I came across this scripture and thought of my awesome missionary brother.
The Lord was talking to the sons of Mosiah after they prayed for help and the Spirit, and He said, "Go forth among the [Canadians], thy brethren, and establish my word; yet ye shall be patient in long-suffering and afflictions, that ye may show forth good examples unto them in me, and I will make an instrument of thee in my hands unto the salvation of many souls" (Alma 17:11).
"And it came to pass that the [heart] of [Elder Mortenson], and also those that were with [him], took courage to go forth unto the [Canadians] to declare unto them the word of God" (Alma 17:12).
I love the personal application of scriptures!
Love-
Jess
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
Week 7
Little does Travis know his chastisement in this weeks letter has already been taken care of! I recommit myself to keeping weekly updates of dear Elder Morty on his beloved missionary blog ;)
WEEK 7
"So every sunday an elder and a sister are called on to speak in sacrament meeting. Just a 3 or so minute talk in french. Not a big deal. They assign a topic and we're each supposed to prepare a talk because we don't know who is speaking until right after the sacrament. So I haven't prepared a talk... just gotten scriptures picked out in my mind before. This week I thought I was safe becasue I only have 2 weeks left and they had picked the elder and the sister from my district last week! However... guess who was called on to speak. Yeah me! I hadn't even thought about a scripture to use and so while the sister was giving her talk I was definitely feverishly looking for scriptures on faith! It was really neat because I had never thought about faith being a principle of power before but that is what I was able to give like a 7 minute talk on (or so I was told). It was amazing and amazingly true at the same time. I really focused on Mor. 7:33 and Alma 48:13,17 as my references with captain moroni being my key example. Really cool, needless to say and also a lot of people said they enjoyed my talk! So that was cool. But yeah, the french is coming well and it is really neat to be able to speak and read in french with relative ease. I still have a long way to go, but I can communicate when I need to and that is really positive.
"I think dedication is huge! Like the dedication mom and dad and gpa/gma have given to the pear farm this year. That is amazing! Thanks so much for stepping it up and being willing to serve like that. In some ways it is like our ancestors who gave everything they had just to go to the temple to be sealed as a family. They recognized the importance of it and so they completed it. Obviously it's not the same situation, but it is similar and they require similar efforts of Dedication. So thanks!"
**********
I am excited for Travis to send home some fun pictures! It will be great to see how he looks and to see glimpses of the experiences he is having.
Not that you'll read this Elder Morty, but your family is sending you a virtual hug. We miss and love you!!
WEEK 7
"So every sunday an elder and a sister are called on to speak in sacrament meeting. Just a 3 or so minute talk in french. Not a big deal. They assign a topic and we're each supposed to prepare a talk because we don't know who is speaking until right after the sacrament. So I haven't prepared a talk... just gotten scriptures picked out in my mind before. This week I thought I was safe becasue I only have 2 weeks left and they had picked the elder and the sister from my district last week! However... guess who was called on to speak. Yeah me! I hadn't even thought about a scripture to use and so while the sister was giving her talk I was definitely feverishly looking for scriptures on faith! It was really neat because I had never thought about faith being a principle of power before but that is what I was able to give like a 7 minute talk on (or so I was told). It was amazing and amazingly true at the same time. I really focused on Mor. 7:33 and Alma 48:13,17 as my references with captain moroni being my key example. Really cool, needless to say and also a lot of people said they enjoyed my talk! So that was cool. But yeah, the french is coming well and it is really neat to be able to speak and read in french with relative ease. I still have a long way to go, but I can communicate when I need to and that is really positive.
"I think dedication is huge! Like the dedication mom and dad and gpa/gma have given to the pear farm this year. That is amazing! Thanks so much for stepping it up and being willing to serve like that. In some ways it is like our ancestors who gave everything they had just to go to the temple to be sealed as a family. They recognized the importance of it and so they completed it. Obviously it's not the same situation, but it is similar and they require similar efforts of Dedication. So thanks!"
**********
I am excited for Travis to send home some fun pictures! It will be great to see how he looks and to see glimpses of the experiences he is having.
Not that you'll read this Elder Morty, but your family is sending you a virtual hug. We miss and love you!!
Thursday, August 23, 2012
Weeks 1-6
Here are some updates from Trav week by week:
WEEK 1
Sadly I can't find the email in my overly jammed inbox, but Travis got dropped off at the MTC by Jena and her family.
He sounded good and strong, and was totally filled with nerves like every other missionary!
WEEK 2
"I've been playing soccer a lot lately and I'm always on the ground because I'll try to make a hard cut and I always slip without cleats on. Anyways, yesterday I was playing outside mid and the ball was near the goal I was trying to score on and so I sprinted to block the elder from clearing it, stuck out my foot and blocked it just as he kicked it... only problem was that I wasn't in a good position to withstand the kick and so I went down hard core and skinned my arm by my elbow up and everything! Crazy awesome!
"It makes my night being able to get mail and read it that night when we get back to the room. It's funny that you mentioned getting locked out mom because the other day my companionship left the room and the other companionship was taking showers and we ended up locking them out on accident. ha thankfully they could just page the front desk and ask them to bring them a key. I've been asked to play the piano a lot lately! It's been a lot of fun but I feel bad that I only know a few songs and fewer of them are actually in french! It makes it hard to play when they sing in french but it is ok!"
WEEK 3
"So I want to start off this week's letter with a phrase that I really like in French - "J'irai et je ferai" otherwise known as "I will go and do" Just thought it sounded really cool and I was thinking that maybe it would be a cool phrase for the nephews and nieces to learn and have it guide their lives ... in french!
"So classes are going well here! Soeur Pace is a fantastic teacher as is Frere Wilcox. We are definitely comprehending more French than we used to and can speak it better as well, now the next step is to speak it more frequently than we now do! But classes are great. The food is pretty good too! It's about par with the cannon, maybe a step lower but it is really nice to not have to fix anything to eat! The worst part about this week is that I have been sick and didn't really feel like eating until like Saturday. But now the sickness is pretty much gone. However, I did have a major bloody nose last night at about 5:30 am! It was ridiculous. Not too fun, but it stopped. However later on the other nostril had a bloody nose. Hopefully I will be able to stay bloody nose free for awhile.
"I was able to see Josh on Wednesday by chance, but it was way cool! I totally went to leave the items for Jena at the front desk before breakfast, but after a long confirmation process, they told me I couldn't do that. So then at dinner I get called down to the frontdesk and they tell me that Josh came for them and to go grab them and they would call him back and give them to him. Well as I went to go grab them, Josh spotted me as he was leaving, and so I was able to chat with him for a few minutes! It was way cool to be able to do that. Unfortunately my companions wanted to go eat and so I couldn't stay long.
"So tomorrow I am going to be the senior companion. Kind of cool, kind of weird."
WEEK 4
"My companionship is working well. There are definitely difficulties coordinating schedules... especially bathroom times throughout the day, but we're making it work and we're trying our hardest to be obedient and do all the things we need to do to have success while we are out on our missions! It's crazy that we have been out for almost half our stay here at the MTC!
"This past week I have been the senior companion. I'm just trying to love and serve my companions and make sure we are doing what we can to prepare for our investigators and whatnot. I have 2 more weeks as the Senior companion.
"We had a really really neat companion study this week where we really deciphered where we wanted the lesson to go and then what scriptures we wanted to challenge them to read. It was awesome! The lesson that resulted from that study with Jean went really well. It was one of the best lessons we have taught so far. But the lesson with Daphney was a little less than triumphant cause she just threw a tough question at us and it just is breaking our hearts that she isn't just jumping on board with the gospel. I learned that in those events, the best thing you can do is just bear pure testimony! We're gonna try to do all we can to help her though.
"I've been playing basketball this week and it has been some of the best basketball of my life. The best game was when I helped us win like 9-7. It was a really intense game that was really drawn out, but we finished her off and it was such a great feeling!
"Going to the temple is great. I love doing that on P-days and our temple walks on Sundays."
WEEK 5
"Elliott [Wedam] did arrive last Wednesday and I was so excited to see him right as he got here that I gave him a huge hug and then told him I would talk to him later because his host was taking him on a tour. I've been able to see him twice now at meals and it is always way fun to see him. It's hard to call him "elder wedam" rather than elliott.
"This past sunday we watched the Joseph Smith movie in French! It was way cool and I could understand a fair amount of what was being said. I just remember thinking of how both William Young and Clara Black (I think that was her name) both testified that they saw Joseph and that they both knew that he was a divine prophet of God. It was just a neat perspective to have as I watched the things that happened to our first prophet - knowing that my ancestors were right there being true and faithful.
"Since it is over halfway here I just can't wait to get out in the field! It's crazy how this month has flown by and yet the days have felt long! I'm just ready to preach the gospel and to work hard with tracting and finding and just being a solid missionary. But I am also trying to work hard here to invite the spirit, to be obedient, and to learn French.
"I'm so happy to welcome Leah into the family! I'm way excited for another neice!
"I have pictures of me and Oaklie and I always say to other elders that are my friend "hey, you want to see a picture of my girl?" Then I show them me and Oaks and it is just really funny! And then I love the one of me and Shaff and Logan in front of the temple, I look at it frequently!
"My congrats goes out to Brad for finishing Dental School! Congrats my bro! You better be in klamath when I get back! "
WEEK 6
"The MTC is a blur - things that happen days ago happened today and things that seem like they happened today happened several days ago. Days are like weeks and weeks are like days. But nevertheless I am on my 7th week in the MTC and only have 3 remaining! Amazing! We leave on the 11th of september and there are 6 of us in my district going to Montreal with me and more in our zone. This being the 7th week, my time as senior companion is now over and it is Elder Ritchie's turn to finish us out at the MTC. We are all ready to go. We (all 3 in the companionship) made that comment after Sunday night's devotional! It's crazy. But we can endure 3 more weeks.
"All your stories of rafting are killing me! I wish I could go with you, but it's ok. I need to be here doing this work. That's one of the things that stuck out to me during the temple time we had today. It's been amazing being able to do a session every week the past few weeks. I read in 2 Ne 32 and it was a marvelous answer to prayer. The book of mormon is amazing. As I have come to hear more of the teachings from elder bednar, the more I love, admire, and respect him. "In the strength of the lord" is a marvelous talk from him. I'm now trying to read the rest of the BOfM before I leave the MTC (I'm on Alma 36... I started a couple weeks ago on Mosiah 18 or so). Also, I'm taking Elder Bednar's advice and bought a cheapo bofm and now I'm marking all the phrases that are related to "and the Lord did strengthen us." Hopefully I can get through both of these goals quickly enough that it can be of mighty inpsiration to me.
"I love the stories of my nephews and nieces. When I heard of Shaff and his teeth, I cringed and was weeping with you and then when I heard of Logan saying "We're gonna buy uncle travis LOTS AND LOTS of presents" that made me so happy. I love them so much and they really do inspire me to be and become better. I have them in my scriptures constantly and whenever I need a pick-me-up I look at them! So I definitely need some pictures of Saige and Will."
*******
These are just a few excerpts from Elder Mortenson's emails. Every week when Tuesday rolls around I find myself anxiously awaiting his emails to pop in my inbox. It's comforting to hear that my brother is doing well, and to hear of the experiences he is having. Because I am the mother of a boy now, when I hear from Travis and see the sacrifices he's making, I can't help but become teary as I think of the tremendous example he is to my sweet William. I picture William being in his place and realize the deep sacrifice it is for these missionaries and their families to serve for two whole years with little communication.
In then end of Mosiah and beginning of Alma, it talks about how the Lord promised Mosiah to keep his sons safe while they serve the Lord on their missions. "Let them go up, for many shall believe on their words, and they shall have eternal life; and I will deliver thy sons out of the hands of the Lamanites" (Mosiah 28:7). It then explains life threatening or spiritually burdening experiences the sons of Mosiah went through and how they were delivered from such terrible situations because of the Lord's promise to their father.
I apply this to my brother, and hold on to it as a promise for the future when I send my own son out to the mission field. I am thankful for the tremendous comfort it is knowing that while Travis is in the Lord's service he is also under His protection and care.
-Jessi
WEEK 1
Sadly I can't find the email in my overly jammed inbox, but Travis got dropped off at the MTC by Jena and her family.
He sounded good and strong, and was totally filled with nerves like every other missionary!
WEEK 2
"I've been playing soccer a lot lately and I'm always on the ground because I'll try to make a hard cut and I always slip without cleats on. Anyways, yesterday I was playing outside mid and the ball was near the goal I was trying to score on and so I sprinted to block the elder from clearing it, stuck out my foot and blocked it just as he kicked it... only problem was that I wasn't in a good position to withstand the kick and so I went down hard core and skinned my arm by my elbow up and everything! Crazy awesome!
"It makes my night being able to get mail and read it that night when we get back to the room. It's funny that you mentioned getting locked out mom because the other day my companionship left the room and the other companionship was taking showers and we ended up locking them out on accident. ha thankfully they could just page the front desk and ask them to bring them a key. I've been asked to play the piano a lot lately! It's been a lot of fun but I feel bad that I only know a few songs and fewer of them are actually in french! It makes it hard to play when they sing in french but it is ok!"
WEEK 3
"So I want to start off this week's letter with a phrase that I really like in French - "J'irai et je ferai" otherwise known as "I will go and do" Just thought it sounded really cool and I was thinking that maybe it would be a cool phrase for the nephews and nieces to learn and have it guide their lives ... in french!
"So classes are going well here! Soeur Pace is a fantastic teacher as is Frere Wilcox. We are definitely comprehending more French than we used to and can speak it better as well, now the next step is to speak it more frequently than we now do! But classes are great. The food is pretty good too! It's about par with the cannon, maybe a step lower but it is really nice to not have to fix anything to eat! The worst part about this week is that I have been sick and didn't really feel like eating until like Saturday. But now the sickness is pretty much gone. However, I did have a major bloody nose last night at about 5:30 am! It was ridiculous. Not too fun, but it stopped. However later on the other nostril had a bloody nose. Hopefully I will be able to stay bloody nose free for awhile.
"I was able to see Josh on Wednesday by chance, but it was way cool! I totally went to leave the items for Jena at the front desk before breakfast, but after a long confirmation process, they told me I couldn't do that. So then at dinner I get called down to the frontdesk and they tell me that Josh came for them and to go grab them and they would call him back and give them to him. Well as I went to go grab them, Josh spotted me as he was leaving, and so I was able to chat with him for a few minutes! It was way cool to be able to do that. Unfortunately my companions wanted to go eat and so I couldn't stay long.
"So tomorrow I am going to be the senior companion. Kind of cool, kind of weird."
WEEK 4
"My companionship is working well. There are definitely difficulties coordinating schedules... especially bathroom times throughout the day, but we're making it work and we're trying our hardest to be obedient and do all the things we need to do to have success while we are out on our missions! It's crazy that we have been out for almost half our stay here at the MTC!
"This past week I have been the senior companion. I'm just trying to love and serve my companions and make sure we are doing what we can to prepare for our investigators and whatnot. I have 2 more weeks as the Senior companion.
"We had a really really neat companion study this week where we really deciphered where we wanted the lesson to go and then what scriptures we wanted to challenge them to read. It was awesome! The lesson that resulted from that study with Jean went really well. It was one of the best lessons we have taught so far. But the lesson with Daphney was a little less than triumphant cause she just threw a tough question at us and it just is breaking our hearts that she isn't just jumping on board with the gospel. I learned that in those events, the best thing you can do is just bear pure testimony! We're gonna try to do all we can to help her though.
"I've been playing basketball this week and it has been some of the best basketball of my life. The best game was when I helped us win like 9-7. It was a really intense game that was really drawn out, but we finished her off and it was such a great feeling!
"Going to the temple is great. I love doing that on P-days and our temple walks on Sundays."
WEEK 5
"Elliott [Wedam] did arrive last Wednesday and I was so excited to see him right as he got here that I gave him a huge hug and then told him I would talk to him later because his host was taking him on a tour. I've been able to see him twice now at meals and it is always way fun to see him. It's hard to call him "elder wedam" rather than elliott.
"This past sunday we watched the Joseph Smith movie in French! It was way cool and I could understand a fair amount of what was being said. I just remember thinking of how both William Young and Clara Black (I think that was her name) both testified that they saw Joseph and that they both knew that he was a divine prophet of God. It was just a neat perspective to have as I watched the things that happened to our first prophet - knowing that my ancestors were right there being true and faithful.
"Since it is over halfway here I just can't wait to get out in the field! It's crazy how this month has flown by and yet the days have felt long! I'm just ready to preach the gospel and to work hard with tracting and finding and just being a solid missionary. But I am also trying to work hard here to invite the spirit, to be obedient, and to learn French.
"I'm so happy to welcome Leah into the family! I'm way excited for another neice!
"I have pictures of me and Oaklie and I always say to other elders that are my friend "hey, you want to see a picture of my girl?" Then I show them me and Oaks and it is just really funny! And then I love the one of me and Shaff and Logan in front of the temple, I look at it frequently!
"My congrats goes out to Brad for finishing Dental School! Congrats my bro! You better be in klamath when I get back! "
WEEK 6
"The MTC is a blur - things that happen days ago happened today and things that seem like they happened today happened several days ago. Days are like weeks and weeks are like days. But nevertheless I am on my 7th week in the MTC and only have 3 remaining! Amazing! We leave on the 11th of september and there are 6 of us in my district going to Montreal with me and more in our zone. This being the 7th week, my time as senior companion is now over and it is Elder Ritchie's turn to finish us out at the MTC. We are all ready to go. We (all 3 in the companionship) made that comment after Sunday night's devotional! It's crazy. But we can endure 3 more weeks.
"All your stories of rafting are killing me! I wish I could go with you, but it's ok. I need to be here doing this work. That's one of the things that stuck out to me during the temple time we had today. It's been amazing being able to do a session every week the past few weeks. I read in 2 Ne 32 and it was a marvelous answer to prayer. The book of mormon is amazing. As I have come to hear more of the teachings from elder bednar, the more I love, admire, and respect him. "In the strength of the lord" is a marvelous talk from him. I'm now trying to read the rest of the BOfM before I leave the MTC (I'm on Alma 36... I started a couple weeks ago on Mosiah 18 or so). Also, I'm taking Elder Bednar's advice and bought a cheapo bofm and now I'm marking all the phrases that are related to "and the Lord did strengthen us." Hopefully I can get through both of these goals quickly enough that it can be of mighty inpsiration to me.
"I love the stories of my nephews and nieces. When I heard of Shaff and his teeth, I cringed and was weeping with you and then when I heard of Logan saying "We're gonna buy uncle travis LOTS AND LOTS of presents" that made me so happy. I love them so much and they really do inspire me to be and become better. I have them in my scriptures constantly and whenever I need a pick-me-up I look at them! So I definitely need some pictures of Saige and Will."
*******
These are just a few excerpts from Elder Mortenson's emails. Every week when Tuesday rolls around I find myself anxiously awaiting his emails to pop in my inbox. It's comforting to hear that my brother is doing well, and to hear of the experiences he is having. Because I am the mother of a boy now, when I hear from Travis and see the sacrifices he's making, I can't help but become teary as I think of the tremendous example he is to my sweet William. I picture William being in his place and realize the deep sacrifice it is for these missionaries and their families to serve for two whole years with little communication.
In then end of Mosiah and beginning of Alma, it talks about how the Lord promised Mosiah to keep his sons safe while they serve the Lord on their missions. "Let them go up, for many shall believe on their words, and they shall have eternal life; and I will deliver thy sons out of the hands of the Lamanites" (Mosiah 28:7). It then explains life threatening or spiritually burdening experiences the sons of Mosiah went through and how they were delivered from such terrible situations because of the Lord's promise to their father.
I apply this to my brother, and hold on to it as a promise for the future when I send my own son out to the mission field. I am thankful for the tremendous comfort it is knowing that while Travis is in the Lord's service he is also under His protection and care.
-Jessi
Monday, August 6, 2012
Called to Serve
This post is about missionary opportunities, although not directly related to experiences Travis has had.
When Brad served a mission back in 2003-2005 (I believe...), I became a lot more gung-ho about missionary work. Every day I would pray for a missionary opportunity, and every day I would be blessed with one or more experiences. It was incredible! I had two friends come close to embracing the gospel, which made me so happy and excited, as well as devastated and heart sick when they didn't accept it: not for myself, but for them because the gospel is so wonderful and would have continued to add a lot to their lives.
I have yet been the instrument in helping someone join the church. I have often wondered what makes it so hard for people to become members of our church. To me, the gospel is the most wonderful blessing in the world! To me, the principles taught are light and truth that feed my soul. To me, it is freedom and hope. To me, the gospel radiates goodness. That's why it is so hard for me to understand the negative slur our church has, as well as people's hesitancy to join.
I am sure I would understand better if I wasn't a life-long member what people don't understand about our religion. I am sure I would see their stumbling blocks better, and be able to teach more clearly. The group of friends I hung out with in high school were incredible. We all had a lot of fun together. Six of them have served full time missions. Not all of the friends in our little "group" were members of the church. I remember talking with one of my non-member best friends about what she thought about our guy friends serving missions. She expressed that she didn't really like them trying to teach her about the gospel because she felt like they didn't think she already had good truth. I have since thought about that a lot. I think that is a lot of what makes people hesitant about the Mormon church; they feel comfortable with the truth they already have, and don't necessarily feel like they are missing out on anything. I think it also comes across as an insult, in some situations, to them when they are taught that they need things like proper authority for marriage because they believe they already have something good, as well as authority from their church. If this is often the case, I wonder how to share the gospel without being offensive but adding to the good people already have? (I have had several, what I felt prompted, experiences in sharing my testimony that have not gone so well... So you can see my concern in wanting missionary experiences to be uplifting rather than contentious).
Despite me not knowing clearly how to be a good missionary without hurting people's feelings, I want to be better again at praying for and receiving missionary opportunities especially because Travis is serving a mission. This go around will be a little different though because I'm no longer a high school student interacting with my peers all day, but I am a wife and
mother interacting with my family every day. But I think I can still have positive missionary experiences a long the way. For instance, last Saturday we ran to the park as a family for some good exercise. While we were there splashing around on the splash pad, we met a woman with a little boy close to Will's age. She told us how she and her husband are moving to Montreal (her hubby is from there), and we excitedly told her that Travis will be moving there too! We explained that he'll be serving a mission for our church. While we were chatting, her little boy dropped her key down the hole in the center of a park table. It fell all the way to the bottom! We spent the next hour getting it out for her (Rich was a super hero with his tool box!) At the end, we exchanged numbers and names, and she told us she would have to get together with our brother. Instances like this make me hope that a good seed has been planted! They are also the ways I think I'll experience missionary moments now.
I mentioned above that not all missionary moments go the way we (or I...) want them to go, and yet I have still felt prompted to share certain parts of my testimony with other people despite their lack of interest. Jena and I have talked about this, and why it is that we could feel prompted to share the gospel and yet have the person reject it kindly, or become verbally defensive. We both have been baffled by these experiences- why the prompting? Why the rejection? Our answer we found is simple and has given us direction for ourselves (people always have their individual agency to choose their reactions). We read in Doctrine and Covenants 6: 29-30, "... If they reject my words, and this part of my gospel and ministry, blessed are ye, for they can do no more unto you than unto me. And even if they do unto you even as they have done into me, blessed are ye, for you shall dwell with me in glory." These verses give us a lot of comfort to know that even though our good efforts don't produce any fruit, we haven't lost anything at all by trying to follow a prompting. Granted we'd love to experience what is described in verse 31, "but if they reject not my words, which shall be established by the testimony which shall be given, blessed are they, and then shall ye have joy in the fruit of your labors," and some happy day we will experience this! But for the mean time we (and I in particular) have faith that our sincere efforts will be magnified in Heavenly Father and He will bless us with the right opportunities at the right time.
I have been tremendously blessed by having the gospel in my life. I said early, and will repeat it again, the gospel is light, hope, and happiness to me. It is the essence of everything good and true in this world. I am so, so grateful to know it. Christ has given His life so that we might all come back to live with God again; what do I have to lose by offering up my testimony of this (even if it costs me feeling embarrassed or sad)?
How do you feel about missionary work, experiences, or being taught the gospel?
Con much amor,
Jessi
When Brad served a mission back in 2003-2005 (I believe...), I became a lot more gung-ho about missionary work. Every day I would pray for a missionary opportunity, and every day I would be blessed with one or more experiences. It was incredible! I had two friends come close to embracing the gospel, which made me so happy and excited, as well as devastated and heart sick when they didn't accept it: not for myself, but for them because the gospel is so wonderful and would have continued to add a lot to their lives.
I have yet been the instrument in helping someone join the church. I have often wondered what makes it so hard for people to become members of our church. To me, the gospel is the most wonderful blessing in the world! To me, the principles taught are light and truth that feed my soul. To me, it is freedom and hope. To me, the gospel radiates goodness. That's why it is so hard for me to understand the negative slur our church has, as well as people's hesitancy to join.
I am sure I would understand better if I wasn't a life-long member what people don't understand about our religion. I am sure I would see their stumbling blocks better, and be able to teach more clearly. The group of friends I hung out with in high school were incredible. We all had a lot of fun together. Six of them have served full time missions. Not all of the friends in our little "group" were members of the church. I remember talking with one of my non-member best friends about what she thought about our guy friends serving missions. She expressed that she didn't really like them trying to teach her about the gospel because she felt like they didn't think she already had good truth. I have since thought about that a lot. I think that is a lot of what makes people hesitant about the Mormon church; they feel comfortable with the truth they already have, and don't necessarily feel like they are missing out on anything. I think it also comes across as an insult, in some situations, to them when they are taught that they need things like proper authority for marriage because they believe they already have something good, as well as authority from their church. If this is often the case, I wonder how to share the gospel without being offensive but adding to the good people already have? (I have had several, what I felt prompted, experiences in sharing my testimony that have not gone so well... So you can see my concern in wanting missionary experiences to be uplifting rather than contentious).
Despite me not knowing clearly how to be a good missionary without hurting people's feelings, I want to be better again at praying for and receiving missionary opportunities especially because Travis is serving a mission. This go around will be a little different though because I'm no longer a high school student interacting with my peers all day, but I am a wife and
mother interacting with my family every day. But I think I can still have positive missionary experiences a long the way. For instance, last Saturday we ran to the park as a family for some good exercise. While we were there splashing around on the splash pad, we met a woman with a little boy close to Will's age. She told us how she and her husband are moving to Montreal (her hubby is from there), and we excitedly told her that Travis will be moving there too! We explained that he'll be serving a mission for our church. While we were chatting, her little boy dropped her key down the hole in the center of a park table. It fell all the way to the bottom! We spent the next hour getting it out for her (Rich was a super hero with his tool box!) At the end, we exchanged numbers and names, and she told us she would have to get together with our brother. Instances like this make me hope that a good seed has been planted! They are also the ways I think I'll experience missionary moments now.
I mentioned above that not all missionary moments go the way we (or I...) want them to go, and yet I have still felt prompted to share certain parts of my testimony with other people despite their lack of interest. Jena and I have talked about this, and why it is that we could feel prompted to share the gospel and yet have the person reject it kindly, or become verbally defensive. We both have been baffled by these experiences- why the prompting? Why the rejection? Our answer we found is simple and has given us direction for ourselves (people always have their individual agency to choose their reactions). We read in Doctrine and Covenants 6: 29-30, "... If they reject my words, and this part of my gospel and ministry, blessed are ye, for they can do no more unto you than unto me. And even if they do unto you even as they have done into me, blessed are ye, for you shall dwell with me in glory." These verses give us a lot of comfort to know that even though our good efforts don't produce any fruit, we haven't lost anything at all by trying to follow a prompting. Granted we'd love to experience what is described in verse 31, "but if they reject not my words, which shall be established by the testimony which shall be given, blessed are they, and then shall ye have joy in the fruit of your labors," and some happy day we will experience this! But for the mean time we (and I in particular) have faith that our sincere efforts will be magnified in Heavenly Father and He will bless us with the right opportunities at the right time.
I have been tremendously blessed by having the gospel in my life. I said early, and will repeat it again, the gospel is light, hope, and happiness to me. It is the essence of everything good and true in this world. I am so, so grateful to know it. Christ has given His life so that we might all come back to live with God again; what do I have to lose by offering up my testimony of this (even if it costs me feeling embarrassed or sad)?
How do you feel about missionary work, experiences, or being taught the gospel?
Con much amor,
Jessi
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