Sorry I wasn't here last week to take notes. I was traveling back from my mission and got back way later than anticipated. I hope everyone had a great break and is surviving the workload that comes with the last two weeks of school. Or just work in general. I invite you to not slack in your daily prayer, scripture study, or Church attendance during difficult times. You will receive the revelation you need to overcome your challenges.
Anyhow, I didn't get a program today... So here's what I know is definitely happening this week:
1. Institute will be held on Wednesday @7pm in B092 of the JFSB. I think it's the last one of the semester. So don't miss it!
2. Thursday is our Ward Christmas Party @6:30pm! It will be at the Stake Center our Bishopric goes to when they're not serving us. Directions and more info are on the ward Facebook page. Please RSVP if you haven't already to 509-741-7926.
3. For anyone who might be in town during the Christmas break, the Stake will be holding a combined sacrament meeting for the 22nd and 29th of December @10am at the Pioneer Building. The address is 900E 100N here in Provo. There will be a munch and mingle after each one.
All right, now for the best part, the lesson recap! Rachel McCracken did a wonderful job of sharing President Snow's lesson on missionary work. (P.S. I took some artistic liberty to fill in my shorthand notes. If you don't like it, please let me know so I can fix it.)
First off, Ky shared her testimony with us: "I know Christ is your Savior. He knows what you're going through. If you turn to him, you will find peace and comfort."
Rachel: About a month ago I went to a play called "Deep Love." It's written by some people from BYU-Idaho so I was excited to see it. I was so happy and excited to watch it. What are some things that you have experienced that you just really loved, it made you super happy, and you wanted to share with everyone else?
-Ginger: The Lamb of God
-Mackenzie: Mexican hot chocolate
-Ryan: Frozen
During my internship in Georgia I realized how much the gospel meant to me and I wanted to share it so badly. I wanted to tell everyone I was working with that the Atonement can help. I wanted to reach out to them so badly.
We're going to study this chapter from the life of President Lorenzo Snow "Missionary Work: To reach every human heart."
I just love this story from his life:
He hoped to someday pursue a “classical education” at a college in the eastern United States. But as he worked toward this goal, he began to feel a pull toward another purpose. He later recalled:
“I received [the truths of the gospel] with an open heart, and I was determined not to rest there. … I began to be a little worried in my mind whether, after having received this wonderful knowledge, it was proper for me to remain without testifying in reference to it. Young men who had been sent out upon missions were returning and testifying of the blessings that had attended them … , and I began to think that, instead of preparing myself for an eastern college or university, I ought to start out and bear testimony to what the Lord had so fully given me a knowledge of. At the same time I did not like to give up my prospects of an education, because I had had it in mind for a long time, and I then had the opportunity and the means to accomplish it.”
Struggling with his feelings, he asked a trusted friend for advice: “I told him what I wanted, and he said, ‘Brother Snow, I would not give anyone else such counsel as I feel to give you, under the circumstances. If I were in your place, I would go on with my intentions and get an education.’ That was just the very thing I wanted him to say, and it pleased me. I was contented for a time; but in the winter season, hearing these young Elders testify of their success in preaching the Gospel, I began to think about it still more. The Lord had given me a knowledge that He was coming upon the earth, and that there was a preparation necessary to be made: He had given me all that I had asked for, and more; for the baptism which I received of the Holy Ghost and the perfect knowledge then given to me was more real and convincing than my immersion in the cold water; and I felt that there was a responsibility resting upon me. So I shut up my books [and] laid my Latin and Greek aside.”
It's interesting how he didn't want to serve a mission because he wanted to continue his education, but then he ended up serving 9 missions. When we listen to the Lord we will bless the lives of many people around us.
Amber: I have always wanted to serve a mission, and still do, but when I prayed about it, I felt very strongly that I shouldn't; that I have people I can work with here.
Evie: I really wanted to serve a mission too. I was told 5 times, by three different Bishops, to not serve a mission. That was hard to take. I think God will give you the hardest thing for you. I wanted to travel and learn a language and give people flowers and be a missionary! But that's not what God wanted for me.
Rachel: Sometimes it's trying to figure out the position we're in. I've asked myself a lot, "why am I here? why am I doing this?" When I was in school I had the opportunity to be a coordinator for EFY; which is something I've always wanted to do. Then a little later I was asked to be the area director for New Student Orientation; which I also wanted to do. They were at the same time, but I ended up choosing to be the director for New Student Orientation. While I was working there, I often wondered, "why am I here? I'm not doing much in this position." There was one director that I really struggled with. We just didn't get along. But as I reached out to her and talked with her, we were able to work out our differences. The Lord opened my eyes.
Brittany: A lot of the time, whatever our calling is we think it has to be profound. But that's not it. We can have a purpose everywhere. You have spiritual gifts that you take with you everywhere you go. That can be missionary work or perfecting the saints.
Mackenzie: Make it become a part of you. We're here to influence others. We need to have the kingdom of God on our minds.
Rachel: "For this is my work and my glory; to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man" (Moses 1:39). Be there for others. I have a broken foot and it's hard for me to accept help, but the love and service that I've received from the ward has been amazing. Be willing to let others receive blessings by allowing them to help you.
Brittany: Our work isn't what gives us purpose, but what God wants. (Sorry I couldn't hear very well, but I know this was a profound statement.)
Rachel: Put the Kingdom of God first. What are some of the fears that you might have about sharing the gospel or helping someone come closer to Christ?
-Ginger: Perfectionism. Sometimes I think I have to be able to share what I know perfectly before I can share anything and sometimes I feel like I'm just at 50%.
-Marren: In my Book of Mormon class we were talking about this. A lot of people see sharing the Gospel as an item on their to-do list. If people would just be diligent/consistent, it would be so much better. Don't see it as just a checklist item. Just share it.
-Caitlin: Sometimes I'm hesitant, and I was like this on my mission too, or afraid people will mock something that's so important to me. That's selfish. It's not about me and how I feel, they need the blessings.
-Jackie: I'm afraid people might think that I'm only their friend to share the Gospel, that they might not get that I'm sharing with them because their my friend. I don't want to ruin a relationship.
-Brittany: I feel like I have to wait for that perfect moment to share the Gospel.
-Mackenzie: I worry that they might characterize me as Molly Mormon or that they'll think I'm trying to be better than them.
-Megan: Sometimes I've felt the impression to talk to people that I haven't spoken to for years, and didn't get any positive response. That would make me doubt the prompting I had to share with that person. But maybe it's preparing me to follow a prompting later.
Rachel: Okay, now throw all those fears and concerns away. Even though we don't have the missionary tag, we're still ambassadors of the Lord.
Ky: Brooke was a missionary today. She has a friend here at BYU who isn't a member. Most people when they hear you aren't a member immediately say, "So have you heard about the Gospel?" And that can get really annoying. Brooke wanted to invite her to Church to listen to her talk, but was nervous about it. She eventually did and Brooke's friend commented, "wow, Brooke shared some really great things."
Then Rachel did a really cool visual. Ryan read D&C 84:88 while Rachel had some volunteers help her out. First, Brittany was standing by herself with the charge to share the gospel. As Ryan read the scripture, however, Mackenzie stood in front of Brittany, Ashley stood on Brittany's right, Brittany's friend Christine stood on her left, and Jackie stood behind her.
88 And whoso receiveth you, there I will be also, for I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up.
Ryan: When I went to Ukraine, I learned that I was meant to be a missionary to my host family. I could do things with them I couldn't have done as a missionary. I legally couldn't teach them the Gospel with my visa, but I knew they needed it. I had the impression, "Have faith in me. You don't know what's going on behind the scenes." Trust what you know and what you've been told by the Spirit.
Brittany: That was a cool experience for me. I felt alone, but as I was surrounded by four girls I know, I knew I could do it. For all we know there are angels with us right now.
Rachel: We have the Spirit and angels to help us. They are physically around us. Sometimes we can't see them, but sometimes they are the people around us. That's visiting teaching. I hope you realize the importance of missionary work. "Missionaries should never forget that they are ambassadors of heaven, bearers of good and glad tidings." "There is a way to reach every human heart, and it is your business to find the way to the hearts of those to whom you are called." I challenge you to reach out to someone to share the Gospel. This is the happy message that we should all want to share. I want to share it with the world.
I would like to add that something I told my new companions when I trained them, was that they have no need to fear rejection because they aren't serving a mission for themselves. They wear Christ's name and He is the one being rejected. But He wouldn't hold back from sharing the truth. They have no need to fear sharing the Gospel. Neither do we. Like Rachel said, "we might not be wearing the name tag, but we're still ambassadors." Elder Andersen has said several times that even though we don't have the name tag pinned to our shirt, have the name tag painted on your heart. That's enough for me to remember that my missionary service didn't end when I removed my name tag. That's when it really started.
It was a powerful lesson. I definitely felt the Spirit testify of the truth today. God luck this week, everyone!
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