September 12th 2012
Missionary work is an
amazing part of the LDS church in these days. Young men and young women leave
their homes to serve their lord in foreign lands all the while growing closer
to their savior than they have ever been before. Missionaries change lives as they
represent Jesus Christ. My mother recently put up a quote in the front room
that says “A missionary leaves his family for two years so that others may have
their families for eternity”. While it seems that it is solely the duty of
young missionaries to preach the gospel. That is not so. President David O.
McKay made it very clear that every member is responsible for the spreading of
the gospel.
David
O. McKay
If I were to burrow in definite
terms two of the most potent convictions in the hearts of the Latter-day
Saints, I would name: First, an
abiding assurance that the gospel, as taught by the Redeemer when he lived
among men and which was later modified, changed and corrupted by men, has been
restored by the Redeemer in its purity and fullness; and second, following naturally the
first, a conviction in the heart of every member of this Church that the
responsibility rests upon the membership of the Church to preach the restored
gospel to every nation, kindred, tongue and people.
There
are many different ways to be a member missionary. You can just share with
people that you meet throughout the day, or you can carry book of Mormons
around and try to give them out, but that is more of a full time missionary
thing. The best way I can think of as an everyday member is to live your life
the way the savior did. Treat everyone with the respect the savior did and live
your life in a way that you are seen as an example to others. If you are happy
and respect others no matter who they are some will often wonder “how is he/she
always so happy and kind to others” or “what does he/she have that I do not”
this will spark interest in the church and provide an opportunity to share the
joy you find in living the teachings of the savior. One experience I had of
this was when I was waiting tables in Jacob Lake. It came down to my last table
of the shift. I was bussing some tables that I had fallen behind on while it
was busy.
The family that was sitting at my table motioned for me to come talk to them. I
thought that they were just going to ask me for a to-go box. Instead the mother
said to me “there is something different about everyone that works here. I’ve
never seen a group of college age kids that are so well groomed and so happy.
What is it?” In return I told her “Well we are all members of the lds church”
She asked another question “What do you believe in?” I stopped to think about
that for a second. My first thoughts were to tell her about Joseph Smith. But
what came out of my mouth was completely different. I told her “we believe that
Jesus Christ came to earth and atoned for our sins. And we believe the book of
Mormon to be the word of god and that it goes hand in hand with the
Bible.” Her interest grew and she told
me she would like to learn more. I asked her to wait there and another person
that I worked with went to go grab a book of Mormon for me and I was able to
give that family a book of Mormon. I have no way of knowing if they ever read
it. I have no way of knowing if it even made a difference in their lives. But I
was able to be a member missionary when I least expected it. I ask all of you
to be ready to share your beliefs at all times.
As
President David O McKay said “The world is hungry to hear the truth as never
before in its history. We have it. Are we equal to the task—to the
responsibility God has placed upon us?”
Another
aspect of missionary work is service. Missionaries don’t only go around
knocking on doors. They are always looking for a way to help someone. “For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and
whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it” (Matthew 16:24–25. There are endless opportunities to serve
others. From helping someone carry their groceries in to volunteering in the
community there are ways to serve all around. When Jesus had his ministry on the earth he
spent his time serving. He healed the sick, raised the dead, and ministered to
the lowly of heart. We don’t have to be able to heal the sick or raise the dead
to serve as Jesus did. All we have to do is pray to have an eye single to the
glory of god so that we may see those that stand in need of our time. Being a
member missionary dose not only mean to preach the gospel it means to serve
others.
Elder Eyring
told a story about service that I would like to share with you
The Teton Dam burst on Saturday, June 5, 1976. Eleven people
were killed. Thousands had to leave their homes in a few hours. Some homes were
washed away. And hundreds of dwellings could be made habitable only through
effort and means far beyond that of the owners.
Those who heard of the tragedy felt sympathy, and some felt the
call to do good. Neighbors, bishops, Relief Society presidents, quorum leaders,
home teachers, and visiting teachers left homes and jobs to clean out the
flooded houses of others.
One couple returned to Rexburg from a vacation just after the
flood. They didn’t go to see their own house. Instead, they found their bishop
to ask where they could help. He directed them to a family in need.
After a few days they went to check on their home. It was gone,
swept away in the flood. They simply walked back to the bishop and asked, “Now
what would you like us to do?”
Wherever you live, you have seen that miracle of sympathy turned
to unselfish action. It may not have been in the wake of a great natural
disaster.
This couple is
a perfect example of selfless service. When they were faced with their own
problems they didn’t stop and say to themselves “how are we going to get
through this” or “who is going to help us” instead they went straight back to
helping others.
As important it
is to serve and to share your testimony, it is more important to first have
love for your fellow man. Jesus listed love for your fellow man as one of the
greatest commandments.
In mark 12:28 we read
And one of the scribes came, and
having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them
well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all? And Jesus answered him, The first of
all the commandments And thou
shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with
all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as
thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.
This passage
has always been one of my favorite. When you really think about and dig into
this scripture you find that god wants us to grow closer to him, and he wants
us to grow closer to our brothers and sisters.
This
is the most important of Christ’s teachings. If we can learn to love others the
way we love ourselves we will in turn be more willing to serve. This is a
Christ like attribute I pray to have while I serve in Italy. The ability to
love my neighbor will strengthen my testimony as I spread the gospel and serve
my fellow man. Christ lived his teachings, he loved all, unconditionally. He
loved the lepers, he loved his apostles, he even loved those that condemned him
to death. My favorite hymn expresses my exact feelings I have about the saviors
atoning sacrifice. My grandfather had a tumor in his brain that was removed.
The surgery left him a shell of what he used to be. After his surgery some of
the only coherent words he could say were the words of this song. Ever since I
heard my grandfather singing this there has been a very special place in my
heart for it. Hymn #193 I stand all amazed.
I stand all amazed at the love Jesus offers me,
confused at the grace that so fully he proffers me, I tremble to know that for
me he was crucified, that for me a sinner he suffered he bled and died.
Even
a man who had been crippled in his mind and his body remembered the great love
his redeemer had for him. He remembered the price that was paid so that he
could be whole once more. That helps me whenever I get down, or feel
insignificant. I think of the love that the savior has for my grandfather and
my grandfathers’ knowledge of that love.
In
closing, we can all be latter day missionaries where we live. We just have to
have a testimony of the restored gospel, be willing to serve, and to love
others the way the savior loves us.
I
would like to leave you with my testimony, but not in a way that most future
missionaries do. In Italian, don’t worry I will translate it into English when
I am done.
Io
so che Gesu Cristo vive e che guida la chiesa attraverso un profeta vivente,
Thomas S. Monson. Io so che Gesu ha
restaurato la sua chiesa, sulla terra, tramite il profeta Joseph Smith. Io so che Il libro di Mormon e la parola di
Dio. Io l’ho letto e ho pregato e ho
capito da me stesso che e vero. E tanto
tempo che sentivo che sarei stato chiamato a servire in Italia. Voi potete chiedere i miei amici che ho
predetto questo da tanti anni prima.
Ancora prima di aprire la chiamata, lo Spirito mi aveva detto che avrei
servito in Italia. Io so che sto andando
al’Italia per uno scopo, non perche sia bello di andare la o perche la famiglia
di mio padre e Italiana. E perche Io ho
promesso ad alcune persone nella vita premortale che le avrei trovate. Io conosco la gioia che possiamo trovare
tramite l’espiazione. Sia per il
pentimento o per le prove dure della vita, io vi prometto che troveremo
conforto e perdono dal nostro Salvatore Gesu Cristo.
Dico queste cose nel nome di Gesu Cristo amen.
I know that Jesus lives and guides the church
through Thomas S Monson a living prophet. I know that he restored his church on
the earth through his prophet Joseph Smith. I know the book of mormon to be the
word of god. I have read it and prayed about it and have found for myself that
it is true. I’ve known for a long time that I was going to be called to Italy.
You can ask any of my friends I’ve been calling that for years. I had been told
by the spirit that I would be serving in Italy before I opened my call. I know that I am being sent to Italy for a
reason, it’s not because it’s cool, or because my dad’s side of the family is Italian.
It’s because I promised people before this life that I would find them. I know the joy you can find through the
atonement. Whether it is for repentance or you are going through the harsh
trials of life I promise there is comfort and forgiveness to be found from
Jesus Christ.
I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ Amen.
