What are we converted to?
It has been a wonderful weekend. I hope that you have all enjoyed the talks, thoughts, and impressions we have been able to receive the past two days. I am still trying to catch up on Saturday Afternoon Session, but it will give me something to do over the next few days.
This week has also been good. I am still trying to figure understand all the direction I am getting, but one thought has really stuck with me. I guess it is a recurring thought. I don't know that I truly understood what I have meant to say until today. Then I realized that I was using the wrong words. I hope that I can convey those words better today.
We were supposed to have the Elders over for dinner this week. It was just a normal evening. However, at the last minute we were asked if it was OK if we only fed one of the Elders as the the other one. That seemed like an odd request, so I decided to inquire.
Evidently, a family from the area was going to be sealed in the temple. Elder Senior companion was invited and wanted to attend with this family that he had help bring/return to the gospel. He was excited to share in this experience. Again, to me that was a little odd. Why wasn't his companion joining him?
It was then that I was informed that his companion had as of yet gone through the temple, so he would not be able to attend. He was going to stay behind and work in the area while his companion was attending the sealing. That was where it was left and one we went.
However, my curiosity was peaked and had to dig a little deeper once we had the Elder Junior companion alone with us. Before I go much further, I must say that I think it was not only an odd request, but really through this Elder for a loop. He has only been in the field for about 4 weeks and he was suddenly left alone with very little guidance. When I picked him up, I asked what the plan was and he was not sure. He was very nervous, but willing to do what he had been asked to do. He just did not know how he was going to do it. When I began to question, he became more rattled and it became obvious that instead of interrogating, I should be calming the young man and helping him figure it out. He was hoping that if he got lost or confused, he would just call his companion. Well, for one thing his companion was in the temple. Secondly, he was holding the only cell phone they two of them owned. There really was not away for him to reach his companion.
After a little searching, we found the plan all written out for him with the names of each brother he was supposed to be hooking up with on each appointment. Then I asked what he was teaching and everything fell apart again. He was not sure. He had not as of yet been to the MTC. He knew how to share his testimony and the basic idea of some of the discussions, but he did not really know what he was supposed to be teaching. We did a little more searching and found a list of topics to just discuss and knew that he would rely heavily upon the brother from each ward.
It was then that we found out that this Elder was on a 2 transfer mission. He local leadership was not sure he would be able to endure or handle the whole 24 months, so they were going to test the waters. They were definitely tested this week. I would say leaving him a lone was a baptism by fire. I only hope that he finds the strength to endure.
It was an interesting evening to say the least. I think we have all pondered it a little this week. The more I pondered it and discussed it with different family members, I was a little frustrated with the whole thing. Why would they not prepare this young man for the the 2 transfer mission with a little more that just dropping him into the fire. If the whole idea of the of the gospel is to help prepare us to get through mortality, shouldn't we be prepared in all things? I began asking myself what the purposes of missions are? What do the missionaries do? Who are they there to help? How are they suppose to help if they are not prepared and supported themselves? My mind was filled with so many questions. Why had he not been give a little prep? I know the MTC can be a huge shock to the system, but sometimes we need that shock to get us thinking on the right path. Why had he not been through the temple? Wouldn't he be better able to stand as a witness if he himself had made those sacred commitments/covenants?
These are the questions I have been asking all week. I have as a few discussions about the matter with others. I think they have been good.
Then today, I received an answer from Elder D Todd Christofferson. The purpose of missionary work is not to convert people to the church, but to convert them to Jesus Christ and His Atoning sacrifice. Once we are converted to him, all else falls into play. I immediately realized that I needed to change the way I was saying things. This young man did not need to make covenants and commitments to the church, but to Jesus Christ. Maybe he had not been through the temple, but he was doing all he could to show his Lord, Jesus Christ, that he was committed to Him. He was willing to sacrifice of himself, to step outside his comfort zone, to do things he was not sure he could do, and just do his best at it. He would exercise the faith and let the Lord make up for where he lacked. That is what the mission was for this young man. For me, it required that I step up, learn charity and compassion. It required that each brother he met up with to do visits that night would be required to share their own personal witness of Jesus Christ and the grace they had been given. This young Elder would be carried through hard things. His experience will be different than mine, but what he needs as the Lord sees fit. His willingness to plant that seed of faith and give it his best was inspiring to me. I was blessed because of his service, his example, his trust, his sacrifice, and more. How many times did we hear those words of encouragement over the past two days.
I have been instructed. I hope that my sharing of this experience has helped you as it has me. I pray that you will all come unto Christ and all that it requires of you.
So on to the week.
It has been rather mundane. We have all just plugged along.
The Queen spent her spare time working on Holiday gifts and baby quilts. She starts a new shift tomorrow that will require her to rise and shine a little earlier in the day.
The Professor is doing her best to endure the stresses of life. One more week before she goes off track. She is so looking forward to a span where the burden she carries is tad lighter for a while. She will be able to catch upon much needed rest and then jump back in to it the make it through to the holidays.
Tall Man made it through another performance. He had a couple ups and downs with his health this week, but made it work. We had to game nights with family and friends. It was fun.
SnackPack just keeps riding the wave. It is a big wave and keeps him busy almost every waking moment of the day. Yesterday ended with back to back polo games. He was beaten up, but the endured. Go Ant Eaters!
There you have it in a nut shell. We ended the evening with a little family gathering of sorts. Conference weekend and birthday gifts for the Old Man. It was nice. I will do my best to give them justice.
I hope each of you have a wonderful week.
This week has also been good. I am still trying to figure understand all the direction I am getting, but one thought has really stuck with me. I guess it is a recurring thought. I don't know that I truly understood what I have meant to say until today. Then I realized that I was using the wrong words. I hope that I can convey those words better today.
We were supposed to have the Elders over for dinner this week. It was just a normal evening. However, at the last minute we were asked if it was OK if we only fed one of the Elders as the the other one. That seemed like an odd request, so I decided to inquire.
Evidently, a family from the area was going to be sealed in the temple. Elder Senior companion was invited and wanted to attend with this family that he had help bring/return to the gospel. He was excited to share in this experience. Again, to me that was a little odd. Why wasn't his companion joining him?
It was then that I was informed that his companion had as of yet gone through the temple, so he would not be able to attend. He was going to stay behind and work in the area while his companion was attending the sealing. That was where it was left and one we went.
However, my curiosity was peaked and had to dig a little deeper once we had the Elder Junior companion alone with us. Before I go much further, I must say that I think it was not only an odd request, but really through this Elder for a loop. He has only been in the field for about 4 weeks and he was suddenly left alone with very little guidance. When I picked him up, I asked what the plan was and he was not sure. He was very nervous, but willing to do what he had been asked to do. He just did not know how he was going to do it. When I began to question, he became more rattled and it became obvious that instead of interrogating, I should be calming the young man and helping him figure it out. He was hoping that if he got lost or confused, he would just call his companion. Well, for one thing his companion was in the temple. Secondly, he was holding the only cell phone they two of them owned. There really was not away for him to reach his companion.
After a little searching, we found the plan all written out for him with the names of each brother he was supposed to be hooking up with on each appointment. Then I asked what he was teaching and everything fell apart again. He was not sure. He had not as of yet been to the MTC. He knew how to share his testimony and the basic idea of some of the discussions, but he did not really know what he was supposed to be teaching. We did a little more searching and found a list of topics to just discuss and knew that he would rely heavily upon the brother from each ward.
It was then that we found out that this Elder was on a 2 transfer mission. He local leadership was not sure he would be able to endure or handle the whole 24 months, so they were going to test the waters. They were definitely tested this week. I would say leaving him a lone was a baptism by fire. I only hope that he finds the strength to endure.
It was an interesting evening to say the least. I think we have all pondered it a little this week. The more I pondered it and discussed it with different family members, I was a little frustrated with the whole thing. Why would they not prepare this young man for the the 2 transfer mission with a little more that just dropping him into the fire. If the whole idea of the of the gospel is to help prepare us to get through mortality, shouldn't we be prepared in all things? I began asking myself what the purposes of missions are? What do the missionaries do? Who are they there to help? How are they suppose to help if they are not prepared and supported themselves? My mind was filled with so many questions. Why had he not been give a little prep? I know the MTC can be a huge shock to the system, but sometimes we need that shock to get us thinking on the right path. Why had he not been through the temple? Wouldn't he be better able to stand as a witness if he himself had made those sacred commitments/covenants?
These are the questions I have been asking all week. I have as a few discussions about the matter with others. I think they have been good.
Then today, I received an answer from Elder D Todd Christofferson. The purpose of missionary work is not to convert people to the church, but to convert them to Jesus Christ and His Atoning sacrifice. Once we are converted to him, all else falls into play. I immediately realized that I needed to change the way I was saying things. This young man did not need to make covenants and commitments to the church, but to Jesus Christ. Maybe he had not been through the temple, but he was doing all he could to show his Lord, Jesus Christ, that he was committed to Him. He was willing to sacrifice of himself, to step outside his comfort zone, to do things he was not sure he could do, and just do his best at it. He would exercise the faith and let the Lord make up for where he lacked. That is what the mission was for this young man. For me, it required that I step up, learn charity and compassion. It required that each brother he met up with to do visits that night would be required to share their own personal witness of Jesus Christ and the grace they had been given. This young Elder would be carried through hard things. His experience will be different than mine, but what he needs as the Lord sees fit. His willingness to plant that seed of faith and give it his best was inspiring to me. I was blessed because of his service, his example, his trust, his sacrifice, and more. How many times did we hear those words of encouragement over the past two days.
I have been instructed. I hope that my sharing of this experience has helped you as it has me. I pray that you will all come unto Christ and all that it requires of you.
So on to the week.
It has been rather mundane. We have all just plugged along.
The Queen spent her spare time working on Holiday gifts and baby quilts. She starts a new shift tomorrow that will require her to rise and shine a little earlier in the day.
The Professor is doing her best to endure the stresses of life. One more week before she goes off track. She is so looking forward to a span where the burden she carries is tad lighter for a while. She will be able to catch upon much needed rest and then jump back in to it the make it through to the holidays.
Tall Man made it through another performance. He had a couple ups and downs with his health this week, but made it work. We had to game nights with family and friends. It was fun.
SnackPack just keeps riding the wave. It is a big wave and keeps him busy almost every waking moment of the day. Yesterday ended with back to back polo games. He was beaten up, but the endured. Go Ant Eaters!
There you have it in a nut shell. We ended the evening with a little family gathering of sorts. Conference weekend and birthday gifts for the Old Man. It was nice. I will do my best to give them justice.
I hope each of you have a wonderful week.
Comments