"Best two years of your life" - a perspective on missionary service

I'd like to talk about missionary service for a little while.

Many people will hear that their mission was "The Best two years of my life".  But, should it really be the best two years of your life.

Why would one refer to it that way .... is not your current year of your life wonderful?   In reality it my not be all you hope for and thus looking back at the time you spent serving a mission ( 2 year for male and 18 months for female of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints) you'll have fond memories.

Life on a mission is not easy.  Depending on where you are assigned to labor you may be lucky to teach a lesson a week.  In other places you may find people friendly enough but, they never keep commitments and flake out when you try and follow up with visits.  You may also find people that will try run you over on your bike or throw things at you in disgust, and how about people run you off their property because they are really REALLY not interested.  That is outside all the time you will be robbed or have stuff stole at your apartment just because they think your flush with money.  Don't forget about the disease or other problems with health you may encounter.  The list could go on easily for pages.



So with that laundry list of issues why might one feel or say that those 2 years were some of the best?  It might be something very simple.  The more you do something the easier it gets. 
We got to discussing this issue in our lesson Sunday in the Elders Quorum based on Elder Hollands Oct 2012 Conference Talk.  Right now for those in the group holding the discussion we have what seems like a million things going on in our lives.  There is work and the duties to support our families.  Many have children and in some cases another on the way.  There are all the family things that life brings.   Even some finishing school or going back so they can get ahead.  So the world ways down on you.
As a missionary your all day every day out talking to people about the good news - Gospel of Jesus Christ.  You are regularly studying the scriptures, praying for and in behalf of people and generally being uplifted.  Life is simple.  You are not worried where the next meal will come from (well in most cases), how your going to make rent and other things like this.  Life is so much simpler.


Due to this fact - not having to directly support yourself the time you spend as a missionary is a little limited.   Granted in the 1800's it was a bit different for our ancestors that went on missions.  Many left a wife at home to run the family farm and/or young children to raise.  In many cases they could not even say when they would be back.  With communication as it was, it had to be harder then heck dealing with a mission.  Things have changed but, not a ton.  It is still hard but, worth every effort.

So if a mission was the "best 2 years of your life", how can you make now the best two years of your life?

It might not seem so simple but, increasing that spirituality can sure help.
As you concentrate on living the Gospel things will just click for lack of a better way of putting it.  You can still be inspired, you can still have the power of prayer in your life.  You can still be that shining example you were back in the day.  Granted you may have gained a few pounds, lost some hair and acquired a few worry wrinkles.  However, all the blessing you had on the mission are still available today.  All the great things that come from regular scripture study, prayer and the like are still available.  You might have to work at it a bit harder then before.  With the possibility of a long commute, and all of life's pressures you will have to organize your time better.


So I'll make a list of things you can do to help get that spirit back in your life.  I myself need to do better with many of these things.  I sure do feel better when I have more of them in my life.

1.  Attend your regular Sunday meetings.
2. Actively do your home and visiting teaching.
3. Regularly read the scripture or church literature
4. Pray regularly as a family and/or individually
5. Participate in family home evening
6. Go out with the missionaries
7. Do the best you can in your calling not matter how uneventful it may seem.
8. Use uplifting media.



Go and claim the world.  Nothing is holding you back.  And when the clouds get dark and life seems to be a pit of darkness, remember those moments of joy, when you know the spirit was testifying of truth and lifting you up.  It's those moments that may seem far and few between that will carry you through.


Are you in need of finding some old companions or track down some information about the mission you served in or will serve in?

Find out what you need by going to MISSION.NET
Interested in a free copy of the Book of Mormon? CLICK HERE



Buaidh - NO - Bas

The Christmas Spirit

I'd like to talk today about the Christmas spirit.  As we are in the "Holiday" or Christmas season this topic is very applicable.

"The spirit of Christmas is something I hope all of us would have in our hearts and lives—not only at this particular season but also throughout the year." Rediscovering the Christmas Spirit Thomas S Monson



I'd like to dive further into this Christmas spirit.  What is it really?
Does it amount to you not saying 'Bah Humbug'? or does it entail the extensive giving of gifts.  Some can be labeled as not having the Christmas spirit simply because they do not want to participate in the local giving tree, or don't seem interested in giving out many gifts or cards.   Then you have the other side of things with those that send Christmas cards with the picture of their smiling family. Depending on how well you know the people you might give a chuckle since it seems like a fascade.  Christmas spirit is more then any of this.  More then the gift giving, cards, presents and the like.
It is however, hard to separate the commercial, worldly things from the more religious aspects.  President Monson again sums up a bit of what real Christmas spirit is.

"In this marvelous dispensation of the fulness of times, our opportunities to love and give of ourselves are indeed limitless, but they are also perishable. Today there are hearts to gladden, kind words to say, deeds to be done, and souls to be saved."  Rediscovering the Christmas Spirit Thomas S Monson





To find the true meaning of Christmas spirit we have to look to the what the day/event is really all about.   Is it not a celebration of the birth of the Savior of the world - even Jesus the Christ?

Christ came to this earth with one main purpose.  He came to this earth to redeem us from sin so we could return to the presence of our Heavenly Father as was determined in the premortal existence.  He came to give the ultimate gift.  To bleed and die for us.  And Heavenly Father gave us also the ultimate gift -
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."  John 3:16


Any gift or present we give would pale in comparison to those gifts given by our Eternal parents and Christ Jesus.  However, we can consider what type of gift we might give him.  What we might do to emulate him more and provide a little Christmas spirit all around.

For some it can be as simple as giving up a space at the shopping mall.  Others it may be giving up a bad habit.  Still others it might be to go out of your way to be kind to all you encounter.  The list could go on.  Each and everyone of us can give something.  Even something seemingly small can be great in the eyes of the lord.

"...that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass..."  Alma 37:6

Imagine what would happen in the world if each and every person took it upon themselves to go one additional act of kindness, one additional good deed, one additional moment of Christlike attitude.

Hearts might be softened, and amazingly the world would be a better place.  Some grudges, or feuds would be put aside.  And there would be "Peace on Earth".

We all know that Satan the father of all lies would not be happy if this were to occur.  For he seeks to make us miserable like unto himself.  But, Heavenly Father and Jesus have a wholly different purpose for use.
"For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man." Moses 1:39

Thus those feeling of dejection, of depression, of sadness that may come at this time of year as you see others "enjoying" themselves are not of the Lord.  They are not the feeling he want to you to have. 

Oddly I am reminded at this moment of some song lyrics of the "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life" by Monty Python.

"Some things in life are bad
They can really make you mad
Other things just make you swear and curse.
When you're chewing on life's gristle
Don't grumble, give a whistle
And this'll help things turn out for the best...

And...always look on the bright side of life...
Always look on the light side of life..."

If your feeling down, dejected, or sad try and do something positive for someone else or even just go sing.  Try and provide some service, or even if it is simply giving a smile to everyone you see or offering a few words of Holiday cheer, you will begin to feel much better.  Christ did not hide his wonderful gift.  He did all in his power to get the 'Glad Tidings' out to the world.  He even asked all of us to do the same.

So if your tight on funds this year or fretting about the impending 'Fiscal Cliff' go out and do some acts of kindness, some service.   Because for some giving of their time is the hardest thing they have to do.  You'd be surprised at how many people thank you and how much you begin to feel the Christmas spirit.   And that is the same spirit that Christ has imparted to all of us.





Buaidh - NO - Bas