Pre-Mission Talk by Craig

I fondly remember going to church when I was very young. I sat in a pew made of light-colored wood, with no cushions next to my father. We sang hymns. I remember hearing and listening to his clear baritone voice. He would take my finger in his hand and point to the words as we sang. This was how I learned to sing, trying to match my voice to his. 

Before I could read very well, my father helped me with my first talk in church, which was in primary. He typed out scripture verses for me on a 3x5 card. Then with me on his lap, my finger in his hand, he pointed to each word, and after some practice I memorized the following: 

5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.

James 1:5-6

My father taught me my first scripture and introduced me to living a spiritual life. 

A spiritual life recognizes the world is rich with experiences and knowledge. That there are numerous sources of learning including books, classes, teachers, and even the internet. 

Embracing a spiritual life involves acknowledging that the primary source of fundamental knowledge and genuine wisdom about reality comes from God, and subsequently living in accordance with this understanding. 

My childhood and adolescence were different than Suzanne’s. I was nurtured and protected by two loving and committed parents. It wasn’t until I returned from my mission and was married that I was fully introduced to the world. I experienced setbacks. I was shocked by people’s behavior, some of which I had really looked up to. My behavior could have been better. I wondered about my life. What in life really was important. 

While I grew up in the church, I felt at a crossroads. After some time, I remembered the verse my father taught me and what it meant. 

If any of you need wisdom, ask God, who gives to all generously, and God does not reproach, reprimand, or rebuke. If you ask, he will teach to you. As only he can. 

This is God’s invitation to each one of us. I returned to prayer. My prayers became deeply personal. Sometimes I received and followed answers that were only confirmed later in life. Sometimes it was just a quiet and silent struggle. But deep inside I felt his presence which pushed me and still propels me on today.  

It is common to feel confused and occasionally disheartened when observing and experiencing the conflicts and noise in the world. Various forces push us in different directions, leading to the belief that truth and joy is unattainable. 

Inevitably we all pick our paths, choose our friends, and develop our own approach to life. Heavenly Father has not left us alone on this trek. He reaches out to us individually, one by one, and invites us to remember him, to talk with him, to ask him what is true. 

The beating heart of a spiritual life is prayer: our personal dialogue with Father. 

Regardless of the words we choose, be open and sincere. This means expressing our thoughts and intentions without embarrassment or self-consciousness. God knows us, and he loves us. Being sincere involves having faith in God to answer, and faith in ourselves to follow his guidance. 

Remember the second part of the scripture?

That we pray in faith, fully committed. For without full intent, we can be like a sea wave, blown by the wind and tossed.  See James 1:6

Jesus taught that we should “love the Lord our God with all our heart . . . and with all our mind . . .” See Mark 12:30 

As we talk with Heavenly Father, we use the words that come from our “innerst inne” [Swedish] these are words that come from our heart. 

Prayer engages our minds. We express love for God and commune with Him by meditating on His word. This includes reading scripture, reflecting on it, discussing its teachings, and contemplating the word of God as a basic part of our ordinary, daily life. God reveals himself to us in his scriptures and he speaks to us as we ponder them through our day and apply them to our lives. The scriptures are full of people like you and me, trying to make their way through life as best they can. We learn from their examples and the wisdom they received from God during their lives. As we do this, we keep a channel open to Heavenly Father through which he can teach, influence, and inspire us. 

Just as physical activities like walking or running exercise the body, meditating on God’s word serves to fortify our spiritual well-being. This practice helps us understand our lives and align our actions with God.

David prayed,

7 Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me.

8 When thou said.., Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, Lord, will I seek.

9 Hide not thy face far from me; . . . 

Psalms 27:7-9a

The heart of David’s psalm is his loving desire for one thing: to be in God’s presence; face to face, then and forever. 

A third way to pray is contemplating God. When we look for him and seek his presence. We reach out to him and want to be with him, to see his face. This is kind of a foretaste or glimpse of eternal life. Jesus taught, “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.” Matt. 5:8 

There are so many moving parts to this world. No wonder the scriptures tell us to “Be still, and know that I am God:” Psalms 46:10a. The words “be still” can also be translated as be silent. This may not mean we should be quiet, but there are times when words are not enough.

Paul taught

We all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being changed into his likeness from one degree of glory to another. (2 Corinthians 3:18)

Temples provide us opportunities to do this. As we seek God’s presence in our life, he transforms us.  

Prayer is trying at times. When we feel no answer is coming, or God feels far from us. Just as Jacob wrestled with the Lord for a blessing, and Jesus asked for another way, our prayers and progress on this spiritual path is not easy. But God is there, and Jesus volunteers to yoke up together with us, to get us through. Don’t give up!

Life provides us so many questions about ourselves, what to do, and what to be. Without engaging God in forming our answers, we really can be like that wave of the sea. Pushed, pommeled, and driven by the latest wind having no harbor or true home. 

I am blessed to have been introduced to this spiritual path, and prayer early in my life. I have not been perfect at it, yet I won’t give up.  I have learned with perfect knowledge and confidence that my life is sweeter, richer, and more joyful when I am squarely on this path and pray. 

You have the same invitation, we all do; Now Suzanne and I get to proclaim this to Laos!  . . . If you ever lack wisdom, ask God, who provides liberally . . .

 

Pre-Mission Talk by Suzanne

Craig’s and my stories are very different. We were not LDS, and my younger brother and I lived with our father. Our mother was an alcoholic, and despite our wonderful father, let’s just say our upbringing was not ideal. We have a half-sister and half-brother through our mother. Our sister was adopted, and I did not meet her until we were adults. I did spend some time with our brother when we were children, but we have a much better relationship now that we are grown. 

 

Because of our family situation I was drawn to the gospel. I had heard that the church valued family, and that spoke to me. Not long after I turned 16, I was baptized. My brother attended, but our father did not, because he thought it was a phase I would outgrow. Surprisingly, my father was baptized nine months later, and he baptized my brother two weeks after that.

 

There are no guarantees that even a temple marriage will survive, or that there will be no abuse, but the probability of a happy family is higher in a temple marriage. I liked the higher odds, so even though I prior to getting baptized did not want to get married or bring children to a world where there was so much ugliness and abuse, I said yes to Craig when he asked me to marry him. I have never regretted that decision. Who knows where, and who, I had been today if I had not accepted the gospel.

 

An eternal family is one of the things I value in the gospel. I love knowing that I can spend forever with Craig, our fantastic children, and awesome grandchildren. It is what originally attracted me to the gospel, and something I am grateful for even today. 

 

What I did not realize when I was baptized, was that the gospel has so much more to offer than that. It took many years before I truly understood the real beauty the gospel had to offer.

 

I thought the Atonement was all about being forgiven for the sins we commit, and that is a very important aspect. But it is so much more than that. I wish I had understood that, when not-so-good childhood memories started popping up, and when I was going through a deep depression when our children were small. 

 

Through His Atonement, Christ heals not only the transgressor, but also the innocent who suffer because of those transgressions.

 

Would this knowledge have helped? I don’t know, but it would have been nice to have had the knowledge and understanding then. Maybe I would have been kinder to my loved ones. What I do know, is that this knowledge helped me tremendously while going through cancer treatments the last couple of years, because even though some things are not brought on by what someone has done, Christ’s Atonement will help us go through these difficult times. Elder Tad Callister said that “Sometimes He removes the affliction, sometimes He strengthens us to endure, and sometimes He gives us an eternal perspective to better understand their temporary nature.” 

 

Sometimes we go through these difficult times because there is something we need to learn, but I believe that most of the time they just happen. Sometimes because of someone else’s agency. However, I can attest that it is possible to feel joy while we are going through difficult trials. This does not mean we will always be happy, but it does mean we do not have to be miserable all the time.

 

Elder Robert D. Hales said that -

“Pain brings you to a humility that allows you to ponder. It is an experience I am grateful to have endured . . . 

 

It is difficult to imagine, but Christ CHOSE to experience pains and afflictions in order to understand us. This is why the Atonement works. We may not choose to endure pains and afflictions, but going through trials can help us gain empathy and understanding for others.

 

One of my favorite scriptures is in

Matthew 9:20-22

It says:

“And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind Him, and touched the hem of His garment:

“For she said within herself, If I may but touch His garment, I shall be whole.

“But Jesus turned Him about, and when He saw her, He said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.”

 

It seems this woman understood the miracle of the Atonement even before Jesus suffered in Gethsemane. Her faith must have been enormous. This is the kind of faith I am striving for. It will most likely take more than one lifetime.

 

Last Sunday, Sister Mitchell said that “missionaries are called to a people, not a place.” I believe that applies to where we live as well. Heavenly Father puts people on our path that are helpful in one way or another, or people that need us. We have met so many wonderful people everywhere we have lived, Kimberly is no exception, and are excited to go to Laos to meet even more.

 

We will serve a humanitarian, not a proselyting mission. Laos is a communist country, and does not recognize our church, so as missionaries we will not be allowed to mention Jesus Christ or talk about Him, but, like Christ did, we will be able to serve them. This is why I asked if we could change the words to one of the verses in our intermediate hymn to: 

 

“Because of Thy life’s mission, Lord

I too will serve

I’ll leave the comfort of my home

To teach Thy word

I’ll see Thy sheep who’ve gone astray

And those who’ve never known the way

I will make Thy work my work today.”

 

I cannot wait to meet, and serve, the people in Laos. Heavenly Father wants us there, and although I will miss my family very much, as well as wonderful friends here, I am excited to help and serve, and to learn how to become better and more faithful.

 

I love my Heavenly Father and elder brother Jesus Christ. They have been with me my whole life, even if I haven’t always felt them near me. The gospel is true, and we are so loved by our Heavenly Family.