Wednesday, January 22, 2014

You are Never Alone in the Work!


Recently as I have reflected back on things i have talked about on Facebook and just in my normal life as a missionary I realized that Member missionary work is one thing I talk a lot about doing but not ever the results from when you do Missionary work as a member, so I decided to change that.  When I decided that I asked one of my friends from back home to share with me a missionary experience.  This is what she replied with...

"The first one is from a loooong time ago. Back when I was in seventh grade, my best friend wasn't a member of the church. She had so many Christlike qualities and was definitely looking for some direction in her life, and so I decided that I wanted to share the gospel with her. The gospel is something that brings me so much joy, and I wanted her to have that in her life too. I started off by bringing her to Young Women's on Sundays, and some youth activities. She seemed to respond well, and eventually I invited her to meet with the missionaries. Her mom didn't want the missionaries over at their house, so she took the first discussion at my house instead. I remember the missionaries bearing their testimonies to her and feeling the spirit so strong, but at the end of the appointment, my friend decided that she wasn't interested in continuing the discussions. This broke my heart. I tried to convince her to change her mind, and did get her to attend a Family Home Evening at my house with her younger siblings and the missionaries, but in the end she still decided she wasn't interested. 
Initially, I took her decision really hard. It was so difficult for me to see someone I loved so much turn away from what I knew to be true. However, I can honestly say that I came away from this experience more firmly rooted in my testimony than I was going in. Sharing my testimony with her reminded me of the knowledge I have of a living God, the infinite atonement, the Book of Mormon, and so many other important truths. Also, when I considered the reasons I wanted her to have the gospel in her life it reminded me of why it is so important to me to keep the gospel in my life. I am so happy to tell you that my friend did eventually accept the gospel and was baptized the year after we graduated high school. Even though she wasn't ready to receive the gospel when we were twelve, I know that the gospel is for everyone and I definitely don't regret sharing it with her."
 
What do we learn from this that when we do member missionary work just like in normal missionary work sometimes we have to plant seeds that will eventually grow into true conversion.  I'm sure it was hard for her to gain the courage to invite her friend, but she did and she grew because of it.  She also eventually saw the fruits of that first reach.  That is a great blessing of member missionary work.  The touch happens at one point in our lives but we might see them convert several years down the road. 

"The other experience I wanted to share with you isn't a typical "missionary experience" but it's pretty recent and it was a huge testimony builder for me. To start off, I should tell you that I really wanted to serve a mission, but every time I took a step towards it, I realized that a mission just wasn't in Heavenly Father's plan for me. A few weeks ago, I was feeling really discouraged about this. It's difficult to have a righteous desire, like serving a mission, and be told no. Instead, I prayed and asked my Heavenly Father if He would send me a missionary experience, since He didn't want me to be a full-time missionary right now. Finding non-members is a little difficult for me, since I come from a predominately Mormon community and attend BYU, so I actually didn't realize that I was getting my missionary experience until after it was over. 
One night, I was in the apartment of a co-worker and good friend. We were having a normal conversation, when I felt a strong impression to share with her a faith-building experience I had earlier that week. This experience was very dear to my heart, and it was really difficult to open myself up like that, but I did muster up the courage to share it with her. This sparked a very deep and personal conversation centered on the atonement of Christ and power of prayer. I was able to share my testimony with her and to firmly state what I know to be true. Even though it had been a spiritual conversation and definitely built my testimony, I hadn't realized it was a missionary experience until I was reflecting on it later. My co-worker is a convert to the church, and the only active member in her family. She has only been a member for three years, and still struggles sometimes understanding doctrine and is often more comfortable with the Catholic practices she grew up with. For these reasons, she doesn't always feel like she belongs in Utah and at BYU. While reflecting on our conversation, I realized that missionary work isn't always about introducing the gospel to non-members. Missionary work is really just about loving those around us and helping God's children become closer to Him, whether they have been baptized or not."
 
 What can we learn from this.  That missionary experience are in large part small things. 1 Nephi 16:29 "...And thus we see that by small means the Lord brings to pass great things."  We never know when we are going to touch someone or when we will have the opportunity to spread the gospel but we need to take the chance and do it,  because if we don't who will.  The gospel and good news we have won't spread on its own.  It requires work...effort...study...prayer...love...diligence...and patience form full time missionaries and members alike.  We can't do it with out YOU!!!!!!!!
 
Planting Gospel Seeds of Spirituality 
Elder Haight gave an amazing talk on missionary work in 1972  I encourage you all to read it i really enjoyed it and I know you will too.


I know that as we each do our part and strive to be the best we can be we will be blessed.  I know the Lord loves each and everyone of His children and he wants each of us to come closer to Him.