Hi Family,
I must say, ‘I thoroughly enjoyed your emails this week.’ They gave a nice spiritual boost. I think I can use your experiences here in the zone. I also read Patrick’s last letter (his final letter home before he left his mission in Germany). It sounds like he served a good mission. I have similar thoughts to what you shared dad, about looking forward to the next two years. I can really see that my service as a "part" time missionary will prepare me for my service as a "full" time missionary the rest of my life. I have exhausted a lot of time today responding to an email from a Return Missionary who served way back in 1991 in two of my areas (this was the year before Landon was born). He was companions with Jean Pierre, and is coming back to this country in February. He was asking me about a lot of people. It’s a really small world eh? He found my Blog via Google, and I guess that is how he contacted me.
I’m sorry, but I don’t have time to write to you very much today. I've been here on the computer too long already. The zone is also here. I just want to let you know one thing. It might not make sense, but it does to me, and it revolves around the sacrifice dad spoke about. So read D&C 97:8-9 Verily I say unto you, all among them who know their hearts are honest, and are broken, and their spirits contrite, and are willing to observe their covenants by sacrifice—yea, every sacrifice which I, the Lord, shall command—they are accepted of me. For I, the Lord, will cause them to bring forth as a very fruitful tree which is planted in a goodly land, by a pure stream, that yieldeth much precious fruit.
I love you guys so much. Keep the faith.
I must say, ‘I thoroughly enjoyed your emails this week.’ They gave a nice spiritual boost. I think I can use your experiences here in the zone. I also read Patrick’s last letter (his final letter home before he left his mission in Germany). It sounds like he served a good mission. I have similar thoughts to what you shared dad, about looking forward to the next two years. I can really see that my service as a "part" time missionary will prepare me for my service as a "full" time missionary the rest of my life. I have exhausted a lot of time today responding to an email from a Return Missionary who served way back in 1991 in two of my areas (this was the year before Landon was born). He was companions with Jean Pierre, and is coming back to this country in February. He was asking me about a lot of people. It’s a really small world eh? He found my Blog via Google, and I guess that is how he contacted me.
I’m sorry, but I don’t have time to write to you very much today. I've been here on the computer too long already. The zone is also here. I just want to let you know one thing. It might not make sense, but it does to me, and it revolves around the sacrifice dad spoke about. So read D&C 97:8-9 Verily I say unto you, all among them who know their hearts are honest, and are broken, and their spirits contrite, and are willing to observe their covenants by sacrifice—yea, every sacrifice which I, the Lord, shall command—they are accepted of me. For I, the Lord, will cause them to bring forth as a very fruitful tree which is planted in a goodly land, by a pure stream, that yieldeth much precious fruit.
I love you guys so much. Keep the faith.
Elder Gold
Editor’s Note:
This week Landon had made several references to what his father had written, so below I’ve included an excerpt from his correspondence. In Steve’s letter he talks of submitting our lives to God’s will and the importance this sacrifice plays in directing our life’s path. So often I hear of faithful, and hard working individuals who give and give, yet never feel adequate in their efforts. I have also included a message passed on to Landon this day of learning what is acceptable to the Lord and what exactly it means to “be perfect.” The lesson touched me deeply and I shall include it in hopes that someone else reading it may find peace in understanding as I did.
Steve’s Correspondence:
I was reading a book this week and it quoted Neal A. Maxwell. I was impressed with the quote and wanted to share it with you:
“The submission of one’s will is really the only uniquely personal thing we have to place on God’s alter. The many other things we “give”… are actually the things he has already given or loaned to us. However, when you and I finally submit ourselves, by letting our individual wills be swallowed up in God’s will, then we are really giving something to Him! It is the only possession which is truly ours to give.”
Steve continues . . . I know it’s been a blessing for us to have you serving so faithfully. I love your letters – they inspire me to be better and to submit my will to God’s will as you have so selfishlessly done. I hope I was a good example for you while you were growing up – and now I can truly say that, “the student has become the master.” As these next few months pass and your time to return approaches – I hope you will look back and say, “These were the best two years of my life” and in the same breath say: “And now I’m embarking on two more years that will be even better.” The foundation you’ve built over these past two-years will steady your entire life and be such a huge blessing for your current family, your future family and all those who have the privilege to cross your path.
You have a short time left in Africa. Stay focused on the present moment, because the “present is a gift.” And your gift to your Father in Heaven is to submit your will to His.
Love,
Dadio
Continuation from Mom’s Letter:
Today’s lesson in Relief Society was really good. The lesson was centered around the scripture found in Matthew 5:48 "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." Man, and how the thought of perfection stirs up a hornet’s nest amongst the members. Sister Jacobson taught the lesson and I really can say that I don't believe a better job could have been done with the subject. There is such a hidden level of stress among many individuals to live up to standards that they put on themselves, thinking falsely that we must become perfect in all that we do. Well, I have a quote in my scriptures that helps with this concept of perfection stated by Howard W. Hunter: "We must know Christ better than we know him; we must remember him more often than we remember him; we must serve him more valiantly than we serve him. Than we will drink water springing up unto eternal life and will eat the bread of life . . . . What manner of men and women aught we to be? Even as he is." The key here is that we always strive to do and be better than we currently are. This does not mean that we are expected to be perfect, only that we are to continue in the direction and manner that has been laid out for us by Christ (e.g. Having faith in him, repenting, being baptized, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and 'Enduring to the End').
The next scripture that was shared was 3 Nephi 12:48 "Therefore I would that ye should be perfect even as I, or your Father who is in heaven is perfect." What is beautiful about this scripture is how the Lord did not describe himself as perfect anywhere in the scriptures until this point . . . after his resurrection. Ultimately, that is what we are to strive for, exaltation with a resurrected and perfect body.
This concept was then delved into a little deeper using a mathematical equation to bring the concept to understanding. She wrote on the board A + B + C + D + E + F = Exaltation/Perfection (Written with Exaltation being placed over Perfection). Without exaltation we cannot achieve perfection yet for perfection to take place we cannot achieve this without the Savior's grace upon our attempt to be as he is (falling very short because of our human nature). The A, B, C, D and so forth can be filled in with Service, Compassion, Obedience, Endowments, and so forth. When I was thinking of what to put importance on I thought about how at the end of our earth life, when we go to the bar of God, the Lord will judge us by our hearts that will be a reflection of the work we have done on ourselves through service and the love for others that we have emphasized in our lives. It will not matter what we have acquired (status, degrees, awards, etc) but how we have utilized things in life to better the lives of others.... an added benefit for us here and now comes from dedication to some of these things but they do not guarantee a life without hardships (just different challenges if we choose not to work hard to develop the gifts give us). So, back to the equation: Now if you parenthesize the equation like this and put a negative factor in front it changes everything...e.g. –X (A + B + C + D + E + F)=? The opposite of exaltation would be damnation, but instead let us just put 'Unhappiness.' So, What would -X represent? We discussed it in class and decided to use the idea of 'Comparison.' When we compare ourselves to others and continue to feel that we do not live up to our neighbors we can beat ourselves down and feel hopeless about our efforts. Sweet, dear Sister Bagley (she's got to be in her 80's) stated, "Molly Mormon is Dead." It's time to write her epitaph and not think we have to do and be all. Oh, such wisdom, Eh? (Footnote: Molly Mormon is a term used in our culture symbolizing the perfect women/mother/wife . . . and she really is non-existent. So why have so many compared themselves to this unattainable persona of perfection?)
Well, the end result to this lesson was myself, along with many other women who attended the same lesson, walking away with a richer and brighter outlook, not feeling so inferior in our efforts to live up to the requirements of the gospel. As long as we 'STRIVE' in the right direction, with our sights on the things the Savior wants us to focus on, we will be met with open arms in the end. I LOVE THAT!
Why did I share this with you today? Well, this idea of not living up to or being good enough, I believe does not just live in the minds of women. Quite frankly, I imagine it is a universal struggle. Maybe there are missionaries within your zone who need a bit of hope that their efforts ARE good enough as long as they are 'STRIVING' daily to move in the right direction. It's all about those baby steps.
I Love you son and LOVE that you continue to strive,
MOM . . . . XOXO . . . . .
This week Landon had made several references to what his father had written, so below I’ve included an excerpt from his correspondence. In Steve’s letter he talks of submitting our lives to God’s will and the importance this sacrifice plays in directing our life’s path. So often I hear of faithful, and hard working individuals who give and give, yet never feel adequate in their efforts. I have also included a message passed on to Landon this day of learning what is acceptable to the Lord and what exactly it means to “be perfect.” The lesson touched me deeply and I shall include it in hopes that someone else reading it may find peace in understanding as I did.
Steve’s Correspondence:
I was reading a book this week and it quoted Neal A. Maxwell. I was impressed with the quote and wanted to share it with you:
“The submission of one’s will is really the only uniquely personal thing we have to place on God’s alter. The many other things we “give”… are actually the things he has already given or loaned to us. However, when you and I finally submit ourselves, by letting our individual wills be swallowed up in God’s will, then we are really giving something to Him! It is the only possession which is truly ours to give.”
Steve continues . . . I know it’s been a blessing for us to have you serving so faithfully. I love your letters – they inspire me to be better and to submit my will to God’s will as you have so selfishlessly done. I hope I was a good example for you while you were growing up – and now I can truly say that, “the student has become the master.” As these next few months pass and your time to return approaches – I hope you will look back and say, “These were the best two years of my life” and in the same breath say: “And now I’m embarking on two more years that will be even better.” The foundation you’ve built over these past two-years will steady your entire life and be such a huge blessing for your current family, your future family and all those who have the privilege to cross your path.
You have a short time left in Africa. Stay focused on the present moment, because the “present is a gift.” And your gift to your Father in Heaven is to submit your will to His.
Love,
Dadio
Continuation from Mom’s Letter:
Today’s lesson in Relief Society was really good. The lesson was centered around the scripture found in Matthew 5:48 "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." Man, and how the thought of perfection stirs up a hornet’s nest amongst the members. Sister Jacobson taught the lesson and I really can say that I don't believe a better job could have been done with the subject. There is such a hidden level of stress among many individuals to live up to standards that they put on themselves, thinking falsely that we must become perfect in all that we do. Well, I have a quote in my scriptures that helps with this concept of perfection stated by Howard W. Hunter: "We must know Christ better than we know him; we must remember him more often than we remember him; we must serve him more valiantly than we serve him. Than we will drink water springing up unto eternal life and will eat the bread of life . . . . What manner of men and women aught we to be? Even as he is." The key here is that we always strive to do and be better than we currently are. This does not mean that we are expected to be perfect, only that we are to continue in the direction and manner that has been laid out for us by Christ (e.g. Having faith in him, repenting, being baptized, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and 'Enduring to the End').
The next scripture that was shared was 3 Nephi 12:48 "Therefore I would that ye should be perfect even as I, or your Father who is in heaven is perfect." What is beautiful about this scripture is how the Lord did not describe himself as perfect anywhere in the scriptures until this point . . . after his resurrection. Ultimately, that is what we are to strive for, exaltation with a resurrected and perfect body.
This concept was then delved into a little deeper using a mathematical equation to bring the concept to understanding. She wrote on the board A + B + C + D + E + F = Exaltation/Perfection (Written with Exaltation being placed over Perfection). Without exaltation we cannot achieve perfection yet for perfection to take place we cannot achieve this without the Savior's grace upon our attempt to be as he is (falling very short because of our human nature). The A, B, C, D and so forth can be filled in with Service, Compassion, Obedience, Endowments, and so forth. When I was thinking of what to put importance on I thought about how at the end of our earth life, when we go to the bar of God, the Lord will judge us by our hearts that will be a reflection of the work we have done on ourselves through service and the love for others that we have emphasized in our lives. It will not matter what we have acquired (status, degrees, awards, etc) but how we have utilized things in life to better the lives of others.... an added benefit for us here and now comes from dedication to some of these things but they do not guarantee a life without hardships (just different challenges if we choose not to work hard to develop the gifts give us). So, back to the equation: Now if you parenthesize the equation like this and put a negative factor in front it changes everything...e.g. –X (A + B + C + D + E + F)=? The opposite of exaltation would be damnation, but instead let us just put 'Unhappiness.' So, What would -X represent? We discussed it in class and decided to use the idea of 'Comparison.' When we compare ourselves to others and continue to feel that we do not live up to our neighbors we can beat ourselves down and feel hopeless about our efforts. Sweet, dear Sister Bagley (she's got to be in her 80's) stated, "Molly Mormon is Dead." It's time to write her epitaph and not think we have to do and be all. Oh, such wisdom, Eh? (Footnote: Molly Mormon is a term used in our culture symbolizing the perfect women/mother/wife . . . and she really is non-existent. So why have so many compared themselves to this unattainable persona of perfection?)
Well, the end result to this lesson was myself, along with many other women who attended the same lesson, walking away with a richer and brighter outlook, not feeling so inferior in our efforts to live up to the requirements of the gospel. As long as we 'STRIVE' in the right direction, with our sights on the things the Savior wants us to focus on, we will be met with open arms in the end. I LOVE THAT!
Why did I share this with you today? Well, this idea of not living up to or being good enough, I believe does not just live in the minds of women. Quite frankly, I imagine it is a universal struggle. Maybe there are missionaries within your zone who need a bit of hope that their efforts ARE good enough as long as they are 'STRIVING' daily to move in the right direction. It's all about those baby steps.
I Love you son and LOVE that you continue to strive,
MOM . . . . XOXO . . . . .
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