July 21, 2019 WHAT I HAVE LEARNED ON MY MISSION
July 21, 2019-
Next week I will complete my 18 month mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. As a full time representative of the Lord I have learned and gained a lot of new experiences. This post is a list of 18 things that I have learned during the past 18 months.
1. Jesus Christ is a real person with a real personality just like any of us. I knew and accepted Jesus Christ as my Savior before my mission. I have come to learn that yes he is perfect, but he is also understanding, compassionate, joyful, patient, and human. I understand, know and love Him better.
3 Nephi 27:27 "Therefore, what manner of men ought ye to be? Verily I say unto you, even as I am." 3 Nephi 27:27
John 11:36 "Jesus wept"
2. Repentance. I have learned how to more fully access the healing power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ.
"Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed." Isaiah 53:4-5
3. Faith is believing and trusting in God to work his miracles independent of the result. I have learned to have faith even when I do not see miracles.
"If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up." Daniel 3:17-18
4. I can do hard things. I have struggled on my mission and have learned that with the Lord on my side I can do what he needs me to do, and become who he needs me to become.
"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." Philippians 4:14
5. The Lord cares that we are headed in the right direction, and forgives us of our imperfections. God does not expect us to be perfect today, but he expects us to be increasingly pure.
"The Lord does not expect perfection from us at this point in our eternal progression. But He does expect us to become increasingly pure." President Russell M. Nelson
6. Each person is a child of God with unique struggles and challenges.
"Spiritually you are of noble birth, the offspring of the King of Heaven. Fix that truth in your mind and hold to it. However many generations in your mortal ancestry, no matter what race or people you represent, the pedigree of your spirit can be written on a single line. You are a child of God!" Boyd K. Packer
7. To more fully communicate what is in my heart. I have grown more comfortable in sharing my testimony of the gospel. I have also learned how to communicate and get along better with others.
"Yea, and that same God did establish his church among them; yea, and that same God hath called me by a holy calling, to preach the word unto this people, and hath given me much success, in the which my joy is full." Alma 29:13
8. I am so blessed, especially in my family life. When I was set apart as a missionary I was told that the love in my family would grow. I did not see how that could happen being far from home, but it has. I like Nephi of old can say that I was born of goodly parents.
"I, Nephi, having been born of goodly parents, therefore I was taught somewhat in all the learning of my father; and having seen many afflictions in the course of my days, nevertheless, having been highly favored of the Lord in all my days; yea, having had a great knowledge of the goodness and the mysteries of God," 1 Nephi 1:1
9. God will fulfill his promises when we are faithful in his due time.
"I, the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say; but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise." D&C 82:10
10. To see the beauty and uniqueness in God's creations from the ocean to hills that I got to bike up.
"The scriptures are laid before thee, yea, and all things denote there is a God; yea, even the earth, and all things that are upon the face of it, yea, and its motion, yea, and also all the planets which move in their regular form do witness that there is a Supreme Creator." Alma 30:44
11. It is not always clear when I receive a spiritual prompting, but it becomes clear once the prompting is followed.
"The Prophet Joseph Smith taught that if you will listen to the first promptings, you will get it right nine times out of ten." Elder Rasband
12. Happiness and friendliness is a choice. Most people, when asked what makes them happy, say that their family makes them happy. "And it came to pass that we lived after the manner of happiness." 2 Nephi 5:27
13. To see a little more of the eternal picture. There are people I have taught who I know will accept the gospel someday in this life or the next. I will do what I can to love and help others and trust the Lord to work his miracles.
"When it comes to gathering Israel, we need to align our hearts with this kind of love and move away from feelings of mere responsibility or guilt to feelings of love and participation in the divine partnership of sharing the Savior’s message, ministry, and mission with the world." Quentin L. Cook
14. Boldness. I have become more bold and eager to invite others to change and come unto Christ. I have overcome fears in order to do what the Lord expects of me.
"Behold, I speak with boldness, having authority from God; and I fear not what man can do; for perfect love casteth out all fear." Moroni 8:16
15. Jesus Christ is the center of the gospel. "Invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end." Preach My Gospel
16. Do good and serve to glorify God, not myself. The good that I do needs to be focused outward and not inward.
"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." Matthew 5:16
17. Take whatever time and effort necessary to make sure you are in a good place to feel the Spirit.
"And my soul hungered; and I kneeled down before my Maker, and I cried unto him in mighty prayer and supplication for mine own soul; and all the day long did I cry unto him; yea, and when the night came I did still raise my voice high that it reached the heavens. And there came a voice unto me, saying: Enos, thy sins are forgiven thee, and thou shalt be blessed." Enos 1:4-5
18. Sacrifice is good. I am learning how to sacrifice what I want and how to accept God's will.
“A religion that does not require the sacrifice of all things never has the power sufficient to produce the faith necessary unto life and salvation.” Joseph Smith
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