Becoming Disciples of Christ

I am Austin Bushman. I have been called to serve as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Barcelona Spain Mission, speaking Spanish.  I depart to the mission field at the end of December and have been reassigned to the Texas Dallas East Mission until I can go to Spain.

Austin Bushman

I wanted to share some thoughts on the topic of Coming unto Christ.

I discovered a talk by Elder Neal A. Maxwell entitled “The Man of Christ” given in the April 1975 General Conference. While reading the talk, I found that it discussed the attributes of a true disciple of Christ. I firmly believe and attest to the fact that as we live as disciples of Christ we, in turn, come unto Christ, and as we come unto Christ, we become even stronger disciples of Christ.

While I do draw heavily from the above-stated talk, I will also draw upon several scriptural references, as well as additional quotes from Elder Maxwell, specifically about the subject of discipleship.  I hope that my words will resonate and the Spirit will testify of the truthfulness to each of you.

Come Unto Christ

 As we come unto Christ, we become His disciples.  I believe that disciples of Christ are those who exemplify the qualities of the Savior. They serve others and the Lord. They emulate His teachings and follow the great example of Him who obeyed with exactness, Jesus Christ.

When talking about discipleship, or being a man or woman of Christ, Elder Maxwell stated,

“He experiences the Church as a blend of action and contemplation, and knows the importance of individual involvement. … He testifies with his time as well as with tithing; he witnesses with works as well as with words; he expects perspiration to precede inspiration.” (1)

I love the first part of this statement, “a blend of action and contemplation.” (1)

As it says in the scriptures, “Faith without works is dead” (2). We must believe in Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, but we must also act in our faith. We must act in prayer, act in scripture, act in our church callings.

Elder Maxwell said, “Each of us is an innkeeper, and we decide if there is room for Jesus.” (3)  

Absorbing the Fiery Darts of the Adversary

As we each decide for ourselves if there is room for Jesus in our proverbial “inns,” Satan will come and use his forces to persuade us that there is not room enough for the Savior. Satan has studied and worked over centuries of time to find the most deceiving ways to divert us from the covenant path. Elder Maxwell said that a true disciple,

“marvels not…when customized challenges and temptations come his way-with soul-stretching experiences…These may constitute “but a small moment (4)” (5).” “Real disciples absorb the fiery darts of the adversary by holding aloft the quenching shield of faith with one hand, while holding to the iron rod with the other. There should be no mistaking; it will take both hands!(6)” 

I know that while Satan does have power in this world, we have even more power when we exercise our faith and stand with God.

When Moses was transfigured before God, and Satan came tempting, Moses tried to rebuke him twice but it was only the third time when Moses commanded Satan saying, “In the name of the Only Begotten, depart hence, Satan.”(7) It was not just that the third time’s the charm, but the very fact that God has more power than that of Satan. Moses acted as a disciple of Christ and in faith by stating in the Name of the Only Begotten! His name is Jesus the Christ.

When we stand closer to God, Satan attacks us hard, sometimes even harder than when we aren’t being disciples and coming unto Christ. We must see his devious attacks for what they are, simply works of the devil. The road of discipleship is not easy, but it is the right path to follow.

The Apostle Paul’s Decision

We read in the scriptures the account of the Apostle Paul, who held a position in his society as a Pharisee.  He had power because he was a Pharisee. He persecuted the saints and helped to arrest many of the followers of Christ. While traveling to Damascus, Paul saw Jesus and went blind. He then became one of the foremost disciples of Christ leading many to the truthfulness of the Gospel despite all the challenges he faced. He went to prison, was criticized, hated, and eventually killed.

However, I would like to point out that it was not the heavenly visit nor his blindness that led him to be one of the main contributors in our bible. While these helped him turn unto Christ, he Came unto Christ with his actions and faith. He could have stopped persecuting the Saints and lived among them, however, he decided to become a disciple of Christ knowing, probably more than most, of the kind of persecution that awaited him should he choose to follow the life he ended up choosing to live as a disciple of Christ. 

Elder Maxwell also said, “Discipleship in our day, as in all eras, has as a goal not our being different from other men, but our need to be more like God.” (8) In each of our lives we will meet those who are not of our faith who are good people. We may look up to them and see them as an example based on some Christlike attributes they possess.  As Elder Maxwell stated, the goal is not to be different from other men or women but rather to become more like God.

How Do We Come Unto Christ and Become His Disciples?

So, how do we come unto Christ and become disciples?  Elder Maxwell remarked that a disciple is “conscious of the past and present injustices, but he knows that real remedies are to be found in contemporary Christian Compassion, and not in compensatory justice.” (9) While we all see the wrongs and issues in our society, we should focus on the love of Christ. If we act in love and not in hate, we can help to solve some of the problems we face and, in turn, create solutions. Christ’s doctrine is not one of hate, but of Love and compassion.

My bishop recently stated that we need to love our fellow men as Christ did, regardless of what political affiliation or religious beliefs they may hold.  I know that as we live by the precepts of Christ’s gospel, we will have charity enough to love our enemies and our friends. We will be able to unite with others on commonalities rather than divide and argue on our differences.

Elder Maxwell has also said, “Disciples are not perfect, but, having chosen the Christian course, they are put together with principle rather than being a bundle of appetites.” (10).  It’s important for us to remember that we aren’t perfect and we are striving to continue on the path to Christ.

As we each act and make the decision for ourselves whether to stay on the covenant path or not, we must remember to point our faces toward the everlasting Kingdom of God. As Elder Maxwell eloquently stated, a disciple “knows that having put his hand to the plow he must not look back, because when we are looking back, we are also holding back.” (11) 

John Tanner

 One of many examples of disciples not holding back is that of one of my ancestors on the Bushman side, John Tanner. John Tanner had an infectious disease that caused an open sore in his leg. Being a self-made wealthy man, he was able to see many physicians and doctors in the New York area where he lived. All prescribed an amputation of his leg. Refusing to depart with his leg, he started setting his affairs in order in preparation of his death. One day he noticed a flyer to come and hear missionaries from the newly formed Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. After meeting with the missionaries for a time, they proposed baptism, and while John believed in all the words the missionaries had taught him, he could not be baptized because of the infection in his leg. Having the authority to administer in the priesthood, one of the missionaries healed John Tanner’s leg and commanded him to walk.

John, upon receiving the blessing and exercising his faith, stood and was healed. He then immediately walked the three-quarters of a mile to a lake and was baptized that night, beginning his discipleship on the chosen course. He gave up coffee and strong drink upon hearing the Word of Wisdom.

One night, he dreamed he was needed in Kirtland. Upon arriving in Kirtland, he loaned $45,000 to the Church and Temple committees. Throughout his time with the Saints, he literally gave everything he had. Whenever he was asked to do something, he did it. When moving to Missouri to help build the church in that area, he had given so much to the Church and others that all he had was a borrowed wagon, a broken horse and $7.50 in cash. John Tanner continued to serve the Lord in multiple ways including leaving his wife and children for a time to serve a mission. I am at awe of the faith he had and the way he acted in becoming a disciple of Christ.

Scarlet Bushman

A more recent example of coming unto Christ and becoming a disciple that has affected me very personally is that of my mom, Scarlet. When she was 16, my mom started searching for answers to the questions she had about God, religion, her spiritual well-being, and relationship with Christ. When her church leaders could not answer the questions she had, she began going to her friends’ congregations and churches to see if she could find answers on her own.

Missionaries were at her aunt and uncle’s house helping them move and asked if they could come teach her family the gospel discussions.  She received permission from her parents and she and her siblings began meeting with the missionaries.  The missionaries were able to answer all the questions she had.  As they taught her about the gospel and Jesus Christ, the Holy Ghost helped her know the truth and resolved the questions she had.  She and her siblings were baptized shortly after the discussions and she has been on the path of discipleship ever since. 

She has been a huge example of discipleship to me. She has helped me learn the gospel throughout my life and has helped me find how the Holy Ghost talks to me. I see her commitment to come unto Christ in her everyday actions and words.

God Loves Us, Not the Gifts He Has Given Us

I believe that when we truly become the disciples of our Lord and continue to consecrate our time to Him, we can see the ways the Lord will use us to be an example and Light to the World. By being an example, we can help others come unto Christ. God has given us the gifts and blessings we need to be His disciples.

Austin Bushman

I love this quote by Elder Maxwell that reads, “Each day we decide the degree of our discipleship. Each day we answer the question, “Who’s on the Lord’s side? Who?(12)” (13)”  As disciples who are striving to come unto Christ, we must love Him and we must realize “…that God loves us, not the gifts he has given us.”(14)

I know that we can be as King Benjamin’s people, we can be disciples of Christ. As it states in the scriptures, “And now, because of the covenant which ye have made ye shall be called the children of Christ, his sons and his daughters.”(15)

What Matters Is What We Have Become

I would like to close with a final quote from Elder Maxwell.

“What finally matters, brothers and sisters, is what we have become. There will be no puffed vitas circulating in the next world. They stay here-in the files. What we will take with us- to the degree we have developed them- will be the cardinal qualities that Jesus has perfected; these are eternal and portable.”(16) 

These are the qualities we develop as we come unto Christ and become His disciples. Again, as the chaos of the world seems to continue to grow ever challenging, we must remember that “real disciples absorb the fiery darts of the adversary by holding aloft the quenching shield of faith with one hand, while holding to the iron rod with the other. There should be no mistaking; it will take both hands!(6)”

I know that this is the true and everlasting Church. I know that by striving to live by the precepts it teaches, we can become worthy to enter into that heavenly rest. As disciples of Christ, we can emulate His teachings and His example in our actions toward others. 

Coming unto Christ means that we are acting as He would act, serving as He would serve, and loving others as He would love others.  I am not perfect, but I can have a perfect love for Christ and do my best to come unto Him in all I do and say.  I have faith in and know of the reality of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 

I say these things in the name of the Only Begotten Jesus Christ, Amen.

To read more of Delisa’s articles, click here.

Sources:

1.     The Man of Christ April 1975 General Conference Neal A. Maxwell
2.     James 2:26
3.     Searching for God in America, page 129. Elder Neal A. Maxwell
4.     D&C 121:7
5.     The Man of Christ April 1975 General Conference Elder Neal A. Maxwell
6.     Ensign, May 1987 page 70. See also Ephesians 6:16; 1 Nephi 15:24; D&C 27:17
7.     Moses 1:21
8.     A Time to Choose page 16 Elder Neal A. Maxwell
9.     The Man of Christ April 1975 General Conference Elder Neal A. Maxwell
10.   A Time to Choose page 44-45 Elder Neal A. Maxwell
11.   The Man of Christ April 1975 General Conference Elder Neal A. Maxwell
12.   Hymn 260
13.   Ensign, May 1992 page 39
14.   The Man of Christ April 1975 General Conference Elder Neal A. Maxwell
15.   Mosiah 5:7
16.   Out of the Best Faculty page 48 Elder Neal A. Maxwell

Delisa Hargrove

I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I have moved 64 times and have not tired of experiencing this beautiful earth! I love the people, languages, histories/anthropologies, & especially religious cultures of the world. My life long passion is the study & searching out of religious symbolism, specifically related to ancient & modern temples. My husband Anthony and I love our bulldog Stig, adventures, traveling, movies, motorcycling, and time with friends and family.

Elder Jay Phung’s Story of Meeting Judith

We saw an amazing miracle this week with a woman named Judith. She’s about 65 and has several health problems. She really needed help with things around her house that her landlord was saying had to get done, but she didn’t have the strength to do. She had seen an ad about missionary service and wanted to get a hold of the missionaries, but when she went back to find the ad she couldn’t find it anywhere! With zero support from her family, she really just didn’t know what she was going to do.

Then a few days before I came to the area, she saw the Elders walking on the sidewalk as she was sitting outside a restaurant and recognized them from the ad! She flagged them down and we were able to go help her, and now we’re teaching her. It’s amazing how the Lord works.

Don’t Tell Me That Was Just Luck

My new companion, Elder Taylor, told me how truly crazy it was they ran into her. They were on the way to go eat out, which they rarely did, and they randomly decided to just walk there, which they also never did, and it just happened that Judith, who seldom leaves her house, was outside one of the restaurants that day.

Don’t tell me all that was just luck. I can truly testify God knows and loves His children. He is not an absent God, He is our Father and He loves each of us.

Finding Judith really built up my testimony of that truth. She is so sweet and even in the past week we’ve grown close with her and had some amazing spiritual discussions. I know without a doubt this gospel will change her life.

Delisa Hargrove

I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I have moved 64 times and have not tired of experiencing this beautiful earth! I love the people, languages, histories/anthropologies, & especially religious cultures of the world. My life long passion is the study & searching out of religious symbolism, specifically related to ancient & modern temples. My husband Anthony and I love our bulldog Stig, adventures, traveling, movies, motorcycling, and time with friends and family.

This story that Sœur Summer Spendlove shared showed ways she heard the voice of the Lord, how she responded, and then the outcome she experienced from heeding the promptings she received.  We don’t always see the outcomes of following the Spirit, but it’s wonderful when we do. I’m so grateful that Sœur Summer Spendlove recognized how she was an instrument in the hand of God as she followed His divine promptings.

Sœur Summer Spendlove and Her Miracle on a Friday

Friday: THIS DAY A MIRACLE HAPPENED!!!! Friday is the day Sœur Simpson and I had our first French lesson. We were both so nervous, excited, and really just wanted to express God’s love for the woman we were teaching.

Before entering the Zoom call, I had said a prayer to really be able to do this and follow the Spirit. Soon after, I got a prompting to open “La Paix en Christ” which is the French version of one of my favorite songs “Peace in Christ.” I didn’t know why it popped into my head, but I followed the prompting anyway.

Then, I was about to open Google Translate to help me during the lesson and I heard a distinct voice in my head asking me, “Don’t you trust Me?”  You guys, I sat up so straight, closed the Google Translate tab, and said, “Uhh, yes, of course.”

The lesson then started and I was sooooo nervous. Cepandant, Dorothée was immediately welcoming and we started some small talk. Then, we started our lesson and began to teach about la foi (faith) in Jesus Christ. She expressed that she has faith and loves God and Jesus Christ.

We were so happy and continued our lesson by reading Moroni 7:32-33. This scripture talks about how we can do anything with faith, so we asked Dorothée what she has done with faith. She replied, “Bonne question,” and sat in silence for a few moments pondering the question.

What Have You Done With Faith?

She began to cry and I immediately felt the Spirit hit me like a bus. In that moment, I felt so much love for this daughter of God and I wanted to do everything I could to express that love for her.

She told us about a difficulty in her life when her mom, still living in France and her moving to the US, got cancer. The story she shared was vulnerable and so powerful. I felt tears starting to come to my eyes as I expressed to her that Heavenly Father loves her and her family and I am grateful for her faith. We started talking more about faith and the power of prayer, and Dorothée explained that she feels like she has been missing the presence of God in her life, but that prayer is kind of difficult for her.

As I was pondering what to say, “La Paix en Christ” popped back into my head and I knew that was the moment that Heavenly Father had planned it for. Discussing this later, Sœur Simpson and I realized the song was able to express our testimonies better than we could in that moment due to our limited French. The song ended and Dorothée thanked us for sharing because it helped her.

Sœur SImpson and I both bore our testimonies and then invited her to say a sincere prayer and ask God for peace and comfort in her life. She agreed and we are so excited to follow up with her. It is very clear that the Lord loves her.

Throughout the lesson, I was able to put words together quicker than normal and I was even given words to say during the song that I wrote and used when the song was over. The Lord truly works in mysterious ways and that entire lesson felt like a miracle to me.

After the lesson, Sœur SImpson and I felt exhausted because we had put ALL of our energy into the lesson and the adrenaline pumping did not help either, haha. We were SO excited with how the lesson went and we were so excited to see the Lord’s hand work through us. The reason that lesson went well was because the Spirit taught and that’s really all we can ask for. I am NEVER getting over how awesome that lesson was and I am so excited to teach again next week.

Delisa Hargrove

I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I have moved 64 times and have not tired of experiencing this beautiful earth! I love the people, languages, histories/anthropologies, & especially religious cultures of the world. My life long passion is the study & searching out of religious symbolism, specifically related to ancient & modern temples. My husband Anthony and I love our bulldog Stig, adventures, traveling, movies, motorcycling, and time with friends and family.

This little town had a small branch with a beautiful new chapel. After we got settled in and toured our new home, we found the members to be very friendly and helpful. They accepted us eagerly. It felt as comfortable to us as if were back home! The only problem was the geographic size of the branch. Its boundaries were over 400 square miles. This meant we did a lot of traveling to visit members and prospective converts across many miles and in many small towns and villages. We were not alone, though; there were many young elders and sisters on missions there to assist us. We loved working with them.

One hot summer day, two of our young sister missionaries were tracting on a street not far from their apartment. It got to be close to lunch time and they decided to stop and go home to eat and rest. They turned to leave, but then one of the sisters turned back again and said, “Let’s do one more home. We must go visit that house.” She pointed to a gray stucco home down the block. “But why?” asked her companion. “I don’t know why. I feel we just have to do it.”

They obeyed the prompting and proceeded to knock on the door of this home. 

As they did, a gentle older man answered the door. One sister started to explain who they were when the gentleman stopped her and said kindly, “Oh, I know who you are. I’ve been waiting for you. Please come in.”

This stunned the sisters. They had never been so eagerly invited into a home before. The older gentleman, James, then went on to explain that a long time ago he had been baptized into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Since then, he had fallen away and done some things since that had caused him to jeopardize his membership in the Church. He was getting older now and knew he had to amend his errors before he died. He had been trying to repent and get back into the Church but didn’t know how. The sisters said they would gladly assist him in doing so. After a while, they left and promised to return. This they did a few days later, only to be met by his wife at the door. She was not friendly at all and blocked them from entering the home. 

After a few more unsuccessful attempts to meet the gentleman again, they called on my wife and me to see if we could help them with this situation. We were glad to do so. 

On our first call, we were able to meet with James. He invited us in but it was an extremely uncomfortable visit. All the while we talked, someone was in the kitchen making as much noise as they could, trying to disturb us. James apologized and said it was his wife, who did not want us there. After a brief message, we left without accomplishing much.

We returned a few days later when an event happened that we shall never forget. As we knocked on the door, Mary, James’s wife, greeted us with, “We are not interested in talking to you at all, so please go away.” The more we tried to reason with her, the more belligerent she became. She finally pushed open the screen door and forced us off the porch. She didn’t stop there. She continued pushing us out and onto the sidewalk while raising her voice louder and louder so everyone on the block could hear her. It was quite embarrassing to us. But we just stood quietly there, saying nothing. Her tyrant lasted at least 10 minutes. I’m not sure if those young missionary sisters would have been able to withstand this assault.

via lds.org

Trying to find some way to stop her and allow us to get a word or two in, I looked around her front lawn and saw a pretty rose bush in bloom. When she finished a sentence, I took the opportunity to compliment her on her roses. At first, she said nothing and continued on. I complimented her on a few other things that were growing there. Little by little, she relaxed and finally agreed to show us her backyard. She was very proud of her garden there, where she had other flowers in bloom.

The ice was broken. Slowly we started to talk more socially with one another. After a few minutes it became apparent that Mary was afraid of us. She was worried we were there to take her husband away from her with our strange doctrine. We learned later that Mary was a very insecure person who came from a background of abuse. This marriage to James was the most secure and precious relationship she had ever had, and she was not going let us take it away.

When our discussion was over, we left each other on talking terms and said we would return in a day or two if that was agreeable to her. She said yes, we could, but not to expect much from her.

Driving to and from our area every day took us through a lovely small town with a huge roadside nursery. A few days earlier we had stopped to look around. As we did, we saw a beautiful hibiscus floral plant in full bloom. It had the largest pink flowers I had ever seen on a bush before. Each was the size of a pie plate. I remarked then, “I wish we had room for this at our place.” 

That evening as we reviewed our day, a thought came to us. It must have been the Holy Ghost speaking. We thought, What would happen if we bought that hibiscus and gave it to Mary? Would she accept it? Would that help us reach her as friends? We decided to do so and bought the flower the next time we drove past the nursery. 

With the lovely hibiscus flower in the back seat of our car, we went to see James and Mary again. As we marched up to the house holding that beautiful plant in full bloom, Mary came to the door. We held it out to her and said this flower was for her to plant somewhere in her yard. She looked at us, completely bewildered, and said nothing for a long time. She simply looked in disbelief at it and us. Then great tears welled up in her eyes. She was overcome with emotion to the point of being almost speechless. After a while she confessed, “I am 76 years old. I have had a rough life and this is the first time ever that anyone has given me a flower. Thank you so much.” 

I have had many emotional encounters in my life, but never one as deeply touching or life-changing as that moment. This poor soul had never even been given a simple thing like a flower before. No wonder she didn’t trust strangers.

The next day we returned in our casual clothes. Mary, James, and my wife and I found a nice spot of ground in their front yard. We all four got down on our hands and knees and happily dug a hole and planted that very special hibiscus. That flower still blooms to this day. 

Mary took the missionary lessons from us and our dear sister missionaries. Her husband met with the branch president and found his long-awaited road back to full fellowship. 

Our mission was coming quickly to an end. It was nearly time for us to return home to Utah. As it worked out, we were able to baptize Mary into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on the last day of our mission. What a wonderful way to say goodbye to our dear new friends.

We still communicate with Mary. She is a changed person. She now serves in the Relief Society presidency of that small branch and writes or emails us almost daily.

I don’t know how we could have ever reach her if it were not for “Flower Power.”

George Domm

George Domm was born and raised in upstate New York around historical LDS sites such as the Hill Cumorah and Palmyra. He was very familiar with the Church long before he was baptized in 1959. Soon after joining, he found himself serving a full-time mission for the Church in Berlin, Germany. That was his first of four missions! George currently lives in American Fork, UT with his wife, Margaret, and busies himself trying to keep up with their 11 children and 42 grandchildren. He loves to do family history and play golf with “all the old men in our neighborhood.” His goal is to one day shoot his age, 74.

While I was growing up in the state of New York, the number of young Latter-day Saints was never too great. I happened to be the only member in my whole high school class. Yet the few of us living there did have a fine seminary program. We would gather from all over the city and suburbs for lessons held daily in our little chapel beginning at 7:00 a.m. When I returned from my mission, I attended a junior college near the chapel for a year prior to leaving for Brigham Young University. During that year, I was called to teach that small seminary class. Every school day at 6:00 a.m., I would borrow my father’s car and drive about 25 miles in and around the city and suburbs picking and dropping off class members. On many winter days it was so cold and snowy I barely had time to pick up my class members and get them back home before school started. Sometimes my lessons in between were only five or ten minutes long. But we had fun. Over that year, I developed a special friendship and love for these devoted young people. They were wonderful young saints who later grew to be wonderful missionaries and devoted fathers and mothers.

That seminary meeting program continued for years after I left for school in Utah. Many memorable spiritual events came about from that little seminary class over the years. One of these events that has always touched me deeply involved a sweet young sister, who incidentally was my niece, Ally.

She was a junior at a local high school and was very active in sports, student affairs, and her studies. Even with her heavy schedule, she never failed to attend that early morning seminary class. Quite often she would get behind in her scripture study and could find little time to catch up. Often she would rush through her lunch at school then walk out into the common area and either sit on a bench or find a quiet place in a corner and read a few chapters of scripture before her next class was to begin.

One day while reading from her Book of Mormon, out of the corner of her eye Ally thought she saw someone watching her from across the commons. A young man dressed in a black hoodie with a very tattered old backpack was staring at her. She knew it must be a fellow student but she had no idea of who he was or why he was watching her from so far away. She felt extremely uncomfortable that day but continued reading her scriptures.

This same young man was there again the next day and the day after that, always watching her. Her efforts to avoid him never worked. She became so obsessed by his presence that she could take it no more. On the fourth day, she jumped up from her bench and walked over to him. In a very belligerent tone, she confronted him and asked, “Who are you? What are you doing staring at me like this every day? I don’t know you and I don’t like it. So stop it and go away or I’ll report you.”

The young man was somewhat stunned by this challenge and was almost too shy to respond. After a moment, he quietly asked, “What are you reading?” Ally was taken aback by this question and simply said, “A book. Why do you want to know? What’s it to you?” The young man replied quietly, “What book is it?” Not knowing why he asked this question or what she should say, she simply replied, “It’s called the Book of Mormon. Why do you want to know?”

He sheepishly he opened his backpack and quietly withdrew a book. It was like hers. The same color. The same size. She looked closely at the title. To her surprise, it read “The Book of Mormon.” Ally was puzzled. Why did he have a copy of the Book of Mormon in his backpack? Shyly he looked up and confided to Ally that for days he was trying to get up the nerve to ask her about this book — that’s why he was watching her. He said a friend had given it to him a few weeks earlier and said something about how someday it could change his life. He confessed that he had seen her reading her copy of the Book of Mormon during lunch hour and quietly hoped he could get the confidence and find the opportunity to ask Ally about this book. His question was simple: “Can you please tell me what is so special about this book? It must be special if I see you reading it here every day after you eat lunch when you could be doing something else.”

He was sincere and humble in his questions. He was searching for something. He did not mean to offend Ally or frighten her by watching her. But something had told him to seek her out. He was shy by nature but had a deep desire to know more about this strange book his friend had given him.

The two spoke for a while and it became apparent to Ally that he had had a rough time recently and was looking for help. He wanted answers. Deep inside had hoped that perhaps this book might give him some comfort, guidance, and inspiration.

Ally did not let this opportunity go to waste. Her attitude softened. She felt the Spirit telling her to help him. Slowly they became good friends. She explained the basics she knew about the Book of Mormon. Once she had his confidence, she did what was the next best thing to do under these circumstances: she asked if he would meet with her friends, the missionaries. They could tell him all he needed to know about this powerful book and they could meet at her home for these lessons if he liked. He agreed to do so.

After a few months filled with good teaching by two fine missionaries and Ally’s support, this boy’s life began to change. He accepted the missionary lessons without difficulty and prayed about their message. He was ready and searching for the gospel. A short time later, he was baptized, with Ally and her seminary friends and family present. With good fellowshipping from that little seminary class, he stayed active in the Church. He grew to be loved by his new ward friends. A good bishop worked with him to receive the priesthood. A few years later, this once shy, lost young man dress in a black hoodie who could only stare at Ally, watching her from far away, left to serve a worthy mission for the Church.

I too was a convert to the Church while a senior in high school in that that very same city. I know how he must have felt as he sought to find answers to life’s questions.

Thank goodness that there are saints like Ally who live the gospel with boldness and listen to the Spirit. And like Ally, they are saints who remember that they are called to be missionaries first. They are ready to gather in Israel at any time and under any circumstance, even while being observed from across a school lunch yard. Her kind actions changed the destiny of a young man who was searching for truth too. Further, who knew then how many other lives were changed for the better as he served a mission, married in the temple, and raised his family in the Church?

All this because a young seminary student answered a searching question from a total stranger.

Someone once told me, “We must live the gospel as if people were always looking at us, because our lives may be the only book some people will ever read.”

Ally not only read her Book of Mormon, but her life was also being read by someone seeking the truth of the gospel.

George Domm

George Domm was born and raised in upstate New York around historical LDS sites such as the Hill Cumorah and Palmyra. He was very familiar with the Church long before he was baptized in 1959. Soon after joining, he found himself serving a full-time mission for the Church in Berlin, Germany. That was his first of four missions! George currently lives in American Fork, UT with his wife, Margaret, and busies himself trying to keep up with their 11 children and 42 grandchildren. He loves to do family history and play golf with “all the old men in our neighborhood.” His goal is to one day shoot his age, 74.

Not many of us have had the firsthand opportunity to experience how thin this veil may become, even outside of the temple at times. But there are experiences that do happen and must be shared to strengthen our testimonies of this great work of Heavenly Father. In my own family, we have had one such experience that we speak of and share often among ourselves. It is a very precious experience that happened to one our ancestors. After more than a century, this testimony by John Johnson about how thin the veil is continues to inspire us. I hope it will inspire you too.

John Johnson was a young man living in Sweden near the city of Karbenning in 1886. He was the oldest of eight children. His father’s early death left him in charge of the family farm and the support of his widowed mother. During that year, missionaries from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints came to his town. Their message of the Restoration profoundly moved John. 

He would have joined the Church at once had it not been for his mother’s strong opposition. He held off for a time, but he could not dismiss the principles that were so firmly rooted in his mind. His mental struggles were relentless. Finally, he realized he could have no peace of mind until he joined the Church. He was baptized on September 12, 1886. He was 22 at the time.

His baptism angered his mother, uncles, and the community. They wrote him off as a complete loss. 

One uncle had invited him to visit for a weekend at his home prior to hearing of John’s baptism. 

John was excited to spend some time with the family and his cousins. He was naïve enough to think they all would listen to his new beliefs. However, upon arriving at the door, he realized he was not welcome. Not a cousin was to be seen. A short time later, his uncle approached him and said “I want you to leave this house and never return. I understand that Mormonism has a strange power for evil which people cannot resist. I do not want my family contaminated.”

As John left the farmyard, he saw his cousins looking at him through a window. He turned towards them hoping to say goodbye, but the faces disappeared. They were locked inside.

On his way home, he walked through a wooded area. When he was out of sight, he sat down on a rock and wept. This rejection was a great sorrow to him. Kneeling beside the rock, he prayed for the ability to someday reach his people and give them the gospel.

Throughout the years that followed, John kept his testimony. He was called to serve two missions, both back to Sweden and to his hometown of Karbenning. The first mission came before he could immigrate to Utah with the Saints, his greatest desire. He was successful in baptizing many into the Church there, but never his mother or other family members. However, he was able to restore good relations with his mother before he left for the States.

The second mission call came after marrying a young lady also of Swedish descent, Edla, and starting a family in Utah. By the time the call came, they had three children: Elinor, Elsie, and Lawrence, who was only three months old. When he received the call, it took all his faith (and that of his dear wife Edla) to accept it and leave them for several years.

As John returned again to his homeland, he went with much more confidence. He even found that his relatives who once disowned him now took pride in him. On occasion they even befriended him and opened their homes for him to teach in. But none of them accepted his message. And again, he returned home without seeing any of his beloved family accepting the gospel. What would it take to bring them into the fold? 

However, over thirty years later, John did receive the desire of his heart — and in a remarkable way. His eldest daughter Elinor went on a mission to Colorado. While serving there, she contracted tuberculosis and suffered several years before passing. Her death at such a young age was a heavy blow to John. He was constantly tormented by the question, Why did my lovely, faithful, and first-born daughter have to die so young? It seemed so unfair; she had every right to live. She had given her short life to serving others.

Then one night he received his answer in a marvelous manner. He had gone to sleep for the night. Suddenly he was awakened by a voice saying, “You asked for a blessing, and I have given you a greater one.” He sat up in bed, thoroughly awake, and received what he called a “manifestation.” He could see Elinor before him well and strong, her face shining with happiness. She said to him, “I have been preaching the gospel to our dead relations, Father, and they are listening to me.”

He remembered her saying before she died, “Dad, I wish I could go on another mission.” Well, she had her desire; she was on another mission within the family and doing what John had never been able to do. The prayer that he had offered so earnestly in the wooded area so long ago in Sweden was being answered. John thanked God for this beautiful and satisfying experience.

Yes, at times the veil is very thin.

George Domm

George Domm was born and raised in upstate New York around historical LDS sites such as the Hill Cumorah and Palmyra. He was very familiar with the Church long before he was baptized in 1959. Soon after joining, he found himself serving a full-time mission for the Church in Berlin, Germany. That was his first of four missions! George currently lives in American Fork, UT with his wife, Margaret, and busies himself trying to keep up with their 11 children and 42 grandchildren. He loves to do family history and play golf with “all the old men in our neighborhood.” His goal is to one day shoot his age, 74.

When I spoke during last October’s general conference, I designated 2020 as a bicentennial period commemorating 200 years since God the Father and His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ, appeared to Joseph Smith in a vision. That singular event in human history initiated the Restoration of the Lord’s gospel—an unfolding Restoration that continues today.

 

God loves all of His children and has a vision for each of us. Just as He listened to Joseph’s prayer in 1820, He listens to you and yearns to speak with you through the Spirit. We invite you to be a major part of sharing the message of the ongoing restoration of the Savior’s gospel. We will share more about this soon, but you can start today by acting on the invitations I extended to you at last general conference to immerse yourself in the glorious light of the Restoration.

 

You may wish to begin your preparation by reading afresh Joseph Smith’s account of the First Vision as recorded in the Pearl of Great Price. Or ponder important questions such as, “How would my life be different if my knowledge gained from the Book of Mormon were suddenly taken away?” or “How have the events that followed the First Vision made a difference for me and my loved ones?”

 

Select your own questions. Design your own plan. Act on any of these invitations to prepare yourself for sharing the important messages of the ongoing Restoration. It is your personal preparation that will help April’s general conference become for you not only memorable but also unforgettable. The time to act is now. This is a hinge point in the history of the Church, and your part is vital.

What ways to share the Restoration have come to mind? What have you already done?

Here are some ideas that came to my mind or that I noticed my friends doing to heed President Nelson’s invitation.

1. Share the Story of the Restoration with a Friend Who Hasn’t Heard It Before

This is an obvious fulfillment of President Nelson’s invitation to share the Restoration. But it doesn’t have to be an hour-long discussion with refreshments.

Sharing the message could be as quick and easy as telling the cashier why I was buying treats for a classroom of kids when I was subbing seminary class two weeks ago. She was impressed that teenagers got up to study the Gospel. And maybe the story sparks some curiosity for the next time she meets a member of the Church.

2. Share a Message of the Restoration on Social Media

Sharing on social media doesn’t need to be wordy or complicated. However the Holy Ghost directs you to share is the perfect way to share.

The day President Nelson issued his invitation, I saw my friend Cindy had already acted by posting a link to a video about the Restoration with her own invitation. Simple and effective.

3. Invite Your Ministering Families to Experience the Restoration

As my friend Kehau Woolsey prepared a Book of Mormon scripture journal to use as she studies “Come, Follow Me” this year, she felt prompted to make some for her ministering families. She’d purchased composition books when they were on sale and printed off pictures and text for the cover.

She provided a Book of Mormon reading guide as well as a copy of the Book of Mormon and Come, Follow Me manual. She printed off President Nelson’s invitation and included that in her handwritten invitation. She created a beautiful and thoughtful gift to share as she ministers with love.

Kehau provided a jumping-off point for her sisters to remember the impact the Restoration has had on their lives and an invitation to strengthen their faith.

4. Invite Your Class Members at Church to Pray About the Truthfulness of the Book of Mormon

My family had read the Book of Mormon several times when my primary teacher invited her class of 8-year-olds to follow Moroni’s admonition to pray and ask God if the Book of Mormon was true. I hadn’t ever actually knelt and asked Heavenly Father if the Book of Mormon was true.

After church, I knelt on my bunk bed and determined I wouldn’t leave until I had an answer. I didn’t really know how the answer would come, but I knew it would.

“Dear Heavenly Father, My teacher said I needed to pray and ask if the Book of Mormon is true. Is it true?” I sat back and waited.

After several moments of waiting, I heard a voice say, “Yes. You already know it’s true, Delisa.” “OK, thanks!” I responded and jumped down to play.

I’ve experienced many answered prayers, but this one experience has influenced my life more than any other. Because of it, I knew the Lord would answer my prayer. I knew one way the Holy Ghost spoke to me. I knew I could ask questions, simple or complicated, and get answers.

When I’ve been struggling with faith or courage, the same voice comes to my mind — “You already know it’s true, Delisa” — and that answer brings great peace.

I’ve been steady in my faith in the Restoration because a primary teacher invited me to know about the truth of the Book of Mormon for myself.

Even if you’re not the official teacher, you can testify of the Restoration’s impact in your life and invite others to find out, too.

5. Hear the Missionaries Share the Story of the Restoration

They’d love to share the message of the Restoration in our homes to our family, friends, and those we minister to. You can also go with them as they share the message in your community. They’ll even visit your ministering families with you. Teaching with the missionaries is amazing!

6. Host a Book of Mormon Marathon for Kids and/or Family Members in Your Life

Looking for creative ways to get your teens into the Book of Mormon? My homeschooling mom friend, Roxanne Carlile, felt prompted to host a Book of Mormon Marathon at her house with kids in her homeschool coop. So last weekend, the teenagers met on Friday and Saturday and read the Book of Mormon together.

Roxanne prepped their reading schedule (and snacks) and planned for a 24-hour marathon, 12 hours on Friday and 12 hours on Saturday “to increase focus and avoid a co-ed sleepover.”

And they did it! How fun and unifying to read the whole Book of Mormon together! And how cool to know that you really can read the whole book in 24 hours! What a creative way to share the Restoration!

7. Share a Story of How You or a Family Member Were Impacted by the Restoration

The Restoration impacts our lives completely. Reading others’ stories of conversion can strengthen our own. Share your conversion story or a story of one of your ancestors’ conversion with others.

8. Give a picture of the First Vision to Children in your Family or a Primary Class

We are such visual people. Does your family have a favorite picture of the First Vision? Do you have a picture of the First Vision in your home?

One way to share the Restoration is to share the images of the Restoration. Give pictures to family members, friends, strangers, or even adopt a primary class and share with the children there.

9. Volunteer as a Church Service Missionary

Share the message of the ongoing Restoration as a church service missionary! There is a wide variety of service options to choose from with various weekly time commitments and durations of missionary service.

At 16, Elan Gandauli nearly died from cancer. After battling for several years, he is in remission now with a strong desire to serve the Lord. He’s representing the Lord and our stake as a church service missionary helping those who need assistance at the Bishop’s Storehouse. He serves there for several hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays and then serves in the temple on Saturdays.

Possible Church-service missions include:

Helping Members Live the Gospel of Jesus Christ

• Distribution Center retail stores
• Church headquarters hosting
• Meetinghouse maintenance, inspection, and repair
• Church media support
• Seminaries and institutes student recruitment and enrollment
• Technical support

Gathering Israel through Missionary Efforts

• Mission offices: administrative assistant, referral management, materials, office support
• Church media support

Caring for the Poor and Needy

• Addiction recovery
• Bishop’s storehouses
• Canneries
• Deseret Industries
• Employment resource centers
• Inner-city mission

Enabling the Salvation of the Dead

• Family history research
• Family history data specialist
• FamilySearch indexing
• FamilySearch support

Elan Gandauli, Church Service Missionary, with stake president Russell Watanabe

10. Prepare to Share

President Nelson suggested that more specifics would be asked of us in the coming weeks.

Is sharing the Restoration difficult for you?

Prepare your heart to respond to the prophet’s directives by answering the questions or making a plan like President Nelson requested.

“You may wish to begin your preparation by reading afresh Joseph Smith’s account of the First Vision as recorded in the Pearl of Great Price. Or ponder important questions such as, “How would my life be different if my knowledge gained from the Book of Mormon were suddenly taken away?” or “How have the events that followed the First Vision made a difference for me and my loved ones?”

 

Select your own questions. Design your own plan. Act on any of these invitations to prepare yourself for sharing the important messages of the ongoing Restoration.”

Share your answers to his/your questions in your journal or to a friend or in Family Home Evening or a Sunday School class or on social media.

Do you have questions about aspects of the Restoration? This is the perfect time to find the answers to your questions! The Lord will pour out His Spirit on us as we heed the direction of His prophet.

Delisa Hargrove

I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I have moved 64 times and have not tired of experiencing this beautiful earth! I love the people, languages, histories/anthropologies, & especially religious cultures of the world. My life long passion is the study & searching out of religious symbolism, specifically related to ancient & modern temples. My husband Anthony and I love our bulldog Stig, adventures, traveling, movies, motorcycling, and time with friends and family.

Read part one here. 

“If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. 

 

But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed” (James 1:5-6).

As I was pondering the latter part of that scripture, I thought about my experiences of being in the ocean and just what it means to be like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. As Elder Cook once shared with us, the force of a wave is extremely powerful. So if wavering is like the power of a wave from the ocean, how much more powerful are we when we have faith and cannot be driven?

Young men and young women, I would like to focus my thoughts on you for a few minutes and say to you, be not driven by the winds, but be steadfast, always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God. You are an amazing group of youth. You are young men and women with purpose, hope, strength, courage, and faith. You hold the priesthood, do service projects, and you love the gospel. You cannot — I repeat, cannot — allow anything or anyone to shake your faith. You know that the gospel is true; you have born your testimony of it. I have heard you. You have given talks and shared experiences that are surely from your heart. You have felt the inspiration that comes from being obedient to the whisperings of the “still small voice.”

I am sure all of you who are [reading this] today have felt the pressures of classmates who do not have the same foundation that you have been given. They may not have the same set of high standards that you have been raised to maintain. Do not be tempted to go with the flow—you do not want to be tossed like that wave or be sucked into the undertoe. Once you are engulfed by the powerful forces of evil, you will have a difficult time keeping your head above water. I might even suggest that you wear a life vest. Let the scriptures, your prayers and good choices, and the strength you can gain from choosing the right act as a life vest that will always keep you afloat.

Remember how I mentioned that faith requires action and effort in order to have success, and that sometimes you have to do a little maintenance in order to achieve the optimal results? Like pulling the weeds from a garden, we too need to “weed” ourselves of the things that can choke out our faith.

“Personal Inventory” Questions

I think I can ask two questions that will help me; you can ask yourself these questions too. They will help us know what direction we are heading in and maybe the answers can be somewhat of a personal inventory:

1. Is there anything that I am doing that would keep me from growing in the gospel?
2. Is there anything that I am Not doing that would keep me from growing in the gospel?

There may be a lot of other questions you could ask, but I think these two sum it up plain and simple.

We must seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness before we are going to be able to have all of the blessings that we desire. 

As we exercise our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and all of the gospel principles, we receive blessings and an increase in our testimonies. As we share our testimonies, all of these things are increased even further. And so of course I turn my next thoughts to missionary work and the faith that is required in sharing the gospel. We have been charged with the duty to tell our family, friends, neighbors — everyone, really — about the gospel of Jesus Christ. Do you share it? Do you try? Are you frightened, afraid of rejection? Do you think they will think different about you, look at you funny, not want to listen to you, not believe you? Are you worried they will shut the door in your face or ask you to leave?

We need to have a strong enough testimony to not be shaken by these types of obstacles. It is not us who will make these people believe, but the Holy Ghost that shall prepare their hearts for the message when the time is right. It is not up to us to decide who should and should not have the chance to hear the principles of the gospel.

Is there anyone here who would hesitate to share the happiness they received through a wonderful vacation, sporting event, or some other great experience? This seems to be a natural part of conversation. Why, then, do so many of us seem to clam up when it comes to sharing the gospel, when it too brings happiness and great joy? Again, I think we need to check that personal inventory that I mentioned earlier and reiterate those questions of what we are or are not doing to allow growth in the gospel. I believe that the stronger your testimony gets, and by exercising faith, the more ready we will be to do our part in proclaiming the gospel. My heart is filled with love for the missionaries who are serving all over the world, especially those who are faithfully serving from my own ward. We as member missionaries need to support their efforts. 

The late President Hinckley once spoke these words in a general conference address:

“And so, my brothers and sisters, we are met together to fortify and strengthen one another, to help and lift one another, to give encouragement and build faith, to reflect on the wonderful things the Lord has made available to us, and to strengthen our resolve to oppose evil in whatever form it may take.

 

We have become as a great army. We are now a people of consequence. Our voice is heard when we speak up. We have demonstrated our strength in meeting adversity. Our strength is our faith in the Almighty. No cause under the heavens can stop the work of God. Adversity may raise its ugly head. The world may be troubled with wars and rumors of wars, but this cause will go forward.

 

You are familiar with these great words written by the Prophet Joseph: ‘No unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing; persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent, till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done.'”

Christmastime: The Perfect Season for Sharing Our Beliefs

Isn’t this the perfect season to share what we know to be true? Through acts of love and service, and through our examples, we can show our love for the Savior and share His message of hope. As we faithfully live our lives as Christ did and look to Him as our ultimate example, our faith will surely increase.

A few years ago, I was working at my laptop and stepped away for a few minutes. When I returned, I found a note was left on my keyboard. 

It read, “Dad, when you have a minute, will you please give me a blessing?” I sat there for a moment looking at that precious note and thinking about how lucky I was to have the priesthood to be able to bless my family. I thought about the faith of my child who felt the need for a blessing and instead of sitting idly by, took the action to ask. I love the gospel, I love my family, and I have faith that the priesthood is real and works miracles daily in the lives of those who seek the blessings of that priesthood.

The following are the words to the popular hymn “True to the Faith“:

Shall the youth of Zion falter
In defending truth and right?
While the enemy assaileth,
Shall we shrink or shun the fight? No!
True to the faith that our parents have cherished,
True to the truth for which martyrs have perished,
To God’s command,
Soul, heart, and hand,
Faithful and true we will ever stand.

 

While we know the pow’rs of darkness
Seek to thwart the work of God,
Shall the children of the promise
Cease to grasp the iron rod? No!
True to the faith that our parents have cherished,
True to the truth for which martyrs have perished,
To God’s command,
Soul, heart, and hand,
Faithful and true we will ever stand.

 

We will work out our salvation;
We will cleave unto the truth;
We will watch and pray and labor
With the fervent zeal of youth. Yes!
True to the faith that our parents have cherished,
True to the truth for which martyrs have perished,
To God’s command,
Soul, heart, and hand,
Faithful and true we will ever stand.

 

We will strive to be found worthy
Of the kingdom of our Lord,
With the faithful ones redeemed
Who have loved and kept his word. Yes!
True to the faith that our parents have cherished,
True to the truth for which martyrs have perished,
To God’s command,
Soul, heart, and hand,
Faithful and true we will ever stand.

“It Mattereth Not Unto Thee”

To read more of Walter’s articles, click here.

We read about the stripling warriors, the brother of Jared, Moses, and many other great scripture heroes who had great faith and accomplished great things. Well, guess what? That very same faith is available to us today too! It did not just exist in extra-strength prescriptions back in the day. We can have it and we can show it, just as the hymn stated. Cease to grasp the iron rod? No! We are who we are because it feels good. We know it is right and we have had the Holy Ghost testify to us that the gospel of Jesus Christ is real. No person can take that away from us. It doesn’t matter what other people are doing or saying.

In Ether 12, Moroni tells us that he offered up a prayer that the Gentiles might change and have charity—but this was the answer he received:

“And it came to pass that the Lord said unto me: If they have not charity it mattereth not unto thee, thou hast been faithful; wherefore, thy garments shall be made clean. And because thou hast seen thy weakness thou shalt be made strong, even unto the sitting down in the place which I have prepared in the mansions of my Father” (Ether 12:37).

It doesn’t matter what others are doing or saying.

We are The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and we are a people of faith. A truth has been brought about for all nations to hear, even the restoration of the gospel, the plan of salvation. These things are for everyone.

Through our faith, we can know of a surety that Jesus is the Christ, that He was born of lowly circumstances, and that He lived and died that we may live again with our Father in Heaven. This Christmas, let us each have the faith to give away a gift that was freely given to us as we share the gospel of Jesus Christ. I bear testimony that my faith has increased through being obedient to the principles of the gospel and that my testimony of our Savior has increased as well. As I have taken my own personal inventory and have sincerely asked Heavenly Father to allow the Atonement to work in my life, I have come to know just a portion of the enabling power of the Atonement.

Brothers and Sisters, the gospel is true, I love my Savior and know that He lives. 

Walter Penning

In 1989, Walter Penning formed a consultancy based in Salt Lake City and empowered his clients by streamlining processes and building a loyal, lifetime customer base with great customer service. His true passion is found in his family. He says the best decision he ever made was to marry his sweetheart and have children. The wonderful family she has given him and her constant love, support, and patience amid life’s challenges is his panacea.

I can’t even count the number of times I’ve wondered if my missionary service was worthwhile. Firstly, because I can’t count very high (math is my nemesis now and forever) and secondly, because I question all the time whether I made even the slightest difference in anyone’s life.

It’s easy to become discouraged and to feel like all that time I spent as a missionary was a huge waste. After all, almost all of the people I taught that were baptized are no longer active despite my efforts to stay in touch and encourage their gospel activity. Then, on top of that, I look back and see all of the mistakes I made as a missionary. I was inadequate in so many ways.

So I wonder, did I even do any good? Was there any point to my service? Did I make a difference at all?

Not to toot my own horn — like I said, I made A LOT of mistakes as a missionary — but the answer is yes. And you did, too. So… Toot, toot!

You Never Know the Seeds You Planted

The prophet Abinadi before the wicked King Noah

When I wonder if anyone was blessed or changed as a result of the hours I spent preaching about God and His love, there’s one other, awe-inspiring missionary I remember: Abinadi.

Abinadi was the most incredible, devoted missionary ever. (So devoted, in fact, that he probably didn’t just stretch in bed for his 30-minute morning workouts, like someone I know… ME. 😭) At the risk of his own reputation, he preached repentance to a people that didn’t want to hear it. I’m sure he didn’t love being hated (although he probably didn’t almost cry every time someone yelled at him… ALSO ME), but he was willing to be subjected to rejection over and over again because he loved the gospel and he knew his Savior.

Even after all of his efforts, no one seemed converted by his words. He was doing everything right, but it didn’t seem to make any difference — not to the king, not to his priests, and not to his people.

And eventually, he died because of his beliefs — likely thinking all the while that he didn’t make any difference at all.

But he did. He made an incomprehensible difference, both anciently and now. Because of Abinadi’s efforts, Alma was converted; then, from Alma, thousands were soon after converted. After that, Alma’s son endured a life-changing experience with the sons of Mosiah, and because of that experience, the sons of Mosiah went on missions and converted thousands AND Alma, through his own missionary efforts (and the Holy Ghost, obviously), converted so many people.

I mean, whoa. But Abinadi didn’t get to see any of that — at least not in this life.

Like Abinadi, we may never really understand or see the effects of our outreach during our lifetimes. While we may not recognize the additional lives we touched, we do become heartbroken as we watch people we taught leave the Church or become less active — but we never know what the future holds.

Keeping an Eternal Perspective

Take, for example, my own family history: my dad’s entire extended family is from Mississippi, a “Bible belt” state that is predominantly Baptist, and was even more so in the early 50’s. It was there that my family found the gospel — only to become less active a few years later.

My father wrote me this letter at Christmastime when I was on my mission, and it impacted me deeply. I want to share it because I think it so perfectly illustrates how we never know the lasting impact our service has:

“In the early 1950s, Mississippi was (and still is) overwhelmingly Baptist. However, Henry* and Abigail* (names changed) had neighbors who were Mormons. They were good people and very good neighbors. Somehow, Henry and Abigail became acquainted with the missionaries and eventually started taking the lessons. They were probably one of the few families who would even talk to the missionaries, let alone take the discussions. 

 

In time, they and their daughters were baptized. However, a few short years later, Abigail died and the rest of the family (who by this time had moved to Chicago to obtain employment) became less active in the Church. Grandma and your Aunt *Jane both married outside the Church and the whole family was quite inactive for many years thereafter. 

 

As for the missionaries who helped convert them, I don’t know their whole stories, but given the place and the times, I’ve often said that the Smith family may have been the only family — and if not, certainly one of the only families — they brought into the Church. 

 

Had those missionaries returned 10 years after their missions — say in 1962 — they would have found Abigail had died and the rest of the family had stopped going to church many years earlier. I’m sure it would have been a huge disappointment to them and they might have thought, “Well, so much for that… Did we really do any good at all?” 

 

Yet, fast forward a year or two to 1963-64 and my grandpa started attending church again due to the efforts and encouragement of a faithful home teacher. He received a call to serve a stake mission, and then in the ward Sunday School presidency. After he passed away in 1965, Grandma and Jane started going back to church. Eventually, I grew up and served a mission. I later got married and had 5 kids, 3 of whom served or are serving missions. [My sister] married in the temple and had 3 kids, 2 of whom served missions. Some of the people we have taught were baptized and have shared the gospel with others. 

 

Those little missionaries (as Grandma still calls them) probably thought they’d gone and done their duty, but hadn’t really had much success at all. However, if we could somehow count the number of people who have had the light of the gospel come into their lives that can be traced back to them, it would be [astounding]. 

 

. . . [W]hat they accomplished is truly amazing. You and I owe them a tremendous debt of gratitude. Because of their efforts so many years ago, we and many, many others have had the opportunity to follow the Savior. As you reflect this Christmas on the blessings the gospel has brought in your own life and as you go forward and share it with others, think of those little missionaries and thank the Lord for them.”

My Mission Changed Me

To read more of Amy’s articles, click here.

That story always amazes me. It’s impossible to know how many people have been touched by the Savior’s light through us!

But here’s something I’ve come to realize: even if no one that I taught ever becomes active again or stays active or whatever the situation may be, the point is that I tried — and as Elder Jeffrey R. Holland said, “. . . and the great thing about the gospel is we get credit for trying, even if we don’t always succeed.”

Plus, even if my mission didn’t change anyone else, it changed me. Maybe not in seemingly huge ways — truthfully, I was devoted to and lived the gospel before my mission. But it increased my understanding of the Atonement; it opened my heart and mind to the power of God and the importance of the Restoration and the priesthood; it deepened my love for the Savior. I think I was living a good life before my mission, but it taught me how to live a better, more Christlike one — and that’s the best, most life-changing and awe-inspiring gift I could have asked for.

Missions teach us the reality of repentance. They ingrain in us, if we let them, a stronger love for the Savior and for His teachings. Perhaps most important of all, our missions have the power to transform us  — and if you feel like yours didn’t change you, let it change you now. Remember the experiences you had. Learn from the mistakes you made. Know that it’s never too late to open the door to the Savior and allow His healing touch to influence your life. He can help you correct your past wrongs and relinquish guilt for mistakes you made.

Your mission DID matter. It affected you and brought you to repentance (either then, now, or both). Even if you can’t see the fruits of your labors right now, trust me — they exist. One day, we’ll see that what looks like one tiny, insignificant tree now is actually a vast, beautiful orchard.

And it’s all thanks to a God that worked miracles through you.

Amy Carpenter

Amy Carpenter is the site manager and editor for LDSBlogs.com. She served a full-time mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Denver, Colorado, where she learned to love mountains and despise snow. She has a passion for peanut butter, dancing badly, and most of all, the gospel.

Theodore Turley (1801-1871)

Before that westward trek, one ancestor that found himself imprisoned for preaching the Gospel and impoverished at the hands of a mob was Theodore Turley.

When Parley P. Pratt preached the gospel in Canada, he baptized John Taylor and Isaac Russell (among others) who preached the Gospel in the land after Elder Pratt left. They couldn’t find a place to preach so asked my grandpa, local Methodist minister Theodore Turley, if they could preach in his church.

Theodore agreed to their preaching engagement and encouraged his congregation to attend.  During the meeting, Theodore recognized “That is the truth and I shall be condemned if I do not accept it.”

He wrote that

“[Isaac Russell] came to me and said he had been warned in a dream that he must come to my house to preach. I received the truth the first time I heard it, and my wife also was baptized on the 1st of March, 1837.”

On March 2, 1837, Theodore Turley was called on a mission to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Then I was ordained an Elder by Parley P. Pratt, continued preaching until we went to Kirtland and from there to Missouri and remained one year.

 

Sold my farm for $1400. Started with two wagons and four horses in company with Elder John Snider and family, Joel Terry and family. Arrived in Far West on July 28, 1838. … Distance about 1000 miles traveled by land, desirous of settling my family in peace, far from the noise of war, etc., with the advantages of communion with the people of God.

Unfortunately, the Turleys did not find peace in Far West, Missouri. In October 1838, Governor Boggs issued the extermination order to drive Mormons from the state of Missouri.

 The Devil and all his host was determined we should not enjoy it long for he caused the Missourians to maltreat us and unconstitutionally drive us from the state.

In December 1838, Theodore served on the committee of citizens of Caldwell County that drafted a memorial to Congress.  Heber C. Kimball ordained him a Seventy and the Council of Seventy began meeting in his home in January 1839.

Extermination Order—Exodus from Missouri

On 26 January 1839, the council appointed Theodore to a committee of seven to ascertain the needs of the poor Saints to expedite their exodus from Missouri.  On this errand, Theodore sent communication to the state judges, the Secretary of State to expedite the release of Joseph Smith and his companions from Liberty Jail. The “men appeared friendly and acknowledged that the brethren were illegally imprisoned…but…had no power to do good!”

Heber C. Kimball and Theodore Turley returned immediately to Liberty. Arriving there on the 30th, they went to call on Judge King. He was very angry because they had reported the case to the governor. “I could,” he said, “have done all the business for you properly, if you had come to me; and I would have signed the petition for all except Joe, and he is not fit to live.

 

They then visited the prison, but were not permitted to enter; all the communication they had with the prisoners took place through the grate of the dungeon. Joseph bid the brethren to be of good cheer, ‘for,’ said he, ‘we shall be delivered; but no arm but God can deliver us now. Tell the brethren to be of good cheer, and get the Saints away as fast as possible.’

Threats on Joseph Smith’s Life

On April 5th, Brothers Kimball and Turley returned to Far West. On that day a company of about fifty men in Daviess County swore that they would never eat or drink again until they had murdered Joe Smith. Their captain, William Bowman, swore, in the presence of Theodore Turley, that he would ‘never eat or drink, after he had seen Joe Smith, until he had murdered him.’

Theodore Turley Defends the Far West Prophecy

Photograph of John Whitmer / via Joseph Smith Papers

Also eight men—Captain Bogart, who was the county judge, Doctor Laffity, John Whitmer, and five others—came to the committee room at Far West and there presented Elder Theodore Turley the paper concerning the revelation of July 8, 1838 to Joseph Smith, that the Twelve were to take their leave on the Temple site at Far West, on April 26th, to go to the Isles of the sea, and then asked him to read it.

 

Turley said, ‘Gentlemen, I am well acquainted with it.’

 

They said, ‘Then you, as a rational man, will give up Joseph Smith being a Prophet and an inspired man, now he and the Twelve are scattered all over creation; let them come here, if they dare; if they do, they will be murdered. As that revelation cannot be filled, you will now give up your faith?’

 

Turley jumped up and said, ‘In the name of God that revelation will be fulfilled.’ They laughed him to scorn. John Whitmer hung down his head.

 

They said, ‘If they [the Twelve] come, they will get murdered; they dare not come to take their leave here; that is like all the rest of Joe Smith’s d–d prophecies.’ They commenced on Turley and said, ‘You had better do as John Corrill has done; he is going to publish a book called ‘Mormonism Fairly Delineated;’ he is a sensible man, and you had better assist him.’

 

Turley said, ‘Gentlemen, I presume there are men here who have heard Corrill say that ‘Mormonism’ was true, that Joseph Smith was a Prophet and inspired of God, etc. I now call upon you, John Whitmer: You say Corrill is a moral and good man; do you believe him when he says the Book of Mormon is true, or when it is not true? There are many things published that they say are true, and again turn around and say they are false.’

 

Whitmer asked, ‘Do you hint at me?’ Turley replied, ‘If the cap fits, you may wear it; all I know is that you have published to the world that an angel did present those plates to Joseph Smith.’

 

Whitmer replied, ‘I now say, I handled those plates; there were fine engravings on both sides. I handled them; they were shown me by a supernatural power.’ He described how they were hung and accordingly acknowledged all.

 

Turley then asked him, ‘Why is the translation not now true?’ He said, ‘I could not read it (in the original) and I do not know whether it (i.e., the translation) is true or not.’ Whitmer testified all this in the presence of eight men.

The Saints Evacuate Missouri

Due to threats and malice, the committee sped up the poor Saints’ evacuation.

Far West, Missouri

When the Saints commenced removing from Far West, they shipped as many families and as much goods as possible to Richmond, to go down the Missouri River and up the Mississippi to Quincy, Ill… The exodus throughout was managed with consummate wisdom, and in view of all the difficulties in the way, with less suffering than could have been expected. The distance to the point of the Mississippi River where most of the exiles crossed over to Illinois was over two hundred miles in an easterly direction. The weather was cold and the roads generally muddy and bad. Scores of Saints died from exposure and fatigue on that memorable journey.

 

The move was not undertaken in a solid body, and seldom in regularly organized companies, but in small squads–two, three, and from that to a dozen teams and upwards traveled together. Not a single family who wished to go was left behind, as the committee appointed to superintend the removal paid particular attention to all the poor, and furnished them with the necessary teams and provisions to perform the journey.

 

While the Saints were making preparations to move away as fast as possible the mob was continually threatening the lives of the members of the committee and others. Thus, frequently armed bands of mobbers came into Far West and abused men, women and children, stole horses, drove off cattle, and plundered houses of everything that pleased them…

 

Because of the persecutions, the committee, on the 14th of April, 1839, moved thirty-six families into Tenny’s Grove, about twenty-five miles from Far West, and a few men were appointed to chop wood for them, while Elder Turley was to furnish them with meal and meat until they could be removed to Quincy. The corn was ground at the committee’s horse mill at Far West.

 

On the morning of the 18th Elder Kimball went into the committee room and told the members of the committee who were present to wind up their affairs and be off or their lives would be taken.

 

Later in the day a number of mobbers met Elder Kimball on the public square in Far West and asked him if he was a d–d ‘Mormon.’ He replied, ‘I am a “Mormon”‘.

 

‘Well,’ they said, ‘We’ll blow your brains out, you G–d d–d Mormon,’ and they tried to ride over him with their horses. This took place in the presence of Elias Smith, Theodore Turley and others of the committee.

 

Almost immediately afterward, twelve men went to Elder Turley’s house with loaded rifles intending to shoot him. They broke seventeen clocks into matchwood, broke tables, chairs and looking-glasses, smashed in the windows, etc., while Bogart, the county judge, looked on and laughed. One mobber by the name of Whitaker threw iron pots at Turley, one of which hit him on the shoulder, at which Whitaker jumped and laughed like a mad man.

 

The mob shot down cows while the girls were milking them, and threatened to send the committee ‘to hell jumping,’ and ‘put daylight through them.’

 

The brethren gathered up what they could and left Far West in one hour. The mob stayed until they left, and then plundered $1,000 worth of property which had been left by the more well-to-do Saints to help the poor remove.

 

One mobber rode up and finding no convenient place to fasten his horse, shot a cow that was standing near, and while the poor animal was yet struggling in death, he cut a strip of her hide from her nose to the tip of her tail, which he tied around a stump and fastened his halter to it.

 

On the 20th of April 1839, the last of the Saints left Far West. Thus a whole community variously estimated from twelve to fifteen thousand souls, had left, or were about to leave the State of Missouri, where they had experienced so much sorrow, and found a temporary shelter in the State of Illinois, chiefly in Quincy and vicinity and a few in the territory of Iowa on the north.”

 

Theodore Turley remained there [in Far West] until all the saints were removed and Joseph Smith got out of prison.

Theodore wrote of his own exodus:

“I left in Caldwell a dwelling house and stable, garden, well of water with conveniences, a work shop well fitted up, ten acres of timber land, two town lots. Unrighteously driven from the same, with about 10,000 (ten thousand) souls in company, trusting till God shall redeem us from the injustice of man. In consequence of the extreme forteage of labors of fitting up teams, etc., to convey the poor to the State of Illinois; being appointed one of the committee for that purpose. The journeys to the various prisons; the journeys with Petitions to the Gov. Boggs and to the Supreme Judge of the Courts of the State of Missouri laboring variously for the relief of my brethren and sisters for the space of nearly six months; after the fatigues of war. The particulars of which is impossible to describe. Then journeying with my wife and children 200 miles in a wet time; living in a tent for the space of 13 weeks and never having the privilege of sleeping under a roof for this time.”

April 26, 1839, the Date of the Far West Prophecy

The Church’s second prophet, Brigham Young

By the twenty-sixth of April, the day set for them to take leave of the Saints to start on their mission, nearly all the members of the Church had been driven from Far West. It seemed almost impossible that the prediction could be fulfilled, as the Saints had all been driven out of Missouri, and it would, according to the threats of the mob, be as much as an Apostle’s life was worth to be seen in Far West.

 

Some of the leading men in the Church thought that in view of the persecutions and scattered condition of the Saints at that time, the Lord would not require the Twelve to fulfill His words to the letter but that, under the circumstances, He would take the will for the deed. The apostates and mobbers rejoiced at what they thought would be the failure of one of the revelations given through the Prophet Joseph; they thought that surely in this instance, at least, his words would be vain.

 

But this was not the feeling of President Young and those of the Twelve Apostles who were with him. He asked them individually what their feelings were upon the subject. Their desires were, they said, to fulfill the revelation.

 

He told them that the Lord had spoken, and it was their duty to obey, and leave the event in his hands, and he would protect them. Consequently, Brigham Young, Orson Pratt, John Taylor, Wilford Woodruff, George A. Smith and Alpheus Cutler left Quincy for Far West to fulfill the revelation. They met John E. Page, who was an Apostle at the time, on the road, and told him they wanted him to go to Far West with them, which he did.”

 

Just before reaching Far West (at Tenney’s Grove) Brigham Young and his traveling companions met Brothers Smith, Turley and Clark of the committee who had been left there to attend to the removal of the poor Saints but had been driven from town.

 

They told the Apostles that members of the mob had come into Far West and tantalized them on the subject of the revelation, saying that it was one of Joseph Smith’s revelations which could not be fulfilled, as the Twelve Apostles were scattered to the four winds; and they threatened them severely if they were found in Far West the next day.

 

In the face of these threats, Elders Smith, Clark, and Turley, turned around and accompanied the Apostles and the other brethren to Far West, having faith that the Lord would protect them.

 

Early on the morning of the 26th of April–the day mentioned in the revelation–a conference was held, 31 persons were cut off from the Church, and the Apostles and Saints proceeded to the building spot of the Lord’s house. Elder Cutler, the master workman of the house, then recommenced laying the foundation, agreeable to revelation, by rolling up a large stone near the southeast corner.

 

Seven of the Twelve Apostles were present. They then sang ‘Adam-ondi-Ahman;’ after which they took leave of eighteen Saints, agreeable to the revelation. The conference was then adjourned.

Theodore Testifies to Isaac Russell

To read more of Delisa’s articles, click here.

As the Saints were passing away from the meeting, Theodore Turley said to Elders Page and Woodruff, ‘Stop a bit, while I bid Isaac Russell good-bye,’ and knocking at his door called Brother Russell, whose wife answered, ‘Come in; it is Brother Turley.’

 

Russell replied, ‘It is not; he left here two weeks ago.’ He appeared quite alarmed; but on finding it was Turley, asked him to sit down, but he replied, ‘I cannot; I shall lose my company.’

 

‘Who is your company?’ inquired Russell.

 

‘The Twelve.’

 

‘The Twelve?’

 

‘Yes, don’t you know that this is the 26th, and the day the Twelve were to take leave of their friends on the foundation of the Lord’s house, to go to the islands of the sea? The revelation is now fulfilled, and I am going with them.’

 

Russell was speechless and Turley bid him farewell. Thus was that revelation fulfilled, concerning which the enemies said: If all the other revelations of Joseph Smith were fulfilled, that one should not be, as it had place and date to it.

“The Lord had spoken, and it was their duty to obey.” In the face of violence and death, Theodore Turley did his duty.

Lead Image: Far West Temple site via Facebook.

Delisa Hargrove

I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I have moved 64 times and have not tired of experiencing this beautiful earth! I love the people, languages, histories/anthropologies, & especially religious cultures of the world. My life long passion is the study & searching out of religious symbolism, specifically related to ancient & modern temples. My husband Anthony and I love our bulldog Stig, adventures, traveling, movies, motorcycling, and time with friends and family.