Do you remember the Sham Wow guy?
Better question, will you ever be able to forget the Sham Wow guy?
Bleached hair, microphone, creepy stare, the guy had it all (if you've forgotten you really should google image search him). On top of all of it, he made it seem like he loved Sham Wow's more than his mother. He was nuts, and somehow throughout it all you found yourself wanting a Sham Wow! Sham WOW!!!
Despite the guy that put the wow in Sham Wow, I think the most impressive thing about those commercials were the demos that they did with the product. For those that may not remember, it was essentially a towel that cleaned up
everything. It literally cleaned everything. Make one the president and we'd have world peace in four years. Sham Wow. You think I'm exaggerating but you should
check it out, you will believe me. You probably remember the Sham Wow becoming a pop culture icon. A household shammy as a pop culture icon, seriously? It was though. People loved it, and it worked.
And so we see the impressive duo of a fired up messenger and an incredible product. Now I'm not in the business school, and this isn't about marketing, but I think there's a principle here that is important for us to learn.
We've got to care about the product, and we've got to love showing it off to people. That's what made Sham Wow so successful, and that's why demonstrations are such an important part of MTC teaching. Likewise, Christ is the perfect example of one that demonstrated the doctrine in all that he did. His life was a demonstration of sorts. I can see the Apostles taking notes as He walked the streets of Jerusalem. They observed the way that he introduced himself to people, the way that he studied, the way that he prayed, and the way that he taught. It's no question why Christ would command in 3 Nephi 27, "that which ye have seen me do, even that shall ye do." Not only did he live His doctrine, He was His doctrine. He was, and is, the way.
Likewise, the principles of MTC teaching and the fundamentals can only be effectively taught when they become who we are, when they make their way into the way that we live. This kind of teaching takes preparation that goes past the MTC. It includes every choice that we make in our lives. As a result, for us to be truly powerful as MTC teachers we must be striving to always understand the fundamentals and principles of MTC training daily.
Why are you getting a strange email about this? Well, in an effort to help us be a strength to each other in living the doctrine of the fundamentals, we invite you to look at the "Stewardship Doc" section of the blog a little differently. From now on, this area of the blog will include entries describing ways and telling stories of the fundamentals making a difference in the lives of teachers.
Please be a part of it! Feel free to add your own experiences where the the doctrine of the fundamentals have been made manifest in your life and blessed you. If you don't feel like you have any of those experiences, pick a fundamental that you don't understand, study it, and ask the Lord how you need to apply its principles in your life. He'll let you know.
This will be of benefit to those that take advantage of it. This is the benefits program that you get for free as an MTC employee. You have the opportunity for true doctrine to be constantly applied in your life and you have the opportunity to interact with those that are doing the same. Take advantage of it! Live the fundamentals, and
let people know! Post your experiences! Read the experiences of others!
As the true doctrine of the fundamentals is understood it will change your attitudes and behavior, and the missionaries that you work with will want that doctrine more than anyone has ever wanted a Sham Wow. Go for it!
