Dear Elder, 28
September 2011
I
wanted to share some simple advice that I believe will not only ease your
transition to post-mission life, but will serve you well throughout your life.
1. Know that moves always upset even the
best of habits. Part of your enriching scripture study was not just the texts
you were reading, but the environment, the safeguarded time to do it, the
presence of a protective companion, and the immediacy of the need to study. Once
you return home, the obstacle to continued enriching study that you will face
will not only be the sudden end to the circumstances under which you had come
to study the Word, but the return to an environment that subtly entices you to
return to your previous habits there, habits which may differ greatly from
those you have attained to on your mission. In short, resist the two forms of
temptation that can disrupt gainful scripture study: 1) the temptation to
revert to sleeping in later at the cost of scripture study and 2) the pressure
to abandon such rich scripture study because “it no longer feels the same”. Do
not mistake the normal feelings of alienation that come with changing one’s
environment for a lack of Heavenly Father’s support of your efforts with His
Spirit. And share your insights with members and non-members alike. Once you’ve
breached your fear to share, it becomes easy and natural to share insights with
anyone.
2. Continue to pray, pray earnestly,
speaking with your actual and real loving Heavenly Father. And continue praying
to share the Gospel with those you meet. You saw (as did I and as do so many
Full-time Missionaries) that the regular members are the key to finding. Far
from losing the mantle upon release, you assume a mantle, that of constantly
living worthy of the Spirit and carrying the Gospel forth to those whom we are
not actively proselytizing. Anyone not currently taking the discussions is not
being actively proselytized. Talk to them, share with them, learn of them in
order to learn how to engage them, intrigue them, and reach their searches.
Ultimately, everyone is searching for the truth in their own way; your duty
from now on is to lead them to the Way, that of Faith in Jesus Christ and
Repentance, Baptism and the Gift of the Holy Ghost, service in callings, the
Sacrament, the Temple, in making and keeping the covenants God has established.
3. Keep contact with those who knew you
when you were your best. These people saw the best in you, saw how good you
could be, and that knowledge alone motivates us to continue to perform and
grow. Do not feel obligated to return to any habits from before. Also, on a
mature note, know that you’re now
coming into, shall we say, your most “virile” years. You can continue to be
pure by listening to the tender voice of your Father Who will, I firmly
believe, tell you what He told me (this year), as emotionally and vulnerably as
He did me (for lack of better descriptors): “Choose Me. I will fill you. In Me
you will not lack. Choose Me.” The Atonement is for you, too. The Book of
Mormon, which I adore, imparts this wisdom: “And when the priest had imparted unto them the word of God they all
returned again diligently unto their labors; and the priest, not esteeming
himself above his hearers, for the preacher was no better than the hearer,
neither was the teacher any better than the learner; and thus they were all
equal, and they did all labor, every man according to his strength.”
Sometimes we, sadly and regrettably, think that as Returned Missionaries we
should be “strong enough” on our own to withstand the subtle craftiness and
temptations of the adversary. Know this: the Atonement is just as much for you
as for those you taught. You’re the same as they, no better, but no worse.
4. Keep balance in your life: this is no
joke, no subject of experimentation, but of critical importance. Satan will
(not might, maybe, could but will)
tempt you to try to be “super-“ man/husband/Elder/member, etc. Consequently you
will, at times, push yourself to work with little sleep, skip meals, avoid the
pastimes you love, avoid exercise, avoid play, avoid quiet meditation and
undistracted and creative scripture study (which almost always happens when
you’re alone) for the sake of accomplishing just a bit more for those you love
and the things you need. Hear these words of wisdom: Unless you want to come to
a realization that you went down a rapid path of thinking, speaking and
behaving grossly out of character for you, do not experiment with having
balance in your life. Work hard, study hard, push yourself, but within moderation,
and rest, eat well, get out with friends even when married, reward yourself for
doing good, enjoy the things you love. Do not be ashamed to be yourself, and if
playing mindless video games makes you happy, or if squirrel-watching happens
to be your thing, do it, do it regularly, moderately, in the middle of the week
and on the weekend. And remember the Atonement, and how much others need it,
though they do not even know to articulate the need as such.
5. Commit to building up the Kingdom of
God on the earth. This means love going to Church, love the Sacrament, the
Temple, service, the scriptures. Do not forget regular (weekly if possible)
missionary service. I promise you (to the extent I am able) that if you remain
a regular fortress of missionary service, exercising the Christ-like principle
of giving much more than you ever received, that you will remain on fire in the
Spirit, others will be inspired by your light, and even if you sink, you will
soon be buoyed up. Consider this: Not even Joseph Smith or Thomas S. Monson in
all their glory have the chance to walk where you will walk and talk to those
whom you will encounter. So every day in small and caring ways build up the
Kingdom of God wherever you happen to be.
Elder,
it was a pleasure getting to know you. Thank you for being a huge support to
me. Your kindness and willingness, your insights and sincerity exceeded those
of many a good member of multiples of your age. Also know one last thing: the
best is yet to come. On my mission there was a time when I spoke by the Spirit
so powerfully that I felt light in my own eyes, but it was only last year (2010)
that I saw my Lord, His divine image impressed in my mind’s eye, transposed
over real visual sight, but perceptible to my mind, during a day of nearly 9
hours straight of missionary work. He was so beautiful, so similar, yet so
unlike in our art, glorious in a way I did not understand, until I read the
descriptions the Prophets made of Him in the scriptures, and I was astonished
to find such a confirmation in His holy word. And it was this year, 2011, that
I heard Him say in my mind what I needed to hear in order for me to turn around in peace
and confidence. A mission is not the spiritual high of anyone’s long life; that
is the talk of people who have slipped into a more muted slow mode (because it
is so freaking easy to do, especially when you’re sacrificing yourself for the
people you love). Light the fire in those you love. Continue to draw closer to
the Son, and the best will be yet to come. The best is knowing God and His Son
Whom He sent. The best is having His Spirit to be with us always. The Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is true!
Sincerely,
James Weller
614-286-2791 P.S.:
I will baptize Emmie in
→Doctrine & Covenants 132: 12,
21-25 November, 2011. (Thank you!)
Hey My brother (eric wilks) shared a link to your blog, and I really like the message, I'm going to keep checking back, for spiritual motivation!
ReplyDeleteThanks