17-23 AUGUST 2015

Geraniums on balcony

We received several new missionary clients this week and one that we thought might have to return home on a belated confession, but who was allowed to stay. Most of the new missionaries are under-going depression, anxiety, or heavy stress. Some are helped back on track with a single phone call. Such was the case yesterday. A mission president in France contacted me about one of his zone leaders who was undergoing stress and wanted me to speak with him. In one call we were able to change his perspective on earlier events that had been very difficult for him from one of negativity and stress to a positive outlook. He actually saw how the Lord had given him these challenges to help shape him and because he trusted him to endure them. Because he had endured them well, he was given increased confidence in the Lord as a district leader, trainer, and now a zone leader. These are the happy, positive outcomes.
     Not all are that way, of course. We've had two sisters and an elder or two who have had to return home early because they could not or would not overcome fear by faith. The heavy burden of stress and anxiety created especially on those who have developed a perfectionistic personality is hard to surmount and requires the application of faith that not everyone is capable of doing. So many falsely believe that the weight

More Geraniums on Balcony

of the success of their mission hangs upon themselves and their talents and ability to learn the language and teach the gospel. I have come to understand and teach them that the success of missionary work depends upon their ability to draw close to the Spirit and to listen, obey, and teach

by its power. The Lord could easily call down legions of angels to preach the gospel far better than the poor power and wisdom of an 18 or 19 year old. But he uses them to show forth his power to the world and pull down its haughtiness and disbelief. All missionaries really need to do is come each morning to the field ready and willing to thrust in their sickle (their testimony) and harvest those to whom the Spirit guides. I love Mosiah 4 (Book of Mormon) which teaches us that the way to always rejoice is to debase yourself in your own eyes by comparison to the Lord and put all faith in Him. Ammon taught that same principle when he said that of himself he could do nothing, but in the Lord he could do all things. Nephi taught the same when building the ship. If the Lord could create the earth or help Moses part the Red Sea, he could surely teach him how to build a ship. We sometimes get pretty self-focused and forget that by comparison to God we are nothing, but in God's eyes we are everything, as President Uchtdorf taught us once in conference.
     

Das Auto

I taught an elder yesterday who felt he needed to go home and "hated" doing the work, but who had wanted to come on a mission and who had found the MTC a wonderful experience, that it was "not my will be done" but "thy will be done." He had received an answer to prayer that he was supposed to serve this mission and he came gladly. Now he had turned sour because it hadn't turned out the way he thought it was going to; it was harder than he had imagined. The Lord hadn't changed his mind about the elder serving, but the elder had changed his mind. He had become focused on what was pleasant for him, not the importance of serving and fulfilling his promise to the Lord. I find Doctrine and Covenants 4 so powerful in this regard. This work is not easy. It is not for the faint of heart. It is for volunteers only ("If ye desire to serve God ye are called to the work"). It tests our stamina and willingness to endure to the end. Those who focus on themselves or on the minutia of the work lose vision and become discouraged or terribly frustrated, while those who stay focused on the spirit and the joy of the message will make it through even when it is difficult or challenging.   

      Richard Elliott, the organist for the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square, is performing an organ concert in Wiesbaden this evening in one of the beautiful cathedrals. He will do another one on Wednesday in Dresden, Germany. We attended the temple again last Tuesday. We have only one more time to go before it closes on 5 September. The temple president and his wife spoke at our sacrament meeting today. Our branch president was on vacation so I was first in charge with Hans Lienert ably supporting me. I conducted the meetings today in German and am feeling more comfortable speaking. Next Sunday I will lead a 5th Sunday adult combined meeting on the subject of how we can keep the Sabbath day more holy. We hope to make a trip to Berlin and one to Munich-Salzburg before winter sets in. This past week we finished 7 months in Germany.