Hi Everyone!
The mission meeting...with
Elder and Sister Holland and Elder Hallstrom...let's see if I
know how to begin...
I hope this letter
doesn't come across prideful or boastful in any way, even though I do have
great pride in this mission and all of the hard work everyone here puts
in. The reason I am sharing this much is because this was a time that has
changed not only my mission, but my life. I hope to share some points that
may stand out and also influence those who are reading in some way.
I'm going to apologize
in advance because the mission meeting is going to take a while to tell
about--I've been dying to tell about it--it was amazing.
President Packard encouraged us for months to be spiritually prepared for that
day, and one thing is for sure--we all prepared. When the time
arrived, we were all seated in the chapel, reading and praying 40-60 minutes
early. We also had a strings quartet and piano playing prelude
arrangements. The moment President and Sister Packard, Elder Hallstrom,
and Sister and Elder Holland entered, we all stood, as I couldn't help but feel
the immense amount of love coming from them. I couldn't believe Elder
Holland was right there! I found myself among many other missionaries shed
tears of gratitude and love for all that they do. Row by row, we went up to
give Elder and Sister Holland and Elder Hallstrom firm handshakes.
The moment flew by, as
I couldn't help but shed a few tears and be dazed, wondering how it was all
happening. They gave friendly hello's and welcoming smiles as they locked eyes
as Elder Holland later said, "Interviewed us with a handshake." Elder
Hallstrom observed the name on my tag and he made sure he knew my name. I
observed that he did that for every missionary. It was so cool. :)
The meeting began as
President Packard conducted. The opening musical number by the string
quartet and piano was (Great Grandpa Derrick's favorite)--Oh
Divine Redeemer. The spirit felt so pure. It was powerful. It was
breathtaking.
Elder Hallstrom began.
He said the Packards--out of the 23 (or so) missions he is over, are as good as
it gets. We all felt so much love for the Packards as weren't surprised to hear
him say that. He and Sister Holland gave sweet talks about their love for
us, the work of salvation, and how we are qualified as full time missionaries
as we love Heavenly Father, the Savior, ourselves and those we serve with
all of our hearts. When Elder Holland's turn came to speak, he
began with how terrified he was to speak to us. He was filled with
emotion and told us that when he shakes our hand, he is interviewing us. He
said with tears coming down his face, with the exception of one or two (I
hope it's not me) that this mission "gets it." And then
he said, in all of his 25 years of being able to attend how many hundreds or
thousands of missionary meetings, shaking the hands of thousands of
missionaries, he had NEVER been to a better missionary meeting.
I think every heart in
that chapel almost stopped beating at that point. President Packard must have
been beaming.
Elder Holland took it
from there--speaking in great power and conviction. He spoke about how his
mission changed his life forever as he wants the same for ours forever
and ever. He then continued by quoting the
scripture "No man (or woman) having set his (or her) hand to the
plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God." He began to speak
in his calm, firm voice about how we must stay true and then he
exclaimed, "We need to you forever and ever!!" (Then pounded the
pulpit) "Don't you deny the power and majesty of your mission. I cannot
deal with that!! As we seek for these sheep, please tell me we
don't have to worry about the shepherds! It's a given--we have always counted
on the shepherds--and we have to count on you!" Elder Holland let out a
desperate plea for not one of us to ever walk away from the truth and what we
are teaching. He meant every word he said as he continued on the importance of
returned missionaries never going inactive, as he
"couldn't accommodate or manage it." Every hand in that chapel must
have been hurting from scribbling notes as we soaked in every word to remember
it for our lives.
A few other bullet
points I wrote down during the meeting: We are God's
investigators--everything we want for our people he wants for us. Forgive and
repent. Forgive and repent. Forgive and repent. God is easy to please and hard
to satisfy. Be persistent--be persistent without being obnoxious. Preach my
Gospel was born to convert the missionary. There are examples in the Savior's
life that demonstrate the process of going where the investigator is. In other
words, to figure out what can connect them from where their understanding lies
in their state of ignorance and apostasy, and lead it to
where it needs to be through a spiritual experience. Near the end of the
meeting, he emphasized Christ's words as many people judged
who could have their hearts turned to "lift up your
eyes" as "the fields are white, already to harvest" and however
effective we are as missionaries, we are not effective enough as we must always
strive to improve. By the end, Elder Holland reemphasized, "You are the
finest mission I have seen in years...ah, I wasn't going to say that because I
don't want your heads to get too big, but now I just blurted it out." This
means that more will be expected of us, not less. Again, lift up your eyes, and
be part of the solution and never part of the problem. Embrace and know the
gospel. Find the link that will take them from the world they've been given to find
the spiritual key that will touch their heart. No matter the question, the
spirit is the answer. This work is not easy, "because Salvation was not a
cheap experience" and how "the road to discipleship always goes
through Gathsemane...Discipleship is to walk where he walked, talk what he
talked, and to go through a little of what He did. We are not invited to
bleed--we are invited to hurt a little for the sins of this generation."
Elder Holland said much more on how our experiences don't compare to the Atonement's
amount, but that we walk a similar path the Savior did.
Elder Holland spoke
about how sometimes we are afraid to make large decisions or do things out of
our comfort zone, but sometimes we need to come to the edge, as the Lord
invites us to do so as He'll push us to fly. He said, "I came to the edge
and was able to fly...I challenge you, in the name of the Lord, to fly."
He left a beautiful apostolic blessing on all of us present right there and
then, closed by inviting us to "come to the edge. Allow Him to push. And
fly."
After Elder Holland
closed, we all sang "The Spirit of God" as we all shed tears. Even
Elder Holland appeared to be crying. It was powerful. It was emotional. I
felt more moved and motivated. The feeling of Celestial glory in that chapel
within its enclosed doors was unforgettable. Sister Harris and I couldn't help
but put our arms around each other, embracing this moment. Before I knew it,
the closing prayer was being said. Afterwards, when we all stood up when
Elder Holland did as he blew a kiss and waved us goodbye, we all
stood there. We couldn't help but feel the yearning desire for him to stay
as the Nephites felt when the Savior was about to leave them as "he cast
his eyes round about again on the multitude, and beheld they were in tears, and
did look steadfastly upon him as if they would ask him to tarry a little longer
with them" (3 Ne 18:5). Once Elder Holland left, the sacred feeling
remained there. Nobody sat. Everyone soaked in the powerful, Celestial feeling.
Minutes passed. Then more. (If there wasn't carpet) a pin could have been
heard if it dropped as everyone stood, pondered, and reminisced.
Slowly, President
Christensen from our mission presidency went up to the pulpit and said in his
meek and humble tone, "Thank you for coming spiritually
prepared. I don't know if President is coming back, but we will dismiss the
meeting, but if you'd like, you can write down the feelings you have and what
you are going to do." There were so many feelings and emotions I wanted to
record. I prepared in the best way I could for the meeting. During the meeting,
I couldn't help but feel such a love from Heavenly Father, as He is pleased
with what I have been doing, but to not give up in His work--to
keep going. Keep improving. I couldn't help but remember right then the
time I opened my call--hands trembling and the world seeming to spin as I read the
Massachusetts Boston Mission--as I knew without the shadow of a doubt I
needed to be here. It is a true blessing to be here at this time, surrounded by
other disciples of Christ with these experiences and blessings poured from
heaven. Sometimes I just need to remember to "come to the edge. Allow Him
to push, and fly."
For such a time is
this. As I could hardly breathe that afternoon while being engulfed
by overwhelming feeling of peace, power, and the Savior's
majesty, the quote came to mind "Life isn't measured by the number of
breaths we take, but the moments that take our breath away." How true that
is. :)
There
is seriously no greater work than this!
I love you all so
much. I know Heavenly Father is mindful of each and every one of you--your
needs, desires, concerns, and all.
As Elder Holland said,
"Come to the edge. Allow him to push, and fly."
More next week.
Sister Roy
P.S. I was reading
Elder Ballard's talk the other day about following up, so how is everyone's
Preach my Gospel study coming along? Any new insights or ideas?
Here are a few pictures from Zone Conference:
Here are a few pictures from Zone Conference:
The Restoration Display |
One of the Portable Visitors Center (PVC) Displays |
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