Taking their Gifts Home

  As we sat and chatted with the last set of departing missionaries, there was some discussion about ties. A good, namebrand tie may hold high value to a missionary here. Frequently, near border towns, missionaries are able to purchase massive bales of ties for an unbelievably low price. They then trade and swindle each other out of the "good" ones. Many ties are often taken home as gifts.

  I am reminded of a talk given by President Hinkley about gifts to bring home from the mission field. Along with the ties, I have seen these gifts go home with our missionaries:

1. A knowledge of and love for God our Eternal Father and His Beloved Son, the Lord Jesus Christ

John 17:3- "And this is life eternal, that they may know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent."

2. A knowledge of and love for the scriptures, the word of the Lord

"As a missionary, I read each evening before going to bed a few chapters of the Book of Mormon, and there came into my heart a conviction which has never left: that this is the word of God, restored to the earth by the power of the Almighty, translated by the gift and power of God...I thank the Lord for the testimony which I have of the truth of the word of God as found in these sacred revealed books..."

3. An increased love for parents

"Boys who have been careless and indifferent stand on their feet and with tears in their eyes thank the Lord for their fathers and their mothers. In this day what a salutary and wonderful thing it is to hear a strong young man stand up and speak with great feeling concerning his father and his mother, saying things he would never have said before in all of his life."

4. A  love for the people among whom they labor

"There is something wrong if a missionary doesn't come back with a great love for the people among whom he labored."

5. An appreciation for hard work (Yes... I think they really get this point!)

"...There is no substitute for work, for getting up in the morning and getting at it and staying with it to get the job done."

6. The assurance that the inspiration of the Holy Spirit is available to each of us when we live for it (I hope that they never forget this one!)

D&C 121:26- "God shall give unto you knowledge by his Holy Spirit, yea, by the unspeakable gift of the Holy Ghost..."

7. An understanding of the importance of teamwork

2 Corinthians 13:1- "...In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established."

8. The value of personal virtue

D&C 121:45- "...and let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God..."

9. The faith to act

    1 Nephi 3:7- "...I will go and do the things that the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they  may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them."

10. The humility to pray

     "...no matter how good a man is, he not good enough, no matter how wise he is, he is not wise enough, no matter how strong he is, he is not strong enough for all of the things which he will face in life...there is a source of power to which he can go with the assurance that he will be listened to and that there will be a response."

Gordon B. Hinckley, "The Message: Gifts to Bring Home from the Mission Field," New Era, Mar 2007



Elder Kohler: Respected among missionaries!



(Yes... the A.P.'s taking the picture made us laugh!)

Elder Cruz



Elder Wetherell



Elder Daniels



Elder Shular



Elder Buhler

Elder Reynolds

Hermana Farr