I got to talk (well Skype) with Jed on Christmas. The whole family did ... he even 'face-timed' via Skype with his uncle Ryan and his family. He looked great and it was nice for everyone to be able to see him again. I also was impressed with the family in England that let not just him, but it looked like his whole district come and talk one by one with their families back home.
He told us that his next transfer (this past week) he would not be sending an email as he would not have any time. He was going back into London - his trainer had completed his missionary service and going home. Jed would be getting a new companion.
Yesterday in church it was 'fast and testimony' day ... meaning that we as members fast for two or three meals (24 hrs) - usually asking the Lord to help someone that is in need - then while still fasting we attend church and share our feelings about the gospel (our testimonies). I mention this because I want to post the entirety of Jed's email and wanted to give a little background. In fact, my wife's email to Jed where she is explaining this to him is really the best way to explain ... so here is what she said to Jed: " All the testimonies were good today. Sam bore his testimony about prayer and how it really works. He did a good job ... He is a thinker. I likes Sister Wadley's comments too. She spoke about their lesson in Young Womens from the week before that was taught by Sister Duclos's son who just returned from his mission... He talked about OTM which really is the Oklahoma Tulsa Mission where he served but the motto was Open Thy Mouth. He said Heavenly Father is always willing to help us say the right things if we are willing to open our mouths. On a mission you have the special opportunity to be called to do that. You have power given to you to testify of the truthfulness of the gospel and plant seeds and bring others to Christ. Heavenly Father wants to help because he truly loves each of his children. And the great thing about it is that not only is the person listening blessed but so are we. The gospel is true! I need to work on not being fearful or afraid and OTM!! " The only other background is that we sent him a package ... with a lot of green things in it (his "greenie package". It cost us a fortune to send ... and worried that it also cost him (we were told that packages require duties to be paid upon receipt).
Anyway ... Jed's letter:
"Hello, Murri Family (and everyone else that ends up reading this email)!
That's funny, in the ELM (England London Mission), we call it OYM (Open Your Mouth)! It's amazing how similar preaching the Gospel is around the world! Yes, OTM though! Or OYM, or whatever you want to call it. You know how that is because you served a mission, but it's AMAZING when missionaries are able to receive referrals from members, because then they can just go straight to teaching them the Gospel. OYM-ing is good!
I'm sorry that I didn't get to really email you last week, we were sending Elder Rodriguez home, so I was in Kensington all day. He's excited to be home though. I have a new companion!! His name is Elder Toledo, and he's from Chile! (I feel as though the Lord is trying to tell me something, because I haven't had an English companion yet. I think that I should learn Spanish already.) Just a little bit about him: He's absolutely fantastic. It was really cool to meet him, because we have a lot of the same interests, we listened to the same music at home, and he even lived in Provo for a couple of months before he went on his mission! He's a really, really cool Elder (he's also the new District Leader), and I'm glad that I get to spend this time with him.
On another note, I feel more confident this transfer. He's completely new to London, so I've had to lead us everywhere, which I was a little bit worried about, but the Lord has led me the past week, and for that, I'm very grateful. I'm improving. Not as fast as I would like, but I know that the Lord knows what's best for me. My testimony about how Heavenly Father gives us knowledge "line upon line, precept upon precept" has grown deeper on my mission. I want to be the kind of missionary that Ammon was, or Aaron, or Alma, or Captain Moroni. That's a desire of my heart. You hear all of these stories in the Book of Mormon of Prophets of God, baptizing thousands of people, because they taught people and were so in-tune with the Spirit, that the people that heard them speak were unable to deny the truth of the Gospel. I want that. I want to have that power. What is less brought up, however, is the effort that those prophets put in to the work of the Lord. They didn't all of a sudden have a burning testimony of the Atonement -- they didn't all of a sudden have a knowledge of what was in the Scriptures, they worked for it, and the Lord gave them the knowledge that He knew that they could understand and internalize at that time. I know that it's the same process with us. I have to "seek to obtain [the] word [of God]" before I can "declare [His] word". Your testimony is like a muscle. Go to the gym. Work it out. Then use that muscle to help other people. That's what missionary work is.
I did get the box, thank you! I have to ask though, why did you send me turkey jerkey? It would have been ok to tape a piece of green paper or something to the outside of a regular jerkey package.. ;) Just kidding, it was amazing though, thank you. And thank you for sending all of the other things that you did. Tell everyone, especially Zach, thank you for the cards that they sent. They really do make my day. They made my year, for goodness' sake. And no, I didn't have to pay for it. But you guys did, so you don't have to send me any more big ones. That's a lot of money! Thank you!
The week has been good. I'm grateful to be a missionary! You figure yourself out in the field. I'm learning how to be better every day. I'm also grateful for the Sacrament. I'm grateful that I can repent and change. What a wonderful thing! I love you guys! Have a fantastic week! Happy New Year!
Cheerio,
Elder Murri"
It is so perfect that Jed makes the analogy of our testimony being like a muscle ... "Go to the gym.", he says, " Work it out. Then use that muscle to help other people." Good counsel.
He told us that his next transfer (this past week) he would not be sending an email as he would not have any time. He was going back into London - his trainer had completed his missionary service and going home. Jed would be getting a new companion.
Yesterday in church it was 'fast and testimony' day ... meaning that we as members fast for two or three meals (24 hrs) - usually asking the Lord to help someone that is in need - then while still fasting we attend church and share our feelings about the gospel (our testimonies). I mention this because I want to post the entirety of Jed's email and wanted to give a little background. In fact, my wife's email to Jed where she is explaining this to him is really the best way to explain ... so here is what she said to Jed: " All the testimonies were good today. Sam bore his testimony about prayer and how it really works. He did a good job ... He is a thinker. I likes Sister Wadley's comments too. She spoke about their lesson in Young Womens from the week before that was taught by Sister Duclos's son who just returned from his mission... He talked about OTM which really is the Oklahoma Tulsa Mission where he served but the motto was Open Thy Mouth. He said Heavenly Father is always willing to help us say the right things if we are willing to open our mouths. On a mission you have the special opportunity to be called to do that. You have power given to you to testify of the truthfulness of the gospel and plant seeds and bring others to Christ. Heavenly Father wants to help because he truly loves each of his children. And the great thing about it is that not only is the person listening blessed but so are we. The gospel is true! I need to work on not being fearful or afraid and OTM!! " The only other background is that we sent him a package ... with a lot of green things in it (his "greenie package". It cost us a fortune to send ... and worried that it also cost him (we were told that packages require duties to be paid upon receipt).
Anyway ... Jed's letter:
"Hello, Murri Family (and everyone else that ends up reading this email)!
That's funny, in the ELM (England London Mission), we call it OYM (Open Your Mouth)! It's amazing how similar preaching the Gospel is around the world! Yes, OTM though! Or OYM, or whatever you want to call it. You know how that is because you served a mission, but it's AMAZING when missionaries are able to receive referrals from members, because then they can just go straight to teaching them the Gospel. OYM-ing is good!
I'm sorry that I didn't get to really email you last week, we were sending Elder Rodriguez home, so I was in Kensington all day. He's excited to be home though. I have a new companion!! His name is Elder Toledo, and he's from Chile! (I feel as though the Lord is trying to tell me something, because I haven't had an English companion yet. I think that I should learn Spanish already.) Just a little bit about him: He's absolutely fantastic. It was really cool to meet him, because we have a lot of the same interests, we listened to the same music at home, and he even lived in Provo for a couple of months before he went on his mission! He's a really, really cool Elder (he's also the new District Leader), and I'm glad that I get to spend this time with him.
On another note, I feel more confident this transfer. He's completely new to London, so I've had to lead us everywhere, which I was a little bit worried about, but the Lord has led me the past week, and for that, I'm very grateful. I'm improving. Not as fast as I would like, but I know that the Lord knows what's best for me. My testimony about how Heavenly Father gives us knowledge "line upon line, precept upon precept" has grown deeper on my mission. I want to be the kind of missionary that Ammon was, or Aaron, or Alma, or Captain Moroni. That's a desire of my heart. You hear all of these stories in the Book of Mormon of Prophets of God, baptizing thousands of people, because they taught people and were so in-tune with the Spirit, that the people that heard them speak were unable to deny the truth of the Gospel. I want that. I want to have that power. What is less brought up, however, is the effort that those prophets put in to the work of the Lord. They didn't all of a sudden have a burning testimony of the Atonement -- they didn't all of a sudden have a knowledge of what was in the Scriptures, they worked for it, and the Lord gave them the knowledge that He knew that they could understand and internalize at that time. I know that it's the same process with us. I have to "seek to obtain [the] word [of God]" before I can "declare [His] word". Your testimony is like a muscle. Go to the gym. Work it out. Then use that muscle to help other people. That's what missionary work is.
I did get the box, thank you! I have to ask though, why did you send me turkey jerkey? It would have been ok to tape a piece of green paper or something to the outside of a regular jerkey package.. ;) Just kidding, it was amazing though, thank you. And thank you for sending all of the other things that you did. Tell everyone, especially Zach, thank you for the cards that they sent. They really do make my day. They made my year, for goodness' sake. And no, I didn't have to pay for it. But you guys did, so you don't have to send me any more big ones. That's a lot of money! Thank you!
The week has been good. I'm grateful to be a missionary! You figure yourself out in the field. I'm learning how to be better every day. I'm also grateful for the Sacrament. I'm grateful that I can repent and change. What a wonderful thing! I love you guys! Have a fantastic week! Happy New Year!
Cheerio,
Elder Murri"
It is so perfect that Jed makes the analogy of our testimony being like a muscle ... "Go to the gym.", he says, " Work it out. Then use that muscle to help other people." Good counsel.