My friend, (Bishop/Pres.) Mark Alder, tells the story of when he was young how his family had a cow. It was his and his brother's responsibility to milk and care for the cow. He said that on many days he grew tired of getting up early to milk the cow. When he was a teenager the family moved to a nicer home in a more developed part of the city. My friend said he was thrilled at not only being able to move into a bigger home but to also be able to ditch the cow and the milking responsibilities. To his surprise, his father found a vacant lot near to their new home where they could move the cow. He asked his father why if they had the money to afford this new home why they had to bring the cow. Surely there were more efficient ways to get milk - buying it at the store would be cheaper! His father told him that he (my friend) was correct, but that he (the father) was not just raising a cow to get the milk but that he was raising boys.
Earlier this week I got a call from a couple in St George who were going to be giving a fireside on senior missionaries. They had a number of procedural questions about missions which were easy to answer and then they asked two harder questions. They said that their ward/stake was located in an affluent retirement community. They felt there were two main reasons people did not go on missions and they wanted to know how to address/answer them. The first reason was primarily with the women, they did not want to leave their grandchildren. To this question I could only say that it was both a sacrifice and an opportunity. It is a sacrifice to be away from loved ones but it is also a unique opportunity to be an example to our posterity of service and consecration to God. I explained that keeping in touch with family often was clearly part of the missionary work we were doing while serving away from home.
The second question was more difficult for me to address. They said that the biggest hangup for the men was what kind of assignment/position might they be called to that would be fitting of their prior positions in both the secular and church worlds. The sister said that many of the men had held high positions in business and church and had been quite successful. Would their skills be put to good use on a mission or just wasted? I was temporarily stumped. I too struggled with some these same feelings at times. I am constantly wanting to fix things, make the process more efficient. That was what made me successful in the business world and I like doing that which is in my comfort zone. It reminded me of a recent call Sister Healy had with a stake president who was upset that a doctor from his stake was not going to get a call to use his medical skills in Africa. The stake president's concern was clear when he said, "so is he going to go and be a 'car czar' somewhere?
In Moses 1:39 we read "For behold, this is my work and my glory - to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man." Our Heavenly Father, like my friend's father, is raising children. In Isaiah 55: 8&9 we read, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts your thoughts." And just like my friend in his youth could not understand his father's keeping the cow and it's inefficient method of obtaining milk, perhaps we struggle seeing things as God does.
The mission of the Church is to preach the gospel, redeem the dead, sanctify the members, and render aid to the poor and needy. The vast majority of senior missionary callings pertain to one or more those same purposes. The skills we have attained in our secular life may or may not be of use on a mission, but those skills may have made possible the opportunity to serve a mission. And for the opportunity to serve and be a small part of bringing forth His kingdom we should be grateful. We should always remember Alma's words to his son Helaman, "By small and simple things are great things brought to pass," (Alma 37:6).
Dec. 14, 2014 Sacrament meeting talk, 2nd Branch (by Russell)
When we were asked to speak on “the real gift of Christmas,” my mind immediately went to the short video we had recently seen in the missionary department entitled “He is the Gift.” I am sure many of you have now seen it. In John 3:16 we read, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” I think often during the Christmas season the religious focus limited to our Savior’s birth, the “baby Jesus,” and not enough on how through His teachings, example and atonement, all the good things in our lives are made possible.
Elder Nelson states, “Christmas is a time of reflection on what we can become because of God’s sacred gift. As we discover the gift, we learn of the immeasurable love of God and our absolute need for a Savior. As we embrace the gift, we strengthen our faith in Jesus Christ and our desire to become more like Him. As we share the gift, we follow in the Master’s footsteps, who invited all to hear His message.”
After my initial thoughts recollecting the video, my mind wandered to some of my most memorable Christmas seasons. I really can not remember any of the tangible gifts I gave or received during those memorable Christmases. What has made them so special to me are the feelings and relationships experienced, the lessons learned, and the recognition of eternal blessings, all of which have been made possible because of our Savior.
During December of 1975 I was serving as a missionary in the city of Semarang, on the north coast of Central Java. My senior companion had just left to return home a few days before Christmas and my new companion from Holland would not arrive until after the first of the year. This left me in a three-some with the other two elders in our small district. Missionaries had only started serving in Indonesia six years prior. We had approximately 600 members scattered among eight small branches. We had about three dozen missionaries serving on Java with its population at that time of approximately 90 million. About 90% were Muslim and less than half of the remainder were Christian. I distinctly remember how strange it seemed to me that we riding our bikes down a busy street on Christmas Eve and there was not one thing to be seen or heard that would indicate that this day was any different than any other during the year. There would be no ward Christmas parties or mission sponsored events. We were on our own just trying to teach the gospel as missionaries should.
The desire to be around other Christians, to celebrate our Savior's birth was something all three of us felt. We knew there was Catholic cathedral in town and somehow we came up with the idea of seeing how the Catholics celebrated Christmas with midnight Mass. I was surprised to find the large Cathedral packed. We stood out being a foot taller than everyone else and wearing LDS Missionary tags. But that night we were welcomed as fellow Christians. On that Christmas Eve, all present could agree that the greatest manifestation of God's love for His children was the mortal ministry, atoning sacrifice and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.
From that night I realized several things. All present that night had a common love for and faith in Christ. But without a living prophet, the holy priesthood and temple ordinances much was missing in my fellow Christians lives. I became much more grateful for the restored Gospel. And I recognized the importance of my calling as a representative of Christ to share that knowledge with my brothers and sisters. I better realized how much I had because of my Saviour. That night I gained a greater appreciation of my Father-in-Heavens gift of His son to me.
Toward the end of his life, Nephi gave some great advice to the faithful saints of his day which also applies to us. He said, "And now, my beloved brethren, after ye have gotten into this strait and narrow path, I would ask if all is done? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; . . . I know . . . that unless a man shall endure to the end, in following the example of the Son of the living God, he cannot be saved. Wherefore, do the things which I have seen that your Lord and Redeemer should do; for, for this cause have they been shown unto me, that ye might know the gate by which ye should enter," (2 Nephi 31:16,17&19).
If we follow in our Master's footsteps, we will share the Gospel message as He did. Elder David A. Bednar has said, "Devoted disciples of Jesus Christ always have been and always will be valiant missionaries. A missionary is a follower of Christ who testifies of Him as the Redeemer and proclaims the truths of His gospel." (Conf. Oct. 2014)
In early December 1983, Eileen was three months pregnant with our third child when she developed a large blockage in the main vein of one leg. She was immediately hospitalized and the doctors informed us of the seriousness of her situation. They explained that her life was in danger should the blood clot come loose. Since her pregnancy interfered with the medically favored treatment of the situation, an abortion was offered and immediately refused by both of us. The doctor's alternative plan was a very long hospital stay, perhaps as long as the pregnancy itself.
On the Sunday before Christmas the doctors allowed Eileen to go to church with us. That sacrament meeting with its Christmas program seemed much more special. We were together for a few brief hours, celebrating the birth of the one who made it possible for us to be a eternal family. Not only was it through His priesthood ordinances that we could be together forever, but had he not been there in the pre-earth life, willing to perform His role as Saviour, this whole earthly existence would have not transpired. We would not have elected to come to earth without the possibility of a way to return home. Therefore our relationships as husband and wife and parent and child would not have been. I realized better that Christmas that all the joy I felt in my family was a gift from God made possible because of my Savior.
While the joy of being together for a part of a Sunday was wonderful, the underlying medical problem and its potential consequences remained. Often we encounter trials in this life in spite in of our efforts to obey God’s commandments. Elder Quentin L. Cook said, “Even with the trials of life, because of our Savior’s Atonement and His grace, righteous living will be rewarded with personal peace.” Jesus said, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). Had I had more faith perhaps this trial would have not worried me as much as it did. But I can testify to you that I did feel at that time and during other times of trial in my life my burdens made lighter by my Saviour. Perhaps at time it has been with me as it was with the Alma and his people where He “ease[d] the burdens which were put upon [their] shoulders . . . [and] the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens” (Mosiah 24: 14-15).
The Savior said: "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart; and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light" (Matt 11:28-30).
In December of 1999 we were living in Belgium. The ward we attended was for all those who’s primary language was not French or Flemish. This meant we had a members from all over the world and from all economic backgrounds. One of the families I home-taught was a Serbian refugee about my age and his two sons. Alia’s wife had died in an auto accident a number of years earlier. The two sons had been baptized earlier in the year and we had grown quite close to them. Just a couple if weeks before, their father Alia, had been diagnosed with cancer. We were able to get copies of Alias medical files and get a second opinion from the doctors at the Huntsman Cancer Institute. Unfortunately, the news we got back was that, "It is time for your friend to prepare to meet his maker.” Interestingly, Alia decided to do just that. The young missionaries started teaching Alia the lessons. Eileen and I were fortunate to be able to participate in some of those lessons. In early January Alia was baptized and he faithfully attended church each week thereafter, that his health allowed, until he passed away that following summer.
During that Christmas season I watched Alia develop faith in Jesus, experience repentance and be baptized. I witnessed the peace that came through Ali’s understanding the plan of salvation, of the atonement and resurrection. That Christmas I am sure Alia had a much greater appreciation of God’s gift of His Son. And I did too as I participated in sharing that gift with my friend.
Christ's ultimate gift to us was in fulfilling His role as our Savior and Redeemer. That singular, incomparable event is beyond our mortal ability to fully understand. As noted, in the words of our hymn, There Is a Green Hill Far Away: "We may not know, We cannot tell, What pains He had to bear, But we believe it was for us He hung and suffered there."
Elder James E. Faust said, "What He did could only be done by Deity. As the Only Begotten Son of the Father in the flesh, Jesus inherited divine attributes. He was the only person ever born into mortality who could perform this most significant and supernal act. As the only sinless Man who ever lived on this earth, He was not subject to spiritual death. Because of His godhood, He also possessed power over physical death. Thus He did for us what we cannot do for ourselves. He broke the cold grasp of death. He also made it possible for us to have the supreme and serene comfort of the gift of the Holy Ghost." (Conf. Oct. 2001)
Several years later, after the two boys had gone on missions and were attending BYU Idaho, Eileen and I had the privilege of attending our Lord’s house in Idaho Falls with Alia’s two sons. There we participated in the temple ordinances for Alia, his wife and both sets of grandparents. All during the Endowment session where I was proxy for my friend Alia, I could feel his presence. It was unlike anything I had ever felt before. I could not see or touch him, but I could feel his presence next to me. Then Eileen and I knelt at the alter as proxies for Alia and his wife and the two sons were sealed to their parents. All this was made possible because of Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Redeemer.
I am grateful I live in a day when the sealing powers are available to us and our forefathers, these keys once again being held by a living prophet of our Lord Jesus Christ. Just as Jesus said to Peter, "And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven," (Matt. 16:19). I testify that those same sealing powers are on earth today - a gift to us from our Savior.
Elders and Sisters, this Christmas season I pray that we may all follow Elder Nelson’s admonition to reflect on what we can become because of God’s sacred gift of His Son to us. May we each discover the gift, embrace the gift and share the gift this Christmas.
Eileen's talk in Sacrament meeting on Dec. 14, 2014I grew up in New York and Colorado. Elder Healy lived most of his life in Murray, Utah. Since that time our family has lived in Utah, New Jersey and Belgium. We currently are Live at Home missionaries from Centerville. We have 6 children, 3 biological and 3 adopted. Two of our adopted children are from India and one is African American. We love being grandparents to our 13 grandchildren. I worked as a part-time nurse with most of my time specializing in pediatrics and a few years in Labor and Delivery. I also traveled quite a bit around the world with a group called Operation Smile performing medical work on children with cleft lips and cleft palates. Elder Healy is a CPA. Before this mission we served in Indonesia as the Directors of Humanitarian services. We returned home from that mission about 15 months ago after which I worked in the missionary department as a church service missionary doing medical screening. Elder Healy was a church service missionary for the Perpetual Education Fund Department. In our current assignment we are recommenders for senior missionaries.Eileen's talk on Dec. 14, 2014
Elder Healy and I met 37 years ago on Temple Square in the North Visitor Center. I was in the BYU Nursing School at the time at the SLC extension. To break up the monotony of always being with nurses I became a tour guide on Temple Square. Elder Healy’s grandfather was a host. He introduced us to each other and seven dates later we were engaged. We were married in the Provo temple ten months after our first meeting.
As we work in the missionary department we get to see first-hand the efforts that are being made by the church to spread the gospel. Several weeks ago we were introduced to the Christmas initiative that is currently underway entitled “He is the Gift”. Last Sunday Sister Sharp showed us this video in Relief Society. The church has gone to a great deal of effort in making this video available throughout the world. There are banners spread across Times Square in NYC, it is being shown in visitor centers, on you tube, and pass along cards are available to members and missionaries. As of last Monday the website for “He is the Gift” had already has received 8 million views.
Why would so much emphasis be placed on a video that is less than 3 minutes long? Have you ever wondered what the perfect gift would be to give someone? We have been given the perfect gift by our Heavenly Father, that of His perfect Son, and through his Son’s Atoning sacrifice, the opportunity for eternal life.
According to a statement by Elder Russell Nelson “the video “He is the Gift” focuses on God’s love for the world, made manifest in the first gift of Christmas, even the Lord Jesus Christ.”
I would like to read the text that accompanies the video. It reads as follows:
“The first gift was not wrapped, had no bow, wasn’t purchased online, or in a store, the first gift of Christmas was a simple gift, a sacred gift , it wasn’t gold, or frankincense or myrrh, it was a gift of love and life, and peace and hope, given by a father to all of his children. For God so loved the world and you and you and every single one of us. He gave his Son, he is the Christ, he is Christmas, he is the gift, This Christmas season, discover the Gift, embrace the Gift, share the Gift.”
I would like to discuss the three invitations presented in the video, that of discovering, embracing and sharing the Gift.
The first step is the invitation to Discover. The dictionary defines the word discover as “to make known or visible, it can also mean to gain insight”. Except for visitors that might be here today, we all wear the badge that identifies us as representatives of Jesus Christ. I am assuming that we already have a strong belief and testimony of Jesus Christ or we wouldn’t be serving as full-time missionaries. However just as our bodies need to be nourished to stay alive, our testimonies need to be cultivated to stay strong.
There are many ways we can increase our knowledge of the Savior. I would like to share one activity that we have chosen to do as a couple. Last September we mistakenly attended the wrong Stake Conference’s Saturday night meeting. There was an excellent message given that evening. It was the stake that James Talmage had resided in when he was alive. The Stake President talked about the book Jesus the Christ, and challenged the members of his stake to read the book this year. It has been 100 years since James Talmage wrote the book within the walls of the Salt Lake temple. The Stake President said that Elder Talmage wrote 4 pages/day, and challenged each of us to read at least that much/day. We have chosen to read Jesus the Christ as we travel in the car daily. I read the book while Elder Healy drives. We take time to discuss and reference as we are together. Marion G. Romney said, "One who gets the understanding, the vision, and the spirit of the resurrected Lord through a careful study of the text Jesus the Christ by Elder James Talmage will find that he has greatly increased his moving faith in our glorified Redeemer." I think studying the book has been a great resource for us in helping to increase our knowledge and testimony of the life and times of the Savior.
The second step Elder Nelson encouraged us to do is to embrace the Gift. The word embrace means to accept (something or someone) willingly and enthusiastically. Do we embrace the Savior and his teachings?
The Savior declared to us: “As I have loved you, love one another.”
President Monson told the touching true story that occurred in the Atlanta airport many years ago... An ice storm had seriously delayed air travel as thousands of people were stranded trying to get wherever they most wanted to be for Christmas—most likely home.
It happened in December of 1970. As the midnight hour tolled, unhappy passengers clustered around ticket counters, conferring anxiously with agents whose cheerfulness had long since evaporated. They, too, wanted to be home. A few people managed to doze in uncomfortable seats. Others gathered at the newsstands to thumb silently through paperback books.
If there was a common bond among this diverse throng, it was loneliness—pervasive, inescapable, suffocating loneliness. But airport decorum required that each traveler maintain his invisible barrier against all the others. Better to be lonely than to be involved, which inevitably meant listening to the complaints of gloomy and disheartened fellow travelers.
The fact of the matter was that there were more passengers than there were available seats on any of the planes. When an occasional plane managed to break out, more travelers stayed behind than made it aboard. The words “Standby,” “Reservation confirmed,” and “First-class passenger” settled priorities and bespoke money, power, influence, foresight—or the lack thereof.
Gate 67 in Atlanta was a microcosm of the whole cavernous airport. Scarcely more than a glassed-in cubicle, it was jammed with travelers hoping to fly to New Orleans, Dallas, and points west. Except for the fortunate few traveling in pairs, there was little conversation at Gate 67. A salesman stared absently into space, as if resigned. A young mother cradled an infant in her arms, gently rocking in a vain effort to soothe the soft whimpering.
Then there was a man in a finely tailored grey flannel suit who somehow seemed impervious to the collective suffering. There was a certain indifference about his manner. He was absorbed in paperwork—figuring the year-end corporate profits, perhaps. A nerve-frayed traveler sitting nearby, observing this busy man, might have identified him as an Ebenezer Scrooge.
Suddenly, the relative silence was broken by a commotion. A young man in military uniform, no more than 19 years old, was in animated conversation with the desk agent. The boy held a low-priority ticket. He pleaded with the agent to help him get to New Orleans so that he could take the bus to the obscure Louisiana village he called home.
The agent wearily told him the prospects were poor for the next 24 hours, maybe longer. The boy grew frantic. Immediately after Christmas his unit was to be sent to Vietnam—where at that time war was raging—and if he didn’t make this flight, he might never again spend Christmas at home. Even the businessman looked up from his cryptic computations to show a guarded interest. The agent clearly was moved, even a bit embarrassed. But he could only offer sympathy—not hope. The boy stood at the departure desk, casting anxious looks around the crowded room as if seeking just one friendly face.
Finally the agent announced that the flight was ready for boarding. The travelers, who had been waiting long hours, heaved themselves up, gathered their belongings, and shuffled down the small corridor to the waiting aircraft: twenty, thirty, and a hundred— until there were no more seats. The agent turned to the frantic young soldier and shrugged.
Inexplicably, the businessman had lingered behind. Now he stepped forward. “I have a confirmed ticket,” he quietly told the agent. “I’d like to give my seat to this young man.” The agent stared incredulously; then he motioned to the soldier. Unable to speak, tears streaming down his face, the boy in olive drab shook hands with the man in the gray flannel suit, who simply murmured, “Good luck. Have a fine Christmas. Good luck.”
As the plane door closed and the engines began their rising whine, the businessman turned away, clutching his briefcase, and trudged toward the all-night restaurant.
No more than a few among the thousands stranded there at the Atlanta airport witnessed the drama at Gate 67. But for those who did, the sullenness, the frustration, the hostility—all dissolved into a glow. That act of love and kindness between strangers had brought the spirit of Christmas into their hearts.
The lights of the departing plane blinked, star like, as the craft moved off into the darkness. The infant slept silently now in the lap of the young mother. Perhaps another flight would be leaving before many more hours. But those who witnessed the interchange were less impatient. The glow lingered, gently, pervasively, in that small glass and plastic stable at Gate 67.
Real joy comes as we show the love and compassion inspired by the Savior of the World, who said, “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these … ye have done it unto me.”
The third step Elder Nelson asked us to do is to share the Gift. After the announced birth of the Christ child to the shepherds on the plains of Judea, “there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men”
Elder David A. Bednar issued an invitation to members of the church to fill the same role the angels filled by sharing the good news of Christ's birth with those around them.
So how might we best share the Gift? In our role in the missionary department we talk with stake presidents, mission presidents and fellow missionaries. We are quite limited in our interactions with non-members. Perhaps in your current roles you might have similar challenges. Yet we never know when we might have the opportunity to share the gospel and should be aware and ready when the occasion arises.
We returned from serving a humanitarian mission in Indonesia 15 months ago. Indonesia is predominately Muslim. Missionaries are not allowed to actively proselyte there. Our role as humanitarian missionaries was especially unique in that we were not allowed to talk about the church’s doctrine at all even as we were donating large amounts of money to groups or individuals in need. In some cases we were not even allowed to include the name of the church or say who we were. One well-meaning lady even asked to remove our name badges.
By the end of our mission I was deeply yearning for a missionary type experience. Five days before my departure I received the desire of my heart.
Senior missionaries were allowed to swim for exercise in our mission. I liked to swim laps in the early morning at our apartment complex. One day I went down later than normal. As I was swimming, I noticed a couple that looked like they were in their 60s approach the pool. I immediately felt the impression that I should share the gospel with them. I watched as the woman put her things by mine in the shade and the husband sat in the sun. It was easy to start a conversation with the woman (who I will call Katrine). Katrine was from Germany and was on vacation visiting friends. She asked if I was a tourist in Jakarta. When I told her that I was a missionary she responded, “Oh, my husband is a pastor in Germany.” We talked for a while about her church and then I asked her if she had ever heard about our church. She responded that she hadn’t. I told her that our church had a temple in Frankfurt, very close to where she lived. Katrine responded that she had not heard of it, but would like to see a picture of it. I went to my apartment, got my IPad, and we began what would be a 3-hour conversation about the gospel. Katrine seemed especially moved by the concept of eternal marriage. She told me that she always wondered what would happen if her sweet husband Hans were to die and she would never see him again. I showed her the website Mormon.org in German. She studied the pages on Mormon.org eagerly asking questions and then going to links that she thought might answer her questions. I have no doubt that being able to teach this dear lady about the gospel was a tender mercy for me. There in our apartment complex, for the first time on my mission I was able to teach someone about the gospel who was truly interested.
There are an abundance of resources on mormon.org for non-members to look at to answer questions about our church. There is even a place where they can start a chat with missionaries at the MTC. This chat is open 12 hours/day and can take place in 40 languages.
Another way we found to share the gospel while in Indonesia was by writing our missionary blog. I have quite a number of non-member friends on Facebook because of the humanitarian work that I have done. We shared the titles of our weekly blog on Facebook. We tried to teach some gospel truths on our blog postings rather than just making it a travel log. We wanted it to be positive and written in such a way that if a stranger were to read an entry that perhaps they might be touched by the Holy Ghost. I am convinced that we did far more missionary work through our weekly blog then we ever did on the ground in Indonesia. I even had one nurse friend ask me through Facebook how she could do the kind of work that we were doing. I told her it was simple. There was just one small matter that had to be taken care of first, she would have to get baptized. She did not seem offended. She wrote back and said after she completed her PhD program she would think about it.
President Hinckley has said, “There is no better time than now, this very Christmas season, for all of us to rededicate ourselves to the principles taught by Jesus Christ. Because He came to earth, we have a perfect example to follow. As we strive to become more like Him, we will have joy and happiness in our lives and peace each day of the year. It is His example which, if followed, stirs within us more kindness and love, more respect and concern for others.
"We all enjoy giving and receiving presents. But there is a difference between presents and gifts. The true gifts may be part of ourselves—giving of the riches of the heart and mind—and therefore more enduring and of far greater worth than presents bought at the store.
"Of all things of heaven and earth of which we bear testimony, none is as important as our witness that Jesus, the Christmas child, condescended to come to earth from the realms of His Eternal Father, here to work among men as healer and teacher, our Great Exemplar. And further, and most important, He suffered on Calvary's cross as an atoning sacrifice for all mankind.
At this time of Christmas, this season when gifts are given, let us not forget that God gave His Son, and His Son gave His life, that each of us might have the gift of eternal life" (Gordon B. Hinckley, "The Son of God," Ensign, Dec 1992, 2)..
It is my hope that we may find greater holiness in our own lives and share the gift with others this Christmas season.
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