Tonight we had a dinner and FHE with 6 missionary couples (including temple president and matron - the Irion’s). We all took a few minutes to share why we think we were called to the Nauvoo Temple mission and what we had learned. Everyone’s thoughts were tender and uplifting. I want to record my feelings, not because they were profound or more inspiring than others but because they are personal to me and I don’t want to forget them.
Why was I sent here? Because Heavenly Father loves His children (me) and wants to bless them. I think He delights to give us our hearts desires as often as He can. And this was certainly my hearts desire. I love the temple and I love pioneer history so what mission could be more meaningful to me? And oh how grateful I am to be here doing what I’m doing and learning what I’m learning.
And of all the many things I’ve learned my thoughts lately have been on humility. I’ve learned some precious lessons in humility in at least four different ways. 1) it is humbling to serve with so many wonderful celestial people - to see their examples, their talents, their faithfulness, their consecrated service over long lifetimes. 2) it’s humbling to see my own weaknesses. I’ve put Ether 12:27 to the test and the Lord has helped me more clearly see what I need to work on. I’ve got my own reminder code - P J V M and I’m seriously trying to humble myself and turn weaknesses into strengths as Ether promises. 3) I am humbled to know what the pioneers did - how readily they accepted the gospel, how willing they were to sacrifice, how courageously they bore their burdens, how unselfishly they helped one another, how faithfully they held on to their testimony. I have loved reading so many books about the Nauvoo times and people and have truly grown to love them. I used to think (in my pride or ignorance) that I could have been a pioneer. I now humbly question that. 4). I am humbled as I’ve done much more family history research to realize how hard life was for many of our ancestors and how easy it is for me. Just this week I found a family in Denmark who had 13 children, 9 of whom died in infancy. What pain and heartache they must have felt burying baby after baby. I am humbled to think of the blessings I enjoy in my abundant life. And it brings joy to me to do their temple work and offer them the most precious of all blessings- to be a family sealed forever. So those are some of the things I’ve learned. It is the most wonderful mission for me.
Why was I sent here? Because Heavenly Father loves His children (me) and wants to bless them. I think He delights to give us our hearts desires as often as He can. And this was certainly my hearts desire. I love the temple and I love pioneer history so what mission could be more meaningful to me? And oh how grateful I am to be here doing what I’m doing and learning what I’m learning.
And of all the many things I’ve learned my thoughts lately have been on humility. I’ve learned some precious lessons in humility in at least four different ways. 1) it is humbling to serve with so many wonderful celestial people - to see their examples, their talents, their faithfulness, their consecrated service over long lifetimes. 2) it’s humbling to see my own weaknesses. I’ve put Ether 12:27 to the test and the Lord has helped me more clearly see what I need to work on. I’ve got my own reminder code - P J V M and I’m seriously trying to humble myself and turn weaknesses into strengths as Ether promises. 3) I am humbled to know what the pioneers did - how readily they accepted the gospel, how willing they were to sacrifice, how courageously they bore their burdens, how unselfishly they helped one another, how faithfully they held on to their testimony. I have loved reading so many books about the Nauvoo times and people and have truly grown to love them. I used to think (in my pride or ignorance) that I could have been a pioneer. I now humbly question that. 4). I am humbled as I’ve done much more family history research to realize how hard life was for many of our ancestors and how easy it is for me. Just this week I found a family in Denmark who had 13 children, 9 of whom died in infancy. What pain and heartache they must have felt burying baby after baby. I am humbled to think of the blessings I enjoy in my abundant life. And it brings joy to me to do their temple work and offer them the most precious of all blessings- to be a family sealed forever. So those are some of the things I’ve learned. It is the most wonderful mission for me.
Love your thoughts. How neat to immerse yourself in the best of all worlds--the early sacrificial days of the church and now this time with so many changes and refinements to the church.
ReplyDeleteYou would have been an awesome pioneer! You're proving that right now--doing what the Lord asks. The early pioneers were "just" doing that too.
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