thoughts about: Missionary Work

I served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. For 18 months i shared with people my love for the Savior. I taught them about His gospel. I desired to bring them happiness. I truly loved the people i met there. My heart yearned for each person to Come unto Christ!

I have had missionary work on my mind a lot lately. One reason is because the man and woman who were in charge of all the 150 missionaries in the New York, Utica mission, my mission President and his wife, just completed their 3 year mission. It was so good to here him and and his beautiful wife speak once again. To hear their testimonies took me back in time and reminded me of the duties that i still have to share the gospel of Jesus Christ.

This morning as i studied i came across a few things that a former Prophet of God said. George Albert Smith was Gods Prophet from May 1945- April 1951. He said this about missionary work.

"I remember, upon one occasion, a man said to me, after we had talked some time, "Well, from all i can learn, your church is just as good as any other church." (I totally had people say this to me in New York. I wish i would have said what President Smith said.) I presume he thought he was paying us a great compliment; but i said to him: "If the Church I represent here is not of more importance to the children of men than any  other church, then i am mistaken in my duty here. We have come not to take away from you the truth and virtue you posses. We have not come to find fault with you or to criticize you...Keep all the good that you have, and let us bring to you more good, in order that you may be happier and in order that you may be prepared to enter into the presence of our Heavenly Father."

I love that! One last thing that President Smith said was,

"Oh! that we might be able to give mankind an understanding of our feelings, that they might realize that we do not desire to curtail their opportunities, but that they might feel that our hearts reach out to them in love and kindness, not with any desire to hurt. Our mission in the world is to save souls, to bless them, and to place them in a condition that they may go back into the presence of our Father, crowned with glory, immortality, and eternal life."

So with all that being said. I want to do better. I want to share my love for my family, friends, and neighbors by giving them the greatest gift! I don't know why its so hard for me. As i write this post i could say everything in my heart but when i am face to face, i stumble and hesitate and become unsure how to say what i want to say. I sure do miss wearing that name badge that said SISTER WHITAKER and underneath THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER DAY SAINTS. Sharing the gospel seemed so much easier when i wore that badge.