I've been asked to report on my missionaries today. They are doing well... but I think there is no better way to see that they are growing in the gospel of Jesus Christ than to hear their words and their testimonies.
Cody's realization that a mission was coming up was when we were watching Conference. President Monson said, "I am pleased to announce that effective immediately, all worthy and able young men who have graduated from high school or its equivalent, regardless of where they live, will have the option of being recommended for missionary service beginning at the age of 18, instead of age 19."
I looked at Cody with excitement and his exact words were, "What does that mean?" He had that deer in the head light look and I knew it had sent his mind spinning. He said in a panic, "I'm not ready, I don't have enough money, I'm still in High School..." and my response was, 'You've been preparing for this moment all your life.' "The Lord will provide!" He had always said he was serving a mission but this announcement made a mission very real... very soon. As we got Michael off to the MTC... our focus turned towards Cody. First, he got his Patriarchal Blessing scheduled with the Patriarch. As Cody was receiving his blessing he was promised many things and one was to serve an honorable mission. I believe that is where the spirit testified to him that he should get things in order. But this is where his older brother must have been inspired. Michael started writing Cody amazing letters on preparing for a mission, giving him personal challenges, talking about repentance, no "what if's mission", and serving The Lord.
One of his letters stated, "Cody, Justin, Tanner, and you too Matt... catch that FIRE. Catch it and know who you are! You are a Son of God, an heir to his kingdom. It is not the time to sit idly by and not know what to do. Share the Gospel with EVERYONE!! Your friends are a great place to start. All it takes sometimes is a little invite to church or a little testimony of what you know. Don't fall into temptation and if you have... it is NEVER too late to go and talk to the Bishop. God loves you and wants the BEST for you. So, be the BEST ... Don't have "what ifs" in life."
Michael also sent Cody a talk about becoming a Consecrated Missionary. Cody would take this talk with him everywhere. I just want to read a short paragraph of that talk to you ... I quote,
"Each of us might appropriately ask, “What lack I yet to become a consecrated missionary?” There is no escaping it. God will demand our all. If we are shy or reserved – God will compel us to change, to be bold. He will jerk us out of our comfort zone again and again. If we are lazy or idle, he will push us and pull us even when we are exhausted. If we are disobedient, he will press us until we have a child-like submissiveness. He will not let us be content with our weaknesses. Whatever the weakness may be that holds us back from becoming a consecrated missionary, the Lord has promised that if we have faith in him, and humble ourselves before him, that he will make weak things become strong unto us. I believe that. I do not believe there is one missionary whose weaknesses are greater than the potential strengths within him. Why? – because each of us is a son and daughter of God, with his divine nature and divine potential woven into the very fabric of our souls. Mormon declared with boldness: “Behold, I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I have been called of him to declare his word among his people that they might have everlasting life”.
At this point Cody had finally received his mission call to the Philippines. He bore a sweet, simple... yet humble testimony about serving the people of the Philippines. This is when I began to see his countenance change. He had a glow about him ... it was beautiful... The Lord definitely prepares those whom he calls to the work. I saw it, I felt it and I personally couldn't deny the change that was taking place in my son.
Cody's testimony was continuing to develop and you could see he was becoming who The Lord wanted him to be. Russell M Ballard simply stated, "[a] testimony— [a] real testimony, born of the Spirit and confirmed by the Holy Ghost—changes lives. It changes how you think and what you do. It changes what you say. It affects every priority you set and every choice you make. To have a real and abiding testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ is to be “spiritually … born of God,” to “[receive] his image in your countenances,” and to experience a “mighty change in your hearts” (Alma 5:14).
When we dropped Cody off at the MTC his countenance had changed... He was prepared and ready to serve... and I saw the mighty change in his heart: One of the first letters home he said: Sunday was amazing and I read a talk by David A Bednar called "The Character of Christ". Cody says, "it has changed my life. How I view things. It's not about myself. It is about the name on my badge, Jesu Kristo. I need to look away from the natural man and turn toward God. Christ has never once thought about himself. Even through all his trials. It's amazing how one could be so loving for all that was done to him. The question that now always goes through my mind is: "Is Christ in me?" What an example to me... I want to be more like my brother, Jesus Christ.
Then he ended his letter with this quote from Bruce R McConkie I quote, " He is my master he has chosen me to represent him. To stand in his place, to say and do what he himself would say and do if he personally were ministering to the very people to whom he has sent me. My voice is his voice, and my acts are his acts; my words are his words and my doctrine is his doctrine. My commission is to do what he wants done. To say what he wants said. To be a living modern witness in word and deed of divinity of his great and marvelous Latter-day work" HOW GREAT IS MY CALLING?
As I was emailing with Cody last Thursday I asked if he wanted to share anything with you... he said share my testimony: "I know that this church is true.. without a doubt in my mind. I am so grateful for the opportunity I have to serve the Lord. I know there is no better place that I am supposed to be. This is my purpose, to do what he wants me to do, say what he wants me to say, and act as he would if he himself were here. I know that the Book of Mormon is true. It is the keystone of our religion and with the spirit it is the single most effective tool to bringing others to Christ. I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet called of God. That he was chosen because of his faithfulness to have the gospel restored through him. I know that our Heavenly Father loves each and every one of us. He loves us so much that he sent his only begotten son to come to the earth and atone for us, to take upon himself ALL the sins of the world, and to die for us so that we can have the opportunity to return to live with our Father in Heaven if we are faithful while on this earth. I know that whenever we need someone to talk to we can always talk to our Father in Heaven and he will ALWAYS listen. We may not receive the answer right away but we will receive one, if it takes a couple days, one week, a month or even a year. He will answer us. Sometimes when we don't receive an answer right away he wants us to proceed and act for ourselves because he wants us to make our own choices to build our faith and our love for him. He will never push us to do something that we are not capable of doing. I know that. He gives us trials to build our faith in him, not to tear us down. I know that Jesus Lives, and his hand is always stretched out for us. We just need to reach back. I know these things are true without a doubt in my mind. I love all of you and hope everyone is doing great!
Im so proud of Cody... and his decision to serve and not wait! When the Prophet called, he like Nephi, said, "I will go and do". Cody will be reporting to the Philippines on September 11th... He has only been out three weeks... I can only imagine he will be amazing!
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My other son, Michael, has been in North Carolina for eight months now and loves serving. He is very obedient, very determined ... His letters home have been powerful, direct and to the point. He is and always will be a leader and has been a great example to his family, especially to his brothers.
When Michael first got into the MTC he was doing so well. His first e-mail home he closed with, "I learned two things today: One, there is a specific mission for everyone. Two, that it doesn't matter if you can't understand some one's testimony, the spirit is still there!!"
But About a week before Christmas we had gotten a couple of letters from Michael being negative and somewhat down. He was struggling with his companion, lack of sleep, there was a flu epidemic and he had multiple cold sores (from stress Im sure) and his Zone Leaders and him were not getting along.
Allen and I were both worried and sent multiple letters of encouragement and advice.
Right before Christmas we received a wonderful letter from Michael and it read: "Something has come up that is super important to me. The spirit has softened my heart and I have seen my Zone leaders in a whole new light. One of them (Elder Doyle) I have always liked. Well, his birthday was on the 21st of December. He is a convert to the church and has been a member for just a little over a year. The kid is so sweet and full of love. He has the kindest heart and would do anything for anyone. The problem is his family still has not written him, even on his birthday. Christmas he didn't hear from them either. The kid always has a smile on his face, so no one would ever know that he is struggling with this. I can see this saddens him.
So, I was hoping you could make a package for him. I know that this would make his day. This is very important to me."
We got that package off to his zone leader... And learned an important lesson ...That sometimes we need to look outward and serve. President Monson once said, “you can never [truly] love the Lord until you serve Him by serving His people.”
And at this point I could see the change in Michael, and he was trying to humble himself before The Lord. In one of his letters he says, "I have been praying like everything depends on God! I have been acting like everything depends on me!! I know that through my Savior all is possible. I know that God provides a way for all those he calls (Nephi 3:7). I know that God knows my name and that his Son suffered for mine and everyone's sins. And not only their sins but their trials and afflictions in our lives. (Alma 7) God loves us so much that he gave us His Son, Our older brother, so that we can return to him once again and live with our Families Forever. I know my savior lives. I know it with all my heart, because I am truly converted to him."
Later that month he wrote an amazing letter home... and we could feel his spirit through his writings:
"I love the missionary work. I love working hard and love to serve. It is seriously the hardest thing I have ever done. Because I want to share the testimony I have and the Gospel of Jesus Christ with them, so bad. Because I want them to feel the joy there is in my life. I want them to know and love their Savior like I have and when I want to share that message... WHAM!! Another door to the face. I just say smiling, "Have a wonderful day". It's hard to find those who where prepared and ready to hear our message. But I know that God is my salvation and I will trust and not be afraid. because the Lord Jehovah is my strength and he has become my song. He has also become my salvation. (His plaque quote)
This is my time to tell the people what I know. This is his time, his day and I will praise the Lord and call upon his name. I will and am declaring his doings among the people. I am and will tell them that his name is exalted. I know my Savior lives and that he along with the Father have a deep love and care for everyone on this earth. He knows your name and he knows everyone of us so deeply and intimately... it humbles me so much to think one of those drops of blood in the Garden was because of me. He knows me personally and he sent me here for a reason and I will not let him down. I will not have what ifs.... That is why I serve with all my heart, might, mind, and strength, that is why I always knock ... one more door before we head home. That is why we awkwardly contact people at Wal-mart, it is why I am out here to serve my Lord and King and Savior. It is the least that I can do.
Elder Holland stated,
"Anyone who does any kind of missionary work will have occasion to ask, Why is this so hard? Why doesn’t it go better? Why can’t our success be more rapid? Why aren’t there more people joining the Church? It is the truth. We believe in angels. We trust in miracles. Why don’t people just flock to the font?
You will have occasion to ask those questions. I have thought about this a great deal. I offer this as my personal feeling. I am convinced that missionary work is not easy because salvation is not a cheap experience. Salvation never was easy. We are The Church of Jesus Christ, this is the truth, and He is our Great Eternal Head. How could we believe it would be easy for us when it was never, ever easy for Him? It seems to me that missionaries and mission leaders have to spend at least a few moments in Gethsemane.
For that reason I don’t believe missionary work has ever been easy, nor that conversion is, nor that retention is, nor that continued faithfulness is. I believe it is supposed to require some effort, something from the depths of our soul.
The Atonement will carry the missionaries perhaps even more importantly than it will carry the investigators. When you struggle, when you are rejected, when you are spit upon and cast out, you are standing with the best life this world has ever known, the only pure and perfect life ever lived. You have reason to stand tall and be grateful that the Living Son of the Living God knows all about your sorrows and afflictions. The only way to salvation is through Gethsemane and on to Calvary. The only way to eternity is through Him."
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A few months later in conference we heard one of Michael's favorite quotes from Elder Holland, and I quote:
"Honestly acknowledge your questions and your concerns, but first and forever fan the flame of your faith, because all things are possible to them that BELIEVE." {Then he goes into bearing his testimony to Cody} You will love your mission ... no matter where you are sent. God needs you ...he knows your talents and he loves you. It always amazes me but out of everything he could be called ... he asks us to call him Father. He truly loves each and everyone of us. Don't ever feel inadequate or worthless while you are on your mission. God knows you ...he sent you there for a reason. FIND THAT REASON! You are doing great... little bro!! I am proud of you ...keep it up!!Use the Atonement and allow it to work in your life.
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In closing, he bears a beautiful testimony of the Atonement:
Over all, we need to pray for strength through the enabling power of the Atonement during our trials, not for the trials to be taken from us. God will send help from both sides of the veil as we truly understand the Atonement, like in Mosiah 24.
I put this to the test that night... As you know we have been having a rough time finding, teaching, and baptizing. I have been so worried about changing my situation and have been praying for a mighty change in the area I have been in. But, when I did that study I truly understood the enabling power of the Atonement. My prayers changed this area to strengthen me through the enabling power of the Atonement, so that I can bear my burdens and trials and be the best missionary I can be. The second I prayed for the spirit it hit me so strongly; I was overwhelmed by His love, and felt an overwhelming peace that he was proud of my efforts. The spirit hit me so strong and I can testify with them that the Atonement is real! It is available to each and everyone of us. He loves us more that we can even imagine. He is always there and always hears our prayers. I know that Jesus is the Christ and that he was Gods only perfect son, and that he submitted to the will of the Father and completed the Atonement. I know that God the Father and his son appeared to a humble 14 year old boy and that Joseph Smith is a prophet of God. I know he translated the Book of Mormon by the power of God and I know that through him, God restored his church. The church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is his kingdom on the earth and I know that through the spiritual witness I received at the age of 17, when I had desires to gain my own testimony. I know with out a doubt in my body that the Book of Mormon is true and that God loves all his children. I know this because I have read the Book of Mormon and have asked God; and the Experience I had, I will never forget. It is all true. I know that Jesus Christ is my older brother and am so thankful for what he did. I know that he lives and that he leads and guides this church today!
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I love that my sons are growing in the gospel: humbling themselves, learning, gaining a stronger testimony and then building upon the testimony and foundation they received in our home, from their Young men leaders and countless Primary and sunday school teachers. I will forever be grateful for the countless hours of service many have given to my sons to help them gain a better testimony of their Savior, Jesus Christ. I have no doubt that they are learning how to better deal with their trials and hardships. That The Lord is stretching them ... making them humble and teachable... so they can grow and become who their Heavenly Father wants them to be. I can see the mighty change in both of them... a change that can only be brought upon by applying the atonement of Jesus Christ in our own lives.
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