Colossians 3:23 “And whatsoever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men.” I chose this scripture to put on my plaque because I felt like it was a good motto to have for my mission, I felt like it would be a good reminder who I was serving a mission for. Little did I know this scripture was going to mean so much more in the preparation for my mission as well.
134 days ago when I received my mission call I was ecstatic. But I was a little upset at the time I would have to wait. None the less I began preparation I know mission calls are assigned by prophets and apostles of god and if they felt waiting was the right thing for me I would wait. Through this I have learned the power of patience a little bit better but I am in no way a master yet. But I think the biggest thing I have learned through all of this is if you seem to be hitting road block after road block trial after trial you must either be doing something terribly wrong or terribly right. From the day I got my call and announced it to everyone the Adversary learned of my call as well. And let me tell you he did not waste one day not trying to break me down. Many different challenges have come well waiting to serve my mission I would have to say some of the hardest days of my life have come in the last 5 months. I’ve had days where I have pronounced to my parents that “Satan in the stupidest person in the world” But I know some of the best days of my life are yet to come because I have been able to overcome those days.
Bring it back to my mission scripture and whatsoever you do, do it heartily as to the lord. I feel the reason the scripture has impacted me the most is because most of those bad days I was having was because I was so caught up in what others thought, I was letting other people tell me how I should feel about myself. When in reality that means nothing. Everything I do the lord knows and he is the only judge. So the philosophy I have developed with all of this is if everything seems to be crumbling down that’s good you must be on the right path because it just shows the adversary is giving the last push he can give to stop you, keep fighting back.
I found much strength through this past general conference. I felt many of the talks were answers to my prayers but I found much interest in Elder Gifford Nelsons Talk. I would like to share a part of his talk with you he starts off by quoting Elder L. Tom Perry “This is the most remarkable era in the history of the Church. This is something that ranks with the great events that have happened in past history, like the First Vision, like the gift of the Book of Mormon, like the Restoration of the gospel, like all of the things that build that foundation for us to go forward and teach in our Father in Heaven’s kingdom”
Elder Gifford Nelson added to that by saying. “We need to be engaged as never before to match the excitement of our leaders and the commitment of our full-time missionaries. This work is not going to move forward in the Lord’s intended way without us!”
As I have prepared to serve my full time mission the awareness I have built of the need for members to be heavily involved in missionary work has grown immensely. We have been told many times and I quote “Now is the time for members and missionaries to come together, to work together, to labor in the Lord’s vineyard to bring souls unto him.” End quote.
Brothers and Sisters he is talking to all of us. The last days are upon us and the missionaries are doing all they can do but they cannot do it alone. I would strongly encourage all of you to become involved in missionary work TODAY! Some of you may feel you are not able to participate in missionary work for whatever reason that is. I’d like to quote president uchdorf here. STOP IT. Missionary work is not all sitting down sharing lesson the book of Mormon and joseph smith. I am a strong believe that the first step in missionary work is being a friend. Now I do not like being told I’m wrong along with a lot of others in the world. If you show up on some ones porch and say hi your religion is not completely true but mine is and this is why chances are you are not going to be invited back. But if you show up on some ones door step asking how there days was really interested in their life chances are you are going to form a friendship and maybe religion will never formally be discussed but you know what if they know you’re a Mormon and you were nice look at the impression you have left just from your attitude.
Please if you are not already get involved in missionary work. And remember sometimes it’s just how you act around others that teaches the most.
I’d like to do my best at sharing a story that happened to my youngest brother on his 7th birthday. He was at our family cabin with my dad and the young men of our ward. Every so often all the snow on the roof of the cabin that has piled up falls off its loud and shakes the whole cabin. This year was no different besides the fact that it was so cold the 4 to 5 feet of snow/ice on the roof had not fallen off all winter. Shortly after they had all returned from a sledding trip the snow began to shake and they all watched as the chunks of snow and ice fell. After the loud commotions voices began to yell he’s under there he’s under there. Stockton had been trapped under the feet of snow. I testify nothing happens by luck as everyone had just returned every person at the cabin that weekend was close by they all rushed to start digging and hopefully uncover my brother with little injury. I do not quit remember how long it took for them dig until they reached him but they uncover him conscious and talking. After fully uncovering the snow they learned that no injuries had taken place. In fact the only thing he really had to say was “dad there’s snow in my nose” The day went on and they all returned home safely. My dad recalled the story to my mom and I and it defiantly made me hug well try and hug my brothers tighter the next couple days. The story in and of itself I would call a miracle but the part that has stuck with me the most is a conversation I had with Stockton later that night. I had asked him the question we’re you scared? His reply was “I kinda was but I could hear them yelling we’re coming we’re coming, hold on stock we’re coming, so it made it less scary.”
I have been called to the Washington DC North. I do not know why exactly. But I know that there is children of god there right now trapped under snow, not literally, but possibly it is very cold there. Anyway they may not know it now but they are looking for the voice that is yelling we’re coming and I hope to help them find the light. Again all of you here today are member missionaries some of you are preparing to serve full time missions pray daily for the savior to guide you to that person who may need some uncovering.
One year ago at Sandy Hook Elementary School 20 6-year olds as well as 6 adults were shot and killed.
Some may ask why God could let so much grief come to his children. Why he would allow this to happen. In a recent video released entitle “evil did not win” Alissa Parker mother of 6 year old Emilie Parker who was one of the children killed in the New town shooting says “God allowed others to kill his son. He allows us all to make our own choices, the good and the bad. Because that’s the only way good can be in us, if we freely choose it above all else…it’s quiet, it’s not on the news, it takes effort to find, but I’ve realized how strong god’s love really is.
Without god’s love in my life I have no idea where I would be today. I testify that we are not alone. Heavenly Father is always there helping us along the way. In an article published in the Desert News last year it shared the following Robbie Parker father of Emilie Parker was the first parent to speak to the national media. Without notes or a spokesman, Robbie choked back tears and expressed sympathy for the family of the man who killed 27 people and himself. “I cannot imagine how hard this experience must be for you.” If those words are not an example of the love and power god can give us I don’t know what is.
I would like to continue sharing the rest of the new article with you.
Why did God allow such devastation? It was a question Lincoln had pondered. Plus, there were many in Washington who wanted to punish the Confederates for all the carnage. Against that backdrop, Lincoln said:
"With malice toward none; with charity for all; with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in; to bind up the nation's wounds; to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan — to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves, and with all nations."
One month later, Lincoln was assassinated. But those words — "with malice toward none" — live on.
It reminds me of the story of Kenneth Brown, a U.S. Marine serving in Japan after the atomic bomb. It was just before Christmas when Brown encountered a Japanese professor of music who introduced himself as a Christian. He said he had a small children's choir and asked if they could perform a concert for the American soldiers.
Brown belonged to a unit of hardened fighters that had spent four years away from home, battling the Japanese from Saipan to Iwo Jima. The concert took place on Christmas Eve in a bombed-out theater. The closing number was a solo from "The Messiah" by a girl who sung with the conviction of one who knew that Jesus was indeed the Savior of mankind. The soldiers cried.
Afterward, Brown asked the Japanese music professor: "How did your group manage to survive the bomb?"
"This is only half my group," he said softly.
"And what of the families of these?"
"They nearly all lost one or more members. Some are orphans."
"What about the soloist? She must have the soul of an angel the way she sang."
"Her mother and two of her brothers were taken. Yes, she did sing well. I am so proud of her. She is my daughter."
Brown was moved to tears.
"We had caused them the greatest grief," Brown later wrote. "Yet we were their Christian brothers and as such they were willing to forget their grief and unite with us in singing 'Peace on earth, goodwill to all men.' That day I knew there was a greater power on earth than the atomic bomb.
I have chosen to serve a mission because there is so much tragedy& negativity in the world. I would agree with many others that have said the youth of today face more pressures than ever before. I also was reading a news article that said the average American citizen has more negative interaction a day then positive. Without the gospel I would be lost. I cannot image going through everything thinking I was completely alone. The goal I have for my mission is to touch as many lives as I can. I will have the opportunity to serve at the Visitors Center where I will interact with many people a day I want every single one of them to leave with a smile. I feel if we all followed the example of the Japanese choir our world would change drastically. Everything they had had been taken away from them yet they were willing to forget it all and put on a show for those that had taken it away from them. How we act and how we feel our our own choices no one else’s choose to be happy.
