A MISSIONARY FAREWELL

I Sustain Thomas S. Monson

If we do our duty and trust fully in the Lord, we will fill His temples, not only doing our own ordinance work, but also having the privilege of doing work for others. In the temple, the precious plan of God is taught. It is in the temple that eternal covenants are made. All that occurs within the walls of the temple is uplifting and ennobling. To members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the temple is the most sacred place on earth. It is the house of the Lord, and just as the inscription on the exterior of the temple states, the temple is "holiness to the Lord."

 

I attended a meeting today, that is called a Missionary Farewell in my Church. A lot of other things take place in this meeting when a missionary is not participating in his "going away" meeting. It then is called a Sacrament Meeting (but this is a subject for another blog at another time.)

While I was watching and listening to this young 18 year old man several things came to mind and it touched my heart and gave me a warm feeling. He is going to serve a mission for two years to try and find and teach the people in Mexico the truths of the Gospel of Jesus Christ so they can indeed fill the Temple pictured above, with dedicated saints.

 

He will be away from his home and family for two years, however he will have the love and protection of Jesus Christ with him for those two years. He also will have the prayers of his family, friends and Ward members to give him the strength both spiritually and physically , that he will need.

 

He is going to the Ciudad Juarez Mexico Mission. which is not the most placid place in the world, but it is obviously the place the Lord wants him to be.

 

In his talk this young man indicated that the mission boundaries encompass about 1.5 million people and it is the missionaries calling to glean out the faithful who are looking for the truth and prepare them to become members.

 

A Sister member played and sang a song in the meeting entitled "God Be With You Till We Meet Again." I am sure God will do just that.

 

As I said in the beginning I had a "warm feeling" all through the meeting and I am sure all the people who came to support him did also. There were quite a few what I call "weak tear ducts" through the meeting

 

I purposely have not used the young man's name here but if he or his parents want to they can add it to the comments section below.   GOD BLESS YOU ELDER  K.M.