the ranks of the Quorum of Seventy or some other general authority calling. I wonder if Brother Gamiette will go on to to similar achievement.

Joseph B. Wirthlin's Motivates Trinidad and Tobago Missionaries To Baptize Thousands

Joseph B. Wirthlin as young missionary (Provo Daily Herald)

Throughout the years Elder Wirthlin has addressed the mission presidents' seminars which are held each year in June. In June 2006 in the class of mission presidents was Reid Robison and his wife Diane who were called to be mission president in the West Indies Mission.

Reid describes his mission as "We live in Trinidad and spend half of our time traveling throughout the mission. Our assignment is from July 2006 to July 2009." He has personally taken to heart the address Band of Brothers, has become the theme for the West Indies Mission which is the fastest growing mission in the LDS Church today. Many months they have averaged over 200 baptisms. President Reid Robinson has been so motivated by this theme he has his missionaries do things like hug one another and people enthusiastically raise their fists in celebration after baptisms. The missionaries are very close knitted with one another and the members.

In July 2008 one missionary reported teaching 68 lessons in one week: "The area is doing great probably the best ever we have some great members, they all are doing missionary work. We never taught a lesson this week without a member. Everyone is excited about working. We are having great attendance at church. We decided to focus on member lessons this week so we made the goal to not have a lesson without a member that means we would always have a member with us and we did it. We had 68 lessons with a member present and 0 others."

Dr. Di reports on their blog under the post Band of Brothers on 4 December 2008:

One of the mottoes for the West Indies Mission is "Band of Brothers"

We can say that because we don't have young sister missionaries and us older sister missionaries are quite happy to be part of this powerful group.

There is quite a bond among the missionaries in this mission. I often overhear them ending phone calls with 'love ya brother' and I have never seen so many manly back slapping hugs in my life!

I noticed an example of this brotherly attitude towards the work of bringing souls into the kingdom as I looked over the elders' weekly success stories. The elders share a success story each week in an email to President Robison. The assistants select a few of them and send a collection back out to all the missionaries so they can see the blessings happening around the mission. I post some of them on the mission website here but wanted to share these two together to tell the a complete story.

Elder Holmstead (San Juan, Trinidad) – Well we were having a rough time in our focus area and decided to change it to a place called Bagladesh and it was so fun. We found a lot of kind people but not anyone to really baptize. Then at church, few weeks ago, a lady named Anita showed up whom we gladly went to teach, and she was amazing! She was very prepared, however, the only problem was that she got deported from Trinidad to Guyana but she said she would find the church and she did. She is one of last week’s 66, and boy am I happy. We were in Bagladesh for one reason, her being that main reason, and now she is a member!

Elder Dayton (Rose Hall 1, Guyana) (The story behind Elder Holmstead’s) We had received a referral from the office elders of a lady who was pretty much ready for baptism but had recently moved from Trinidad to Guyana. The first week we couldn’t get a hold of her and didn’t have any luck finding her. Just the other day, I saw an unfamiliar face in church so I began to talk with this lady. It took me a minute to put it together that this was the referral we couldn’t get a hold of. Right there on the spot I asked her if she wanted to be baptized after church. She responded without hesitance and a confident "yes." We did absolutely nothing but watch her be baptized...that is the definition of the Lord knowing who he wants in his church and getting them there.

Nov 24 Success Stories

Matt Martinich on his blog LDS Church Growth has been chronicling the success. In one post he wrote on 12 October 2008:

Trinidad

Today a new branch was organized in Trinidad in the city of Port Fortin. A group was organized six months ago. There were almost 30 members and investigators in attendance at this historic event. This is the first branch to be created in the southern part of the country. I believe this is the 11th congregation on Trinidad. Still no word on when a stake will be created for the island.

In July 2008 in a post on Update of Growth in Church he wrote:

Growth in the West Indies Mission

The West Indies Mission baptized over 200 converts last month. Sister Robinson, wife of the mission president, says the stake in Trinidad and Tobago will be created very soon. Most of the converts are still in Guyana.

The branch in Tobago has recently grown substantially. Attendance at worship services has been less than 10 until recently (the branch was organized last year). Now there are between 20-30 attending with baptisms occurring.

On 22 May 2008 in a post entitled Stakes in Guyana and Trinidad he wrote:

According to Sister Robison, wife of President Robison of the West Indies Mission, paperwork for the first stake in Trinidad was approved by the area presidency. Paperwork has been sent to Salt Lake and if all goes well the stake will be organized this summer. Furthermore, Sister Robison stated that the first stake in Guyana will be organized in the near future as well. She did not specify where in Guyana it would be located, but most likely will be in Georgetown. The West Indies Mission website can be found at http://westindiesmission.com/ .

I am including the Band of Brothers text to help you be motivated by his inspiring message to has helped inspire a marvelous work in the West Indies. Elder Wirthlin wrote:

Some of the choicest blessings of my life have been the close friendships I have experienced over the years. Often, these friendships have been forged in the fires of shared experience. I think back with fondness on the football teams I played on, the missionaries with whom I served in Austria and Switzerland, the bishoprics and stake presidencies with whom I served. I think about my family—the happiness and grief we have shared and how those moments of tenderness have amplified the love we have for each other. Most recently, I think about the indescribable bond of brotherhood I have felt within the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

Though each of these groups was very different, each had common characteristics. Perhaps this is because we struggled so much together, or perhaps because we linked arms together in a common journey where we had to depend so completely on each other. These relationships are the foundation of many of the most precious and rewarding moments of my life.

It is my desire to discuss establishing a bond of brotherhood in your assignments. Please understand that when I speak of “brotherhood,” I include our wonderful and indispensable sisters in that definition.

Establishing a bond of brotherhood is critical. If those who serve with you feel this mutual love and trust, the work of the Lord will thrive and heaven will aid you in your efforts. Fail to establish this bond, however, and you may find your work tedious, toilsome, and unproductive.

A Lesson from World War II

Some years ago, Stephen Ambrose wrote a book describing the experience of a company of paratroopers during World War II.1 The army was developing a new kind of warfare the world had not seen before. They were training men to parachute out of planes—often behind enemy lines and at immense personal peril—to attack, and to meet strategic objectives critical to the overall success of the war effort.

Easy Company of the 506th regiment, 101st Airborne Division, was one of those groups. Formed from volunteers, the 140 men began their training in 1942. They had been told that their training would be harder than any other in the military. In fact, it was so challenging that two out of three men couldn’t make it and either dropped out or were assigned to a regular army unit.

The night before D day, Easy Company parachuted behind enemy lines. Their assignment was to take out a battery of artillery guns. But in the chaos of the drop, only 12 of the 140 men were in position to carry out the mission. Nevertheless, they knew that if they didn’t take out those guns, the Allied soldiers storming Utah Beach would suffer heavy casualties from the artillery.

To make matters worse, the guns were manned and defended by more than 50 elite enemy paratroopers who had dug a series of trenches about the battery, heavily fortifying it against any kind of assault.

In one of the most well-executed and heroic operations of the war, 12 men of Easy Company assaulted the position, routed the enemy, and destroyed the artillery guns.

In later action, Easy Company took part in the ill-fated Operation Market Garden, facing enemy forces in Holland and Belgium. Later they were among the forces that held Bastogne against encircling enemy panzer units during the Battle of the Bulge.

By the time the war ended, the highly decorated Easy Company had taken heavy, heavy casualties. Forty-eight of its members had died.

In the scriptures we learn of other groups with similar bonds. King Mosiah’s sons were heirs to the throne. They could have led lives of comfort and ease. But they abandoned their lives of privilege, walked into enemy territory, and preached the gospel to thousands of Lamanites, baptizing many. (See Alma 17–26.)

Think of the great souls who ushered in this last dispensation: Joseph, Hyrum, and Samuel Smith; Parley and Orson Pratt; Brigham Young; Heber C. Kimball; Wilford Woodruff. They also formed a great band of brothers who, though very different in personality and background, were all united by a common goal: to serve their God and build His kingdom on earth.

One of the key tasks you will face is to establish this spirit of brotherhood among those who serve with you. Without this sense of loyalty, sacrifice, and love, your work not only will be less successful but also will be much less rewarding.

Admittedly, this is easier to talk about than to accomplish. Some people seem to have a natural ability to lead. They inspire people and bring out the best that is in them. They have an ability to infuse people with vision that transcends their own lives and inspire greatness within them.

I’m not sure there is a recipe that can turn an ordinary administrator into a great leader. But I am certain that there are things these great leaders have in common. The following principles may assist you in creating a band of brothers.

Never Forget the Value of a Great Cause

Captain Moroni lived during a time when evil men were conspiring to destroy the liberty and lives of his countrymen. How did he rally the people of his day? He rent his coat and wrote upon it, “In memory of our God, our religion, and freedom, and our peace, our wives, and our children” (Alma 46:12). Moroni knew the power of a great cause.

Helaman, the oldest son of the prophet Alma, led the stripling warriors. As you remember, Helaman was the one Alma entrusted with the sacred records. I suppose Helaman was more of a scholar than a warrior. But he lived in a time of conflict and war, and when the 2,000 sons of converted Lamanites took up their weapons of war, they asked that Helaman be their leader. Every student of the Book of Mormon knows their story. These young men had great faith. They were obedient. “They never had fought, yet they did not fear death” (Alma 56:47). Their confidence in the Lord was unshakeable: “Behold our God is with us,” they said, “and he will not suffer that we should fall” (Alma 56:46).

After many battles, although every one of them had received wounds, not one soul of them perished (see Alma 57:21, 25).

These young men knew why they were fighting. They understood the nature of their sacrifice. Helaman wrote that “they did think more upon the liberty of their fathers than they did upon their lives” (Alma 56:47). They knew the value of a great cause.

Average leaders used the carrot and the stick to motivate those around them. Great leaders communicate a vision that captures the imagination and fires the hearts and minds of those around them. Average leaders inspire people to punch a time clock. Great leaders inspire industry and passion.

You can get people to work by using threats or by promising rewards. But if you want to create a band of brothers, you must inspire those who work with you and encourage them to give their all in a great cause.

Understand Your Priorities

If someone were to ask you who we are as a people, what would you say? Who are we as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints?

The answer, I believe, is a simple one given to us by the Savior Himself. We are a people who love the Lord with all our hearts, souls, and minds. And we are a people who love our neighbor as ourselves. (See Matthew 22:37–39.)

This answer satisfies many of the questions asked about why we do what we do. Why does the Church ask so much of its members? Because we love the Lord, and we love our neighbor. Why do we do temple work? Missionary work? Welfare work? Because we love the Lord, and we love our neighbor.

These are the roots of all that we do. We do not send our missionaries out into the world to collect statistics. We send them into the world because we love our Heavenly Father, and we love our fellowmen.

That is who we are as a people. That is why we do what we do.

Settle into the Harness

No great cause ever succeeded without great effort.

One of the reasons the men of Easy Company volunteered for hazardous duty was that when they went into combat, they wanted to be next to someone they could trust—someone who wouldn’t do something foolish that could get them killed. They didn’t want to be next to someone who was lazy or who hadn’t paid attention during training or who wasn’t physically capable of what was required. These men had worked to the limits of human capacity.

From the days of Adam and Eve until now, our Heavenly Father has commanded that we work. Work is the foundation of success and creation. It is the secret of every successful enterprise.

Even so, there are some who go to great lengths to avoid work. In fact, a few people I have known have worked exceptionally hard to get out of work. This is something I have never understood. My father was a hard worker, and he taught me to be the same. Some of the most fulfilling moments of our lives are when we establish worthwhile goals and work to achieve them.

I know that some stop listening when they hear about goal setting. I have found it exhilarating. Each night, I think about my goals and what I want to accomplish the next day. And then I write on a small card the key things I can do to bring me closer to my goals.

Give your best effort. Settle into the harness and work with all your might. As you do so, you will find joy in your service.

“Fear Not”

Fear can make us run away from things—things like setting and achieving goals, developing relationships, or becoming the people we know we should become. Sometimes fear can even paralyze us to the point that we don’t even try.

Fear can be a thick fog that smothers our dreams. It can be a cage that restrains us from reaching our destiny. It can be a weight that restrains our every step.

Time after time, the men of Easy Company knew fear. A few days after D day, they were walking down a road toward a French village when an enemy machine gun opened fire on them. In spite of their training, the men ducked for cover and froze. The company commander, Lieutenant Dick Winters, knew if they stayed there, his men would be cut down. So he stood in the middle of the road, away from cover, bullets whistling all around him, and ordered his men to move out.

His men stared at him, not believing what they were seeing—but only for an instant. The courage of their commanding officer inspired them. Then they moved out. Because of Lieutenant Winters’s bravery, the men survived.

We may not be immune to being afraid, but we do not have to succumb to it. My friend Harold Brown once said, “It is better to face fear once than to live in its shadow.” I believe he is right.

We are surrounded and uplifted by the faith of our members and by the hand of heaven. If only we could see that, our fears would have far less influence over us. Move forward with faith, believing you will succeed! Don’t let fear of failure stop you from greatness. Let your example of courage inspire those around you to “fear not” (D&C 6:34).

Press on in Faith

Louis Pasteur, the famous microbiologist and chemist, once said, “Let me tell you the secret that has led me to my goal: my strength lies solely in my tenacity.”2 May we understand the wisdom of his words.

Joseph Smith has always been a great example of perseverance to me. From the time he was a young man, he was persecuted, mocked, and reviled. And yet he pressed on. He watched as loved ones died. He was cursed and threatened by enemies. He was betrayed by friends. In spite of innumerable hardships, he pressed on.

One night a mob of 40 men stormed the Prophet’s house and pulled him and Sidney Rigdon outside. Emma, Joseph’s wife, screamed and pleaded with the men to stop, but they did not listen. The mob tried to force nitric acid down the Prophet’s throat. They stripped him and covered his body with tar and feathers.

He survived and managed to stumble back to his house, where a terrified Emma was waiting. It took his friends the entire night to scrape the tar from his skin.

The following day this heroic prophet rose and spoke to those who had assembled for the Sunday meeting. Among those present in the congregation were members of the mob who had assaulted him the night before.3

Joseph never looked back. From the day he was called of the Father, he pressed on. Through sickness, suffering, ridicule, and betrayal, he pressed on. He pressed on until the day he gave his life as a testimony of the restored gospel.

A Band of Brothers

Stephen Ambrose titled his history of Easy Company Band of Brothers because of the bond of fellowship these men felt for each other. This sort of brotherhood happens when people give their hearts, might, minds, and strength to a cause greater than themselves. When we work together in a bond of brotherhood, when we love each other and are loyal and faithful to the great cause to which we have been called, the impossible becomes possible.

It is our opportunity to foster this brotherhood. Teach those who serve with you that we are not competing with one another. The men of Easy Company weren’t great because they were trying to stand out as individuals. They were great because they worked together.

One of the men of Easy Company remembered a conversation he had with his grandson.

“Grandpa,” the little boy asked, “were you a hero in the war?”

The old soldier thought about the question for a moment and then replied, “No, but I served in a company of heroes.”4

Those who will work with you all have within them the potential to be heroes. As you inspire those who serve with you and give them a vision of the great cause, help them set their priorities, and encourage them to settle into the harness, overcome their fears, and press on in faith, you may create your own company of heroes.

The missionaries of Trinidad and Tobago in the West Indies Mission are taking this charge to heart as they bring literally hundreds of people in to the fold. Their enthusiasm is quite contagious as they have implemented group baptisms that include as many as a 8-12 people. Underlying this whole process is the mission president's love for the elders then the elders' love for each other and finally their love for those they teach. It is amazing the influence the words of the Lord's servant Joseph B. Wirthlin had on motivating men like Reid Robison to action. His words will live on in the action of this band of missionary brothers.

Need for More LDS Couple Missionaries in West Indies Mission and Throughout the World

I found this post from three months ago on the West Indies Mission blog that Diane Robison wife of the mission president puts up for families of missionaries. In it Reid Robison makes an appeal for more couple missionaries. I reviewed the site in detail having recently reacquired the link from someone who has requested serving in the West Indies, Larry and Jan Meyers, who are sharing their experiences from preparation through the actual mission to encourage other couples to go. I had temporarily lost the link earlier in year but found it on the prospective couple's sidebar. Since I get five thousand hits a month I thought I would give it more exposure.

In a spirit of trying to encourage more couples to serve I am reposting the three month old post to encourage more couples to serve. The post shows the urgent need for couples in the missions throughout the church. I thought I would put the word out that more couples are needed throughout the world and especially in the West Indies Mission. I would give a link back to the original post but it is in MAC and not easily found. You would have to spend an hour like me reading each post one by one. If you want to do that then go ahead, it is really great seeing the pictures of the missionaries and finding out how the work is going down there.

Reid Robison wrote:

How the West Indies Got So Many Couples

One of the unique things about this mission is the blessing of having couples serve in almost all of the countries within its boundaries. When we arrived, there were 4 couples serving in the West Indies and a Humanitarian couple and a CES couple. Today there are 22 couples.The sad thing is - they go home after 18 months! We always need couples. These couples serve with love and dedication and do so much to establish the Church in the isles of the sea. They mentor elders, they train branch leaders, they assist in the administration of mission affairs, and above all they help bring the "lost sheep" back to the branch. We can "recruit" couples to serve in this mission. This practice is often called "private placement." We were told that it is hard enough to find couples who must leave family, friends, fun, finances behind and overcome fear.


Five Couples Urgently Needed

Seven couples return home in 2008 having served 18 or 23 months. We still need replacements for five of them (three in Trinidad, one in St. Lucia, and one in Guyana). We invite you to share this website link with a couple you may believe is interested and have them view the pictures at the “Missionary Couples” link (under construction - will be up very soon) to get a feel for the mission. Then if they would e-mail me of their interest at presidentrobison@gmail.com, I will answer their questions. Many of the wonderful West Indies couples were found by returned missionaries, parents of currently serving missionaries and the couples themselves. We appreciate your consideration of this request to find couples to help continue the marvelous work of establishing the Church in the West Indies.

President Robison

Dr. B. writes: I think it would be cool to serve down there. Notice the great tans on the missionaries. I might consider it myself in nine years when my youngest leaves home. Couples can make requests of where they serve. If you want to go to a particular mission then get a hold of the missionary department in Salt Lake City. You can check out their cost by going to Missionary Department and find out about current openings Senior Missionaries Opportunities . If you have any questions about serving a couples mission feel free to call the Department in Salt Lake City at 1-800-453-3860, ext 23492 (for those outside the U.S. the country code is 001-801-453-3860 x23492). If you don't care where you are going you can begin the paperwork through the online application process--The Missionary Online Recommendation System--where couples or senior missionaries can apply from the convenience of their homes.

A Fascinating West Indies Mission Blog Brought to You by Dr. Di with a Little Help from Her Husband

I recently received a comment on my mission president series from a Dr. Di who encouraged me to keep going on my blog. Since I seldom get any comments, I was curious as to who Dr. Di was so I clicked on the picture of an attractive middle aged woman sitting on her veranda in her barefeet in some tropical looking place (Trinidad) typing on a (I can't believe it) Macintosh Computer.

The funny thing is that as I looked at her picture I can picture her sitting with a hollowed out coconut with an umbrella straw sipping a pina colada drink on a hot summer day. In my mind I heard Harry Chapin singing the song:

Brother bought a coconut
He bought it for a dime.
His sister had another
She paid it for a lime.

She put the lime in the coconut
And drank them both up.

Called the doctor, woke him up, and said
"Doctor, ain't there nothing I can take"
I say, "Doctor, to relieve this belly ache?"
I say, "Doctor ain't there nothing I can take"
I say, "Doctor, to relieve this belly ache?"

The funny thing is that one of the missionaries serving in her mission field really did have a terrible belly ache so I was actually prophetic.


Bottom row: Cooper, Taylor, Sylie; Middle row: Amanda, Tessa, Emily, Grace; Top Row: Rachel, Dallin, Julia (all left to right)

When I arrived at her site Robison Family Home Evening Guide I am greeted by ten beautiful cherubic blond hair mostly brown eyed children dressed in white. At first I couldn't figure out if she had outdid me in having ten children to my eight children. I wondered for a moment if she had triplets but no they are all too close in age to be from one family, but lo and behold they are her grandchildren. I was startled at first because she doesn't look old enough to have this many grandchildren but she does.



As I read the premise behind the blog I discovered it is co-written by her and her husband Reid Robison, President of the West Indies Mission as a combination mission blog and family blog to help their ten grandchildren learn about what their grandparents are doing. It has a lot of church history and doctrinal stories for the children and their parents to discuss in their family home evenings.

Dr. Di has really spruced up the website with interesting conversion stories and other primary level items such as using colorful birds to relate gospel principles or discussing a young child's conversion and baptism to the church. The truth is that Dr. Di is not only teaching her grandchildren but she is writing at the level of most typical missionaries which is a fourth or fifth grade level. She breaks down complex concepts to a simple form. I can see her doctorate in education and her master's of art in play on her site. There is some really good FHE suggestions for games and activities.



President Reid Robison has only a few posts on the site but they are actually mighty interesting. I especially enjoyed his post on his call to be mission president.

"President Monson discovered they were born in Toronto and then began to tell us his experiences in Toronto as mission president. He came around from behind the desk and showed us his report to the First Presidency of his mission. He turned the pages slowly and quoted from each page. He pointed out the progress going from 2.16 baptisms per missionary to 5.63. When he completed the mission, they baptized 1000 souls -- up from 300 the first year. The 300th Stake of the Church was created in Toronto while he was mission president. He and his wife had signed the report he showed us.

He told us stories of his children in Canda--a sister (nonmember) who taught his little daughter and was impressed that she could bear her testimony of the Church after reading her an article from the Friend magazine. The lady's name was Mrs. Pepper. She visited the Salt Lake Temple Square before she died and left them a note of her impressions. His daughter did Mrs. Pepper's temple work after she passed on. President Monson's son had his first paper-route in Canada. Their cook mixed chocolate cake in with the soup to make it edible. (She was not a good cook). He spoke of a special, private spot behind the mission home at 123 Loma (next to Casa Loma) in a ravine--where he would retire to pray. He made a promise to the Lord to do everything he could to magnify his calling as a mission president and asked the Lord one thing in return--that he wouldn't lose one missionary. One died of lung cancer six weeks after the mission and two or three tried to run off from the mission but came back. He "rescued" one from Arizona (where H. Burke Peterson was the bishop of the boy). He plotted out a route where the elder had a different bishop to feed him and him him fuel his car every 400 miles back to Toronto. He also got a boy who escaped to Ogden to come back. When President Monson told us about the fact that Jamie flies to our mission enroute to BYU, he told of two twins who served in Asia and stopped in Iceland, where their parents served (their heritage)as a mission president couple and completed another mission. We don't think Jamie will want to do that.

President Monson then gave me a memo card with his name on it and had me write three things using his fancy black pen: (These are the words of counsel Harold B. Lee gave him as a new mission president)
1. Whom the Lord calls, the Lord qualifies
2. When you are on the Lord's errand, you are entitled to the Lord's help
3. The Lord shapes the back to bear the burdens placed upon it.

President Monson taught us about the key to getting referrals from members. He said you don't challenge the wards to get 20 baptisms, but rather 20 home teachers to strengthen the ward. He said members should approach these four types of individuals:
1) those suffering the loss of a loved one
2)those who have experienced a birth in the family
3) new move-ins
4) those who have a troubled teen

Throughout the interview, President Monson would pat Diane's hand as he talked to us. He complimented her red and black colors (it was a Christmas outfit because he said it was the color of West High. He went to West High and his wife with to East High. When I told him I taught the living prophets class and often told how he met his wife, he said his father-in-law (to be) cried when they first met.

He also taught of two types of mission presidents--a mother had twins in different missions. She thought one president was good and the other was bad. The one sent pictures of the mission president and their missionary. The other never did. In essence, the latter was the stronger president, but you could never persuade the mother of those boys to believe that....


Additional insights from the experience with President Monson:
1) Always pray about transfers so you can tell the missionaries you prayed about it.
2) Don't let your zone leaders butter you up to get a preferred choice of transfers.
3) Take time to date your companion while on the mission."

The mission president also has some good goal setting stuff. A few I liked include: Taking Control of Your Life, Let's Talk Make It Happen, and Why Should We Get Up Early. He does a half-way mission report that is informative about what he accomplished as a mission president.

My favorite blog post Stand Still See the Hand of God by Dr. DI is a great FHE story:

"The Story of the Missing Martinique Elders: On Monday December 3, 2007, Grandpa Robison received a phone call from Elder Beck, a zone leader serving in Martinique. Elder Beck reported that two missionaries, Elder Tyson Gray and Elder Thomas Swain had not returned home that evening. This is the first time Grandpa and Grandma Robison had received this type of message in the 18 months that they have been serving. The next morning Grandpa and Grandma boarded a plane and flew from Trinidad to Martinique to direct the search for the missing elders.

The week prior to the disappearance of the elders, Martinique had been hit by a serious earthquake and on August 16th of this year, the island had been plastered by Hurricane Dean. (See Section 43:25 of the Doctrine and Covenants.) The Lord is speaking to the people of Martinique, which has the lowest rate of baptisms in the mission.

Grandpa did not know for sure where the elders were lost. They had been very vague in their report to their zone leader the night before preparation day. The two elders had also been warned about how difficult a hike up Mount Pelee would be because of the difficulty in getting transportation back to their proselyting area by 6 p.m.

Grandpa organized the members and missionaries in their search efforts. He flew in the two elders who had trained the two missing elders from French Guiana. He flew in 4 members from Guadeloupe to search and put 4 missionaries from Guadeloupe on a ferry with their van to assist in Martinique on the search. Members distributed flyers all over the island at every hospital, taxi station, city hall and market place in every village in Martinque. Everything that was possible to do to find the elders was done. Search parties were organized on Mont Pelee and the police had dozens and dozens of men hiking through the woods in search of the two elders. The elders and members were counseled to pray specifically for inspiration as to exactly where to find the elders.

The newspaper put a picture of the elders on the front page. Everyone Martinique was talking about the missing elders. It was at that point on Thursday morning, that the words of this scripture came to mind: "Therefore, dearly beloved brethren, let us cheerfully do all things that lie within our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed." (D&C 123:17)

After it it was all said and done....we had done everything within our power...the missionaries and members had held a mission-wide fast...members and leaders throughout the world had fasted and prayed for the missing elders as did their families and the wards of their families...it was a Hindu man who had a vision Wednesday night that he would find the elders on his property in the dense vegetation....and Thursday morning he found them.

The missing elders told us that they had started off the volcano in search of a little village they saw in the distance so they would be home in time to proselyte. They quickly found that there were unseen dangers (crevices, cliffs, etc) for having strayed from the path. They were protected from wild animals such as snakes. They were not exposed to severe weather conditions such as the rain that fell before they left and after they were found. They found an irrigation pipe that gave them clean water. They found an abandoned refrigerator that held some flat coke and a bottle of rum with soaked apricots. By not touching the rum, the media learned about the word of wisdom. Who else would the Lord provide an old refrigerator other than two lost missionaries....is this all a coincidence? Do you see the hand of the Lord every step of the way?

Prayers had been answered....we had done everything in our power to find the elders and the the salvation of God was made manifest."

If you want to read a colorful site with great mission advice and stories check out their site. They even have a great blog for Returned Missionaries of the West Indies. You will have a fun filled time and be spiritually fed.