This morning I had the opportunity
to speak in church, as it was my last Sunday before leaving for my mission. It was a wonderful meeting and I was
deeply moved by the love I felt from those in attendance. Two of my very best
friends surprised me and drove from Rexburg in order to be there.
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| Sydney, Me, and Amber |
When I was fifteen, my mom and I
went to Disneyland with some family friends. We were in a line for a ride that
had opened that week, so the wait was about three hours. Around fifteen minutes
into waiting, two girls, sisters in their late teens, early twenties turned
around and asked us to tell them our life story. Needless to say, it didn’t
take very long for the Church to come into conversation. The girls had a lot of
questions and it was nice, because they obviously had heard about the Church
before and had very specific questions. Most importantly they truly wanted
answers and weren’t just asking so they could argue about the answers. For a
while, I was content to let my mom talk, occasionally nodding or chiming in
with “Yeah, Joseph Smith, he was pretty cool.” After a while though, one of the
girls turned and asked me a direct question. I froze; I didn’t know the answer.
Why didn’t I pay more attention in Seminary? Although only a few seconds, it
seemed to last for hours. I realized my mom was talking and I turned to look at
her and silently thank her for rescuing me. But I was mistaken. She was just
looking at me, smiling. I was talking and answering the question. The girls
were nodding, like they understood. As I listened to myself speak, I recognized
the words as truth I had known all along. After I was finished they asked me another
question. Again the words came to me. The rest of the conversation went
smoothly, both of us answering question after question.
Later
as I pondered the experience, I realized a few things. God loved those girls.
He knew they had questions, and He made it possible for them to find answers.
God loved me. This was something I had been struggling with, but this
experience showed me the power of His love. When we are struggling, or lacking,
God will make up the difference. I know it was the Spirit of the Lord that
caused me to speak the correct words when I was too nervous to even process the
question. He is with us, and He will not abandon us.
As
a child I loved the words of C.S. Lewis and have enjoyed hearing the leaders of
the Church quote him. I particularly like the religious symbolism in his work, including
his children’s books. In The Voyage of
the Dawn Treader, he tells the story of a young boy, Eustace, who is
unthinking, rude, and greedy. It is this greed that gets him into trouble, for
after being told not to, he takes a gold bracelet. When he puts it on he is
cursed and turns into a dragon. Unable to return to his family, he ends up in a
cave, alone, his arm injured and becoming worse. He starts to realize how
terrible he acted and wants more then anything to be returned to them. Aslan,
the king arrives and leads him to a mountain pool. He tells Eustace he will be
able to heal him, but he must first remove his dragon skin. Eustace starts to
scratch at his scales and the skin slowly comes off, much like a snake. When
he’s finished, he looks down and realizes there is another skin, so again he
scratches it off and again there is another. After removing this skin and
finding another underneath it, he becomes down trodden. Aslan then comes over
and says, in essence, “You will have to let me do it.” Eustace says the only thing greater
than the pain of the skin being removed was the pleasure of having it gone. He
could then enter the waters, be healed, and return to his family. It would be
great if we could say Eustace was perfect after that, but sometimes he reverted
to his old ways. The important thing is that he tried and day-by-day he grew to
be a better boy.
In
this short excerpt, there is much symbolism—the atonement, baptism, and the traditional
use of the number three to represent repentance—but my favorite moment is when
the King says, “You will have to let me do it.” How often does the Lord say
that to us? For me, I feel He says these words daily. We aren’t perfect, we
cannot be, but when we give our all and it isn’t enough, the Lord will step in
and gently say, “You will have to let me do it.”
In
the Book of Mormon, the prophet Ammon says, “Yea, I know that I am nothing; as
to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will
boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things; yea, behold, many
mighty miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise his name
forever” (Alma 26:12).
There
are many ways in which the Lord will strengthen us. In all of these ways, we
must be making an effort. For
example, the Lord has already atoned for all of our sins. But if we do not
repent, it won’t make a difference. His great sacrifice will not benefit us,
because we haven’t done our part.
One
of the ways the Lord will multiply our efforts is through the help of others. A
few years ago Deseret News published an article by Howard Collett entitled Selling Bananas to Pay His Way. The
article tells the story of Sedrick Tshiambine a twenty-year-old boy from the
Dominican Republic. When he was sixteen, he started saving money for his
mission. In his town there was very little work to be had and his family was
unable to help him finance his mission. This boy had a bicycle and every day he
would push his bicycle with 200 pounds of bananas to the market. It would take
him two hours. He would sell them for the best price he could and then ride
back home, pick up another load and start over. For four years he had made the
journey again and again. Each trip earned him about $3. He had to use this
money to repair his bicycle and pay for his food. What little he had left over
would be used for his mission. All of that work and his savings was only enough
to pay for a passport. The rest of the money for his mission came from the
General Missionary Fund. Members of the Church from all around the world donate
money to help those who would not otherwise be able to serve a mission. Without
that help, Sedrick would have been unable to serve a mission. He could have given up, but he pressed
forward knowing that everything would work out.
Gordon
B. Hinckley said, “It isn’t as bad as you sometimes think it is. It all works
out. Don’t worry. I say that to myself every morning. It will all work out. If
you do your best, it will all work out. Put your trust in God
, and move
forward with faith and confidence in the future. The Lord will not forsake us.
He will not forsake us. If we will put our trust in Him, if we will pray to
Him, if we will live worthy of His blessings, He will hear our prayers.”
Everyone I know keeps asking me if
I’m nervous, if I’m scared to serve a mission. There are a few things I’m
nervous about. I know serving a mission will be the hardest thing I have ever
done, and I fully expect to have days where I feel like I am useless. I also
know that it will be difficult to learn Italian and to have the courage to each
and everyday proclaim the truthfulness of this Gospel. Even with all of these
things, I am not afraid for I know the Lord is with me.
I
am grateful for those in our ward who have served missions; the sisters
especially have greatly influenced me. I love that when I first met Sister White,
she told me how much she loved her mission and she gave me advice on how to
love those I will serve. She still has the demeanor of a missionary and she
looks you directly in the eyes, letting you know that she is actively listening
and cares about what you have to say. I have always loved that Sister Kendall
sings Called to Serve in German. I
have never heard her sing it in English and I don’t ever expect to. I was so
excited when I opened my call to serve in the Italy Milan Mission. Immediately
I wanted to go to the Bressan’s house and share the news with them. Sister
Bressan had often talked to me about her mission and I was so excited to tell
her I had been called to the mission she loves so dearly. Minutes later, I found myself standing
on her doorstep as I told her that I too would be serving in Milan. She took me
into her arms and then pulled me inside their home to show me pictures from her
mission. I know these women had challenges while on their missions and it
wasn’t always easy, but I also know you will never hear them complain about
their experiences. They have nothing but kind words for the people and the
places they grew to love. Because the Lord was with them they learned great
things and they have been able to share those lessons with me.
When
Boyd K. Packer wrote of missionary work, he mentioned our desire to share the
Gospel with every single person in the world. He stated, “Some who measure that
challenge say quickly, ‘Why, that’s impossible! It cannot be done!’ To that we
simply say, ‘Perhaps, but we shall do it anyway.’ Against the assertion that it
cannot be done, we are willing to commit every resource that can be righteously
accumulated to this work. Now, while our effort may seem modest, when measured
against the challenge, it is hard to ignore when measured against what is being
accomplished.”
This
is why I am not afraid; because although this work is difficult and sometimes
seems impossible, I have seen the good missionaries can do and I have seen the
way they rely on the Lord and how he guides them.
In the New Testament, the Apostle
Luke says, “ And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the
stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the
waves roaring; Men’s hearts failing them for fear,
and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers
of heaven shall be shaken” (Luke 21:25-26).
About these verses, Russell M.
Nelson says, “What we’re seeing is a prediction that in these latter days
people will be afraid. Men’s hearts are failing and that includes women because
they forget their identity and their purpose. Heartaches will come. I’ve lived
through the death of a wife, and the death of a daughter, I’ve seen the
troubles that divorce brings, children or grandchildren go astray, disability,
illness, and injuries arise. To the individual who is weak in the heart,
fearful in the heart, be patient with yourself. Perfection comes not in this
life but in the next life. Don’t demand things that are unreasonable, but
demand of yourself improvement. As you let the Lord help you through that, he
will make the difference.”
This is why I am serving a mission.
Although I have had challenges, I have been able to get through them. Life is
much easier then it would otherwise be, because I have the help of Christ. The
message of Christ is one of peace and love. I don’t think there is a single
soul who could not benefit from a little more love. When you learn of your Savior
and of His love for you, life all at once becomes easier, not because you stop
having challenges, but because when you struggle and just can’t seem to make it
through He will say, “You will have to let me do it.” He will lift you up and
although it may still be difficult, you will not have to go through it alone,
you will have the Lord to lean upon.
I know the Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter-day Saints is true and I know Jesus Christ is my Savior and Redeemer.
There is a living prophet on the earth today. His words, as of the prophets of
old, are the words of God. I testify to you that the Book of Mormon is true,
and I am so grateful for knowledge I find in its pages and the peace it brings
me.
