Keeping a Record

"In our day the Lord said to the Prophet Joseph Smith, 'And again, let all the records be had in order, that they may be put in the archives of my holy temple' (D&C 127:9).

You should continue on in this important work of recording the things you do, the things you say, the things you think, to be in accordance with the instructions of the Lord. Your story should be written now while it is fresh and while the true details are available." 

- President Spencer W. Kimball

5 Tips for Writing to a New Missionary

Those first few days in the MTC can be rough. For the last few months, he has had all of mom's attention, mounting excitement, and tons of free time. Once in the MTC, many missionaries can feel overwhelmed and perhaps forgotten. Here are a few ideas for writing to a missionary during the early days of the mission.

1. Update on life back at home. This may seem like the worst idea. Why remind a missionary of all they are missing? But missionaries don't want to feel left out. Letting them know what brothers and sisters are doing can help them feel connected to the family unit. This can also serve to be a powerful reminder of why the missionary is serving in the first place, to bring the word of God to families everywhere!

2. Plans for the future. Again, why remind the missionary of life back home? Talking about plans for the future can help a missionary get out of a rut by reminding him of the big picture. Life goes on! He has 2 exciting years ahead of him and then even more life beyond that. His family will always be there for him, missing him, supporting him, and anticipating his return (and the years of mission stories you'll be hearing over, and over, and over again!)

3. Reminder of spiritual experiences leading up to the mission. Many missionaries and families experience spiritual preparation prior to the missionary leaving. These spiritual experiences can sustain through the hard transition to full-time missionary service. Let him know that you find strength in remembering these times and he will too.

4. Photos! Everyone loves photos. Plus, it gives him something to show his new companions. This can be a nice way for a missionary to tie home life to mission service.

5. Love. Remind him that you love him, that you support him, and that you couldn't be any more proud or happy with his decision to serve. Your love can be a comforting balm to any anxiety he may be feeling about his ability to serve. Any even if he is taking to mission life like a fish takes to water, it's still nice to be loved.

Bonus! Gifts. There are lots of services that offer same-day delivery to the MTC in Provo. Be sure that cookie deliveries will make him very popular with his new companions.

Any other ideas for writing to new missionaries? Leave a comment!

It just keeps getting better...

A Marvelous Work has been simplifying for the new year! Here are the highlights...

• Your mission book is now included in the package. Same great book, but now it's included. It's like getting your book for free!
• Get started for just $25
• Get your book even faster. Returned Missionaries can sign up and order their book in as little as 2 weeks.
• More special options including hardcover books, dust jackets, and discounts for bulk orders.
• Quick and easy sign up entirely online!
• See all of the details on the service and FAQ pages

Getting all of your mission letters and photos organized can seem overwhelming, but it doesn't have to. That's what we're here for! Head on over to AMarvelousWork.com and check out the changes. We can't wait to hear from you.

Music in the Mail

Music can have a great influence on us. It can make our days better, bring the spirit and give us strength.

 Many missionaries are allowed to listen to music from an approved list often made by their mission presidents. A great gift and pick me up for our sisters and elders out there is the gift of music. Good music that fits into the requirements set by the mission office can be a great gift and can be easy sent in the mail.

This great gift can really help bring a feeling of peace and love to those missionaries that need to be lifted from time to time.

I Will Be Found of You

Dear Mom,

I chose to share this talk with you today because it was extremely helpful to me just a few minutes ago. I'm going to sound like a broken record when I tell you that there has been a lot on my mind recently. These personal things have caused me more grief than they should. They have brought me to my knees seeking an answer to several questions, seeking closeness to the Lord. This talk was given to me to read by a friend and turned to be all the inspiration I needed. Hope it'll do the same for you.

“I Will Be Found of You”

At the conclusion of our Sunday School lesson, Sister Hart asked us to turn to Jeremiah 29. She said she would read verses 12–14 aloud, and she asked us to ponder the meaning of the words.

“Then shall ye call upon me,” she read, “and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.

“And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.

“And I will be found of you, saith the Lord …”

Sister Hart went on, finishing verse 14, but my thoughts lingered happily behind, savoring the promise “I will be found of you.” I was reminded of the times when my wife, Emma, and I played hide-and-seek with our young children. When it was our turn to hide and their turn to seek, we always made ourselves easy to find. Sometimes we made noises or left a foot in plain view so they would find us quickly. Sometimes we hid in the same place repeatedly. We wanted the children to search for us, but we also wanted them to find us. We looked forward to their hugs and their joyful, unrestrained giggles of triumph.

This memory deepened my understanding of our Heavenly Father’s love for us. He wants us to search for Him, but He also wants us to find Him—He knows how happy we will be when we do. He does not try to trick us. Rather, He does all He can to help us know where and how to search: He gives us the scriptures, calls prophets, listens to our prayers, guides us by the power of the Holy Ghost, blesses us with temples and priesthood ordinances and family and friends. And if we have found Him somewhere once, we are sure to find Him there again if we are willing to renew our search.

“I will be found of you, saith the Lord.” What a comforting promise! In a world where trouble and temptations seem to find us so easily, it is reassuring to know that our greatest source of strength is so easy to find.
Aaron L. West.
http://www.lds.org/ensign/2010/01/i-will-be-found-of-you

Sincerely,
Chris

Sacrifices and Blessings

We can learn a great many things from the sacrifices of others. The faith and perseverence of those who should never have been able to accomplish the things they did, serve as inspiration and courage for those of us who struggle with similarly difficult tasks. Thomas S. Monson told the following story in a talk entitled "The Holy Temple—A Beacon to the World" in the April 2011 General Conference:

"One of the temples currently under construction is in Manaus, Brazil. Many years ago I read of a group of over a hundred members who left Manaus, located in the heart of the Amazon rain forest, to travel to what was then the closest temple, located in São Paulo, Brazil—nearly 2,500 miles (4,000 km) from Manaus. Those faithful Saints journeyed by boat for four days on the Amazon River and its tributaries. After completing this journey by water, they boarded buses for another three days of travel—over bumpy roads, with very little to eat, and with nowhere comfortable to sleep. After seven days and nights, they arrived at the temple in São Paulo, where ordinances eternal in nature were performed. Of course their return journey was just as difficult. However, they had received the ordinances and blessings of the temple, and although their purses were empty, they themselves were filled with the spirit of the temple and with gratitude for the blessings they had received."

In a place so poor, this people gave up things that are precious to them to go to the temple. These are the things they need to survive: time and money. I served a mission in the Philippines. While there I learned that a lot of families in third world countries (or third world-esque financial situations) subsist from daily salaries. At quitting time, they take home the money they earned and use it on their family's needs for the day. Mostly it is barely enough for everything they need, but rarely is it enough to pursue their wants. If a family misses a day of work, the family has to subsist on what they have. The Manaus Brazilians travelled for about 23 days without working on what must have been mere scraps of a savings account. They took a huge risk that could have endangered their livlihood, but they did it anyways because they knew the importance of what they were doing. They saw the end result and did what was needed to reach their goal. They gave their all, trusted in God, and walked forward with faith every step of the way.

Mothers that sends off missionaries can be likened to these families. Although they are not often asked to give all their money and time to the cause, their emotional sacrifice of giving their son or daughter can sometimes feel just as great. It's a legitimate sacrifice for these mothers. It is not easy to see your beloved son or daughter leave to serve a here-to-fore unknown people who won't appreciate him or her like you do. Imagine all the grief they'll be put through. Will the people treat her with the respect she deserves? Will $100 a month be enough for him to live off of, or should he get more? Will she be safe? The prospect is frightening. These and many more worries crop up from time to time.

But like the people of Manaus, mothers can make a major sacrifice with an eye of faith. They can hold on to hope that it will be worth it in the end. Your missionary embarks in the service of God. He will have the opportunity to change the lives of entire nations to come. Even if he gives his all every day, but only manages to plant one small seed. That seed will grow and the work will have been worth it. Multitudes will be grateful for his service and thank him in the eternities. Mothers and missionaries alike can look toward the end result in faith that the next two years will bring blessings of an eternal nature to both those who serve, and those who stay home and wave their banners of support from home.

MTC mail

After talking to a few different returned missionaries about their missions I have gathered that the first week in the MTC can be one of the hardest weeks on the mission. 

A great way to help ease the transition into the mission field is to send a little love to your missionary before they even get there. Having a package waiting for your missionary at the MTC is a great way to help them feel the love of their friends and family as well as their support. 

Good ideas for these kinds of packages are foods that you know they love, things you know they will forget, photos and notes of support. 

There is a lot to learn in the MTC and it is a very different world then most new missionaries have experienced up to that point in their lives. It is a great help to remember that out there in the world there are people that know what they are doing and love them.