What a great conference and of course we are thankful for all the talks on missionaries and missionary work. I noticed that instead of taking a few days for the conference talks to be available on line, most of them were available almost as soon as the session finished. Even the individual talks were available to read, hear or watch in less than a day.
Our grandson is serving in the Spain Malaga mission and he wrote in his letter that while the members watched the sessions in the chapel in Spanish, he watched in English on a computer.
I love elder Andersen’s quote because it reminded me that even when we are released we are missionaries. The only thing that really changes is that we no longer are called to serve in a specific mission. In D&C 50 the Lord reminds his priesthood holders unto what they were ordained. “To preach my gospel by the Spirit even the Comforter which was sent forth to teach the truth.”
The quote by sister Dalton also touched me. It reminds me that no matter where we are we are to be the light of the world. That we need to let our light so shine that everyone who meets us wants to know why we just seem different.
What you can do to support you missionary…
Send a letter each week…not just an e-mail but a real, in an envelope letter. I can not tell really tell you how hungry missionaries are for letters and packages from home. I think the first thing most missionaries ask when they come into the office is if they have any mail. They are so excited when they get one and are somewhat disappointed when they do not. I have heard some missionaries say with a touch of sadness in their voice that they never get any mail.
Speaking of Mail.…
I would remind you again that unless there is some really urgent reason do not send packages via FedEx or UPS. Anything sent by US Mail can immediately be forwarded to their apartments or houses. Any other package must be hand delivered so that means it will sit around the office until either some one is going to the area or there is a meeting where it can be picked up. Because we know how important it is to the missionary, we of course try to get it out as fast as we can. But usually that means within a couple of weeks after it arrives overnight to the office.
Support Your Local Missionaries…and I do not mean just feed them!
By all means feed your local missionaries as often as you can. But try to be sure that you have invited a non-LDS or less active to share it.
If parents want to really support their missionary sons and daughters they will be the best member missionaries they can be. They will make themselves available to go out with the missionaries and be the right member present that means so much in the conversion process. President Hinckley pointed out that each new convert needs a friend…you can be that friend even before a person or family is baptized. Great missionary parents always have a pass along card with them and seek the Lords help in finding that person He has prepared to receive it. I can promise you that any day you start by asking the Lord to give you a chance to share the gospel or give away a card, he will put someone in your path. But of course we then have to be looking for that opportunity. I can not tell you the number of times I remembered at the end of the day a missed missionary opportunity that was right before me and although I prayed for just that opportunity, I was so caught up in the world that I missed it.
You know how much you love reading about your missionary’s spiritual experiences. Imagine how it will lift your missionary when you write about your missionary experiences for the week! When you tell them you had the missionaries for dinner and they met a missionary contact, how you gave out a pass along card or went out with the missionaries to help teach a lesson, I can guarantee that it will lift them more than almost anything else you could write.
OK enough preaching to the choir…When Will We Report Out Mission?
A number of you have asked about when we will be giving our mission report. Since we have a granddaughter being sealed on May 21, we would like to report  on May 19 but of course it is up to our bishop to decide if that will work. As soon as we know for sure we will post it here and on Facebook. We would love to meet the parents of the great missionaries we have served with and have the opportunity to get to know them.