Missionary Work

List of ways to prepare for a mission from the Liahona, Oct. 2001, 24; or New Era, June 2000, 27
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Idea List: Getting Ready

Getting Ready

How do you prepare to become the best missionary you can be? Here’s some advice from those who know best—current missionaries—and from other New Era readers:

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  Pray daily. Ask Heavenly Father to help you prepare.
• • 
  The Lord needs worthy missionaries—live the commandments every day.
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  Get into seminary and institute.
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  Read the scriptures daily, especially the Book of Mormon. Follow Moroni’s promise in Moroni 10:3–5 [Moro. 10:3–5].
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  Learn responsibility by magnifying any calling or assignment that comes your way (see D&C 88:80). Home teaching, for example, is an excellent way to learn to build relationships of trust with others.
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  Go to the temple as often as you can.
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  Spend as much time as possible with your family—you’ll miss them while you’re away. Participate in family prayer, home evenings, and other family activities.
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  During family home evening, practice teaching the scriptures to your family.
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  Attend church each Sunday to increase your spirituality.
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  Receive your patriarchal blessing.
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  Practice being friendly with and getting to know people.
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  A mission is rigorous, so stay in good physical shape.
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  Start saving now. Set aside mission funds from your allowance and employment.
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  Work with full-time missionaries and ward mission leaders. Go team teaching with full-time missionaries, watching the elders teach the discussions. Read the review pamphlets that correspond with each discussion.
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  Practice teaching the discussions to a friend—a nonmember friend if possible.
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  Share your testimony every chance you get.
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  Invite nonmember friends to church and to activities.
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  Attend a missionary preparation class.
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  Memorize the Articles of Faith.

God

While i was at BYU-Idaho I came across this quote.

If God brings you to it,

he will bring you through it.

Happy moments, praise God.

Difficult moments, seek God.

 Quiet moments, worship God.

Painful moments, trust God.

Every moment, thank God.

Recently I have come to realize that this is true. The Lord will carry you through your trials IF you allow him to. Its hard at times to remember our Savior when life seems to be going good. I believe that part of the reason we receive trials/affliction in our life, is just the Lord reminding us personally that he is there and waiting, ever waiting, for us to ask him for help.  

This past year has had a LOT of moments when the only way I could get through it was by seeking my Lord in constant prayer and scripture study. As a result I have a testimony that God really is there and in my life and  knows what I am going through. The quiet moments give me a chance to ponder where I am in life and where the Lord needs me to go. 

During the painful times, the Lord is just waiting to for each of us to just trust him and allow him to guide our life. As I have done this more and more, I have come to trust my Heavenly Father and Savior so much more then I could have dreamed of. By knowing this, my gratitude deepens because I know they are there and helping me. 

The Priesthood of Aaron

October 2010 L. Tom Perry

Young men, I challenge you to build your lives on a foundation of truth and righteousness. It is the only foundation that will stand the pressures of this life and endure through the eternities. The priesthood you bear is a special gift, for the giver is the Lord Himself. Use it, magnify it, and live worthy of it. I want you to know that I have a special and personal testimony of its power. It has blessed my life in so many ways.

I also challenge you to determine today that you will honor this great blessing and prepare to advance in each office of the Aaronic Priesthood—deacon, teacher, and priest. Prepare yourselves for the great blessing of receiving the Melchizedek Priesthood, which you will need to be worthy to receive before you serve as a full-time missionary. The Lord needs you to prepare yourselves for His service, especially the great responsibility you will have of declaring His gospel to the world. I promise you if you will prepare to receive His holy priesthood, He will literally pour out blessings upon your heads. This witness I leave with you in the name of our Lord and Savior, even Jesus the Christ, amen.

Institute

Why Institute?

"If you are a single college student, I ask you to make participation in institute a priority. Married students and other young adults are also welcome and encouraged to attend. Think of it. Friends will be made, the Spirit will be felt, and faith will be strengthened. I promise you that as you participate in institute and study the scriptures diligently, your power to avoid temptation and to receive direction of the Holy Ghost in all you do will be increased. Divine favor will attend those who humbly seek it. That is a promise which I leave with you."
President Thomas S. Monson (April 21, 2009)
Click to download a poster of this quote

"We urge all for whom [institute] is available to take advantage of it. We do not hesitate to promise that your knowledge of the gospel will be increased, your faith will be strengthened, and you will develop wonderful associations and friendships."
President Gordon B. Hinckley (in Conference Report, April 1984, 69; or Ensign, May 1984, 47)

"Students, if your values are in place, you will not hesitate to forego an elective class that may decorate your life in favor of instruction which can hold together the very foundation of it. Then, once enrolled, attend, study, and learn. Persuade your friends to do the same. You will never regret it; this I promise you."
Elder Boyd K. Packer (in Conference Report, Apr. 1983, 91; or Ensign, May 1983, 67)

"I know the power that comes from associations in the seminary and institute programs. It has enriched my life, and I know it will do the same for you. It will put a shield of protection around you to keep you free from the temptations and trials of the world. There is a great blessing in having a knowledge of the gospel. And I know of no better place for the young people of the Church to gain a special knowledge of sacred things than in the institute and seminary programs of the Church."
Elder L. Tom Perry (in Conference Report, Oct. 1997, 82; or Ensign, Nov. 1997, 61-62)

Family

"The family is a creation of the Almighty. It represents the most sacred of all relationships. It represents the most serious of all undertakings. It is the fundamental organization of society. "Through the revelations of God to His Prophet came the doctrine and authority under which families are sealed together not only for this life but for all eternity."
--Gordon B. Hinckley, "The Great Things Which God Has Revealed," Ensign, May 2005, 82

You are my Hands

"If we are in tune with the Spirit, if we are seeking the Lord and His guidance, if our direction is to return to our Father in Heaven, the sweet moments will come. And we will treasure them, for we have become instruments in the hands of God" 
--Bonnie D. Parkin, "Sweet Moments," Ensign, November 2005, 107

Priesthood

"I testify of the refining, spiritual, comforting, strengthening, and restraining influence the priesthood has had in my life. I have lived under its spiritual influence all my life-in my grandfather's home, in my father's home, and then in my own home. It is humbling to use the transcending power and authority of the priesthood to empower others and to heal and bless."

--James E. Faust, "A Royal Priesthood," Ensign, May 2006, 53

Communication

"Marriage relationships can be enriched by better communication. One important way is to pray together. This will resolve many of the differences, if there are any, between the couple before sleep comes. I do not mean to overemphasize differences, but they are real, and make things interesting. Our differences are the little pinches of salt which can make the marriage seem sweeter. We communicate in a thousand ways, such as a smile, a brush of the hair, a gentle touch, and remembering each day to say 'I love you' and the husband to say 'You're beautiful.' Some other important words to say, when appropriate, are 'I'm sorry.' Listening is excellent communication."
--President James E. Faust, "The Enriching of Marriage," Ensign, Nov. 1977, 9

Spiritual Knowledge

"Knowledge carefully recorded is knowledge available in times of need. Spiritually sensitive information should be kept in a sacred place that communicates to the Lord how you treasure it. That practice enhances the likelihood of your receiving further light."

Richard G. Scott "Acquiring Spiritual Knowledge," Ensign, November 1993, page 88

Temple

"The temple is a sacred edifice, a holy place, where essential saving ceremonies and ordinances are performed to prepare us for exaltation. It is important that we gain a sure knowledge that our preparation to enter the holy house and that our participation in these ceremonies and covenants are some of the most significant events we will experience in our mortal lives." 

--Robert D. Hales, "Blessings of the Temple", Ensign, Oct 2009, 46–49

Path of Life

"As you and I walk the pathway Jesus walked, let us listen for the sound of sandaled feet. Let us reach out for the Carpenter's hand. Then we shall come to know Him. He may come to us as one unknown, without a name, as by the lakeside He came to those men who knew Him not. He speaks to us the same words, "Follow thou me," and sets us to the task which He has to fulfill for our time. He commands, and to those who obey Him, whether they be wise or simple, He will reveal Himself in the toils, the conflicts, the sufferings that they shall pass through in His fellowship; and they shall learn in their own experience who He is." 




--Thomas S. Monson, "The Paths Jesus Walked", Ensign, Sep 1992, 2

Jesus Christ

"We find healing and relief only when we bring ourselves to the feet of the Great Physician, our Savior, Jesus Christ. We must lay down our weapons of rebellion and we each know what they are. We must lay down our sin, vanity, and pride. We must give up our desires to follow the world and to be respected and lauded by the world. We must cease fighting against God and instead give our whole hearts to Him, holding nothing back. Then He can heal us. Then He can cleanse us..."
--Patrick Kearon

Gift

‎"How can I keep this gift to my self, when i can lift somebody else. I am a witness of His


 miracles and His mercy. I put my future in His hands knowing He's made me all I am. I put


 my faith in Him the truth begins to speak. His power is real it moves me until i will not be 


still!" 




one of my friends posted this on facebook as their status and i love it. i can say the same as my friend and say, i cannot keep this gift of the gospel to my self. i have seen many miracles in my life that i cannot deny. recently i have had to put my whole trust in my heavenly father, who see's all things while i see very little and just have the faith that he knows what he is doing with my life. it keeps amazing me, each and every time i realize how blessed i am and how much the lord is aware of me and my situation in life.

Good Cheer

"Good cheer is a state of mind or mood that promotes happiness or joy... With God's help, good cheer permits us to rise above the depressing present or difficult circumstances. It is a process of positive reassurance and reinforcement. It is sunshine when clouds block the light." 




--Marvin J. Ashton, "Be of Good Cheer", Ensign, May 1986, 66

Attitude

"Cultivate an attitude of happiness. Cultivate a spirit of optimism. Walk with faith, rejoicing in the beauties of nature, in the goodness of those you love, in the testimony which you carry in your heart concerning things divine." 
--Gordon B. Hinckley, "Words of the Prophet: The Spirit of Optimism", New Era, July 2001, 4






"Remember, a good attitude produces good results, a fair attitude fair results, a poor attitude poor results. We each shape our own life, and the shape of it is determined largely by our attitude." 
--M. Russell Ballard, "Providing for Our Needs", Ensign May 1981, 85

♬♪ The Whole Armor of God - Clint Poulsen ♫♭

dont forget to put for armor of God each and every day! Satan attacks us when we least expect him to! When he does catch you off guard, dont give him the advantage of winning. Do what you must in order to continue in the way of God.

The Life and Death of Mormon Founder Joseph Smith Jr. - 2/2

part 2 of 2

The Life and Death of Mormon Founder Joseph Smith Jr. - 1/2

part 1 of two

The Glory of an Ordinary Day-(Music and the Spoken Word)

The Glory of an Ordinary Day

Delivered By: Lloyd D. Newell

Sometimes it takes a serious jolt in life to open our eyes and see the glory of an ordinary day. Such was the case of one woman who recently faced a life-threatening illness. Through major surgery, though disfiguring, her life has been prolonged. Those who call to give her comfort are surprised when they hear her say that she is so blessed—that each morning when she awakes she is so happy and thankful to be alive. For this woman, every ordinary day is now an extraordinary day that she greets with hope and enthusiasm. Writer Mary Jean Irion helps us see the deeper perspective: “Normal day, let me be aware of the treasure you are. Let me learn from you, love you, savour you, bless you before you depart. Let me not pass you by in quest of some rare and perfect tomorrow. Let me hold you while I may . . .”1 So we may ask, “How do we love, savour, and bless a normal day?” The answers surround us and, because of their simplicity, they often escape us. To “savour” a normal day we can begin with the simple act of opening the shades that give privacy in the night and let in the morning rays of light. To sit, even for a moment, in that light and thank our Divine Creator for another new day can sharpen our ability to find joy. We are then ready to learn from, to love and bless that normal day, however ordinary it may be. It can be done as simply as responding to the child who says, “Please read me a story,” and then savoring the sight of the child’s happy face as we read. It can happen by saying “I love you” to someone we love or smiling and chatting with the stranger in line at the store. It can also happen by thanking an employee for a job well done and, in each case, enjoying the happy response. It can happen as we feel lifted by the strains of a favorite song or as we notice the budding of a new flower, the freshness in the air after a rain, the reflection of light on the clouds as the evening sun bids farewell. It can happen by recounting just a few of the good things that filled our day as we kneel in evening prayer and thank a loving Father who gave us one more ordinary day. 1Mary Jean Irion, The Harper Book of Quotations (New York: HarperPerennial, 1993), p. 266. Program #3580

03-29-1998

www.musicandthespokenword.com 

Prepare/Prepareness

"Tribulation, afflictions, and trials will constantly be with us in our sojourn here in this segment of eternity, just as the Savior said, "In the world ye shall have tribulation." (John 16:33.) Therefore, the great challenge in this earthly life is not to determine how to escape the afflictions and problems, but rather to carefully prepare ourselves to meet them."

--Angel Abrea, "Patience in Affliction", Ensign, May 1992, 25

Trials

"Each of us will have our own Fridays-those days when the universe itself seems shattered and the shards of our world lie littered about us in pieces. We all will experience those broken times when it seems we can never be put together again. We will all have our Fridays. But I testify to you in the name of the One who conquered death-Sunday will come. In the darkness of our sorrow, Sunday will come. No matter our desperation, no matter our grief, Sunday will come. In this life or the next, Sunday will come." 


--Joseph B. Wirthlin, "Sunday Will Come", Ensign, Nov. 2006, 28

Mother

"Give me a young woman who loves home and family, who reads and ponders the scriptures daily, who has a burning testimony of the Book of Mormon. Give me a young woman who faithfully attends her church meetings, who is a seminary graduate, who has earned her Young Womanhood Recognition Award and wears it with pride! Give me a young woman who is virtuous and who has maintained her personal purity, who will not settle for less than a temple marriage, and I will give you a young woman who will perform miracles for the Lord now and throughout eternity."

President Ezra Taft Benson
13th President of the Church, 1985-94
("To the Young Women of the Church," Ensign Nov. 1986, 84)

♬♪ Each Life That Touches Ours for Good - Mormon Tabernacle Choir ♫♭

Dont forget the little things and all who serve you!

Children

"If children are to be brought up in the way they should go, to be good citizens here and happy hereafter, they must be taught. It is idle to suppose that children will grow up good, while surrounded with wickedness, without cultivation. It is folly to suppose that they can become learned without education."

--Discourses of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 273

Gratitude

so today we had a family emergency about 5am and luckily everything turned out ok. but it really made me realize how grateful i am for my family. Not just my parents and siblings, but my aunts, uncles, grandparents, and all those relatives that come closer together as one big family in situations like what my family had today. i love my entire family dearly and wouldn't feel so lucky if the lord wasn't watching out for my family. Thank you heavenly father.

Fasting and Prayer

Carl B. Pratt "The Blessings of a Proper Fast" October 2004 Conference

Brethren, I hope you noticed this morning, as President Hinckley prepared to announce the names of two new Apostles, he spoke of fasting and praying to know the Lord’s will.

Fasting has always been a practice among God’s people. In our day it is a commandment given by the Lord to all members of the Church. In addition to occasional special fasts that we might have for personal or family reasons, we are expected to fast once a month on the first Sunday. We are taught that there are three aspects to a proper fast day observance: first, abstaining from food and drink for two consecutive meals or, in other words, 24 hours; second, attending fast and testimony meeting; and third, giving a generous fast offering.

For the Pratt family our regular fasts have always been from the Saturday noon meal to the Sunday noon meal. That way we fast for two meals, Saturday evening and Sunday morning meals. Although there is no Church standard for fasting, except that it should be for 24 hours and two meals, we have found a spiritual advantage in attending fast and testimony meeting toward the end of the fast.

For those who are physically able, fasting is a commandment. Speaking of our monthly fast day, President Joseph F. Smith said: “The Lord has instituted the fast on a reasonable and intelligent basis. … Those who can are required to comply … ; it is a duty from which they cannot escape; … it is left with the people as a matter of conscience, to exercise wisdom and discretion. …

“But those should fast who can. … None are exempt from this; it is required of the Saints, old and young, in every part of the Church” (Gospel Doctrine, 5th ed. [1939], 244).

I fear, brethren, that too many of us are either not fasting on fast day or we are doing so in a lackadaisical manner. If we are guilty of taking our fast day for granted or simply fasting Sunday morning instead of making it two complete meals—24 hours—we are depriving ourselves and our families of the choice spiritual experiences and blessings that can come from a true fast.

If all we do is abstain from food and drink for 24 hours and pay our fast offering, we have missed a wonderful opportunity for spiritual growth. On the other hand, if we have a special purpose in our fasting, the fast will have much more meaning. Perhaps we can take time as a family before beginning our fast to talk about what we hope to accomplish by this fast. This could be done in a family home evening the week before fast Sunday or in a brief family meeting at the time of family prayer. When we fast with purpose, we have something to focus our attention on besides our hunger.

The purpose of our fast may be a very personal one. Fasting can help us overcome personal flaws and sins. It can help us overcome our weaknesses—help them become strengths. Fasting can help us become more humble, less prideful, less selfish, and more concerned about the needs of others. It can help us see more clearly our own mistakes and weaknesses and help us be less prone to criticize others. Or our fast may have a focus on a family challenge. A family fast might help increase love and appreciation among family members and reduce the amount of contention in the family, or we might fast as a couple to strengthen our marriage bonds. A purpose of our fast as priesthood holders might be to seek the Lord’s guidance in our callings, as President Hinckley has demonstrated, or we might fast with our home teaching companion to know how to help one of our families.

Throughout the scriptures the term fasting is usually combined with prayer. “Ye shall continue in prayer and fasting from this time forth” is the Lord’s counsel (D&C 88:76). Fasting without prayer is just going hungry for 24 hours. But fasting combined with prayer brings increased spiritual power.

When the disciples were unable to cure a boy who was possessed of an evil spirit, they asked the Savior, “Why could not we cast him out?” Jesus responded, “This kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting” (Matt. 17:19, 21).

Let us begin our fasts with prayer. This could be kneeling at the table as we finish the meal with which we begin the fast. That prayer should be a natural thing as we speak to our Heavenly Father concerning the purpose of our fast and plead with Him for His help in accomplishing our goals. Likewise, let us end our fasts with prayer. We could very appropriately kneel at the table before we sit down to consume the meal with which we break our fast. We would thank the Lord for His help during the fast and for what we have felt and learned from the fast.

In addition to a beginning and ending prayer, we should seek the Lord often in personal prayer throughout the fast.

We should not expect our young children to fast for the recommended two meals. But let us teach them the principles of fasting. If fasting is discussed and planned in a family setting, the small children will be aware that their parents and older siblings are fasting, and they will understand the purpose of the fast. They should participate in the family prayers to begin and end the fast. This way, when they reach the proper age, they will be eager to fast with the rest of the family. In our family, we have done this by encouraging our children between 8 and 12 years of age to fast for one meal; then as they have turned 12 and received the Aaronic Priesthood or entered Young Women, we have encouraged them to fast for two complete meals.

After chastising ancient Israel for fasting improperly, the Lord, through the prophet Isaiah, speaks in beautiful poetic language of a proper fast:

“Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?” (Isa. 58:6).

If we fast and pray with the purpose of repenting of sins and overcoming personal weaknesses, surely we are seeking to “loose the bands of wickedness” in our lives. If the purpose of our fast is to be more effective in teaching the gospel and serving others in our Church callings, we are surely striving to “undo the heavy burdens” of others. If we are fasting and praying for the Lord’s help in our missionary efforts, aren’t we desiring to “let the oppressed go free”? If the purpose of our fast is to increase our love for our fellow man and overcome our selfishness, our pride, and having our hearts set upon the things of this world, surely we are seeking to “break every yoke.”

The Lord continues describing the proper fast:

“Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?” (Isa. 58:7).

It is truly a wonderful thing that through our fast offerings today we can feed the hungry, shelter the homeless, and clothe the naked.

If we fast properly the Lord promises:

“Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; …

“Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am. …

“And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noonday:

“And the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, … and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not” (Isa. 58:8–11).

It is my prayer that we can improve our fasts so that we can enjoy these beautiful promised blessings. It is my testimony that as we “draw near” to the Lord through our fasting and prayer, He will “draw near” to us (seeD&C 88:63). I testify that He lives, that He loves us, and that He wants to draw near to us. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

(I added the color. the text is all originally black)