Principals' Conference 2016

March 12th-March 16th was the Principals' Conference here in Auckland.  Principals from all the church schools throughout the South Pacific came for the conference.  Elder Kim B. Clark, Church Commissioner of Education and Brother Chad Webb, Seminaries and Institutes, and their wives attended the conference.  We had a few of the new principals to our apartment for dinner.  It was fun to get to know them and feel of their love for the gospel.

Elder & Sister Henderson with principals, Macy, Tammaline & Salote

We were able to do two presentations at the conference: one on the role of counselors in the church schools and one on the role of ITEP missionaries in the church schools.  It was a nice conference.

Elder Kevin W. Pearson the Area President for the South Pacific spoke at the principal's conference.  Here are my notes from his talk… He started his talk with D&C 2:  I will reveal unto you the priesthood and plant in the hearts of the children the promises of the fathers.  What do we want to plant in the hearts of our children?
The book of Matthew in the New Testament gives the parable of the sowers.  Anyone planting the word is the sower.  Every soil has the potential to be good ground.  The ultimate fertile ground is a broken heart and a contrite spirit.
Luke also gives the parable of the sower.  Some seeds fell by the wayside.  Elder Pearson said this is happening today as the devil takes the word out of people's hearts and they fall away.
Rocky soil.  Those that receive the word with joy but with trial or temptation they fall away.  (True doctrine, understood, changes attitudes and behaviors.
Seeds that fell among thorns and are choked out.  No one pays attention that there are thorns in people's lives.  The thorns grow at a more raid rate than the seed and the seed is choked out.
Fertile ground.  Those with honest and good hearts.  They hear the word and keep the fruit with patience.  The condition of their hearts allows them to be productive.  
Alma 32 teaches us how to grow our faith.  The seed planted in a fertile soil (heart) will swell and grow and begin to be delicious.  Spiritual photosynthesis if you will.  The Holy Ghost testifies of the truthfulness of the gospel.  A mighty change of heart can come through the Holy Ghost.  Usually another person is involved in bringing the power of the Holy Ghost.
I hope you will plant the gospel deep in your heart.  Colossians - be in the faith grounded and settled through hope in Christ.

Kim B. Clark, Church Commissioner of Education, and a general authority of the church also spoke at the principals conference.  Elder Clark said we must educate students better than ever before both temporally and spiritually, because of the world they'll be facing.  Elder Clark said the goal of Church Education System is to provide opportunities for education wherever the church is organized.  This is a huge undertaking, but if it is organized through priesthood keys it will succeed.
What it takes to accomplish the Lord's work rapidly and effectively:
consecration
unity
alignment

CONSECRATION:  What does a consecrated person look like?  they give their all, they serve gladly, they honor co enacts, they act and are not acted upon, they are willing to give everything.

UNITY:  one heart, one mind, one purpose, all things in common, one with the Father and the Son, one vision, claret, hearts knit together in unity and love, no contention, looking forward with one eye, share common spiritual experiences, share sanctifying experiences together, the Father's plan is how we see the world.

ALIGNMENT:  We're aligned together behind the prophet.  We line up to follow in accordance with gospel truth.  We are true and faithful.  We aren't out of step, we align completely with the precepts of the gospel.

Elder Clark said when people can be consecrated, unified and aligned together it is like a conduit opens up with heaven and blessings and inspiration pour down and things are accomplished that couldn't be accomplished any other way.  The prophet and apostles are fearless, they move ahead with what needs to be done without fear, but full of faith.  

It was a very spiritual meeting.