1) The Book of Mormon is foundational to our testimonies of the truthfulness of the restored Gospel. It provides “convincing evidence” that Joseph Smith was a prophet, and, by extension, that this is God’s true Church and Thomas S. Monson is God’s prophet today.2) Better that any other writing, the Book of Mormon answers the “great questions of the soul” and through its study and application, enables us to get closer to God. Especially significant as evidence of the latter is the obtaining of a spiritual witness that one has a remission of sins and is currently on the path to eternal life, through the restored Gospel.
3) There is great joy in teaching the gospel, particularly in telling the stories of and testifying about the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ and the restoration of the Gospel through the prophet Joseph Smith
4) A wonderful bond of love develops with persons you helped to receive the Gospel.
5) The object of all of our work is not simply to get people into the Church but to get them to the temple. The temple ceremonies and covenants are extensions of and enlarge upon the covenant of baptism. The temple deepens our desire and ability to take his name upon us, to always remember him, and keep his commandments. Through worshipping in the temple, and through "honorably holding a name and standing in the temple", we may become “established” in God’s kingdom for ourselves and for all family generations. (D&C 109:24)
6) Where love exists in marriages and families, the temple provides the ultimate support and enhancement to this love. Every great love story needs and deserves the temple.
7) The Lord is in charge and very directly involved with this work, miracles happen constantly around us, and we need to see them and recognize them.
8) Missionaries are most effective when they allow the Spirit to direct their work. Spiritual direction comes best when we actively seek answers to specific questions. Along with the scriptures, conferences and the temple are important sources of revelation, especially if we go early to ponder, ask, and seek.
9) Most of the young missionaries have wonderful commitments to the work. They are obedient, diligent, and full of faith.
10) We learned that there is a higher level of appreciativeness and service, based upon the examples of the young missionaries, to observe and readily express gratitude for the many things that others do for us, and to constantly ask others what we call our NCRM missionaries' Golden Question: “What can we do for you?”
11) Senior missionaries can do a tremendous amount of good, but there is a big shortage of applicants. In the North Carolina Raleigh Mission, during the time we were out, the Church could never supply the mission with its full quota.
12) Seniors will never go on missions if they wait until all obstacles are overcome. The way to be able to go is to commit to the Lord to serve a mission as soon as possible, then let the Lord clear the way.
13) We developed greater love for and understanding of our Lewis family North Carolina and southern roots, including:
- Southern country culture, foods, speech, flowers, trees, etc.
- North Carolina contributions to our nation’s history
- Revolutionary and Civil War battles and sites
- Local geography and places where our ancestors lived
- Specific family history details and resources
- Acquaintanceship with wonderful distant cousins
- History of missionary work and growth of the Church in Eastern North Carolina
1 comment:
Loved this synopsis.
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