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.

   

Temple

I was in the temple today when I ran into a dear friend of mine. He just went into the MTC this last week. He was so happy and wanted so much to be there. As I saw him there I though about the importance to getting our friend and family ready to go to the temple, not just on missions.

I found this amazing talk by Carol B Thomas about getting ready to go to the temple.

It is amazing the blessings that can come into our lives as we get ready to and go to the temple.

Preparing Our Families for the Temple

Brothers and sisters, I think I am happy to be here today. My assignment with the Young Women presidency puts me in many happy situations. One month ago a training assignment took me to Guayaquil, Ecuador. I arrived at the hotel after dark. The next morning I opened my curtains, and there across the valley was a beautiful granite building standing majestically on the Santa Ana Hills. Its stunning beauty was evident, but it wasn’t until I saw the angel Moroni on top that I, with tears in my eyes, realized that here was a temple, a symbol of the glorious blessings that will come to the members of the Church in that part of the world.

“Temples are unique among all buildings. … They are places of covenants and promises. At their altars we kneel before God our Creator and are given promise of his everlasting blessings” (Gordon B. Hinckley,Teachings of Gordon B. Hinckley [1997], 632–33). Wherever we went, we found that temples are being built, temples that will lift the Saints of God and change the face of countries, whether in South America or throughout the world.

Has it only been one year since our beloved prophet announced the building of 32 more temples? President Gordon B. Hinckley has said, “This is the greatest era of temple building in all the history of the world” (Teachings, 629).

Our youngest son, Spencer, now serving a mission in Mongolia, wrote that his mission president was addressing the missionaries and members concerning their duty in building up the Church there. “As President Cox opened the discussion for questions, the first response was, ‘When is Mongolia going to have a temple?’ These people,” Spencer said, “are hungering for the gospel to play a greater part in their lives. They don’t even have a Book of Mormon yet, and they want a temple.”

Why all this fuss about temples? Simply put, the purpose of temples “is to redeem all mankind who are obedient to the laws and commandments of God. The gospel in its fulness was revealed to Adam. … [And] Saints of all ages have had temples in one form or another” (David B. Haight, “Personal Temple Worship,” Ensign, May 1993, 23–24).

Joseph Smith said, “The greatest responsibility in this world that God has laid upon us is to seek after our dead” (History of the Church, 6:313). If this is true, then as parents and family members our greatest challenge is to prepare our families for the temple. Parents have the primary responsibility, but grandparents, aunts and uncles, even brothers and sisters all may teach the family.

When my husband and I were married in the temple, we understood the importance of never discussing the temple outside the temple, not because the ceremonies were secret but because they were sacred. “They are kept confidential lest they be given to those who are unprepared” (Boyd K. Packer, The Holy Temple [booklet, 1982], 2). But in a family setting, there are many precious truths that, with sensitivity and common sense, will help prepare our children for the temple.

Consider:

• The sacred nature of the temple clothing. In the temples all are dressed in white. White is the symbol of purity.
• The temple is the Lord’s classroom. President Hinckley has said, “[The temple] becomes a school of instruction in the sweet and sacred things of God” (Teachings, 635).
• What it means to be worthy for the temple. Can we teach our children that receiving one’s endowment and the wearing of the sacred garment will not require a change of wardrobe or lifestyle if the principles of temple worthiness are understood and lived in their earlier years? A young woman who wears knee-length skirts will not have to buy a new wardrobe after she receives her endowment in the temple. A young man who anticipates going to the temple will respect the Church’s moral standards in his social behavior.
• Understanding gospel language. What do the words endowment, ordinances, sealings, and keys really mean? The story is told of a little boy who overheard his parents discussing doing temple sealings. He asked, “Are you going to do the walls next week?”

Where may we teach our children? Family home evening is the formal setting, but there are so many more places where we may talk about our spiritual feelings for the temple. One of my favorite times was when my children were in bed at night. Occasionally I would lie on their bed and tell them of spiritual things. There in the peace and the quiet, the sweet Spirit can bear testimony to their heart and soul that the things you are saying are true.

We may assume that Joseph and Mary taught their family about the temple. As Elder Perry has discussed, when the Savior was a 12-year-old boy, His parents took Him to the Feast of the Passover in Jerusalem. When Jesus was left behind, He was not found in places or entertainments for a boy His age. His parents found Him in the temple. Perhaps when Mary tucked Him in bed at night, she shared her testimony of these sacred and precious truths.

My first memory of temples was when I was a little girl. I knew the temple must be a pretty wonderful place because my parents faithfully attended, and they always came home together in such a good mood. I understood the sacred nature of the temple clothing by the way my mother spoke about it with love and respect.

President Howard W. Hunter has said: “Let us share with our children the spiritual feelings we have in the temple. And let us teach them more earnestly and more comfortably the things we can appropriately say. … Keep a picture of a temple in your home that your children may see it” (“A Temple-Motivated People,” Ensign, Feb. 1995, 5). I noticed every home I visited in Africa had a picture of a temple hung simply and beautifully on the wall.

New understanding comes as we prepare our families for the temple. May I share a few things I have learned:

1. 1. Going to the temple often provides balance in our lives. After returning home, we have an increased sense of well-being; the influence of the Spirit can shield us from the frustrations of the world. Listen to this promise by President Hinckley: “If there were more temple work done in the Church, there would be less … selfishness, less … contention, less … demeaning [of] others. The whole Church would increasingly be lifted to greater heights of spirituality, love for one another, and obedience to the commandments of God” (Teachings,622).
2. 2. The spiritual atmosphere of the temple curbs our appetite for worldly things. When we attend frequently, we no longer have such a need to wear the latest fashion, and we are not so easily drawn to the entertainment of the world.
3. 3.The temple is a place of revelation. Many years ago I was walking into the temple and in my mind I heard the words, Learn public speaking. I thought to myself, When will I ever have need for public speaking? Over several months’ period of time I tried very inadequately to conjure up some enthusiasm to obey the prompting I had received. I even checked out a tape from the local library by a public speaker who admitted that his goal was to someday speak in the Mormon Tabernacle. I thought at the time, I’ll never be speaking in the Tabernacle!
   Elder John A. Widtsoe has said, “At the most unexpected moments, in or out of the temple will come to [us], as a revelation, the solution of the problems that vex [our lives]. … It is a place where revelations may be expected” (“Temple Worship,” Utah Genealogical and Historical Magazine, Apr. 1921, 63–64).
4. 4.One of the biggest lessons I have learned is that Satan will try to keep us from going to the temple. During a discussion with friends once, they shared with me that whenever they attend, they don’t tell anybody they are going. They just jump into their cars and go, because if they don’t something is sure to happen to keep them away.
   I remember reading of a warning given by the president of the Logan Temple that Satan and his followers will “whisper in the ears of the people persuading them not to go to the Temple” (“Genealogical Department,” Church News, 12 Dec. 1936, 8). “Temple work brings so much resistance because it is the source of so much spiritual power to the Latter-day Saints” (Boyd K. Packer, “The Holy Temple,” Ensign, Feb. 1995, 36).
5. 5.The Spirit of Elijah is brooding in the land. As we work with youth of the Church, we see they are being drawn to their temples.
   In Nicaragua, Central America, a group of 49 young women and their leaders took 2,000 names to the Guatemala City Temple. It took each girl a year to save enough money to go. These faithful young women rode a bus almost two days’ journey through three country borders and spent two or three days at the temple before returning home.
   In another ward, young people have located the names of 10,000 ancestors as they have turned their hearts to their families. Where temples are available, we see youth doing baptisms for the dead, sometimes on an individual weekly basis.
6. 6. In the temple the Spirit of the Lord provides comfort and peace, especially during moments of despair. Recently I met a 35-year-old woman in the temple. As we visited, I asked if her husband was with her. With a look of tenderness in her eyes, she shared with me that he had died of a brain tumor three months ago. The temple is her anchor; the Spirit found in the temple gives her comfort and peace, and perhaps her husband was there.

Each of us may ask ourselves, “How often should I attend the temple?” Our leaders will never tell us how often we should attend, because it is different for every person. Many women of various ages who live close to a temple try to go once a week. When one of my friends worked full time, she spent one day a month in the temple, attending several sessions. These women are obedient, but they also understand the strength of priesthood power that comes into their lives.

For young parents, attending the temple may be a once-a-month date. President Packer has said: “Perhaps you will understand … we are trying to establish family history as … a ‘cottage industry.’ … Couples raising little children should not feel inadequate or guilty … if they cannot afford the time or money to attend a distant temple frequently. Mother makes a contribution by noting important events, collecting pictures, bits of memorabilia, … all as it fits into the schedule of a busy mother” (“A Plea to Stake Presidents,” leadership training meeting, 1 Apr. 1988).

My own mother didn’t do scrapbooks, but she gave me a love for my heritage. She told me story after story about my ancestors as she taught me to love them.

President Packer continues: “Father and mother can speak of ordinances and covenants. By the inflection of their voices, they can italicize the word ‘temple’ every time they say it. … In proper season, family obligations will be a bit less and income a bit more. Then members can and should give more to this sacred [temple] work” (“A Plea to Stake Presidents”).

We plead with you mothers and fathers to teach your sons and daughters the meaning of the temple covenants. Teach them that “wearing the garment is a sacred privilege. … [It] is an outward expression of an inner commitment to follow the Savior Jesus Christ” (First Presidency letter, 5 Nov. 1996).

Brothers and sisters, as servants of the living God, we shall press forward in this sacred temple work. May we teach our children that as they spiritually prepare themselves for the temple, they may stand in the presence of the Lord, I pray in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Pep Talk Tuesday: Fathers and Sons

Dear Mothers,

Grab your husbands for this one. In honor of Father's day last Sunday, I wanted to post one of my favorite talks, Fathers and Sons: A Remarkable Relationship by M. Russell Ballard for you to reread. If you are the mother of a daughter serving, you should check out M. Russell Ballard's sister's equavelent talk entitled Mothers and Daughters. You'll find the same blessings as those promised in this fathers and sons talk.

The words of this talk are heaven sent and the promised blessings are true. After reading this talk and following the three steps given, I noticed an immediate change in my relationship with my own father. I find myself seeking his advice more often in the difficult decisions I face. I find in him a strong man. A man who has not only been through what I've been through, but one who offers me some of the best advice available to help me make these decisions. I am so thankful for my relationship with my father and appreciate it better because of the steps that I took to get to know him better.

That being said, I want to direct you fathers to read the three step that Elder Ballard suggested for you. After that, I want you to promise to try and emulate one of these steps in every letter you send to your son. Now, I understand that some of these are harder to do than others because of distance, but I promise you'll see a change in your relationship with your son, and he will too.

I have relisted the steps and some of their finer points here:

1) Fathers, listen to your sons—really listen to them. Ask the right kind of questions, and listen to what your sons have to say...Don't assume that you know how he feels just because you were young once. Your sons live in a very different world from the one in which you grew up. Listen very carefully and without being judgmental....Don't think you have to try to fix everything or solve everything during these visits (in this case, their letters). Most of the time, the best thing you can do is just listen.

2) Pray with your sons. This one is a bit harder to do since he lives so far away, but you can still pray with him about things that are important to him. Ask him for specific things to pray for. If he doesn't give you things, pay careful attention to the emails he sends home. They are often a vehicle from which you can divine the things he cares about most. Pray over specific people he mentions who are struggling or progressing. Pray they will be able to overcome any temptations or misgivings that may come their way. There are many ways you can pray together, without actually being together.

I don't know who needs to hear this, but I feel it is important: I am mindful that many of you fathers suffer heartache over sons who have strayed and are being captured by the world, just as Alma and Mosiah worried about their sons. Continue to do all you can to maintain strong family relationships. Never give up, even when fervent prayer in their behalf is all you can do. These precious sons of yours are your sons forever! Fathers, pray with and bless your sons.

3) Dare to have the "big talks" with your sons. Elder Ballard goes on to discuss having the important conversations about drugs, drinking, immorality, etc. These talks are much harder to have over email or through letters, but I would encourage you to pray for guidance on how you can have some of these "heavier" talks from such a long distance. Most missionaries might tell you they don't need these things, but they really do. They can be tempted there just as much as they are tempted here and they could use your supportive guidance when tough times come. So dare to have the big talks, even if they may feel awkward from a distance. Please don't shy away from them. If you don't have them, who will?

In closing, I would like to echo the words of Elder Ballard. I pray now that our Heavenly Father will bless all of us as fathers and sons that we will honor our priesthood and that we will love one another by making relationships with each other one of the great, eternal priorities of our lives.

For the full talk, please check the talk out at this link: http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2010/04/mothers-and-daughters?lang=eng

Sincerely,
Chris

Wednesday Family Blessings - Guest Blog: Cutting the Ties by Tracy

Dearest Mothers,

In our more recent bouts on the web, we discovered an awesome blogger who seeks to do her part to "help demystify the Church" to the world by talking about missionary work. Her name is Tracy and she is the owner and curator of Missionary Mum's Meeting Place. She has had a missionary in the field herself and although she can be easily coaxed into a discussion about her missionary, she loves to hear insights and stories from other mothers about their own missionaries. Some of her goals include answering the questions of "How can I support my missionary when he/she is discouraged and what would other missionary mum's do in this particular situation?" Missionary Mum's Meeting Place is the place to discuss these kinds of issues.

Tracy recently wrote a blog about Susan Bever, a missionary mom from Indiana, who has been immensely blessed by her son's service. The Lord inspired her to expound upon a hobby and make it into a business. She has been successfully supporting her son on his mission ever since! Tracy and Susan have been gracious enough to allow us to re-post this blog. Enjoy.   - Chris

Cutting the Ties

by Tracy 

As Elder ‘T’ stood to give his farewell talk just before entering the MTC, you would have been forgiven for thinking that he brought with him his own personal cheer squad. Sitting in the congregation were four of his friends, all sporting the same colour tie as him. These were just five of the 13 ties that Elder ‘T’s’ mum had made he and his friends while he was studying at BYU-I.

But this was not just a quirky display of solidarity for a newly called missionary.  For Susan Bever, it was the only way she could think to support her missionary son as he dedicated the next two years of his life to the Lord.

After losing her job, and with no means of a steady income, Susan determined to find a creative way to help support him. When discussing her situation with her sister one day, and knowing that her son was about to submit his mission papers, it was suggested that she give tie-making a go.

Having been a seamstress for much of her life, Susan felt confident that this could be the opportunity she was looking for. She declared, “I couldn’t make a financial commitment, because I didn’t have the income to make it… the purchase of a piece of fabric was about all I could do.”

Elder "T," sporting a new tie, and ready
to serve.

The term cutting the ties took on new meaning for Susan as she bid her son farewell. Since August 2010, when her son entered the Provo MTC, she has cut, sewn, and sent him at least 3 ties per month; and estimates that by the end of his mission he will have received close to 200 ties.

Not all of them end up around his neck tho’. Elder ‘T’ generously shares some with fellow missionaries, and many of his investigators. When this happens, Susan simply gets back to cutting and sewing some more.

But this is not the extent of her commitment. Susan is determined to share her tie-making talents both at home, and across the globe. She makes ties for many of the missionaries serving around the world from her own ward, as well as sharing them with missionaries serving near to where she lives. It is her way of showing support for not only her missionary son, but for dozens of other ‘s as they spread the gospel.

Recently, through the LDS Missionary Mom’s Email group, Susan offered to trace, cut out, and mail several tie patterns for any of the missionary mum’s who might like to sew a tie for their serving missionary. Each pattern was traced by hand, tailored to measure the individual missionary, and mailed at her own expense (in my case, sent half way around the world to New Zealand).

Since making those first few ties for her son and his friends, she, and her sister Lois, have started up an online tie making business.  “All Tyed Up” gives you an idea of  the extent of her tie-making skills. Susan also suggests that if the tie you are looking for is not there, then it is only a phone-call or email away.

Elder "T" shares one of his
favorite tie's - 8
inches wide!

If you are interested in purchasing a tie from All Tyed Up, then pop on over to Susan’s website and scroll through the huge range she has displayed there. Orders cannot be made through the website, but if you email Susan with your order or questions, she can make arrangements from there.

Some interesting facts about ties:

1. Not all men are the same size and therefore can’t wear the same size tie – you have to make adjustments for both taller and shorter men. Susan has made a tie small enough for a child – a tiny 42” long, as well as a tie for a 7’7’’ tall man – a huge 78”.
2. Ties can come in different widths, according to your preference.  Susan makes ties to order, anything from 1 ½ “ wide through to 4 ½” wide.
3. Ties can be made with many types of fabrics including cotton, cotton-polyester blends, silk, satin, satin brocades, ultra suede, and denim – just about any material can be used.
4. The only type of tie she would encourage missionaries not to wear are character ties – Spiderman, Pokemon, Little Mermaid etc. But as for which colours not to wear, according to her missionary son, “If she makes it, I will wear it”.

Thank you Susan for allowing me to share your inspiring story. We wish you and your son all the best as he prepares to return home in August.

There is an assortment of ways that we can be missionaries or, at least, support the missionary effort. We are all blessed with different talents and abilities, and it is up to us to find those talents and use them in the unique way that only we can.  Susan found her unique way.

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