My Mission, My Zion

As many of you may or may not know I just returned from serving an 18 month mission to Panama. As a post to kind of jump start my blog I thought I would share the talk which relates some of my mission experiences. Enjoy! More blog posts to come in the future. Its good to be back.

The word in Spanish for mission is ‘mision’. When split in two one ends up with two words ‘mi’ and ‘sion’. Translated into English this literally means: my Zion. As missionaries we invite others to come unto Christ. To come to know their Redeemer through the learning and applying of His restored Gospel. We then invite them to follow His example, just as He extended the invitation over two thousand years ago “Follow thou me.” I spent the past eighteen months in Panama, with the hope of bringing but “one soul unto Christ” When I left I did not know what to expect. But as I helped others come to know their Savior, their Redeemer and their Older Brother… as they came to find their Zion… it was in their journey that my mission became my Zion and what I learned from each and every one of them I wish to share with you today. With their examples of today and scriptural examples of yesterday I hope my message will encourage each of us to be better, to walk straighter; to keep our eyes always focused on those things of eternity.  May the Holy Ghost aid and guide me as I speak with all of you this morning.

We read in the scriptures often of the importance of persevering. In 2 Nephi 31:20 we learn “Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life.” The Apostle Peter for me has always been this great example of perseverance. We see his love and devotion to our Lord and Savior numerous times during His earthly ministry. But perhaps the greatest was first the agony of his denial, followed soon after by his acceptance to lead the Lords primitive church after His ascension into heaven. We are all familiar with the story. The night before the Lord’s crucifixion He prophesied that before the cock crowed, Peter would deny Him three times. It is my personal belief that in this moment Peter felt assured that such a thing would never occur. But just as the Lamb of God predicted, before the cock crowed, Peter denied Him three times. In Luke’s moving account of this experience, we read that Peter when the Lord looked upon Him “remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And Peter went out, and wept.”

I personally think it could have been very easy for Peter to leave and never return. Shame, embarrassment, or guilt could have motivated him to separate himself. But he was the one who had known who Christ was. He was the one who had stepped out of the boat, and walked onto the water to the Master. Later, he was the one to whom the Lord directed His admonition to “feed my sheep.”  He never gave up, and no matter what we have done, neither should we. Moments of discouragement, hardship and frustration may come. But we must never let these things overtake us. If we are to be disciples of Jesus Christ. We must keep going, keep persevering until the end. Like the first convert of my mission. 

When my companion and I met Jesus Martin he was on the street selling empanadas. We had wandered around all afternoon searching for an investigator, following an address that seemed to have never existed. A problem all too common unfortunately. When we found Jesus he asked if we had a book. We gave to him and explained briefly the Book of Mormon. We would not see him for another month. We did finally make it to his home, following a prompting of the spirit; it was not long before he expressed the sincere desire to be baptized. Yet he related to us that he had done far too many things. He struggled with problems of the word of wisdom and the law of chastity. But we looked at him and asked him if he truly desired to be baptized, to be clean. His words, reminded me all too well of the words of Peter as Christ washed His apostles feet. “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head” (John 13:9) and I saw that in Jesus’ eyes as he begged us to help him become clean. Up until the day of his baptism he struggled. But he was cleansed, through baptism by water and the spirit. Jesus has already left this life, but the Sunday before he died, he blessed the sacrament, exercising the priesthood keys that he held. His was a life of perseverance, and though he never held any high position in the church. He offered his whole soul as an offering unto God (Omni 1:26)

Just as we must persevere through our struggles, a great source of strength can be found in prayer. The admonition to “pray always” or pray without ceasing is found at least 50 times in the Bible alone.  The church, as we know was restored once again upon the earth because a fourteen year old boy entered a grove of trees and asked our Heavenly Father in prayer a simple question. God has always encouraged communication with him. On my mission I had many opportunities to see answers to prayers; but perhaps the greatest, was when a twenty one year old boy named Michael, just like the first prophet of this dispensation, asked to know the truth.

I had just been transferred to my second area. Michael lived with his grandma, mother, and younger brother behind our apartment building. This particular evening we had taught him about the Word of Wisdom and invited him to be baptized. The simplest way to put it, he was a wreck. He shed tears as he admitted that he was a man of little faith, that he did not know if the church was true and he was not sure how he could ever know. As we taught him an all too familiar scripture came to mind “Ask and ye shall receive, seek and ye shall find, knock and it shall be opened unto you.”  So we invited Michael to give the closing prayer in that moment. We all got down on our knees and Michael began to pray. With all the fervency of a lost soul looking for the way to go he pleaded to our God and our Father. He asked him, in much the same way I am sure Joseph did almost two hundred years ago, to know what he should do. Then he asked God to send him a sign, to show him, somehow, if he should be baptized into this church.  And the scriptures read concerning signs: “But, behold, faith cometh not by signs, but signs follow those that believe. Yea, signs come by faith, not by the will of men, nor as they please, but by the will of God. (Doctrine and Covenants 63: 9-10). I knew that Michael believed. I begged God, in my heart in that moment, that He would reach forth His hand and work a miracle.

All too soon, the prayer ended. But no one moved. All that could be heard was Michael sobbing and all that could be felt was the Spirit, so strong physical warmth enveloped the room and all present. We asked Michael what had happened, what he had felt but he continued to cry. His grandmother also began to implore and he finally spoke. He told us that when he had asked God to know what to do he had felt a man beside him. When he had pleaded to know if he should be baptized on the date we had challenged him and had asked for a side, the unseen man had reached out and touched his arm.

I do not know what happened to Michael. I believe that if he has not already he will one day be baptized. Michael was an example to me about the power of faith and prayer. God knows what we need before we ask it, but He implores that we ask, that we might build our faith. We must pray always. We cannot miss even one morning or one night if we do not want the adversary to treat us like “waves upon the sea, driven with the wind and tossed” (James 1:6) Pray always. I you have been lacking start today. I can testify that it is strength, a necessity, like water in an arid desert; it is water to our souls, in this arid and fallen world.

Seeing God answers prayers throughout my mission taught me that God is merciful. The story of Paul, once Saul which we find in the New Testament also bear testimony to my heart of the love and compassion of our Father and His Son. Many of you are familiar with the conversion of Saul to Paul. He was a Pharisee who “made havoc for the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison (Acts 8:3). Saul was bent on destroying the church, even as he travels on the infamous road to Damascus we read that he is “breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord” (Acts 9:1) and then we know, that as Saul journeys on this road, the Savior appears to him beseeching “Saul, Saul, why persecuteth thou me?” And thus Saul was converted to Paul and became one of the greatest missionaries of the primitive church. “And thus they become new creatures; and unless they do this they can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God (Mosiah 27:26)

Thirty five year old Jaime was Saul. Jaime persecuted members of the church whenever they had the misfortune to cross his path.  Leaders came to his home to do family home evenings with his wife and kids who were faithful active members. They desired to learn. He desired to argue. He had a book of our doctrine, with biblical scriptures that disproved every single point. With that as his weapon, he went around destroying the spiritual morale of his family. He kept them from going to the temple. They wept, he was glad. This modern day Saul continued, until he began his own journey down his own personal road to Damascus.  First, he decided to go to church with his wife. But he felt nothing. He was moved by a lesson on the Book of Mormon, but still he felt no inclination to change. Then, one night, after years... seven to be exact, of praying to know what he should do, he had a dream.

“In my dream” he told us, “I was a spectator as I watched a couple walking through a deserted city. They looked for something, what I did not know. They passed abandon streets, the wife, always leading, the husband, complaining that they would never get there because she did not know where they were going. They came to a park, the center of the city. An old woman stood there. She explained ‘there are many roads, which you can take to get where you are going; there are roads upon which you can take a car, a bus. There is beautiful road to your left and the most dangerous road to your right” The husband insisted that they take one of the more comfortable roads. One that they knew would be free of danger. But the wife disagreed. She assured her husband that they must take the most dangerous road. It was the only way to get where THEY wanted to go. With complaints from the husband every step, they went. They passed ferocious animals and crossed broken bridges. Through darkness and fog and all kinds of dangers they walked. The husband complained, the wife, pressed on. Then they reached the end of the road and the crest of a hill. A man gardened not too far away. The husband insisted they ask. The wife began to walk up the hill. The husband cried in anger ‘you don’t know if that’s the way, you don’t know… we must ask!’ and he turned to ask the gardener. In that moment I cried out” Jaime told us, “and said to the man, ‘follow your wife, she knows the way, she has always known the way, follow your wife!’ and then “Jaime said “I woke up, confused, I was not sure what it all meant, but I got down on my knees as if to pray. Before I could open my mouth the words came to me ‘Follow your wife, she has always known the way, follow your wife’ and I knew” Jaime said” that I needed to be baptized.”

We met Jaime on May 2^nd, and on May 10^th he was baptized. He went from attacking the doctrines of the church, to testifying of their truthfulness. He had said never and God had only said, not yet. Now, we may not have dreams. We may not feel or see or hear angels. But God tells us that it is never too late. When Jesus taught the parables of the prodigal son, the lost sheep and the lost silver he ended each by saying “I say unto you likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repent, then over the just that need no repentance…”  (Luke 15) No matter what you have done no matter how far down the wrong road you think you have gone, the drops of blood that stained the Garden of Gethsemane and the cross of Calvary are a witness to each of us that all is not lost. They cry out to us to come back. Christ himself beckons “Behold the wounds which pierced my side, and also the prints of the nails in my hands and feet; be faithful, keep my commandments, and ye shall inherit the kingdom of heaven.  (D &C 6:37). Jaime taught me, that it is never too late for anyone, no, not even for you.

My last example is the Book of Mormon’s own Saul. We all know him, as Alma the Younger. He is described as being a “very wicked and idolatrous man… he led many of the people to do after the manner of his iniquities… giving a chance for the enemy of God to exercise his power over them.” (Mosiah 27).  Like Alma the Younger who wandered around reaping havoc where ever he went there was once a young man named Gerald.

One day we found a key in the street. It was a part of our area that we had never been in, so we decided to knock on the nearest door. A woman named Diosalina answered and let us in. She told us about her family. About her seventeen year old son, who was rather rebellious but loved to learn English because he wants to go the States someday. We wrote down the address and went to find Gerald. When we found him there was nothing exciting about him. In fact he did not even seem interested. We left him a pamphlet about the Restoration and invited him to English classes and that was the end of the conversation. We did not even ask for his number, but we left him ours. He came to English class and lingered afterwards. He asked if he could walk with us part of the way home so that he could see where the church was. He expressed the desire to come to that Sunday’s services.  As we walked he told me that he had never been baptized. We invited him to be baptized three weeks from that day, the Saturday before I would come home. He accepted, we left him with a Book of Mormon and prayed that he would attend. He came. He stood and bore his testimony. Everyone was shocked. The following day we taught our first lesson about Joseph Smith. He told us he knew it was true. The following day we taught him about the Book of Mormon. He expressed the desire that it be shared with the world. He told us that he had burned every worldly book, movie, or CD that he’d had. He began to read the Book of Mormon, reading as much as twenty chapters in one day. That next Sunday he came to church dressed just like a missionary. He only needed the nametag. He started going out to visit people with us. Then he told us why he had changed so completely, so quickly.

He told us that he’d had a dream. In that dream he was walking from one end of town to the other. He said everything was bright and beautiful. He told us that up ahead of him he saw two girls that looked like they were preaching. Then beside him, he saw our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. In his dream Christ called him by name and said “you are going to meet two girls, and these two girls are going to turn on a light in your life. If you are to progress and reach your full potential... if you desire all the blessings I have planned for you, you must accept this light into your life and you must never turn back.” Two days after this dream, we knocked on his door. He knew the moment we entered his home, that we were those girls from his dream. He told us that he knew his sins were forgiven because as he prayed he felt such joy. Like Alma the Younger who said “and oh what joy, and what marvelous light, I did behold, yea my soul was filled with joy…” (Alma 36:20). Gerald was baptized on the date that he accepted. This past week, thanks to technology, Gerald called me. He told me that for the second time he has blessed the sacrament and that he would be meeting with the branch president to discuss his desire to serve a mission. He is preparing to serve a mission and a year from now will accept a call to fulfill the deepest desire of his heart, to tell the world about Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon.  

Alma asked the faithful saints of  Zarahemla,  “And now behold, I say unto you, my brethren, if ye have experienced a change of heart, and if ye have felt to sing the song of redeeming love, I would ask, can ye feel so now? (Alma 5:26) Have you felt this change of heart? If you have not, do you what you have to in order to be completely converted. Gerald showed me what it means to truly be converted. To change everything about yourself so that it is in harmony with God. A true conversion is not limited to age, Gerald is only seventeen. It does not matter how much money you make or how well you are educated. What really matters is where your heart is. What do you love most? God does not care so much what you want Him to give you, but what you are willing to give Him. King Benjamin taught “unless ye become as a little child ye cannot enter into the kingdom of God” (Mosiah 3:19). As followers of the Savior, we must become as little children and then become like Him, or we will never enter into the “many mansions” that he has prepared for us. Brothers and sisters, do what you have to. Start today. And never look back.

At this moment I feel as Ammon did, when he spoke of his brothers of his experiences… they consecrated 14 years of their lives to our Lord. And while the time cannot compare my heart bursts with the words of Ammon as he recounted. “We have suffered all manner of afflictions, and all of this, that perhaps we might be the means of saving some soul; and we supposed that our joy would be full if perhaps we could be the means of saving some. Now behold, we can look forth and see the fruits of our labors; are they few? I say unto you, Nay, they are many… yea and my joy is carried away, even unto the boasting in my God; for he has all power, all wisdom, and all understanding; he comprehendeth all things, and he is a merciful Being, even unto salvation, to those who will repent and believe on His name… now this is my joy, and my great thanksgiving; yea, and I will give thanks unto my God forever…” (Alma 26) Seeing these people change, changed me. Their journeys strengthened my testimony. Their struggles increased my faith. I can testify that the greatest convert, is none of the people that talked of today…. But the one who humbly stands before you now. I thought I knew of the love of my Savior. But I did not truly know it until I watched each of these come to know their Savior. As they found their Zion… they guided me to mine.

Modeling Our Mothers

So I've been asked to give a talk in Sacrament Meeting this Sunday. If you are a nonmember and have questions about that then just shoot me an email and I'll gladly explain it. Anyway, I was asked to speak on mothers (imagine that) and it was suggested I reference the talk Mothers and Daughters. It has to be twelve to fifteen minutes long. I figured what better way to kick off a blog about spiritual things then to share a talk I had to give. Enjoy! May God bless each of you!

Since it is Mother’s day I have been asked to speak on mothers. Though it was recommended I draw my remarks from the talk Mothers and Daughters given by M. Russell Ballard I decided to take a somewhat different approach. Elder Ballard’s talk discussed the influence mothers and daughters can have on one another. Since I didn’t want the priesthood holders in the audience to spiritually kick up their feet and take a fifteen minutes nap I have chosen to speak to you on the influence various matriarchal figures have had on men and women of God throughout history and what we can learn from their wonderful examples.  In the talk that I previously mentioned M. Russell Ballard said “Throughout the history of the world, women have always been teachers of moral values. That instruction begins in the cradle and continues throughout the lives of their children.”  I intend to discuss with you today, six exemplary women who taught the principles of God through their words and their actions. 

First I would like to talk about Sarah, the wife of Abraham and the mother of Isaac. Sarah is a wonderful example of patience and faith. As we all remember Sarah did not give birth to Isaac until well into her later years. Not being a mother myself I can only imagine the heart ache that waiting must have caused her. After all Abraham had been promised that he would be “the father of many nations” I’m sure Sarah in turn expected that she would be the mother of many nations. As the story goes, the Lord did finally bless them with a son, Isaac. Sarah had waited years for this blessing. I cannot fathom her feelings when Abraham came to her and related the Lord’s admonishment to him to “take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, who thou lovest and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of” (Genesis 22:3). Genesis 22, the chapter from which this verse is taken does not even mention Sarah but I can imagine that she was not that enthusiastic about the idea. Yet she let Abraham leave with their only son, certain that he wouldn’t return. To me that brothers and sisters, is a true example of faith. As Latter Day Saints we must have the conviction to trust that the Lord will guide us even when we cannot see the road we have been called to travel. It is vital to our salvation that we learn, as Sarah eventually did, to wait upon the Lord for all the righteous desires of our hearts. I can personally testify that in our patience and waiting we can find true happiness.

In an address given by Elder Russell M. Nelson he quoted a statement from the First Presidency which expounds ““Motherhood is near to divinity. It is the highest, holiest service to be assumed by mankind. It places her who honors its holy calling and service next to the angels.”

I would next like to draw our attention to Hannah, the mother of Samuel. I’m sure we are all familiar with her story. She was desperate to be a mother. Her demonstration of gratitude towards and trust in, the Lord are the epitome of how each of us, men and women alike need to be. The first book of Samuel records how “her adversary also provoked her sore, for to make her fret, because the Lord had shut up her womb” (1 Samuel 1:6). As any of us would be there were times when she struggled with what she felt the Lord was denying her. Verse 10 of the same chapter reads “and she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the Lord, and wept sore” (1 Samuel 1:10) I would like to bring to your attention that despite her bitterness, despite her pain and her suffering, she went to the Lord. In verse 15 she tells Eli the priest that she has “poured out [her] soul before the Lord.” When she brings Samuel forth she claims in verse 20 that is because “I have asked him of the Lord”. Not only did she trust the Lord and cultivate enough faith to believe that if she asked she would receive but when she did receive she credited the miracle to the Lord. Then as she had promised she gave Samuel to the Lord. To be representatives of the Savior we must pattern our lives and behavior after Hannah. When we are suffering it is essential that we pray to the Lord in faith, fundamental that we praise him when that suffering is relieved, and a requirement of the Celestial kingdom to be honest in all our dealings with God and our fellow men.

Sheri Dew proclaimed “For mother is the word that will define a righteous woman made perfect in the highest degree of the celestial kingdom, a woman who has qualified for eternal increase in posterity, wisdom, joy, and influence.”

Another woman I would like to recall to your remembrance is of course Mary, the mother of Jesus. She was a teenager when the angel Gabriel appeared to her and hailed her as “highly favored… and blessed among women” [Luke 1:28]. When told that she would conceive and bring forth a son, even the son of God she did not state the impossibility of it, she did not argue that such a thing would not come to pass. Rather she demonstrated humility in the meek but innocent reply of a young girl “how shall this be, seeing I know not a man” (Luke 1:34). When explained the way and told of her cousin Elizabeth’s own miracle Mary replied with a faithful answers that has been praised for centuries “behold the handmaid of the lord; be it unto me according to thy word” (Luke 1:38). Never mind that she would have to face her family and her betrothed, knowing that it was likely they would not believe. Never mind that the law said Joseph could have her stoned for being unfaithful. Never mind that she was but a child who was bear and raise the boy that would grow to be the prophesied Messiah and Redeemer of all mankind. Forget all of that and consider the courage it would take to bring forth and raise a son, knowing full well that he would atone for the sins of the world; that he would be the Savior of all dispensations and peoples. I know I for one would feel extremely inadequate, afraid, and unworthy. I pray that we like Mary, humbly and faithfully accepting the Lord’s will, that we do all that he commands with courage, and that we say unto the Lord no matter the circumstances “be it unto me according to thy word”

Russell M. Nelson said “Because mothers are essential to God’s great plan of happiness, their sacred work is opposed by Satan, who would destroy the family and demean the worth of women.”

There are many more examples of great mothers in the Bible but because I am short on time I cannot discuss them further. I encourage each of you to personally ponder many of these other great women. Study them and draw lessons of character and obedience from their righteous ways. The next woman, or rather women, that I would like to speak on are the wives and mothers of those faithful Anti-Nephi Lehis. You will recall the account in Alma 24 when the Lamanites came against the people. The men walked forward to meet them; prostrating themselves on the ground they allowed their Lamanite brethren to slaughter them without mercy. Their faith and reward is praised in verse 22, “we know that they are blessed, for they have gone to dwell with their God” (Alma 24:22). What we are not privy to are those wives and mothers that did not go out to meet the Lamanites. Who bid their husbands and sons farewell in the full knowledge that they would not see them again in this life. Their faith in the teachings of the Savior, their steadfastness to their belief, and their testimonies in the wisdoms of God are unequivocal and unparalleled. These women let their sons and husbands leave their embrace that day, believing that the Gospel they had so recently accepted was true. To stand strong against this world of moral decay it is requisite that we develop a testimony strong enough to withstand the cunning temptations of the adversary; a testimony that will provide us with strength to face the spiritual massacres that we will encounter. We, as members of the Lord’s church in these Latter Days, may never have to face such a difficult decision. But, when the time comes when we must choose between God and the world, we must decide now to stand with these faithful women and not falter in our fight for all that is good, encouraging those around us to do likewise. 

Regarding women and motherhood Elder Matthew Cowley said “You are born with an inherent right, an inherent authority, to be the saviors of human souls. You are co-creators with God of his children. Therefore, it is expected of you by a right divine that you will be the saviors and the regenerating force in the lives of God's children here upon the earth.”

Perhaps one of the most well-known groups of mothers in the Book of Mormon is the mothers of the stripling warriors.  These women of the Anti-Nephi Lehis had to have the faith to send their sons to be under Helaman’s command. These very same women watched their fathers, husbands, and elder sons be slain before the Lamanites just a generation before. Now, when the need called for it, they were willing to give their beloved boys to the cause of their God and their freedom yet again. Perhaps the most miraculous, and then again not so miraculous, facet of these women was their examples to their mighty sons. Helaman relates to Moroni regarding his stripling warriors “they had been taught by their mothers, that if they did not doubt, God would deliver them. And they rehearsed unto me the words of their mothers, saying: we do not doubt that our mothers knew it” (Alma 56:47-48) he goes on to say “they obey and observe to perform every word of command with exactness; yea and even according to their faith it was done unto them; and I did remember the words which they said unto me that their mothers had taught them…” (Alma 57:21). Let us all be like these mothers; faithful, strong, and courageous. One of my favorite sayings goes like this “live in such a way that those who know you, but don’t know God, will come to know God because they know you.” It is my hope that each of us live in a way that will bring others to Christ; that when others speak of us “they do no doubt that we knew it.” 

In that same talk entitled Mothers and Daughters M. Russell Ballard stressed “In these last days it is essential—even critical—that parents and children listen to and learn from one another.” 

The last remarkable mother that I would like to speak of is not written about in the scriptures. In fact she has not been recorded in any history book. Multitudes of people do not know her name. When she was nine years old she tried to join the church but was told to wait till she was old enough to be sure it was the choice she wanted to make. At twelve she was the pioneer of her family and continues to set the example today. She is a woman familiar with sorrows and has been a frequent companion to adversity. She has suffered many of the trials and abuses of this world. Yet she has remained steadfast and faithful, endeavoring to teach her children that with the Lord all things are possible. She has been an example of faith, long suffering, courage, and love to her children. I am honored to be counted among them. My mother stands as all the other women previously mentioned; as one who loves God and those around her. I bear my witness of the value of motherhood; of the divinity of that sacred calling. I can testify that from our mothers we can learn all that we need in order to live a faithful righteous life. I pray that each of us remember our mothers today, the examples that they have been and all that they have done for us. May we emulate their goodness and their righteousness. I say these things in the name our Beloved Lord and Savior, even Jesus Christ, Amen.