Hi Spencer,
I want you to know that I continue to pray for you that you will stay committed to your plans. There is no doubt that Satan will do all he can do to keep you from going back. But remember this Spencer….you were called to go to Argentina. You wanted nothing else in Texas than to go to Argentina. There are people that are waiting for you to share your message that only you know how to touch their lives….it is up to you. Complete your commitment, hold firm to what you know you want to do, you know that with faith and the love of our Savior, you can do anything!
You probably already have felt greater love for your Savior than ever before, because you know Him better and you know what a great treasure and blessing that the wise men knew and the old testament prophets that the Savior of the World would be born. Truly the greatest gift is that our Savior came to earth for us, we are grateful and would hope that others to know.
Your mom called the other day and said that you all wonder what you should be doing. Think of these things.
1. get off the Internet - you post a lot on facebook - be like a missionary. Call the Stake Missionaries - find missionaries to do splits with - Troy recommended this idea
3. Do service each day - for instance go to an elementary school and volunteeer to read or go to a old folks home volunteer or adopt some grandparents to be kind to.
Spencer we have heard the great temptations to keep you from going back, the more you stand tall and live missionary rules the better prepared you will be. I have all the faith and belief that if you really want to go, you can do what is needed for you now to get back on the mission.
I like the talk from Conference from Elder Russell M. Nelson, “Endure and Be Lifted Up”. In this talk, Elder Nelson tells the object lesson of the spool and blowing a card. He talks how as long as he blows through the spool the card is open and stays above his head but only as long as he has breath. He says….
“As long as I had sufficient breath, the card was lifted up. But when I could endure no longer, the card fell. When my breath gave out, the opposing force of gravity prevailed. If my energy could have endured, the card would have been lifted up indefinitely. "
Energy is always required to provide lift over opposing forces. These same laws apply in our personal lives. Whenever an undertaking is begun, both the energy and the will to endure are essential. The winner of a five-kilometer race is declared at the end of five kilometers, not at one or two. If you board a bus to Boston, you don’t get off at Burlington. If you want to gain an education, you don’t drop out along the way—just as you don’t pay to dine at an elegant restaurant only to walk away after sampling the salad.
Whatever your work may be, endure at the beginning, endure through opposing forces along the way, and endure to the end.”
“What if Jesus had wavered in His commitment to do His Father’s will? His Atonement would not have been accomplished. The dead would not be resurrected. The blessings of immortality and eternal life would not be. But Jesus did endure. During His final hour, Jesus prayed to His Father, saying, “I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.”
“If you really want to be like the Lord—more than any thing or anyone else—you will remember that your adoration of Jesus is best shown by your emulation of Him. Then you will not allow any other love to become more important than love for your companion, your family, and your Creator. You will govern yourself not by someone else’s set of rules but by revealed principles of truth.
Your responsibility to endure is uniquely yours. But you are never alone. I testify that the lifting power of the Lord can be yours if you will “come unto Christ” and “be perfected in him.” You will “deny yourselves of all ungodliness.” And you will “love God with all your might, mind and strength.”
Spencer, this applies to each of us, we all need to endure…each of our experiences or at the moment in time is unique, but it is a great reminder to Endure well. What a great opportunity you have this season to show how much you Love the Lord. A great reminder each day to Endure well to the end.
“The talk that left me the greatest impression was Russell M. Ballard, “Put your Trust in the Lord.” He has a line where he says “after all that has been said, the greatest and most important duty is to preach the Gospel”.
“It is impossible for us to fail when we do our best when we are on the Lord’s errand. While the outcome is a result of the exercise of one’s agency, sharing the gospel is our responsibility. The Lord knows us. He knows we have our challenges. I realize that some of you may feel heavy laden, but I pray that none of you would ever feel that reaching out in normal, pleasant ways to share the gospel would ever be a burden. Rather, it is a privilege! There is no greater joy in life than being anxiously engaged in the service of the Lord.”
“The key is that you be inspired of God, that you ask Him for direction and then go and do as the Spirit prompts you. When members view the work of salvation as their responsibility alone, it can be intimidating. When they view it as an invitation to follow the Lord in bringing souls unto Him to be taught by the full-time elders and sisters, it is inspiring, invigorating, and uplifting.” “
Spencer, I heard the first week you were back, you were very busy with service – which is fantastic. I hope that you take every moment possible that you live to the missionary standards as much as possible – that is if you are striving to go back. The more you strive to keep the guidelines – sleeping, waking early and studying the scriptures, serving others and doing your calling – Ward Missionary – the more you prepare yourself and grow closer to the Lord. Be very cautious and mindful of the impact of the world, the more you get wrapped up in the world – working, hanging with friends, dating, searching the Internet, watching movies, the more the world will have a pull on you to not return. It is of course, your choice, but I remind you of your strong commitment you told us on your first day back – “You are going to do everything you can to return asap”.
It is interesting that these two talks conference talks are so closely related. We endure well and we put our full trust and faith in the Lord, mighty things can change You can see it personally in your life and in the life of others.
Spencer, I love you so much. I think you are at a very important crossroad in your life journey, the decisions you make today, tomorrow and the next couple of months will have a massive change to the rest of your life – more than you will ever know. Please know that we your family loves you a great deal. We have great faith and know that you can return, you have said it so many times how excited you are to serve, this is your moment to show it. I am very proud of you for making things right, for having the courage, make it a triumph and continue to be strong (as we know you are - you have shown us many times).
Love you!
Karen
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