So, What is a Mission Like?
You have probably been asked this question a few times. During and after your mission many will want to know “What was it like?”. Your response to this question will reflect a great deal about what kind of a missionary you are/were.
If you say “it’s great! We work hard and are seeing some real success. The Netherlands and Belgium is a perfect place to serve. It’s not too hot and not usually all that cold. The people are friendly and open, if a bit opinionated.” then one might rightfully conclude that you are a good missionary and probably really love the people.
If you say “It is the longest 2 years of my life! My companions are all weird and hard to get along with. It’s just one rejection after another.” then you most probably are not reaching your potential as a great missionary and may not feel love for the people around you.
Now you may be asking yourself, “How do I get to be more like the great missionary and less like the not so good missionary?”
We could go through countless references in Preach My Gospel and cover volumes on this one question. Would the principles such as self-discipline, optimism, and spirituality by themselves do the trick? If things aren’t going well, does that mean that we are “bad missionaries”
President Hinckley once quoted an article in the Deseret News it goes like this…
“ ‘Anyone who imagines that bliss is normal is going to waste a lot of time running around shouting that he’s been robbed.
“ ‘Most putts don’t drop. Most beef is tough. Most children grow up to be just people. Most successful marriages require a high degree of mutual toleration. Most jobs are more often dull than otherwise.
“ ‘Life is like an old-time rail journey—delays, sidetracks, smoke, dust, cinders, and jolts, interspersed only occasionally by beautiful vistas and thrilling bursts of speed.
“ ‘The trick is to thank the Lord for letting you have the ride.’ (Deseret News, 12 June 1973.)” (Teachings of Gordon B. Hinckley [1997], 254).
First Point – “Lift up your heart and rejoice” (D&C 31:3)
A mission is going to be difficult. There will be disappointments for each missionary. If faced head-on, these difficulties will strengthen us. When the skies part and the sun shines through to our corner of the world, will we either exclaim “It is so beautiful today! I love being a missionary”, or will we respond with a dull “It’s about time”. Often, how we perceive and react to the events around us, is more important to our happiness than what those events actually are.
The above scripture was a revelation to Thomas B. Marsh Let’s look at the whole verse…”Lift up your heart and rejoice, for the hour of your mission is come; and your tongue shall be loosed, and you shall declare glad tidings of great joy unto this generation.”
As we learn to focus on the positive aspects of missionary life, or life in general for that matter, we will enjoy our experience much more. Our hearts will be open to feelings of love and inspiration.
Second Point – “Be patient” (D&C 31:9) There is no such thing on earth as a perfect spouse, companion, child or leader. Mutual toleration will be a crucial element in your relationship with your companion. In childhood, we can get an unrealistic viewpoint of others. We can simply choose not to associate with those who are not “like us”. Our need to learn tolerance may not be so evident. There is nothing like a mission to jolt that “need for patience and tolerance” to the forefront of our lives. Since the Lord chooses our companions and we don’t, we will either learn tolerance and love, or be miserable.
Gaining the skill and desire to accept the faults and idiosyncrasies of your companions will not only allow the spirit to accompany you in the work, but will allow you to learn valuable lessons. You will learn to see the good in other people. Several of our missionaries are naturally skilled in this area and many others have learned how important it is to treat your relationship with your companion with patience and tolerance.
Looking again at the words of the Lord to Thomas B. Marsh we read in verse 9, “Be patient in afflictions, revile not against those that revile. Govern your house in meekness, and be steadfast.”
If you and your companion are ‘not on speaking terms’, repent.
If you complain to others about your companion, repent.
If you do not treat your companion with kindness, repent.
If your relationship with your companion is short of what Christ would expect, repent.
Some companions will be easier to get along with than others. In Matthew 5:46 we are admonished to love the “unlovable”. We are taught that to love only those who love us is worthy of little reward. (for even the publicans, those dreaded tax collectors, do this)
If you are successful at learning the skills to not just tolerate but to love your companion, especially the ones that might be harder for you to get along well with, you will be ensuring yourself to enjoy a happy marriage in the future. This concept might be called ‘Learning to forget your self and love others’
So what makes a good mission? Many things. Most of them lead back to the phrase “Love is the Key”.
First, we need to love life. When we find joy in and are creatively engaged in the circumstances where we find ourselves we can thrive and find fulfillment. We must guard against Satin’s favorite tools … negative thoughts and discouragement.
Second, we need to love those we associate with. The more our companion is different or challenging, the more opportunity we have to show God that we can be patient and tolerant. Evil speaking of others is … well, evil. Not loving those around us stops spiritual progression.
Last (but really first), we need to love and feel of the love of our Savior, Jesus Christ.
Being close to our Savior and following His example will be our greatest aid in the quest to love life and our fellow man.
I hope and pray that this is what your mission will be like.
Have a great transfer week and remember to keep in daily contact with your investigators!
Love, President Brubaker
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