At the Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah, all missionaries are given time to break away from the books and get some exercise. There is a soccer field across from the MTC where missionaries go frequently for an hour or two to take a small break from the hours of studying. For a small time, the field was being occupied by other members of the church who were not missionaries at the time. This caused confusion and made it difficult for the Elders and Sisters to get in any playing time. After a few days, the MTC put up a sign that said "Missionaries Only". For a day or two, missionaries were able to enjoy the playing field to themselves without any other members interrupting their play or calling dibs on the field. However, a few days later, some hooligans placed another sign as a companion to the first that read, "Every Member a Missionary".
We hear that phrase all the time, it's one of those Mormon things we just say. We know we all have a great responsibility to bring the gospel to our dear friends and family and invite all to come unto Christ. BUT. Sometimes sharing the gospel is hard. Sometimes it's super awkward. Sometimes it just doesn't work and we don't have an Ensign story to send in. That can stink. That can make it super hard to gain momentum and do it all over again. One of my favorite missionary stories comes from the history of our pioneer ancestors. The story is told by President Gordon B Hinkley.
"I should like to tell you of three eighteen-year-old boys. In 1856 more than a thousand of our people, some of them perhaps your forebears, found themselves in serious trouble while crossing the plains to this valley. Because of a series of unfortunate circumstances, they were late in getting started. They ran into snow and bitter cold in the highlands of Wyoming. Their situation was desperate, with deaths occurring every day.
President Young learned of their condition as the October general conference was about to begin. He immediately called for teams, wagons, drivers, and supplies to leave to rescue the bereft Saints. When the first rescue team reached the Martin Company, there were too few wagons to carry the suffering people. The rescuers had to insist that the carts keep moving.
When they reached the Sweetwater River on November 3, chunks of ice were floating in the freezing water. After all these people had been through, and in their weakened condition, that river seemed impossible to cross. It looked like stepping into death itself to move into the freezing stream. Men who once had been strong sat on the frozen ground and wept, as did the women and children. Many simply could not face that ordeal.
And now I quote from the record: “Three eighteen-year-old boys belonging to the relief party came to the rescue, and to the astonishment of all who saw, carried nearly every member of the ill-fated handcart company across the snowbound stream. The strain was so terrible, and the exposure so great, that in later years all the boys died from the effects of it. When President Brigham Young heard of this heroic act, he wept like a child, and later declared publicly, ‘that act alone will ensure C. Allen Huntington, George W. Grant, and David P. Kimball an everlasting salvation in the Celestial Kingdom of God, worlds without end.’”
I have read this story countless times and I can never get through it without a box of tissues in hand. It is so touching to think and imagine myself there that day as those boys stood and made the best out of a really difficult situation. There are a few lessons learned from these boys that applies greatly to our duty as life-long member missionaries.
First, there are plenty who need saving. This account talks about countless individuals who had worked so hard and traveled so far, only to come to an impossible barrier. They were tired and all hope seemed lost. They were too weak to carry on and the thought of crossing that river seemed impossible. I think some of the most important missionary work we can render in these last days is that to our brothers and sisters who are already a part of the fold. There are countless members who are slowly getting weaker through the difficult tasks and trials this life has to offer. They are getting tired and need a helping hand, or someone to carry them over the river. Over the past few weeks, Chris and I have seen close friends struggling with policy changes, church history and the plain old difficult things mortality has to offer us. Some of the most rewarding missionary work in our lives has been to render a listening ear and a non-judgmental heart to the already members of the church who just need a simple reminder of the wonders of the gospel.
Second, sharing the gospel can be uncomfortable. I can't imagine the thought process of these boys that day. They must have looked at that water with large ice chunks and thought, "How am I going to even get myself over that river? Let alone the whole company?" I don't know what kind of powerful prompting or sweet promise the Lord offered to those young men or if they just realized what was most important. But either way, they got over the fact that they would be hurting, feeling uncomfortable and likely suffer life-long consequences as a result of what they were about to do and started acting. Sometimes sharing the gospel can feel awkward and uncomfortable, and we may not enjoy a second of it. But there will be life-long positive consequences that are given in return. I heard over and over again in the MTC that "there is no growing in the comfort zone and no comfort in the growing zone." That simple phrase helped me get past my silly fears of opening my mouth and realize that I would never grow as a missionary or even a servant of the Lord if I wasn't willing to get outside my comfort zone and sacrifice feeling a little uncomfortable.
Third, the blessings that come from serving others are endless. While these young men certainly didn't enjoy healthy and long lives after their heroism, they were welcomed back to their Father in Heaven with open arms and I'm sure with great pride. I like to think of ways I can make Heavenly Father proud of me. I know there are times when He just looks down on His children and smiles because of the good they are doing. Some days, He is just so darn proud of what people are doing to build His kingdom. I'm sure those boys were the top of His list that day. The blessings that come from sharing the gospel are endless and will never be forgotten by the Lord. While He is quick to forget our flaws and mistakes, He has a perfect memory of our efforts and our triumphs and eagerly awaits to reward them. We will never share the gospel and think, "Dang, what was I thinking? Sharing the gospel was a terrible idea." But, there are specific days from my mission I can still remember being prompted to talk to certain people and I didn't do it. I remember their faces, where I was, and even what some of them were wearing. And those are some of the biggest regrets I have from my mission. We will never regret opening our mouths and we will likely always regret staying quiet and passing up opportunity to share.
We have so many brothers and sisters who are in need of our service and our love. President Hinkley stated that every new convert to the church needs three things in order to stay converted to the gospel: An assignment, a friend, and constant nourishment of the word of God. Too often, we are over the top eager to get those three things to our new converts, and we fail to realize that some of the life-long members of the church are lacking these basic needs. Too many members are without a good friend that they can lean on or that they know will carry them across an icy river if needed. Too many aren't receiving the constant nourishment they need because their home/visiting teachers have let another month slip by without stopping by. While non-members absolutely, 1,000% need us to open our mouths and declare the gospel at all times, we must remember that our brothers and sisters in the church are in need of that service just as much.
We have all had a point in our lives where we have been tired, too weak to carry on and have sat at the bank of an icy river feeling hopeless. We've all been in a sacrament meeting feeling sad or like nothing seems to be going right, then all of a sudden someone says something that just penetrates our heart. A visiting teacher stops by at the precise moment to offer a hug and a listening ear, and it turns out to be the greatest tender mercy. We've all been that person at the bank of the river at some point. When we are strong and immovable in the gospel, it is our turn to be brave and bear the cold for someone who can't. It's our turn to trust the Savior and be instruments in His hands.
Before I attended Trek, a musical program was directed with songs honoring the pioneers and their dedication to reach the Salt Lake Valley. One of my favorites honors these young men again for their courage and the selfless love in which they acted upon.
Nine hundred saints.
You came across the seas and plains.
Hunger and cold have taken some away.
You're in despair, a
nd you just don't have the strength,
To cross this river standing in your way
You can't feel your feet, a
nd your hands are frozen through,
The Father knows all that you've been through.
So let me be the Father's hands today,
My shoulders will bear you up with His strength
Let me carry you.
Let me bear the cold
I am here to share your load
Through all you've done, y
ou have been true
But this is something you just can't do
Let me carry you.
You're almost there.
You will make it to the end
You will go on.
And you'll find your strength again.
So one by one climb upon my back
And I will give you e
verything I have
We're brothers in this earthly trail of tears
The faith we share i
s stronger than our fears.
So let me be the Father's hands today,
My shoulders will bear you up with His strength.
Let me carry you.
Let me bear the cold
I am here to share your load
Through all you've done, y
ou have been true
But this is something you just can't do,
Let me carry you.
Be willing to get chilly and out of your comfort zone. Be willing to share the load of another and bear their burdens. And seek out those who are in need of being carried for a time. And to those who are sitting at the banks of the river, let us carry you.
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