This past month of October, I
like you, had the opportunity to read once again Preach My Gospel in its
entirety. Whenever I read a book, talk
or manual, I always find within myself searching for certain themes, thoughts
or phrases that stand out to me or have impact upon me at that particular moment
in time. I am convinced that each time
we read Preach My Gospel or for that matter any cannon of scripture, we will
find that our current state of mind, our current situation or our current
problems will be solved, expressed or characterized in the words of scripture
that we are reading. For me this past
month, Preach My Gospel certainly impressed me with the idea that “We are all
Enlisted” as so discussed by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland in this past months
conference address in our Priesthood session.
As I read through the pages of
Preach My Gospel I would constantly remark to Sister Bruce: “Hey, we could discuss this paragraph in Zone
Leader council or hey, what do you think of this paragraph for leadership training”? Fortunately or unfortunately, my mind races a
million miles ahead when I read words and scripture in Preach My Gospel and I
begin to formulate lessons, ideas and seek inspiration in order that we can all
achieve higher goals and feel the happiness that the spirit brings to our
lives. As the entire book relates to our
service as missionaries, it is difficult to highlight or extract certain
thoughts or ideas that stand out above others or have specific meaning that we
do not discuss regularly; however, a few phrases that had increased impression
upon me this month are as follows:
“As a missionary, you desire the
salvation of souls”
“Your faith to find people to
teach is demonstrated through your actions”
“Accept full responsibility for
your actions”
“The attitude you have toward
your mission experience is a reflection of your love toward your Heavenly
Father and His Son and your respect for the priesthood”
“As a missionary, you are
expected to keep the commandments willingly”
“Continue until you have done all
that you can, even when you are tired”
“Hope….is manifest in confidence,
optimism, enthusiasm, and patient perseverance.
It is believing and expecting that something will occur”
“You are able to do miracles
according to the Lord’s will”
These highlights along with
countless others in this month’s reading reminded me again and again what is
pressing on my mind and what I want to convey to you. My thoughts can be aptly described by saying
that many times missionaries get bogged down in the mechanical role of their
calling and lose the vision necessary to maintain effectiveness. Furthermore, to have the influence of the
spirit in our callings is to be in the frame of mind whereby God may reveal the
gifts and powers necessary to be effective in our missionary efforts. As I reflected on how easy it is to become a
“mechanical missionary”, I thought back to Elder Holland’s talk where he
said: “We want battalions” or “This is a
life and death contest that we are in” or “Victory means everything” and “The
game is on the line”. Can anyone deny
that Elder Holland feels passionate about the work we are doing? Does anyone want to be a “mechanical
missionary” and have to report back to Elder Holland that we were not worthy,
not able or were mere participants in the missionary experience but did not do
all that we could do?
After seeing what we can do when
we work in a united effort, when we are obedient, diligent and have great faith
that we can win, I am convinced that “Victory means everything” and that we
cannot become mechanical missionaries merely going through the motions of
missionary service. In addition, it is
my ongoing observation that many of the attitudes, characteristics,
personalities, behaviors and goals that you have are shaped by your childhood,
your community and your upbringing. I
can honestly say (this is the doctrine of President Bruce so you have your
agency to believe or disbelieve) that your generation was raised in an era of
participation and acceptance rather than victory means everything. Let me explain.
As our own children grew up, they
participated in every aspect of life afforded to them. Like many of you, they played soccer,
basketball, water polo, softball, baseball, football, and cheerleading. They
were involved in student government, seminary, school activities, plays,
dramas, dances, dating, church activities, computers, and social
activities. They received high and
constant accolades for their righteousness, participation, worthiness,
advancements and successes even when not deserved in my opinion. One day after a particularly devastating loss
to an opposing soccer team, we as parents were encouraged by a fellow parent to
“make a tunnel” for the kids to run through so as to lift their spirits! I said, “What”? We just got killed by a lesser team and you
want us to “make a tunnel” so that the kids could run through and feel good
about themselves? As you can imagine, my
brain and my logic does not work that way.
In my opinion you either win or lose.
And I always want to win. God did
not send me to earth to lose. I know
that he doesn’t care about a soccer game, but in the game of life I was sent to
win and that is his expectation. As my son ran through the tunnel, ate his
after game treat and ran off to the car I thought, “What are we teaching these
kids, that it is OK to lose?” The impact
of the loss had no effect on my son.
At the end of the soccer season
(and every other sport season) my sons and daughters would receive their
“participation” trophy and parents would whole heartedly acknowledge their good
deeds, their growth, and their desire to play irrespective of wins or
losses. Naturally, I continued to
struggle with the idea of honoring alone their efforts and that for most it was
victorious just to be a participant in the grander scheme of sporting events. This may sound old fashion, but when I was a
young man growing up, it was my goal to claim 100 trophies on the book shelves
in my room. As a boy I would look
admirably at all of my father’s trophies for accomplishments in basketball and
baseball and I thought, I need, want and desire to be better than my dad. Therefore, at an early age, I began to
participate in sports. Fortunately for
me, we did not receive participation trophies or have parents make “tunnels”
for us to run through after games, win or lose.
I distinctly recall several instances where my father taught me in his
quiet yet confident manner of how I could have improved, played better or done
something different to be a stronger competitor. We only were awarded trophies in the event we
won first or second place, or were recognized as an outstanding athlete and
were honored as an All-Tournament player.
Over several years, my appetite grew stronger to win, be the best and
add to my personal trophy collection. To
this day, I am very proud of the trophy collection that I was able to amass;
notwithstanding the fact that each was for accomplishment and none were for
mere participation.
In watching and working with
young adults returned from their missions, I can bear my witness that this
“participation” philosophy that has been awarded to them (and to you) by
society is spiritually damaging and leads to a relaxation of morals and values
allowing Satan to influence you and have eternal effect upon you. Elder Holland explained that the devil has
“tactics in this contest” and “we are at war”.
I have seen many young adults unwilling or unprepared to make
commitments, willing to “lose” the war, willing to give in based upon the idea
that participation is fine and that entitlement will be forthcoming through the
love of a priesthood leader, a relief society president, or a mission president. These individuals stood as pillars to help
them back and provide them a “tunnel” to run through so that their loss did not
seem so heavy, that they would be victorious even though they had lost, or that
all would be forgiven.
Elders and sisters, I love to be
the bearer of bad news. You are not here
to participate in life. You are not here
to participate in your mission and receive a participation trophy. You are not to go home and participate in a
young adult ward, have casual social relationships and fall into Satan’s
“tactics in this contest”. You are not
here to be a “mechanical missionary”.
You are not here to be reformed, to repent of past mistakes, to atone
for your previous life’s misgivings. No,
you are here to win! Did you read that
correctly? Yes, you are here on your
mission to win. To accept full
responsibility for your actions, to obey the commandments, to be united and
most importantly to save souls. I am
sorry to say it but participation trophies and mechanical missionaries will not
suffice. Not here, not now. As Elder Holland says, you are the battalion
“who will take as their weapons every word that proceedeth forth from the mouth
of God”.
Yes, it is true, none of us is
perfect. We all have past mistakes and
none of us works as hard every day as we possibly can. I can testify that you don’t want to waste
time on your mission and be a “mechanical missionary”. I had nightmares for several years following
my mission due to my personal idea that I had not done enough, I did not work
hard enough, I was not worthy enough or I could have done more in my missionary
service. I can testify to you that none
of you want to face that nightmare knowing that you could have done more, could
have given more, could have taught more, could have been more obedient or could
have relied more on the spirit. As it
says in Preach my Gospel: “Continue
until you have done all you can, even when you are tired”. Elder Eyring counseled us to “build on
strength: it is to form a habit of
pushing on through the fatigue and fear that might make you think of
quitting. The Lord’s great mentors have
shown me that spiritual staying power comes from working past the point when
others would have taken a rest”.
In following President Eyring’s
counsel, I testify that you can push forward, you can build on strength and you
can have victory. As Elder Eyring
said: “I can’t be a perfect servant
every hour, but I can try to give more effort than I thought I could”. So can I.
So can you. Do not go through
life thinking that your parents, the church or your priesthood leaders will
“make a tunnel” for you after a devastating loss. The only tunnel maker is the Son of God and
only he has power to save. Be a winner
and do not settle for a participation trophy.
To those who win and endure to the end will eventually receive a
fullness of Priesthood, and will thus stand as a King and Priest, Queen and
Priestess in the resurrection, possessing exaltation and eternal lives, only
the exalted will hold and exercise these powers in the worlds to come.
