Missionary Work... To Reach Every Human Heart

I'll start with my 5 thanks today...

1)  My G's example - Sometimes I forget. 

I'll be honest, sometimes I get frustrated with this little boy... that I have to tell him 7 times over and again to do something.  Sometimes, even though I've told him several times and we agree on expectations... he forgets, or gets distracted. 

He sometimes airs pride instead of humility, thinks he knows more than I do, backtalk's - not in a mean way, but in a combative way.

I get frustrated with him!

Sometimes that frustration upstages the truth and what I truly love about his little boy. 

He reminded me today as he bore his testimony to our congregation for his first time.

I'll write more about that experience later.

2) Today's lesson on patience - nuff said!

3)  Church - I really do value and appreciate this time... to be with others that believe as I do, to feel lifted, to be reminded of lessons that have been a little dormant in the rear of my mind, to feel the pounding in my heart, to remember my Savior, to recommit myself.  It is such a blessing in my life and today I'm so thankful for it.

4) New and exciting opportunities - I was approached by a kids clothing company recently and today Q and I worked on it together.  We had a great time, and I'll be sharing that this week.

5) When Matt has lunch waiting for us - It is so nice, especially on the Sunday's I am fasting to come home to a lunch, ready and waiting for us.  I appreciate him!

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Last week I taught the lesson in Relief Society.  It was on missionary work.

The 4 fold mission of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints are:

Proclaim the Gospel

Redeem the Dead

Perfect the Saints

Care For the Poor and Needy

Missionary work is right there at the top of the list.  This is one of the things we want to do, and quite frankly are commanded to do. 

Recently in our area we have been focused on missionary work, I suspect other areas have been encouraged in the same way.  We just had general conference and from the prophet and apostles... missionary work!

Why the emphasis?  Why now?

 As I studied for this lesson I pulled from my current Book of Mormon studies, which had recently been in 3 Nephi.  Christ is among the people and he tells them to study the words of Isaiah.  I thought about those words, then went to Isaiah.

Part of my lesson focused on the gathering of Israel that is emphasized in Isaiah.  We clarified who The House of Israel is, and what their responsibilities are!

In short, it's us, and our responsibility is to help gather Israel. 

Here is some interesting reading...

“Being an heir to the Abrahamic covenant does not make one a ‘chosen person’ per se, but does signify that such are chosen to responsibly carry the gospel to all the peoples of the earth” (Bible Dictionary, “Abraham, Covenant of,” 602). The promise to gather Israel is being fulfilled today as descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob bear the Lord’s name, His ministry, and His priesthood to all the families of the earth, thus offering them “the blessings of the Gospel, which are the blessings of salvation, even of life eternal” (Abraham 2:11).

This is missionary work... sharing and gathering in all those who believe that Jesus is the Christ and want to bear His name.

We do feel a responsibility to teach the gospel of Jesus Christ to any who want to hear.

In the beginning of our lesson it talks about President Snow and the many missions he served.  He was writing to his aunt back home, with all of it's familiarities and friends and wrote... why am I here?  He answered his question with the reasoning he felt a calling to do so.  He wanted to share the truth he knew.

Why are you here? 

We ask this question in a broad sense a lot.  Why did I come to earth?  What is my purpose?

We know the answers to that.

My question is more specific... why are you here... this time, this place, with these people around you?

What gifts and talents do you have that would benefit the Lord in His purposes, thus him saving you until this time to come to earth?  Are you using them?  Are you of the house of Israel?  Are you participating in the gathering?

Who are the beneficiaries of missionary work?

Do I get paid if someone is baptized?  No.

Do our missionaries get anything for serving a mission?  Nope, they also pay to go!

Does the LDS church get a prize for growth per year or how many people join?  Nope!

Why do we do it?  I think it's fair to say it is a faith-based work.

From the lesson:

When a man receives knowledge, he is prompted to impart it to others; when a man becomes happy, the spirit that surrounds him teaches him to strive to make others happy.

There are things about a mission which are not altogether agreeable to our young Elders. They realize that they have to sacrifice the pleasures of home, and they understand that they are going among people who will not always feel gratified at what they have to say to them; yet, on the other hand, they feel that they have the seeds of life in their possession, and that if they can find an honest man or woman, the Spirit of the Lord will operate upon their hearts and they will perchance receive this glorious message which they have to deliver. This affords them pleasure and satisfaction.

Last thing from the lesson that I loved...

There is a way to reach every human heart, and it is your business to find the way to the hearts of those to whom you are called. 

Their hearts.  This is at the very root.  We want hearts to feel joy, truth, peace, forgiveness, feel light, be full of love.  I believe it is through the gospel of Jesus Christ that hearts can find that.

Why are you here?

I wanted these women that I know and love to feel empowered.  I want us all to!  Missionary work isn't scary!  We each have the tools we need to be of most use to our Heavenly Father who is trying to fulfill His promise to us... to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man!  What a joy it is to be part of that work!