The scriptures, both old and new, speak to the innermost
yearnings within us. They talk of the search for God and how one comes to learn
spiritual truths.[1] They give comfort to those who mourn and are
in need of solace.[2] They provide hope of peace in this world and
peace in the world to come.[3] They establish a blueprint for how to conduct
one’s life. They address the seemingly unanswerable
questions that many cannot help but asking themselves and that are at the core
of our human experience: what is the
purpose of this life; is there life after death; is there a God in the heavens
and, if so, is He mindful of men.[4] They talk of man’s relationship to God--how
does one approach God and does He answer prayers and petitions.[5] Missionaries, like all others, look to the
scriptures for guidance to answer, or at least to find comfort about, these and
other similar soul searching questions.
As Carole and I have worked together, I have identified a
number of key scriptural themes that give context to what we are doing here in
Malawi. Let me share a few of these
themes, knowing full well how easy it would be to replace and/or supplement
these themes with others from the scriptures.
A. What
Should We Do?
Not surprisingly, one of the initial questions I had was
“what should we do” when we got to Malawi—how would we work with the people and
what lessons would we try to impart. What
should we focus on, knowing one can’t do everything? In this respect, I was curious as to how much
guidance we would receive from Church leaders.
Would we receive specific and detailed instructions or be left largely
on our own to figure out how best to serve.
Now eight months into my mission, I have a better sense on how to answer
this question, at least for myself, partly informed by a scripture I read
before leaving Seattle, and partly informed by the scriptures I have since
read.
Shortly before we left for Malawi, I came across what is an
intriguing exchange, occurring sometime prior to his death, between Christ and
his disciples, an account with which I was partially familiar but not
wholly. Christ told his disciples that
they should not be troubled, even though He would shortly leave them. He was going to prepare a place for them in
His Father’s house—for in that place there were many mansions. This is the part of the story I remembered
from before. He then said: “And whither I go ye know, and the way ye
know.” John 14:4. Thomas, puzzled by what the Savior said,
answered, saying “Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the
way?” John 14:5. This latter part of the account I cannot
remember reading before, or if I did, paying it the least attention. But now I recognized that Thomas’ feelings
were really in line with my own thoughts.
How would Carole and I know what to do—how could we know the way? Would the Church provide us with la list of
recommended activities or would we be expected to study the scriptures,
handbooks, general conference talks, and other Church materials to come up with
our own syllabus. On the one hand, we
know the Church can, and does on occasion, provide quite detailed guidance,
evidenced by “Preach My Gospel,” the basic handbook of instructions for modern
day missionaries, and the two Handbooks of Instructions. On the other hand, the principle of
self-reliance, thinking for ourselves and acting upon our own plans, is firmly entrenched
within the Mormon psychology.[6]
With time I have come to discover that Christ’s answer to
Thomas is actually a good template for Carole and myself. Christ answered Thomas, saying “I am the way,
the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” John
14:6. As the scripture indicates there
are really two keys: first, the Savior’s
life is the consummate example—showing us the path we should follow if we are
to bring others to Christ or, for that matter, are to bring ourselves back to
our Heavenly Father; and second, it is only through the Savior that men can be
saved. These keys alone provide
sufficient guidance. In one sense, the greatest
challenge is not in figuring out what to do, but it is in doing it. As a companion thought, it is also about learning
to seek and rely upon the Spirit to guide our activities, something easy to
say, but much harder to do. For me, it
is the difference between trying to do good and being inspired in doing good.[7]
Second, I have learned that this question—“what should we
do”—is amply addressed in the scriptures, particularly in those given in the
latter days. For there is one way in
which scriptures speak to one serving a mission that is quite unique--they
provide historical context for what the missionary is doing, because the
scriptures are replete with specific guidance for those called to be on the
Lord’s errand. For example, virtually
all of Chapter 10 of Matthew applies to anyone being asked to serve on a
mission. Indeed, the last three verses
of Matthew are directed to those commissioned to carry the news of the gospel
to the world. “And Jesus came and spake
unto them, saying. All power is given
unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye
therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and
of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.
Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you:
and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” Matt: 28:18-20.
It is for this same reason that many of the scriptures of
the Doctrine and Covenants (“D&C”) are so compelling, containing as they do
instructions given to various missionaries (elders) who were ordained to go
forth in the last days carrying the restoration’s message of hope and peace. Missionaries
when they read the D&C are constantly finding scriptures applicable to
themselves. This is true of many
passages in the first section of the D&C, several of which are cited
below. “And the voice of warning shall
be unto all people, by the mouths of my disciples, whom I have chosen in these
last days. And they shall go forth and
one shall stay them, for I the Lord have commanded them.” D&C 1: 4-5. “The weak things of the world shall come
forth and break down the mighty and strong ones, that man should not counsel
his fellow man, neither trust in the arm of the flesh.” D&C 1: 19
“And also those to whom these commandments were given, might have power
to lay the foundation of this church, and to bring it forth out of obscurity
and out of darkness, the only true and living church upon the face of the whole
earth, with which I, the Lord, am well pleased, speaking unto the church
collectively and individually.” D&C
1: 30. “What I the Lord have spoken, I
have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and though the heavens and the earth pass
away, my word shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled, whether by mine
own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same.” D&C 1: 38.
Virtually every section in the D&C can be analyzed in
the same way—pulling out scripture after scripture directly applicable to those
doing missionary work, then teasing out of them how they apply to the everyday
life of the modern missionary. In many
respects the D&C is an early handbook of instructions for latter-day
missionaries. It includes specific
instructions for missionaries, speaks to their historic, and monumental, role
in bringing forth the restored gospel in the last days, contains the messages
the missionaries are to share, and reaffirms that it is the Lord’s work to be
accomplished in the Lord’s way and at the Lord’s time. See D&C 64: 28-34.
[1]
“The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable
works, there is none that doeth good.
The Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men to see if
there were any that did understand, and seek God. They are all gone aside, they are all
together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one. Have all
the workers of inquiry no knowledge? Who
eat up my people as they eat bread, and call not upon the Lord.” Psalms 14: 1-4. See, e.g., Isa: 59; John 7: 17; D&C
50:24.
[2]
See, e.g., Isa: 61: 1-2; Matt: 5: 4.
[3]
“But learn that he who doeth the works of righteousness shall receive his
reward, even peace in this world, and eternal life in the world to come.” D&C 59: 23.
[4]
“When I consider the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou
hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him? And the son of man,
that thou visitest him? For thou hast
made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and
honour. Thou madest him to have dominion
over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet.” Psalms 8: 3-6.
[5]
See, e.g., Matt. 21: 22; John 14: 13; D&C 19: 38.
[6]
See, e.g., D&C 56: 26-27. “For
behold, it is not meet that I should command in all things; for he that is
compelled in all things, the same is a slothful and not a wise servant;
wherefore he receiveth no reward. Verily
I say, men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of
their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness. For the power is in them, wherein they are
agents unto themselves. And inasmuch as
men do good they shall in nowise lose their reward.”
[7] See
the discussion below under “XI. Have We Done
Any Good?—M. Why Is It So Hard.”
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