Christ-like Love and Effective Missionary Work

Mission Letter
May 6, 2012

I have been thinking about the importance of the two great commandments, to love God and to love our neighbor, for quite some time because Jesus said all the law and all the prophets hang on these two commandments. In Elder Koelliker’s message in conference he told this story:

Two young missionaries knocked on a door, hoping to find someone to receive their message. The door opened, and a rather large man greeted them in a less-than-friendly voice: “I thought I told you not to knock on my door again. I warned you before that if you ever came back, it would not be a pleasant experience. Now leave me alone.” He quickly closed the door.

As the elders walked away, the older, more experienced missionary put his arm on the younger missionary’s shoulder to comfort and encourage him. Unknown to them, the man watched them through the window to be sure they understood his message. He fully expected to see them laugh and make light of his curt response to their attempted visit. However, as he witnessed the expression of kindness between the two missionaries, his heart was instantly softened. He reopened the door and asked the missionaries to come back and share their message with him.

Elder Koelliker said when we actually live the gospel in the pattern taught by the Lord Jesus Christ, our ability to help others increases. This principle of having love one to another and developing our ability to be Christ centered in how we think, speak, and act is fundamental in becoming disciples of Christ and teachers of His gospel.

I see the connection between having Christ-like love and being effective here in my mission so clearly. What is it that makes some people such powerful influences for good? I think it is directly related to how they have internalized this principle of charity. I see it in the good people around me.
For instance, we have two young elders in our office who are the assistants to the mission president, Elder Clancy and Elder Lyon. Their cubicle is just over the wall from my desk area, so I hear them interact with each other and the stream of elders who come to them daily for various reasons. You would love these young men! I do. They are unfailing kind and sincerely desire to help each elder grow and have a happy, successful mission experience. I don’t know how they could be better than they are at their responsibilities.
   
Another example is our mission president. This week President Peterson called me into his office to talk to me about working less. He and his wife want to lighten my load. He took back two responsibilities that were given to me by staff members as they left the mission to go home. He asked me to take a full hour lunch every day and to leave by 4:00 p.m. (That’s eight hours). He asked me to take a Temple and Research half day off every week. He also said not to take work home anymore. He asked me to try this for a month and then we will re-evaluate. He said if the work doesn’t get done, it doesn’t get done. I am to write notes about what I am able to cover and what I am not able to get to for our meeting at the end of a month. Then we can decide if an assistant secretary is needed. 

While I think it was Sister Peterson who brought my long hours to his attention, it was President Peterson and his counselors who discussed it and came up with this plan. He said they wanted me to have a good mission experience. They aren’t just trying to make their own missions look good to others by wringing as much out of the missionaries as they can. They really love everyone and want to do what the Lord would have them do in every situation.

I can learn so much here from the lives of others around me. I get as much inspiration there as I do from the things that are delivered from the pulpit….which are also very inspiring.

Chrysta and Jonny are here! Time to enjoy the moment.