The Way of the Disciple

THE WAY OF THE DISCIPLE

DPH Mission Farewell

Sunday, June 28, 2009—Canyon View 3^rd Ward, CV Stake, Orem, Utah

There is some family history with regards to the violin that our granddaughter Kristina plays. This violin was found by my father at an antique sale many years ago. It is identified by an internal inscription as being made after the design of Straduvarius. Kristina practices the violin regularly. She has learned how to care for this instrument and to maintain its quality. She is learning how to know this instrument and to love it, and how to share her talents with others.

We are like this violin, and so are our testimonies and our faith. We have been made in the image of our Creator. If we maintain our instruments, and learn what is best for them, we can sustain, preserve and even improve the quality. If we prepare, nourish, polish, practice and share our testimonies and our faith, our instruments will serve us and others well throughout our lives. Therein we magnify our gifts, and show our gratitude for our Savior and our Heavenly Father.

Recently author Orson Scott Card wrote about the experience of 14-year-old Hannah, who told this story in a Sacrament Meeting talk:

“A few months ago my family and I went to Wet ‘n Wild water park. We were in the wave pool, and if you have ever been there before, you know that there are two corners with signs that say ‘strong swimmers only!’ When a wave comes, there’s a little vortex, and you can get sucked into a whirlpool. I was caught in it once when I was younger, and got hurt, and I’ve been scared of it ever since.

“But when I saw my older brother Jordan in one of the corners, I wanted to give it another try. He told me that I’d have fun, and gave me a few pointers of the ‘if this happens, do that’ variety.

“As I was preparing myself for the next wave, I told Jordan that I didn’t want him to leave me, and gave him a whole list of things he should do to keep me safe.

“He said that I would be fine and should just relax. So when the wave came I held my breath, ready for whatever was coming. But just at that moment, Jordan pulled away from me and went under the water.

“I thought he was doing it to tease me, and thought, ‘This is NOT funny!’ I was [upset and confused], and after the wave passed and he came up for air, I swam over to him and asked why he had left me when I specifically asked him not to. How could he leave me when I needed him so much?

“Jordan ignored my complaint and asked if I had gone under the water at any time during the wave. That was when I realized that my head had not gone under water once.

“It seems that when Jordan had pulled away from me right before the wave came, he had gone under water and held me up while we spun around in the whirlpool. In all the turbulence, I hadn’t felt his hands holding me up. He gave me a better ride than I expected, a better ride than I had asked for, a better ride than I even imagined possible.

“I thought I knew what I wanted and thought I knew the best way to get it. But instead of doing what I told him to do, he did what he needed to do to give me even better results than I had even thought of.”

In reading you this story I relate it to our experience in applying for our mission call, and to another lesson on the quality of faith, the first principle of the Gospel, and the one upon which I believe defines, connects and directs all others.

When couples desiring missionary service opportunities apply for mission calls, they are given a generous amount of flexibility in choosing areas of service that fit their financial and physical circumstances, their talents, education and practical skills, and even provide an opportunity to include a few preferences from their “wish list” for available missions. Such was our experience.

We felt strongly that we wanted to do more as disciples of our Savior. One definition of a disciple is “a follower and student of a mentor, teacher, or other wise figure. It can refer to . . . a person who learns from another, especially one who then teaches others.” We were committed. We had prepared ourselves and our lives. We have much to be grateful for. We have faith and we wanted to put that faith into action in a new way.

We knew we were willing to go where we were called to serve. But as we progressed with the process, spoke with the Missionary Department, and listened to stories of couples who had already served, we felt we had defined what we thought was the “perfect” mission call for us! It’s also quite possible that we subconsciously wanted a call where we felt safe and secure in what might be asked of us. We had a lot of fun filling out the online applications, and we were pleased to discover that we could volunteer our ideas for the perfect mission!

We were excited to receive that white packet in the mail containing our mission call letters. When it arrived we agreed to wait to open it when our family could be there with us. In the meantime, I carried that white envelope all around the house with me, room to room, smiling at myself as I did it, and even placed it close by our bed while we slept. I felt SO humbled and so blessed to receive a call from the Lord through His chosen prophet that I wanted to treat even the paper it was written on with the greatest care and respect.

I still feel that way, perhaps even more so: because when we opened the packet and read our calls we did not receive the type of mission call that we expected. Instead, the Lord gave us half of what we asked for, and tailor-made the whole. There is little in the way of a job description. There is no home-bound couple waiting to train us and share their experience. There will not be a car for our use and we think we’ll probably get lost and confused – often! There is not even a place for us to live. The Lord is asking us to take our faith, step a little into the dark, and look for the light which He will provide, light that will illuminate the feast and wealth of blessings He is preparing for us. You and I know the Lord can make all things possible.

And so we have begun to make our preparations….

We thought we knew what we wanted and what would be best for us. Certainly we would have enjoyed and been blessed by any mission call. The Lord knows how we feel, and what we want, and how we need to get there. Just because He doesn’t follow our plan does not mean that He has left us or doesn’t love us. The Lord has been teaching us again in His patient and loving way how to extend our faith and to look up to Him. He sees the whole picture, and knows what will be best for us.

He also knows what is best for others and what is needed to accomplish all that He needs to accomplish. In considering possible reasons for this new type of call I felt that the Lord already knows that we could serve well in our choice of mission. We’ve already served there. We already know that we could do it. We’ve already passed that test. He sees a need elsewhere and is asking us to step up and forward and take on this new challenge, and wait upon Him. We want to do that. We want to see how we can serve in new ways, and what new blessings are in store for us in the future.

When I read my call rather than feel disappointment, what I did feel was gratitude and excitement. How wonderful it is to have the incomparable gift of the companionship of the Holy Ghost, and through Him to receive personal revelation: to hear in one’s heart and mind and spirit the Holy Ghost testify that this is how the Lord wants to bless us, that He has faith and trust in us. We are filled with gratitude. This has increased our desire to be worthy of that faith and trust.

Moroni said that only “after the trial of [our] faith” do we receive certain assurances and blessings (Ether 12:6). As we do what Jesus asks us to do, and as we try to be like him, we learn of Him, and we personally experience His special love for us (see Matt. 11:29). We also come to appreciate Him. We are given opportunities to teach others and set good examples.

President David O. McKay was the prophet and president of the Church when I was growing up, and he served his mission in England. He said, “What ‘ere thou art, Act well thy part.”

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf said in his April 2009 conference talk, The Way of the Disciple:

“Now is the time to embrace the gospel of Jesus Christ, become His disciples, and walk in His way…. Jesus gave us His gospel, a pearl beyond price, the grand key of knowledge that, once understood and applied, unlocks a life of happiness, peace and fulfillment…. The gospel is the good news of Christ . . . it is the path of salvation, the way of hope and joy; and the assurance that God has a plan . . . for His children.”

I bear testimony that this is true. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.