Texas servin' Trayners: Oh Joy!

"Joy is not in things. It is in us."

-Benjamin Franklin

If you had one wish, and if that one wish could be granted, what would it be?

Some people may reply to the question with one of these answers:

To own a a large and beautiful home
To be in possession of the latest electronic gadget
To own the newest, most impressive vehicle

Sooner or later, most people become aware, however, that the material things of this world are not the most worthwhile. They are transitory; they are soon gone. Material things do not bring complete satisfaction in life.

Spiritual things are the most worthwhile. They are eternal. Spiritual things do bring us satisfaction, joy and happiness.

The prophet Nephi taught that "men are that they might have joy" (2 Nephi 2:25). Missionaries teach that our Heavenly Father wants His children to have joy while on this earth- an abundance of joy. He wants us to have a happy life. We teach how to find that joy... through faith, repentance, keeping the commandments, service, love, creating strong family ties, developing Christ-like characteristics, etc. We also know that as we continue to pursue these spiritual things until the end of our lives that we will continue to have the joy that is promised us.

I experience joy in this assignment that has been given to both me and my husband! My faith has grown as I have served. My prayer is that the missionaries under our care will experience the joy, satisfaction, and happiness that are found in losing themselves while they serve others. As we focus on the positive aspects of what is happening around us, we find the joy that awaits us.

Here are assorted pictures of missionaries in the work that brings the greatest joy of all:

"And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father!" -Doctrine and Covenants 18:15

Narrators in a skit about the Restoration

Skit about the Restoration (Noah is standing on the chair while being "stoned" by wads of paper)

At a performance of BYU's International Folk Dancers in Laredo to benefit Boy Scouting,
all Eagle Scouts were asked to come up... look at all the missionaries!