Today during Sacrament Meeting one of our speakers was a missionary who just returned on Thursday from serving two years in Germany (We have 5 missionaries from our ward in Germany right now, crazy eh?). I felt the Spirit so strongly as he spoke because he couldn't help but bear testimony of everything he talked about. I have never heard a newly returned missionary speak with such power and faith.
He didn't tell a single story from his mission. Instead he talked about how before his mission he was reading in the Book of Mormon and received a confirmation that it was true. Then he spoke about how we all need to have our own conversions and that these are a process, not necessarily a one time experience. (I love this thought and totally agree, though I'd never thought of it that way before!)
He challenged everyone to find out for ourselves that Jesus is the Christ. (I'm so glad I know this!)
He said, "The Lord never left my side during my whole mission."
More of his thoughts...
--We should have patience, persist and lead by example.
--We have a choice to let the truth in our hearts or not, that it's a process, and that it's so sad to see people refuse to let that truth in.
--Testimony comes from God through the Holy Ghost.
--We need to nourish our testimonies.
--Having faith in Jesus Christ is the key.
I really loved it when he said, "I don't know what I'd have been without my mission...it is vital." He was so incredibly sincere when he said this, it wasn't just something to say. He also said that anyone thinking about going on a mission should go, that they would never regret it.
I was so struck as he spoke, because he is influencing so many people. He is one of the older brothers in a family of 10 kids, so his righteous example and influence is directly impacting his siblings on a daily basis. His next younger brother is leaving in July for a mission in London, and then they will have endless missionaries for the next 10 years if everyone stays strong. It's an inspiring thing to witness, and could easily have gone the other way if he hadn't chosen to go.
He closed his talk by bearing his testimony in German, and again was so powerful that I truly felt the Spirit. This doesn't usually happen to me when I hear a testimony in another language, and I'm always disappointed by that, but he was powerful. After church Landon even said, "His testimony in German, it got me."
I will definitely be writing him a note this week.
**Thoughts??**
Comment Window Tidbit: I love feeling so spiritually uplifted like I do today!
12 comments:
I love days and meetings like that.
It's so true about our conversions being a process, I've thought about that often. And you're right that things could have gone completely differently in his family if he hadn't set the example by going on a mission!
That Landon. He's probably going to be the same kind of missionary!
superb!
This sounds like it was a fantastic talk to listen to. I would have loved it in our ward. He is definitely a great example to all of those brothers and sisters.
I have witnessed the power of these young men-
Righteous Young men of this generation - they are absolutely amazing.
I am so glad you shared this experience.
Great meeting! A couple from our ward are serving as mission president in Germany...I wonder if any of your missionaries are in their mission?
I love that Landon shared that with you! Cute.
What a great Sunday!
We don't even have five missionaries serving let alone in one foreign country!! Crazy.
I love when I have the doubtless moments in the process and that I can keep having them as I try to listen to the Spirit.
I LOVE that you're thinking to write him a note. And I know that with you it isn't a mere thought; there will be following through with the intention!
wow, what a great experience...I love that Landon felt the spirit through his German testimony. Germany is a really TOUGH mission....5 missionaries in Germany from your WARD!? That is crazy! I love seeing the fire and determination in missionaries that come home!
I love talks like that. Youth and young adults can definitely be such an influence for good!
I went to Berlin Germany on my mission!
Amazing place. AMAZing food. Pretty amazing people.
Cool talk! Thank you for sharing it with us.
Love, Bree
That's the route to take for missionary talks. It's not about where you went, it's about the conversion process to the gospel of Jesus Christ. That is a more powerful message than anecdotal stories.
I love missionary talks that don't recount missionary stories and focus instead on the personal, spiritual experience. What a great talk!
Post a Comment