Sis Fawcett/McLain - Richmond Hill 1 - May 26, 1996 - "ZONE CONFERENCE - This added amazingly to my testimony and as a spiritual experience for the week. I don’t know if I can really explain, because it was such an amazing experience. All of a sudden something just caused my mind to open up to see "the big picture". I swear, I saw into eternity for one brief second. I felt such a strong power all around me. I also could see for a moment the understanding you have as a Mission President with what is involved and what is at stake. I now see things I really want and I am trying to figure out how to become that person capable of achieving that. All I know is that I am a very fortunate soul to be here in the NYS mission." NOTE: Sis Fawcett was so overcome with the spirit at the end of the day, she kept crying during the latter presentation, Mission Song and prayer. She was emotionally drained at the conference conclusion.

Elder Weinman/Bradley - Bushwick 1 - May 26, 1996 - "FOCUS ON BAPTIZING - I loved Zone Conference! I saw a lot of parallels between Rocky and Missionary work. It wasn’t just entertainment, it was a nice change and a different way of teaching us eternal principles. I re-committed myself to a lot of things that I had been slipping on. I have now re-kindled that focus on "baptizing".

Elder Boulton/Priddis - Jamaica 11 Sp - May 21, 1996 - "ROCKY - I was really affected by the Zone Conference and I know I’m now doing more effective work with a sense of hunger and urgency. The Lord has already led us to Priesthood. Living with Elders Hoelzer, Jensen and Priddis is a huge blessing. Elder Hoelzer is a perfect example of how to finish off a mission."

Elder Rocks/Jeppsen - Staten Island 111 Sp - May 20, 1996 - DISTRICT CONFERENCE - I really enjoyed District Conference for the Brooklyn District. We took a bus with the rest of the members from Staten Island to Park Slope. I felt the spirit confirm to me that the fast for Sunday June 2, called by the District President for the missionaries to be led to, and the members to introduce to the missionaries, male converts; was right and confirmed in the sight of the Lord. I felt the same spirit when you said that your goal before June 1997, was for all three Districts to be made Stakes."

Elder Curletto/Isakson - Jamaica 11 Sp - May 20, 1996 - "ROCKY - When I first arrived as a "rookie", I came with the hunger of the MTC and I just wanted to help everyone be baptized. After a while of seeing other missionaries with less hunger, my hunger fell away and I became confused about the work. I knew though inside of me, how hard I should work, but I couldn’t do much, because I was a "rookie" and had no command of spanish. I’m finally realizing now how hard we have to work, and become totally "focused" on the work, having "the eye of the tiger" and having that so called NYS "hunger".

Elder Priddis/Boulton - Jamaica 11 Sp - May 21, 1996 - "ROCKY - Monday at Zone Conference, it was sad to sit and listen to all the things I had kind of forgotten, slacked off and fallen from. I love the work and am finding an everlasting burning within my soul once again, what I used to have. I felt like it was all for me. Thankyou for your inspiration. I would never want to change back to English again. I’ve grown to love the spanish too much. I’ve found my fire again, my goals are back, all is achievable with God. Baptisms now are back in my blood!"

Sister Black/Barker - Jamaica 1 - Sep 5, 1995 - "UNITY - Zone Conference was great. I enjoyed the extra emphasis on unity. "If ye are not one, ye are not mine" really hit me. He is telling us right out that we will not have his support if we're not unified and act as one. He even tells us that we don't even belong to him if we're not one. That's rather scary. Who are we if we are not His? Who do we belong to, if it's not Him? I love being one with my District. I hope this kind of unity can continue to spread to my new Zone and throughout the mission."

Sister Walden/Leffler (Sister Trainer Eng) - Little Neck - Aug 14, 1995 - "SISTERS CONFERENCE - I am very happy about Sister's Conference. It went extremely well. I have received several phone calls from various sisters telling me that it was just what they needed and feel rejuvenated. I feel better and relieved it's done and felt that all the sisters did a wonderful job. I am very impressed with all the English sisters. They all have such righteous desires for being here and want nothing more than to serve the Lord. Thanks for all your help. I know how much you and Sister Bailey love the missionaries and I know the sisters could all feel it at the Conference. It was a success."

Hna Kidd/Callister (Sister Trainer Sp) - Dyker Heights 111 Sp - Aug 14, 1995 - "SISTERS CONFERENCE - It was a great success. I am so pleased with how it went. I think the sisters really needed that. I've gotten a few phone calls of appreciation from the Hermanas. I an so grateful that it helped. The Lord really answered my prayers and I am excited to see what the Sisters will do with their new found strength. They will work miracles, I have that faith. I especially enjoyed your remarks. It really gave me a new insight on what drives you. I can't explain it, but it's like I finally understand why I love and respect you so much. It's because you're a worker. My parents instilled the same in me and I am so grateful for that. I love to work, especially in the Lord's work. I think what I loved most was that your material success comes right from your dedication to the Lord and building His kingdom here. I am so grateful for all you do. Words cannot express the gratitude I feel toward you and the countless things you do for us as missionaries. I often marvel at all you do and then thank my loving Heavenly Father for having blessed me with such an incredible man to lead the mission that I am in. One of the best things you said to us on Saturday is now in my scriptures, it says, "mediocrity is of the adversary." I love that! Especially to see that you have risen above the temptation of the adversary and haven't succumbed to mediocrity. That is my eternal goal in life, and with the Lord, I'll do all I can to always rise above mediocrity."

Sister Iverson/Yeh - Rego Park 1 - Aug 13, 1995 - "Sister's Conference was awesome and well needed. It was good to discuss real concerns in the open. I appreciated your personal thing. I always see the outside of President Bailey. I began to see how hard you fought for what you have and how it wasn't easy and that the attitude I have (mindset), that "we can never do too much, it's never enough", is OK, because that drives me to improve and reach for more. I can also appreciate who I am and what I've done, but that is inherent to who I will become. So I must always push myself. If we aren't fighting, we aren't growing."

Sister Alsop/Katie Hansen - Flushing 11 - Aug 13, 1995 - "Sister's Conference was exactly what I needed. Thank you for letting us come and take over the house. I felt totally rejuvenated and refreshed, ready to start all over, able to face the world again. It was like coming out of the Celestial Kingdom (the conference), and being thrust back into the Telestial Kingdom (the world and our apartment)."

Hna Orgill/Lopez - Jamaica 11 Sp - Aug 14, 1995 - "I was thankful for Sister's Conference. It helps to know that I'm not alone in my worries. I'd like to share a journal entry I wrote after the conference. 'It seems like all of the sisters in the mission were having quite a few problems with self esteem. We talked a lot about not getting down on ourselves, and about working throughout things until they reach a successful point. It was just what I needed. You could say that the words cut to my very soul. I often felt like crying because it was such a quick, beautiful answer to my prayers. I had been feeling a little depressed lately. It's so amazing how periods of trial are followed by periods of answers to prayers. I'm amazed at the efficiency of the Lord. He tries us just enough, to the point where we think we can't handle it anymore, then he stops and gives us blessings. I think the mission is a great roller coaster with twists and turns and rises and falls that are placed very close together. The interesting thing is that the first climb of a roller coaster seems to take forever, but then before you know it, it's over and all you remember is the rush you got from the good points, all the bad points are forgotten. I believe that a mission is exactly like that.. The trick is to remember the high points when you're in the low points and to keep working no matter what."

Elder Peterson/Gerald Davis - Staten Island Rockland - Apr 30, 1995 - "ELDER BELL EDPE - COMMIT ON 2ND PRINCIPLE - Last Tuesday at Leaders Meeting, Elder Bell's EDPE on committing someone on the 2nd principle of the 1st Discussion seemed all right when we were practicing it, but I was not convinced that it would ever really happen. I was proved wrong again. Yesterday, we were teaching a young girl. I was teaching the 1st and 2nd principles together. I was making the transition between the principles, when I remembered Elder Bell's EDPE. I put it off the first time, but then I asked her a question. I was impressed again to lead into a Commitment Invitation. This time I didn't put it off. I was surprised with how easily she identified the spirit so early in the discussion. Things went so smoothly after that and she committed to baptism."

Elder Hoelzer/Larsen - Terryville Ward (Eng) - Apr 9, 1995 - "The Mission Conference at Rego Park was a definite highlight of my mission. I was especially impressed with your words at the beginning of the meeting. I believe that you said to "Take all your feelings of unworthiness and inadequacy, put them aside and just FEEL the love of the Savior." I did that. I'm one who is consistently fighting those feelings but at that meeting, I put them aside and it felt so good to just feel the love of the Lord. Thankyou so much for helping me feel that love."

Elder McBride/Olsen - Plainview 11 (Eng) - Apr 8, 1995 - "CONVERTS AS STAKE MISSIONARIES" - "We now have 6 Stake Missionaries. How exciting. Elder Olsen is so excited to get them all well trained and working by themselves. I am excited too. I am so jealous that this has not happened in Brooklyn or Queens. I understand the people there really do not have time. It's amazing to see new members here learn so much more and become a part of the Ward so quickly. I will never feel content until all my past converts are fully active and participating in the Church and hold Temple recommends. I figure we have 2 years to baptize the elect, and the rest of our lives to retain them. I have heard so often of the "miracle" that is happening here and it is exciting to be a part of it. The spirit definitely rests here."

Elder Crouch/Alexander - Uniondale 1 - Apr 2, 1995 - "KNIGHTHOOD - THE WHITE, RED and BLACK KNIGHT - My father told me about the evolution of the knight that equates to the change from boy to man. We all start out as a White Knight. He is pure and innocent and really naive to life. He believes that he can conquer all things and he does, but his greatness and good do not last. He then becomes a Red Knight. He begins to doubt himself. At this point, he realizes, that he is not as great and influential as he thought he was. This is when he becomes humble. This is good as long as he does not stay at this stage. He wants to become a Black Knight. This symbolizes the death of his "old selfish" self. The key to becoming a Black Knight is to realize who he is and that his entire purpose for life is to serve his True King (God).

You can imagine the silhouette of the Black Knight on one bended knee, in reverence to his King and prayer to him. The other knee is bowed in prayer and contemplation. One hand is wrapped around his Lance, which is pointed upwards towards the skies. He has a Black Pennant of repentance tied to the end. The sword is at his side, ready to be drawn in service. This is the true Black Knight.

This truly represents Captain Moroni. This is how I want to be. At this present point, I am seeking for "Who am I?" What are some of the qualities and talents that the Lord has given me? This is all right as long as I am searching for the answers. But the minute that I give up and accept where I am at, that is when I am in trouble. My goal is to reach Black Knighthood. Knowledge will continue after my mission on how to become a better Black Knight. This mission will teach me how to become that Black Knight.

The Square of Life - There are also 4 areas of life, that if developed, will bring peace with himself and with the Lord. Physical, Mental, Social and Spiritual. When a person balances these 4 areas, he will be at peace. Once balanced though, one cannot just sit back and relax, but one must grow in all areas together.

Elder Parkinson/Rice - Jamaica 11 Sp - Aug 14, 1994 - "200 VISION - I really enjoyed ZC last Tuesday. The spirit that I felt there was very strong. I am very impressed with the vision you have and your ability to share this vision with us. I know we can reach our goal of 200 baptisms in September, even although it blew me away the first time I heard it. We are going to reach our goal.

Elder Ben Davis/Ward - DL - Jamaica 11 Sp - Aug 14, 1994 - "COMMIT ON JOSEPH SMITH PRINCIPLE - This week I really gained a testimony of EDPE that Elder Slade (AP) gave in Leadership meeting. We challenged 2 people to be baptized during the Joseph Smith principle of the 1st discussion. The spirit was so strong that there was no way they could say NO! They both set their own dates for this Sunday. I love this work. It is wonderful to have our word testified to and anointed by the Holy Ghost. I don't ever want to lose this sacred commission. I'd extend for another 13 years if I could."

Elder Binns/Degraffenried - DL - Midwood 11 Sp - Aug 21, 1994 -"HARD WORK AFTER ZONE CONFERENCE - I love Zone Conference and always want to go out and work hard, that is why we had a good week. I love to hear stories from other missionaries which inspire me to work. After listening to you I felt the spirit so strong, testifying to me that this is the Lord's work. So straight after ZC went out straight to work. On the way to our appointment, we gave a 1st discussion to a good family as it was a referral. We also contacted people on the street and when we got to the appointment (our first contact with her), we explained what we do as missionaries and how much we like it. The spirit was so string, testifying that we are only tools in his hands. The lady was crying and her friend too as we gave them the 1st discussion and committed them for baptism. That day and that week was one of the greatest weeks I have ever had."

Elder Binns/Degraffenried - DL - Midwood 11 Sp - Aug 21, 1994 - "FRUITS AFTER ZONE CONFERENCE - The week that we had Zone Conference, we worked hard and taught a lot. Last week we still worked hard but not much teaching. We certainly walked a lot. We received our blessings last Sunday with 10 investigators at Church, 60% of them came out by themselves. We also had a good baptism, the first in the Branch in the new portable font. Jocelyn Pacheco felt the spirit so strong while I was confirming her that she started crying. Experiences like this make me love my mission more than anything else. My wish also came true to have a baptism on my birthday, and it happened. I love my Savior because He answers my prayers."

Elder Reeves/Powell - ZL - Richmond Hill 1 - Aug 14, 1994 - "NEW RECORD FOR SEPTEMBER - I'm excited for the month of September. I know that this mission is going to reach new heights. The spirit I have felt not only at Zone Conference and the Leadership Meeting let me know so, but also as I prayed and asked the Lord if this is what He wanted, He answered me. This is His work and He is at the helm. As you've said, "Our vision must be raised!" Thanks for everything."

Elder Contreras/Kowalski - DL - Brooklyn Deaf - Aug 14, 1994 - "RECORD POSSIBLE FOR SEPTEMBER - Everytime we have Zone Conference, it brings me up to a high spiritual level. But last Conference, I felt like I was uplifted even further. I felt like nothing could stop me from sharing the Gospel with anyone. I also felt that as a mission we could accomplish anything. It is so amazing how the spirit will change my views and how it will always make me want to do better. So I love the spirit and the work."

Hna Washington/Bishop - Coney Island 11 Sp - Aug 13, 1994 - "200 POSSIBLE FOR SEPTEMBER - I really enjoyed Conference. When you were talking about the goal of 200 baptisms in September, I really felt the spirit. If we all work together with the Lord we can do anything."