Online Member Missionaries

In an ever-changing world the work of the Lord has changed with it. Of course, the message has not changed, but the methods of delivering have become more effective. Being more effective is imperative if the prophesy that Joseph Smith received in 1833, foretelling a day when “every man shall hear the fulness of the gospel in his own tongue, and in his own language” (D&C 90:11), is to come true. The Lord has provided a way for this to happen, but as always, He uses us to implement his plan, to be missionaries and use the Internet to spread the gospel.

            I only recently realized that this is a calling to everyone. The January after I got home from my mission, the first semester back in school, I received a calling to be a “ward online missionary”. I had thought it as one of those ‘filler’ callings, the ones they give to you when they had filled up all the others. Until today, I had believed that, until I read the talk “Sharing the Gospel Using the Internet” by Elder M. Russell Ballard of the twelve apostles. It made me realize that as an awkward return missionary my first step to fulfilling this calling was to be aware and in-tune with the changes that had happened while I was on my mission.

            I remember the first time on Facebook after my mission, struggling to simply update my profile picture. After adapting to the changes I started posting pictures, posts and updates about my life, as many people do today using their words and photos to share funny moments or topics of interest. In the past the printing press was where these ideas were born and then shared, and still are. Yet Elder Ballard points out that today our modern printing press is the Internet and not as strictly controlled of who is seen and heard. As we learn what modes of sharing are around us, we have the power of being part of what is seen in the world.

            With that power there is responsibility, like all good things there is opposition. Elder Ballard says, “The Internet can be used to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ and can just as easily be used to market the filth and sleaze of pornography.” We have the ability to create a positive vibe and defend our beliefs on social media.

            The responsibility of an online missionary is more than idly watching others and ‘liking’ religious posts. By way of an apostle we are commanded to participate in these conversations about the church. Elder Ballard uses the word “encouraged”, because he knows that in every commandment there are blessings waiting for us on the other side. There are just too many people in the world with questions for the church officials and full time missionaries to answer them all. The Lord needs us to be searching for ways to preach the gospel.

            There are many ways that we can share the gospel via Internet: Facebook, other social media, blogs, and communication applications. One of the ways I have learned to continue to share the gospel using the Internet is through Skype, Facebook, and other communication devices to continue talking to recent converts in Brazil. I believe it is true that every people will know the truth in their own tongue, but we are the keys to the lock of spreading truth. There are no ‘filler’ callings, all direct us to share the gospel and touch lives in one way or another. Each one of us have a different unique way that we can use our talents to spread the gospel, and the Internet has made it even more possible to fulfill our responsibilities as member missionaries.

What's your love language?

I think a lot of the time we think about how we show people we care. Though, often times, those people won't recognize those acts as love. Not because they don't appreciate it, but I've realized that each one of us is different in how we receive love. In my religion class we're doing this project and trying to show love the way people feel it and believe it. It's a fun test to see how you feel love, and realize that sometimes we show love in the way we want to receive it- which isn't a bad thing, but... Our goal is to make other feel appreciated in their unique way.

Go here:

http://www.5lovelanguages.com/profile/

God knows our love languages. I believe He puts people in our paths to help us feel his love. He answers our prayers similarly, in a way that we hear His answer and feel His love through that answer. I'm so grateful for all the tools that God has given us today to feel his love- like prayer, the scriptures, and living prophets to help guide us in the ever changing world. It's a wonderful time to live in!

Puppy and Hubby

I have the best husband ever. He helped me in taking some photos of our new puppy Juneau! Here's the result!

Return Missionaries: What do you wish you had known?

I've been slowly working on a book for returned missionaries. Yet, I know every experience is different- so if you could help me, let me know what you wish you had known or what help you wish you had had in returning from your mission. (:

Thank you!

Returned Missionaries: What do you wish you had known when you returned from your mission?

Please click other and respond. (:

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don't let the BLUES get you down

We have all been a little blue sometime in our lives, especially on rainy days- metaphorically and literally. 

On one rainy day in particular I saw my husband looking through our window. “I like watching the rain through a window inside,” he said. I smiled, of course he does, who really enjoys being rained on?

However, when my husband said this, other memories came to mind. You see- I live in Portland, Oregon, where it rains more than 130 days of the year. Growing up here I learned to only straighten or curl my hair with low expectations of it actually staying nice. This is because when it rained, if anything I only had a hoody to cover me. I have always considered rain to be Oregon’s sun.

One memory in particular came to mind. It was pouring outside, very different from the constant drizzle that Portland is known for.  My mom was excited and said we should go run out in the rain. I remember we were apprehensive about the idea of getting wet, especially thinking about having to come back in, possibly take a shower and get a change of clothes. In that moment there were a lot of, “I’ll do it if you do it,” until two of my other siblings and I were running toward the street that had turned into a stream, and what felt like a turbo sprinkling system falling from the sky. These are the feelings I remember about running or if you will, dancing in the rain.

“Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass, it’s learning to dance in the rain.” I don’t know who said it first, but if the storm is our trials, then I know well what it’s like to feel like the storm will never pass.  My first boyfriend cheated on me, my best friend died from an unidentified cancer and my dog died shortly after; this all happened within a three-year period.  At age 21 I chose to go on a mission, where I felt like I’d learned to dance in the rain until I came home and fell into a depression.

Two things have occurred to me recently. One, I can’t ignore the tender mercies of the Lord in my life today. I was married in the temple four months ago; I am living 15 minutes away from my hometown, with a brand new puppy. We have been told that “after much tribulation…. cometh the blessing.” (D&C 103:12) and I’ve seen this in my life. There was something similar to this that I learned on my mission in São Paulo, Brazil. When a day went bad, no one would talk to us and everything canceled, there was one thing I could count on, that I could smile and tell my companion, “there’s a miracle waiting for us around the corner.” I knew the adversary would do all in his power to stop the miracle, but with hope we have the power to be God’s hands here on earth.

The other thought I had reminded me of the words of my husband looking out the window. “I like watching the rain through a window inside.” Not only must we have the hope to wait through the rain, but also we need to step inside and get another perspective of our lives. This means preparing for the attacks on our lives and understanding why the rain falls like it does and knowing where lightening will strike next. Bednar continues, “…in my latest reading of the Book of Mormon I paid particular attention to the ways the Nephites prepared for their battles against the Lamanites. I noted that the people of Nephi “were aware of the intent of [their enemy], and therefore they did prepare to meet them” (Alma 2:12; italics added). As I read and studied, I learned that understanding the intent of an enemy is a key prerequisite to effective preparation. We likewise should consider the intent of our enemy in this latter-day war.”

The storms will always come, but I’ve learned that the Lord has given us the tools to be prepared to face the storms. We dance with hope, an umbrella of protection and a window to clearly see and be prepared for the rain that will fall in our lives.