I just want to start off with a scripture that I found not too long ago that I really like. I kind of shows our purposes as missionaries. This is Mormon talking about the things he wrote, but the same thing applies to us as missionaries and what we need to be doing. It's in Ether 8:26, and it says,
“Wherefore, I,
Moroni, am commanded to write these things that evil may be done
away, and that the time may come that Satan may have no power upon
the hearts of the children of men, but that they may be persuaded to
do good continually, that they may come unto the fountain of all
righteousness and be saved.”
That's kind of what we are doing as
missionaries. It's kind of our point in everything. We want the
people we see to “be persuaded to do good continually.” We don't
want Satan to have anymore power over their hearts. We want them to
have that desire to do good continually and to come to the fountain
of all righteousness, the Savior, and be saved. Because, we're happy
and we want them to be happy. I have noticed that as we go out and
talk to people and just be friendly, and laugh with them and talk
with them, and show an interest in them and really care about them,
and ask them questions about themselves, and find out what the happy
things they are going through. You know, what are the happy things
about life? What are the struggles? Life isn't easy, it's always
tough. As we get talking with people and show that we really care
about them, then they can kind of see that we are messengers of Jesus
Christ, and that we do want them to be able to do good continually.
What we do is invite them to make changes to show them it's possible.
As they make those changes, they can see “oh, it's possible to have
a desire to do good continually.” It's possible to change. All we
are doing is inviting them to do what the Lord has invited, and help
them become happier and happier. It's neat.
There have been a couple of times this
week we were going out and visiting a family. They were talking about
these missionaries they really liked. They said the really liked us
as missionaries and that other missionaries in the past have been
forceful and maybe a little pious, I guess. They were not very
friendly, but kind of like, “okay, let's do this.” They were
really thankful that we came in and talked with them and laughed with
them, and show them that we care about them. I noticed that if you
don't do that at the beginning of your lessons, it's kind of hard to
connect with the person. It's so important that we actually do care
about our investigators and the people we are visiting. Our Heavenly
Father cares about them, and we can't help them make those changes or
to love as the Savior loves, if we are not able to do the same for
them. If we don't show the Savior's love, then how else are they
going to find it. That kind of felt good to have people compliment
you and say, “oh, you know you guys are doing good. You are very
friendly.” It's not easy. We try our hardest. Sometimes things can
get a little discouraging when lessons fall through and cancel.
Sometimes it can be a little tough. So it's always nice when people
recognize the good you are doing and are thankful for that.
Especially as a missionary, when some of the people you are visiting,
you can't tell if they appreciate it or not. To deserve their
appreciation, we have to appreciate them back. If we don't show them
that we appreciate them and their time and letting us come and teach
them and share what we have grown to love with them, how can we
expect them to appreciate what we are telling them and accept it. I
also love that as charismatic, funny or as good as we may be, it
won't matter until they pray and get an answer for themselves. They
don't have to take our word for it at all, they can find out for
themselves. Really what we are doing is just inviting them to find
out and make that change and to get that hope.
I was thinking of one of our recent
converts. We had a lesson with him the other day and we were talking
with him about the priesthood and how it works. He was ordained to be
a priest yesterday. That was pretty cool, so we are going to drop by
and give him a triple combination. One scripture I like is in Ether
12:4. It says,
“Wherefore, whoso
believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world, yea, even
a place at the right hand of God, which hope cometh of faith, maketh
an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and
steadfast, always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God.”
That is what we want for all the people
that we teach. We want them to be able to become self-sufficient. We
don't want them to have to rely on our testimonies all the time, we
want them to be able to find out for themselves; and then to have
that hope and to make them sure and steadfast and immovable, so that
they can experience the same joy and become like our Heavenly Father
who acts for himself. He is not compelled or told to do anything, he
just does it. That is what we do in the Church. We need to be
anxiously engaged in a good cause. We need to do many things of our
own free will. We need to make the choice and be proactive, and just
do it anyway. That is kind one of the attributes of Heavenly Father.
He uses his freedom to choose, and he does it. It is just really neat
to see people stay firm and steadfast, and seek for it themselves,
instead of us having to prompt people. It is nice when it turns from
us inviting them all the time to them inviting themselves to do
better. You grow to love people a lot, and it fun and really
fulfilling.
One thing I've loved about my mission
so far is the confidence you gain. On a mission, it's not always
easy. It can be really fun, and sometimes it can be really tough. As
you serve and do your best to help people, your confidence just
explodes (haha). It's really neat to see, and you just become so
comfortable with people, and talking to them, and trying to help
them. You naturally just kind of love anybody that you come in
contact with. Granted, that is from the help of our Heavenly Father
and the Savior. That is part of becoming like our Heavenly Father.
It's one blessing that I will forever be grateful for. If nothing
happens on my mission, I will be thankful for the confidence that it
has given me, and the determination to get done what needs to be
done, and be proactive.
I want to bear my testimony that I know
this Church is true. I know that the Book of Mormon is true, because
I have read it, and prayed about it. I have done what it says. I have
done what Heavenly Father has asked us to do – what the
commandments are. I have seen them bless my life and bless other
people's lives. I know it is true. I know that the Book of Mormon was
translated by the gift and power of God. I know that if we pray, we
can receive answers to our prayers. I am so thankful for a prophet. I
know that Thomas S. Monson is the prophet today. I am thankful that
he leads and guides us. I know that as we read the Book of Mormon,
and as we read the scriptures, and follow their teachings, we can
learn how to become better people. I say that in the name of Jesus
Christ, amen.
I hope everybody is doing good. I'm
still expecting Chris to be sooo much taller than me when I get back
(haha). Eric will probably be pretty close. It was nice to get that
testimony from you Eric. That was really cool. That experience you
had in Primary with the Savior – that was pretty neat. I promise
all of you that as you keep doing your best, and praying for your
Heavenly Father's help, that you will come out better in the end. I
like to think of it as when we go through trials, that is like going
through the refiner's fire the scriptures talk about. When we come
out, we are more pure and more clean and more perfect; we are
stronger and more able to carry stronger burdens, and we become more
Christ-like. But, at the same time, a fire is a fire, and it kind of
burns a little (haha). So, it's not always going to be easy, but you
can always come out on top. It will always feel really good when you
come out of it. I promise that there always is light at the end of
the tunnel. I know that our Heavenly Father will always give us that
little break after our trial. It may seem really long, it may be
really long; if not in this life, the next life, we will receive so
much more than we ever thought we could just by going through those
trials. The scriptures say he won't necessarily take them away, but
if we endure them well, then things will work out for our good.
Because our Heavenly Father is so merciful, it will probably be so
much more than we ever expected we would receive. I know that's true
and say that in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Love, Elder Record
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