Missionary Experiences: Elder Lawrence John Glavinic

 Date: 3-18-65 DISTRICT CONFERENCE Place: Lugano Paradiso   Date: March 18, 19645 People Present: Elders of Milano District and President and Sister Russon, Elders Marriot and Bartichi Procedure:  1. Pizzuto-opening remarks 2. Prayer-Storrs 3. Talks by all Elders on " How can the Area thrive in 1965? and for junior companions how companion relationships can thrive in 1965?"  4. Pizzuto: togetherness with the Lord, ex: 10 elders plus the Lord will make 11. What has happened in Milan? Learn to appreciate Switzerland. (a) Portinano-problem. (b)referrals: Great!! from world's fair (c) Relatives searching is great (d) trust Lord and we won't fail.  5. Sister Russon: Story about Grant as stake president at twenty years of age. Asked and received because everything was hard to overcome. We need out Heavenly Father to progress.  6. Brother Thrope: Companionship importance, communism will pave the way for Mormonism. 7. President Russon: (a)mail problems (b) Reg...

 Date: 3-03-65 Well, I went to Bern with mixed emotions. However after being there two months I really enjoyed my stay. Our "haus frau" Frau Ruehtr was very nice. They invited us to have Fondue with them a couple of times but we only realized it once. We also watched a little TV on Saturday night there also. Bern brought many new charms. some pleasant and others distasteful. When I arrived in Bern, I found the same attitude toward the Italian speaking elders as I found in Basel. Everyone thought you were a goof-ball. This was in part due to the example set by some of the other elders that had been there previously and the jealousy of the German speaking elders that wanted to get into the Italian program but didn't. They (the 2 district leaders) thought they would pull a fast one over us by asking the new elders (us) to speak in Church the 2nd Sunday that we were there. There were 3 new elders. They thought they had pulled a big one but to their surprise I gave a good talk...

 Date:2-27-65 ITALIAN ZONE CONFERENCE  Place: Lugano- Paradiso  Date: Feb 27, 1965 People Present: 22 elders from South German, Bavarian, and Swiss Mission Procedure:  1. Prayer, Song (Di Profeti ringraziamo Dio- we thank thee o God for a prophet) 2. Elder Pizzuto 3. President Russon: Lack of elders Cavalli and one in South Germany. Benson's story: his discussion not to open the Italian Mission but the Italian Zone under the direction of the swiss mission. Mostly because of cost, a regular mission costs 30,000 a year. There will be 3 districts formed with one zone. Mission home to send letter for registration. Tessin opened in June 26, 1963. We must claim mastery over ourselves in Italy. President Russon relates experiences of Brother Snow in Italy. He says they will be analogous to our work. Snow promises that Italy will once again flower with much more brilliance than that which it earlier had. He said, "the devil is not idle in Italy and he will even tell the trut...

 Date: 12-31-64 CHRISTMAS CONFERENCE People Present: Whole mission 119 (last year 193) Time: 9am   Place: Zollikofen  Procedure: 1. President Russon: Nieksen-goes with Tulley to Lebanon. Future of the mission: (a) no more co-senior companionships (b) no more 2nd counselor missionaries (c) Future only 50 senior companions (d) Zone Conference Jan 28 with personal interview with Benson (e) Few district outings (f) Assistants to President: Whipple and Mariott **Chastisement: word of wisdom, sports, trips, be truthful with self. "Far more men fail from ignorance of their strength rather than knowledge of their weakness." possessions of man dilute the spirit.  2. Stanley Jones: Solomon said " so as a man thinketh, so he is" Fools are more often mentioned than sinners in the Bible. *STORY: captain on a ship brought a rock on board but the compass wouldn't' word when the rock was near. He figured the rock was evil and threw it overboard (likened unto our lives with ...

 Date: 12-28-64 Well ,Christmas week is one of the busiest. We visited most of our investigators and gave them the mobiles that we made from walnut shells. We also gave the kids little mechanical beetles. It sure made them happy. One evening this pat week we went Christmas and caroling to the prize investigators. We had more luck than the Elders I Basel 2 which received a bucket of cold water on their heads!!  This investigator, Scarpellini, seemed to be making a lot of progress. He just got out of the hospital after 30 days just before Christmas and he has really looked for an answer by praying. I think he already has one but just doesn't know how to tell us. We hope we can get him in the water soon. He about three months back asked that if he should die tomorrow if we would do his work in the temple.  Christmas was really great. We haven't been so good for a long long time. And there have been parties. The Relief Society had one for the Elders where we got presents (can...

 Dat: 12-05-64 CONFERENCE People Present: Basel 1 Elders, Russon, Hart, & Brown Time: 9am     Place: Basel  Procedure:  1. Brother Feil- talk- parable of the talents. Jesus Christ talks to his Apostles. Book of Mormon story about the four sons of Mosiah and Alma the younger.  2. President Russon: Four points- 1. we are not here by chance 2. we've gotta get along 3. we've gotta produce 4. we can't do it alone. *John Dunn- Torino F-85 for laekeeds. Don't forget the importance of the Priesthood!! He not only got into the church, but the church got into him. John 15: branches (apostles must be connected to veins) 3. Brown: European information service 4. Hart: success is through use of talents to accomplish something. Story of town with out shoes. Big factory that talked about things but didn't do anything. Finally found a shop bought shoes because of being fanatic could give them away- analogies with our mission. Ideas are like babies, they are their ...

 Date: 12-04-64 Well, the time is passing fast but sometimes not fast enough. The work has presented some interesting aspects within the last 2 weeks. I guess that is because we have begun to play basketball against the University Team. We find it very interesting because the Universities' team is made up of so many nationalities. We have played them twice losing both times but not by big scores. Through this exercise I can really feel that I'm out of shape even though I do a set of exercises every morning. There is one consolation. i.e. If I didn't do these exercises I could imagine how far our of shape I would be. There has been some interesting developments. I previously wrote about one of our investigators by the name of Scarpellini. We have given him all the lessons; he understands them and the ramifications of them, but he was to proud of not humble. Well, he got an ulcer and was in the hospital. He had a big operation; the took some stomach out. It has subsequently h...

 Date: 11-15-64 Fifth lesson we had an Italian lady asking for baptism. But it won't be all that simple. She wants us to do it without the knowledge of her husband. We said. "Wow" . Well when we get by this problem, we will be baptizing Sorella Heuri.  This last week I wrote President and asked him if our program (Italian) is headed for progress or obsolescence? It should be interesting to hear his reply.  The referral system is working quite well with the other brethren! They are giving us an average of 5 referrals a week. One of the five being someone treatable- not teachable.  Becker gave ma a statement to help me judge the people we meet: Small minds discuss people. Average minds discuss events. Great minds discuss ideas.

 Date: 10-31-64 REGIONAL CONFERENCE Time: 9am  Place: Olten 1. Film New 2. Panel, challenging and date setting 3. Pres hart: What gives success for 20% to baptize 80% of people? Clues-Desire-Faith-Testimony. Faith process of people-material/spiritual. Faith and confidence= comparison. *Example: a pilot became a state flyer. after much experience. A spectator not wanting to fly with him previously said, "it probably is not too much of  a risk" but something was lacking. One has the faith while the other only has the confidence.* questions to determine your faith: Faith in Organization? Faith in plan? Faith in self? Five reasons because people should har you=five reasons because Gospel of Jesus Christ is important. *Example: Priesthood meeting: bishop asked the men whether they believed God could move mountains. They answered yes! "Well" the he said, "we will be seeing you at sister Browns to move the heap of dirt in front other house. There we can pray to the Lo...

 Date: 10-25-64  Well, after a fast moving three weeks I'll try to recap. The time has been filled with success on almost every front. Missionary work excellent, extra curriculum and trips. On the missionary front we have met some very fine people. By receiving referrals from other missionaries and also by bringing some of our investigators a little farther along in the lesson plan. We have been using the fellowship program with great success. Earlier I explained a little about an investigator that we met while speaking with some Italian's, a German girl but the name of Badker. Well, we finished bringing her through the lesson plan last week. A sister Gayer was very helpful with the fellowshipping. She had a lot of problems but none that we couldn't solve. Her story was a little sad. She had met an Italian about three years ago. And subsequently had a kid. But she never got married. The Italian was already married and lived in Italy, Sicily. But had come North for working r...

 Date: 10-3-64 CONFERENCE People Present: Basel 1 District, President Russon & Hart Time: 9am   Place: Basel 1 Procedure:  1. Elders given the opportunity to talk 3-5 minutes about immediate goals for next 3 months.  2. President Russon: Make goals Specific! Comparison June 1962: 8.5 actual inv., 23 baptisms, 236 hom.com. June 1963: 6.1 actual inv.. 31 baptisms, 102 hom.com. June 1964: 2.41 actual inv., 11 baptisms, 227 hom.com. ***Russon makes a problem for himself. D&C 20:37 conditions for baptism. McKay says 1 baptism/month. To be good and to do good are different. Solomon: In all they getting, get going. Doing the things that failures don't like to do. Example 211 degrees boiling but 212 is steaming. Grant Haggerty- insurance man in Wyoming must be dedicated for good self control. Success=effort x ability x time. Cubic s=c^3. China eggs or real eggs. Sanctity=Exaltation x atonement x Time consecrated. Surrender= endure x aim x time dedicated. Satisfa...

 Date: 9-29-64 Well, another hectic week. This time it was from my own family. The week started out very well. Our golden investigator sister Badker was baking good progress. We had an M&M meeting with Sister Gayer. We showed the "Hill Cumorah" slides. Then later in the week we gave her the fourth lesson. Think if we get her to baptism. That she will be baptized shortly there after.  What made me mad was I received a letter from my Dad. in this letter he said several things that upset me. First he said, " I think that two years is enough for anyone if you were studying electronics that would be another story" I didn't think my Dad has the authority to tell me what is right and wrong. It is a question of whether that's an opinion of men or from God. I know who asked me to come over here for two and a half years. My dare Dad would have been better off if he would keep his mouth shut!! I don't respect his advice. Then in my last letter I wrote and told ...

 Date: 9-20-64 Well, another action packed week. Monday evening we cam eback home after teaching Sister Ess a little about the D&C besides discussing some of her problems and found a big problem of our own. As we sat down to eat dinner, our land0lady came in looking quite sick. She asked me to come into the other room which i did. There she told me something suprisingly sad, "Frau Fauhbusch ist gestopben" I was without words. The woman was 38 years old living on the floor above us. It seemed all to sudden. I asked for more info: how? When? but she said she didn't want to say anything at least until after the funeral. A cloud of mystery hung over the situation until the following Thursday. Something just didn't (stimmt) sit well. The other boarder Herr Kruger also knew no more. On this Thursday we went to the funeral. Our land0lady had talked to the Protestant Pfarr and explained the whole situation. As we sat in the church the Pfarr entered after the music from th...

 Date: 9-13-64 Well, things have been going along quite well. Our investigators seem to be making progress. We invited Scarpellini to see a baptism, but his wife gave him some trouble so he couldn't come. But he is still making progress. We gave him a D&C which he is reading now. He even said that he wanted to make sure that we would do his work in the Temple if he were to die tomorrow. But we want to baptize him right now not after he is dead. Our other good investigator, Aldo Trussi, is leaving town to go and work in Paris. Well, I guess we will have to take that.  President Russon was a little worried at conference about not hearing anything about Italian D&C I took to Stuttgart. I told him that I delivered it to an Italian members there named Larcher. President said he would write him. I also wrote President of South German Mission for a copy of the tape made at the Conference in July in Stuttgart where President Benson spoke to the Italians.  The other day we...

 Date: 8-29-64 WESTERN REGIONAL DISTRICT CONFERENCE Presidency: Abersold & Straper Ammond  People President: Pres. Russon, Eastern District Leaders, Brother Brown Time: 2:00pm  Place: Olten Procedure: 1. Opening Remarks by Abersold 2. Song, Prayer 3. President Russon: tells of choosing new second counselor Brother Hart. Brother Hart seems humble. Cavalli is still very sick, we will have a Fast Day Sunday and then President will go to Lugano to bless him. **GOALS-motivation/positive. Qualities needed for success: Burning desire to share and do what is expected of him. Seminary or Institute. Independence: school, army, work, pays for mission by himself. Always desires to go on mission. Paradox, Wants to improve circumstances. Personal preparation and thoroughness. Success depends on attitude, cooperation, and achievement. "espier di cope" = self consecration. The difference between a machine and repetition human is with a machine after much use it becomes weaker and wea...

 Date: 8-15-64 Time is slipping by. Towards end of July Bro Ritchie and I were taken on a trip with one of our investigators and son, Herr Moll, and Rene. He took us to the French part of Switzerland. We had been speaking to him and his family for about two months and Orten and Ritche for some time before that. They are among the most hospitable people I've ever met in Switzerland. His wife comes from Konton, Bern. There just about every one is supposed to be hospitable I'm told.  Anyway, we drove east with him to the Ural and Then went on read that ran on the border between Switzerland and France. International Highway. Then we headed South for " La Chaux-De-Fonds" it was quite an industrialized town. They make may watches there. Then still farther south to Neuenburg or Neu Chatel. Here the climate and surroundings were much like those in Lugano. Primarily a tourist town. There we took pictures and talked Herr Moll into going sailing. His son didn't want to go bu...

 Date: 4-17-64 Went out this morning and I felt like a soldier with out a gun with winter clothes in the Sahara Desert. It was really warm and we didn't have any tracts. It was really discouraging. Sometimes I think I'm crazy to work as hard as I do in such miserable weather. Also, question whether we get any blessings from it in this life. I don't think so sometimes I guess I'll have to change my attitude, but when it's so warm all I can think of is taking a nice shower or going swimming or something. I've really been tempted to do it. I guess I've spent too much time at the beach. 

 Date: 7-4-64 Well, many things have transpired during the last month. I've had some strange experiences during this time. This may be because I've been under a lot of strain inasmuch as I have had to learn a lot during this time ,and I wasn't capable to do it of myself. One of these experiences occurred before I was to give a fifth lesson. I had worked quite hard to memorize this lesson, but I hadn't had it all learned. Anyway, I went to the meeting with my best investigator (Scarpellini) I was nervous! Surprisingly enough everything went great. I was able to think in Italian quite well. After this meeting Signor Scarpellini arranged a cottage meeting with several friends. Through this we were able to teach about eight others. However, they asked some pretty deep questions. This spurred a study in some supplementary material. I started to read something about the creation that Joseph Sith had said many years ago in the King Follet Discourse. Smith really had some deep ...