Tucked in Jacob chapter four is a verse that I absolutely love. It talks about learning with joy through the scriptures. I have often learned the application of truth by studying the experiences of others in the scriptures. As I think back on this week I think that I have learned application of truth through the experiences of our missionaries.
At the beginning of the week I asked several sets of missionaries what had been the blessings of serving a mission. Several of them shared great blessings that had happened to family members that they knew were a result of their service. Three of them shared that family members had chosen greater activity in the church. I find it incredible that the blessings these missionaries joyed in the most were good things that happened to others rather than themselves.
We have a sister that had to get her toe amputated. I have learned from this experience. This sister is in a three-some. Before it was determined that she would have to have surgery, President had asked Sister _______ to train a new missionary the upcoming transfer. When the decision was made to do the surgery, President decided not to transfer her companion, but leave her there putting them in a three-some for a couple of weeks while she recovered. The end result was that a fairly new missionary who has been a member less than two years has had the opportunity to train a brand new missionary while their companion has directed the over-all training from the bed as she’s recovering. A couple of days into the new transfer, I received a call from the fairly new companion. She said, “At first I was a little sad that I was not going to be transferred, but now I can see that I was needed here. I haven’t served very long, but I am doing my best to train my new companion.” My heart filled with love for this sister who was willing to do what the situation required regardless of her insecurities.
Yesterday we attended a baptism in the YSA ward in Bentonville. We met an absolutely beautiful, glowing convert. She shared that in previous years she had asked other members of our church questions about the gospel, but they had not really answered them. But when a young man came to her door selling pest control she struck up a conversation with him. When she found out he was Mormon she began to ask questions, which he answered. He then said that there were some guys who he could introduce to her that could answer even more of her questions. He was ready with answers, and even though he had recently returned from serving a mission, he got the missionaries involved as quickly as he could. There is power that comes when we invite the Lord’s anointed into our lives. There is power that comes in being prepared to answer why we believe what we believe.
I also had a very personal prayer answered in a powerful way this week. I have been worried that our newness would affect the work of the mission so I have been praying that the Lord would quicken our understanding and help us move forward quickly. Yesterday as we sat in counsel with the Roger’s Stake Presidency, the high counselor over missionary work, and the zone leaders, I felt like the Heavens were opened and understanding came to both President and I. I do not think I am done learning in this category, but I know that a new vision came that just makes sense.
The Lord answers prayers. It is His work. Of this I am sure.
The next two weeks President will travel the mission. He will interview each missionary for 15 minutes. He can hardly wait. I really want to go, but I am struggling with turning my mothering of Neal over to someone else – even if it is his sister. Figuring out the good, better, best choices are sometimes a little difficult. But I am trusting in the Lord.