Dad's weekly letter

Dear Family,

We've had such a wonderful time with Amie, Christian and Andrew.  The boys did splits with three different sets of Elders and really got an up-close view of missionary life.  We know it will help them in their missionary preparation.  It was hard to let them leave this morning, but Amie's last words have stayed with me all day: "See you in 10 months!"  That will fly by and we will be wondering where it went.  We feel a great deal of urgency to do all that we can do in this remaining time. 

We are having a very cool summer.  Aaron and Brooke were here for the only hot week we've had.  Now we are in the 60's for highs and then going into the 50's.  It is really a beautiful time of year.  The days are shortening slightly but still nice and long.  We are enjoying it.    Here is the letter Dad sent out this week to our missionaries.  We had the opportunity to study this one and last Monday's with the boys.  Again, I feel like most of it applies to all of us, as disciples of Christ, no matter what stage of life we are in.  Even "declaring" or testifying of Christ applies to us as parents, friends, neighbors, teachers in our wards.  

We love you all so much!  We miss you and appreciate the support and love you give to us and to each other.

Hugs!

MOM

16 Aug 2015

Dear Elders and Sisters,

 

The powerful promises of the Lord to His missionaries in Section 100 of the Doctrine & Covenants are directly applicable to each missionary in our mission:

 

"Therefore, I, the Lord, have suffered you to come to this place [Russia]; for thus it was expedient in me for the salvation of souls [His children living here]. Therefore, verily I say unto you, lift up your voices unto this people; speak the thoughts that I shall put into your hearts, and you shall not be confounded before men; For it shall be given you in the very hour, yea, in the very moment, what ye shall say." (D&C 100:4-6)

 

I testify that the Lord did, in fact, call each of you individually to serve in this country at this specific time. The Lord "suffered" (directed, allowed, oversaw, facilitated) your being called to this mission for the sole purpose of saving the souls of His children. Because He trusted you enough to call you to serve here, He promised that if you will "lift up your voices" (engage in as many conversations as possible that transition to our message and your witness that it is true), He will put thoughts into your hearts and "it shall be given you in the very hour, yea, in the very moment, what ye shall say." Elders and Sisters, I also testify, based on my own experience, that when you are doing your very best to communicate the message of the restored gospel in the Russian language to as many people as possible, the Lord's promise to give you "in the very moment, what ye shall say" includes the gift of tongues to express "what ye shall say" in the Russian language.

 

The Lord's promises are always dependent upon keeping the specific commandments He gives us in connection with His promises. "But a commandment I give unto you, that ye shall declare whatsoever thing ye declare in my name, in solemnity of heart, in the spirit of meekness, in all things. And I give unto you this promise, that inasmuch as ye do this the Holy Ghost shall be shed forth in bearing record unto all things whatsoever ye shall say. (D&C 100:7-8)

 

Let's examine briefly each of these requirements:

 

"DECLARE WHATSOEVER THING YE DECLARE IN MY NAME"

 

The Lord's command to "declare whatsoever thing ye declare in [His] name," means that everything we say and do must be said and done as an agent and representative of Christ. We do not act on our own account, or for or own benefit, or to please or impress anyone else. We must remember every moment of every day that we are Christ's authorized agents and that the work we do is the work of the Lord Jesus Christ. We do not do things our own way or trust solely in our own talents, wisdom or intellect. We humbly prepare and share His message in accordance with the directions and guidance He has given to us through His servants. We always remember that "he that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him." (John 17:18)

 

Christ must be the central focus of their lives. As His missionaries, we "talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy [bear testimony] of Christ" so that those whom we teach "may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins." (2 Nephi 25:26)

 

"IN SOLEMNITY OF HEART"

 

The Lord's command that we share the gospel message "in solemnity of heart" means that we always conduct ourselves in a dignified and reverent manner. We dress, act, speak, and conduct ourselves at all times as representatives of Christ who have received His sacred calling. The Savior admonished His servants: "Hearken ye to these words. Behold, I am Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world. Treasure these things up in your hearts, and let the solemnities of eternity rest upon your minds. Be sober. Keep all my commandments. Even so. Amen." (D&C 43:34-35)

 

At the same time, He expects us to be cheerful, grateful and joyful missionaries. He has asked us to serve "with thanksgiving, with cheerful hearts and countenances, not with much laughter, for this is sin, but with a glad heart and a cheerful countenance." (D&C 59:15) He expects us to avoid "much laughter," which is excess levity and immature or light-minded humor. He expects us to avoid any language, at any time, that hurts the spirit.

 

"IN THE SPIRIT OF MEEKNESS"

 

Christ has lovingly said to each of us as His servants: "Learn of me, and listen to my words; walk in the meekness of my Spirit, and you shall have peace in me. I am Jesus Christ; I came by the will of the Father, and I do his will." (D&C 19:23-24) He invites each of us to "learn" everything we can about His life, His character, His example of obedient submission to His Father and His attributes. He invites us to "listen" to His words which He has revealed through His prophets in the scriptures and through modern apostles and prophets. He asks us to "walk in the meekness of [His] spirit," meaning to follow His example in always seeking to do the will of His Father rather that seeking to do our own will. He meekly introduces Himself as "having accomplished and finished the will of him whose I am, even the Father, concerning me." (D&C 19:2) We too, must lose our lives in God's service, abandon our selfishness and self-focus and meekly seek to "accomplish and finish the will of him whose [we] are, even the Father."

"IN ALL THINGS"

 

Jesus Christ commanded us: "Hold up your light that it may shine unto the world. Behold I am the light which ye shall hold up—that which ye have seen me do" (3 Nephi 18:24). Elders and Sisters, the people with whom we interact every day should be able to see the image of Christ in our countenances. Each of us must reflect the Savior and His love in the way we dress, act, speak and look throughout the day. Each of us must have experienced a mighty change in our hearts. Each of us must, as Alma taught, have received His image in our countenances (see Alma 5:14). We must soberly realize that our interaction with people each day will be the closest thing in their lives to experiencing the presence of the Savior. This is why Christ commanded that we be even as He is (see 3 Nephi 27:27). We truly are His representatives "at all times and in all places."

 

As we strive to be living witnesses and examples of His life and love by the way we look, speak and behave, and as our lives and our countenances bear witness of Him and His atoning power at all times and "in all things," we will draw children of our Father in Heaven to His Son, Jesus Christ. We must be missionaries who are not only obedient but love obedience and expect miracles when we are obedient.

 

Alma gives us a perfect summary of the things we must do to be effective representatives of Christ. And these are the very things He asks us, as His missionaries, to invite others to do:

 

"Preach unto them repentance, and faith on the Lord Jesus Christ."

 

"[T]each them to humble themselves and to be meek and lowly in heart."

 

"[T]each them to withstand every temptation of the devil, with their faith on the Lord Jesus Christ."


 

"Teach them to never be weary of good works, but to be meek and lowly in heart; for such shall find rest to their

souls."

 

"Learn … to keep the commandments of God."



 

"[C]ry unto God for all thy support; yea, let all thy doings be unto the Lord."

 

"[W]hithersoever thou goest let it be in the Lord."

 

"[L]et all thy thoughts be directed unto the Lord."

 

"[L]et the affections of thy heart be placed upon the Lord forever."



 

"Counsel with the Lord in all thy doings, and he will direct thee for good."

 

"[W]hen thou liest down at night lie down unto the Lord, that he may watch over you in your sleep and when thou risest in the morning let thy heart be full of thanks unto God."

 

(Alma 37:33-37)

 

Elders and Sisters, I plead with you to BE the kind of missionary who can deliver the kind of message that will bring a person to Christ. The Apostle Paul is a wonderful example. He preached in chains. He never stopped teaching and inviting others to Christ. And he brought many to the Savior. When we, like Paul and the sons of Mosiah, have fully experienced the purifying and transforming power and joy of the Savior's atonement, hardly anything will be able to restrain us from inviting others to baptism.

 

I pray constantly that you will be filled the pure love of Christ which is bestowed on His true followers, that your life will be a witness to all around you of the truth, power and joy of the gospel of Jesus Christ, that Christ's image will be in your countenances and that you will experience the profound joy of feeling His gratitude and love as you bear witness of His infinite atonement to those whom He loves who are struggling in darkness.

 

I testify that we are literally His servants and express my sincere love for each of you,

 

President Christensen