Homecoming
December 9, 2018
Good morning!
You know, sometimes I am really grateful that I am short. I was especially grateful whenever we went to visit Minna, because there were spiderwebs covering the top half of the doorway that the other missionaries ran into every time, but I escaped them every time thanks to my petite stature. I am also really grateful for Minna. Minna is a sweet, elderly lady that we got the opportunity to bring the sacrament to every week. Minna battles illness upon illness, and so fragile and frail that I was worried a slight breeze would knock her right over. However, even in her little frame Minna has not only completely altered my mission, but also my life. To ignorant eyes Minna may appear weak, but she is strong and mighty. My first week there I took a place on the couch, right across from Minna in her wheelchair. We 4 missionaries opened with a song and I watched as little Minna folded her arms, embracing her delicate body and closed her eyes tight in humble prayer. She took the sacrament more reverently than I had ever seen before. After the sacrament she bore her simple and piercing testimony to us of the restoration of the gospel and the reality of her Savior. Deeply moved by the faith of Minna, I learned that her strength came from hope.
In 2 nephi 31:20 nephi exhorts, “Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life.”
focus on hope. What is it?
I served in Denmark.
Tanya: acts 2:37 “Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart” Moroni 10:11 “And to another, exceedingly great faith; and to another, the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;”
Koo: felt the spirit in the first prayer, abide with me tis eventide, believed in the God.
Members
inger and svend “when our children or friends or anyone leave the church, we can’t force them back. We can’t frighten them back. We can’t even feed them back into the faith, but we CAN love them back” - hope for their children
Kirstin amdi: has MS, travels long to the temple almost weekly, relief society president epitome of service
Lene: as she did CPR, she radiated the light of the gospel and wanted to really get into family history
I’ve been taught about charity, patience, humility, positivity, obedience, diligence, grit, courage, and virtue from my companions. They’ve taught me not only to long for the blessings of righteousness, but how to actively hope for them.
Whatever your calling may be, don’t ever doubt that you can do it.
You are not in a circumstance by accident; God needs YOU exactly where you are.
“And when Enoch had heard these words, he bowed himself to the earth, before the Lord, and spake before the Lord, saying: Why is it that I have found favor in thy sight, and am but a lad, and all the people hate me; for I am slow of speech; wherefore am I thy servant?
32 And the Lord said unto Enoch: Go forth and do as I have commanded thee, and no man shall pierce thee. Open thy mouth, and it shall be filled, and I will give thee utterance, for all flesh is in my hands, and I will do as seemeth me good.
33 Say unto this people: Choose ye this day, to serve the Lord God who made you.
34 Behold my Spirit is upon you, wherefore all thy words will I justify; and the mountains shall flee before you, and the rivers shall turn from their course; and thou shalt abide in me, and I in you; therefore walk with me.” Moses 6:31-34 TALK ABOUT IT AND HOW YOU APPLIED IT
What are you most excited for now?
to continue my work in different ways, and carry this perfect brightness of hope to others
In conclusion, my mission taught me how important faith and hope are. I invite you all to take the example of all the wonderful people I’ve talked about today and grow your own strong hope and mighty testimony. It is more important now than ever before to become a disciple of Christ and to be like unto the lamanities in 3 Nephi 6:14, “the church was broken up in all the land save it were among a few of the Lamanites who were converted unto the true faith; and they would not depart from it, for they were firm, and steadfast, and immovable, willing with all diligence to keep the commandments of the Lord.”
Denmark has stolen my heart
The skies, the hills
The trees and the windmills
What an exquisite work of art
The Danes have given me eyes
Eyes to see sorrow, eyes to see bliss
Eyes to help others through darkening mists
And capture the hope of God’s light
Love has taught me to cope
To battle the evils, to triumph the pain
To the song the redeeming powers refrain
And carry a perfect brightness of hope
Christ has given me life
When does slammed my face,
When through blizzards I paced
He was there, right by my side
I continued, I labored, I held up my chin
With thoughts of my Lord on the cross
How could we think it’d be easy for us
When it was never easy for him?
There is no greater joy felt, not spirit experienced
When a skeptic softens his heart
The words of a prayer uttered sincerely in all parts
Pierces the soul, leaving everyone influenced
My mission wasn’t easy
My journey wasn’t breezy
But because of Him and because of them
In a heartbeat, I’d do it all again.
Del vidnesbyrd på dansk!!!
Good morning!
You know, sometimes I am really grateful that I am short. I was especially grateful whenever we went to visit Minna, because there were spiderwebs covering the top half of the doorway that the other missionaries ran into every time, but I escaped them every time thanks to my petite stature. I am also really grateful for Minna. Minna is a sweet, elderly lady that we got the opportunity to bring the sacrament to every week. Minna battles illness upon illness, and so fragile and frail that I was worried a slight breeze would knock her right over. However, even in her little frame Minna has not only completely altered my mission, but also my life. To ignorant eyes Minna may appear weak, but she is strong and mighty. My first week there I took a place on the couch, right across from Minna in her wheelchair. We 4 missionaries opened with a song and I watched as little Minna folded her arms, embracing her delicate body and closed her eyes tight in humble prayer. She took the sacrament more reverently than I had ever seen before. After the sacrament she bore her simple and piercing testimony to us of the restoration of the gospel and the reality of her Savior. Deeply moved by the faith of Minna, I learned that her strength came from hope.
In 2 nephi 31:20 nephi exhorts, “Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life.”
focus on hope. What is it?
- The word hope is sometimes misunderstood in our everyday language, it often has a hint of uncertainty. However, the word hope is sure, unwavering, and active. Hope is the confident expectation of and longing for the promised blessings of righteousness. The scriptures often speak of hope as anticipation of eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ... The principle of hope extends into the eternities, but it also can sustain us through the everyday challenges of life - gospel topics/bible dictionary
I served in Denmark.
- Small country north of Germany
- 5 million people
- Speak Danish
- The winter hangs around freezing and the summer anywhere from 50-60
- 17,000 people immigrated to Zion in the 1850’s, and that is why many members have danish ancestors
- What was the best part of your mission?
Tanya: acts 2:37 “Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart” Moroni 10:11 “And to another, exceedingly great faith; and to another, the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;”
Koo: felt the spirit in the first prayer, abide with me tis eventide, believed in the God.
Members
inger and svend “when our children or friends or anyone leave the church, we can’t force them back. We can’t frighten them back. We can’t even feed them back into the faith, but we CAN love them back” - hope for their children
Kirstin amdi: has MS, travels long to the temple almost weekly, relief society president epitome of service
Lene: as she did CPR, she radiated the light of the gospel and wanted to really get into family history
- Missionaries
I’ve been taught about charity, patience, humility, positivity, obedience, diligence, grit, courage, and virtue from my companions. They’ve taught me not only to long for the blessings of righteousness, but how to actively hope for them.
- What was the hardest part about your mission (advice for others)?
Whatever your calling may be, don’t ever doubt that you can do it.
You are not in a circumstance by accident; God needs YOU exactly where you are.
“And when Enoch had heard these words, he bowed himself to the earth, before the Lord, and spake before the Lord, saying: Why is it that I have found favor in thy sight, and am but a lad, and all the people hate me; for I am slow of speech; wherefore am I thy servant?
32 And the Lord said unto Enoch: Go forth and do as I have commanded thee, and no man shall pierce thee. Open thy mouth, and it shall be filled, and I will give thee utterance, for all flesh is in my hands, and I will do as seemeth me good.
33 Say unto this people: Choose ye this day, to serve the Lord God who made you.
34 Behold my Spirit is upon you, wherefore all thy words will I justify; and the mountains shall flee before you, and the rivers shall turn from their course; and thou shalt abide in me, and I in you; therefore walk with me.” Moses 6:31-34 TALK ABOUT IT AND HOW YOU APPLIED IT
What are you most excited for now?
to continue my work in different ways, and carry this perfect brightness of hope to others
In conclusion, my mission taught me how important faith and hope are. I invite you all to take the example of all the wonderful people I’ve talked about today and grow your own strong hope and mighty testimony. It is more important now than ever before to become a disciple of Christ and to be like unto the lamanities in 3 Nephi 6:14, “the church was broken up in all the land save it were among a few of the Lamanites who were converted unto the true faith; and they would not depart from it, for they were firm, and steadfast, and immovable, willing with all diligence to keep the commandments of the Lord.”
Denmark has stolen my heart
The skies, the hills
The trees and the windmills
What an exquisite work of art
The Danes have given me eyes
Eyes to see sorrow, eyes to see bliss
Eyes to help others through darkening mists
And capture the hope of God’s light
Love has taught me to cope
To battle the evils, to triumph the pain
To the song the redeeming powers refrain
And carry a perfect brightness of hope
Christ has given me life
When does slammed my face,
When through blizzards I paced
He was there, right by my side
I continued, I labored, I held up my chin
With thoughts of my Lord on the cross
How could we think it’d be easy for us
When it was never easy for him?
There is no greater joy felt, not spirit experienced
When a skeptic softens his heart
The words of a prayer uttered sincerely in all parts
Pierces the soul, leaving everyone influenced
My mission wasn’t easy
My journey wasn’t breezy
But because of Him and because of them
In a heartbeat, I’d do it all again.
Del vidnesbyrd på dansk!!!
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