My Advice to All Prospective Missionaries...
May 21, 2012 email
HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Grammy and Rachel :)
Dear all those who are going on missions (and especially Jasmine), [In response to Jasmine's letter]
Advice...
Learn not to overeat, and learn to go to the bathroom when you need to... or else you will be running late to a zone conference, and Genghis Khan’s revenge will kick in. Really, you might think you are in control of your body, but what you put IN it has control of YOU. Luckily, I was blessed with added strength like Nephi was given to break the cords with which he was tied. It was truly a miracle. (However, I am known for my loud gurgling intestines precisely 20 minutes after eating.) Gooooo meeeeeat!
Get it out of your mind right now that you will strengthen your testimony during personal study. Of course, you have to study the Book of Mormon for 15 minutes a day during personal study, but your main focus is strengthening those whom you serve. And, honestly, you are the last person you serve. Always.
Re-memorize your scripture masteries; because if you’re learning a new language, at least you will know where it is EVEN if you can’t read it just yet.
Before you leave, read PMG all the way through in your current language; you won’t have time to read it again on your own in your language. Everything down to the “white bible” is read in your mission language. And, golly, it’s tough to know what it’s saying, let alone get anything out of the reading other than new vocabulary that you have to study.
Love the Lord. Jesus Christ is your sure foundation and should be the source of your thoughts, actions, and inspiration. He knows how to succor all people, so trust Him. Never forget that the Spirit is divine guidance, and remember to share this fact with your investigators. The Holy Ghost is the 3rd member of the Godhead. GOODNESS, do you need a more sure answer? He has also been the teacher of alllllll decades, centuries. He’ll know what to do when you get stuck.
Bring knee pads (jk). Pray as often as you can. Excessively even. If everyone’s prayers were like a bell in heaven, yours should be ringing off the hook… with sincere desires of the heart.
Have a testimony of the first lesson and especially of the First Vision. Joseph Smith saw God the Father and Jesus Christ because everyone on the earth thought they were one person. His unrequited testimony of his vision brought the truth of the Nature of God back to earth; this is why he got such an answer from his prayers. Plus, God knew Joseph Smith would not deny what he saw even when he received no further revelation for 3 years.
Communicate with your companion. If you want your investigators to open up to you, you have to do the same with your companion. So, you two are on the same page. Always.
Loves,
Sister Nelson
[That's all she wrote this week. She sure loves all her prospective missionary friends! GO TEAM!!!]
HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Grammy and Rachel :)
Dear all those who are going on missions (and especially Jasmine), [In response to Jasmine's letter]
Advice...
Learn not to overeat, and learn to go to the bathroom when you need to... or else you will be running late to a zone conference, and Genghis Khan’s revenge will kick in. Really, you might think you are in control of your body, but what you put IN it has control of YOU. Luckily, I was blessed with added strength like Nephi was given to break the cords with which he was tied. It was truly a miracle. (However, I am known for my loud gurgling intestines precisely 20 minutes after eating.) Gooooo meeeeeat!
Get it out of your mind right now that you will strengthen your testimony during personal study. Of course, you have to study the Book of Mormon for 15 minutes a day during personal study, but your main focus is strengthening those whom you serve. And, honestly, you are the last person you serve. Always.
Re-memorize your scripture masteries; because if you’re learning a new language, at least you will know where it is EVEN if you can’t read it just yet.
Before you leave, read PMG all the way through in your current language; you won’t have time to read it again on your own in your language. Everything down to the “white bible” is read in your mission language. And, golly, it’s tough to know what it’s saying, let alone get anything out of the reading other than new vocabulary that you have to study.
Love the Lord. Jesus Christ is your sure foundation and should be the source of your thoughts, actions, and inspiration. He knows how to succor all people, so trust Him. Never forget that the Spirit is divine guidance, and remember to share this fact with your investigators. The Holy Ghost is the 3rd member of the Godhead. GOODNESS, do you need a more sure answer? He has also been the teacher of alllllll decades, centuries. He’ll know what to do when you get stuck.
Bring knee pads (jk). Pray as often as you can. Excessively even. If everyone’s prayers were like a bell in heaven, yours should be ringing off the hook… with sincere desires of the heart.
Have a testimony of the first lesson and especially of the First Vision. Joseph Smith saw God the Father and Jesus Christ because everyone on the earth thought they were one person. His unrequited testimony of his vision brought the truth of the Nature of God back to earth; this is why he got such an answer from his prayers. Plus, God knew Joseph Smith would not deny what he saw even when he received no further revelation for 3 years.
Communicate with your companion. If you want your investigators to open up to you, you have to do the same with your companion. So, you two are on the same page. Always.
Loves,
Sister Nelson
[That's all she wrote this week. She sure loves all her prospective missionary friends! GO TEAM!!!]
