Magnified by God
Last week, the Mission Leader Conference started at the MTC in Provo for all the new mission leaders who will begin their service this week. Those of us who are currently serving were fortunate enough to have it broadcasted live through the missionary portal. As I watched and listened, it reminded me how it was such a transformative experience to be taught by our prophet and all the apostles. My husband and I plan to study these new words and teachings carefully so we can use them during our service in the upcoming year for there was much that was taught. The conference never talks about the administration of a mission, rather only the teachings of doctrine.
In the opening remarks Elder Holland made this promise to all mission leaders:
“As an apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ, I promise you that you will have his help, and his success, as you live righteously, and you ask for it. I count on this every day in my life, in my calling, and I am totally confident in promising it to you.”
As I watched and looked at the faces of the new mission leaders, I was reminded of all the emotions that we felt and how we had no idea what to expect. Thankfully, I have learned since, that God would take my offerings of service and magnify it greatly. I have learned that God doesn’t want us to feel incapable of doing his work, he only wants us to be humble. Humble enough to recognize our utter dependence upon Him. Humble enough to ask for his help and then humble enough to accept it no matter what it looks like. This means we need to trust him. Especially when his help doesn’t look like what we had hoped for when we prayed. We need to be content in all situations for this is how we can have access to his power to do all things and his peace as we move forward. To be content is a purposeful decision and I have learned that it is an act of faith.
As I have served, I have developed a strong testimony of the witness given to Nephi that the Lord gives no assignment to the children of men except he shall prepare a way that the assignment can be accomplished (1 Nephi 3:7). This has always been a guiding principle in my life, but as I have applied it repeatedly throughout the mission, I now know that it is true. I feel very loved by my Heavenly Father for being chosen, weak as I am, for this is an amazing experience. He has blessed me with peace knowing that while I am not enough, He is. I am grateful that he did not leave me as I was, rather he gave me the opportunity to change and to see so much of his hand in my life and in the world around me.
Scriptures
Philippians 4:13- I can do all things through Christ which stengtheneth me.
3Nephi 13:25-34 (Matthew 6:25-34)
...Consider the lilies of the field how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin.…. If God so clothe the grass of the field, ….. even so will he clothe you, if ye are not of little faith….for your Heavenly Father knoweth that you have need of all of these things.
But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you…..Take therefore no thought for tomorrow, for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself.
1 Nephi 3:7
….I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them.
