The 4th Missionary - Monday, May 19, 2014

Family,

This week was productive for the most part. Transfers are next week by the way. I want to share with you something I learned in my personal study. I read an article called "The 4th missionary" where is described 4 kinds of missionaries. The 1st missionary is disobedient, is lazy, and refuses to work in the Lord's service. The consequences are that he almost always goes home early from his mission, he finds it hard to fit in back home, where only awaits him shame and guilt and regret. The good that he would have done, goes undone (at least by him), and most likely goes inactive in the Church itself. The 2nd missionary is also disobedient, does some work, but without his heart, usually serves a full mission, but doesn't labor diligently in the Lord's service. The consequences are that he doesn't grow from his mission. He wastes two years of his life that he will never get back. The good that he would have done goes undone (at least by him), and when he returns home, he faces guilt and regret all his life. People at home will applaud him for his full time service, but he knows the shame that he brought home with him. The 3rd missionary is successful, changes lots of lives, and brings lots of people close to Christ. Labors hard on his mission and usually meets exceptional standards or numbers on his Key Indicators. The consequences are that he enjoys the success that he has on his mission. enjoys the company of the spirit that came with working hard, and returns home honorably. The 4th missionary contains the exact attributes as the 3rd with the addition of one more, which drastically and definitely changes his consequences. His attitude. His heart. Himself. The 3rd missionary SACRIFICED himself and his time to work in the Lord's service, whereas the 4th missionary GAVE all that he had as himself and all that he possessed. He gave the Lord all of his talents, hopes, desires, dreams, weaknesses, strengths, triumphs, defeats, disappointments, and expectations. This is called lining our will with Christ's, and ultimately, our Heavenly Fathers. This is what the 3rd missionary lacked. Christ teaches us that if we are going to work in his service, we need to labor with ALL of our heart, might, mind, and strength. The 3rd missionary labored with his might and strength. The 4th missionary labored with that with the addition of his heart and his mind. He gave himself. The consequences of the 4th missionary are that he brought others, including himself unto Christ. He grew incredibly from the spirit, and enjoys the constant companionship of the spirit. He actually enjoys and is edified in his testimony every time he looks back on his mission. He grows immense charity. He has the literal light of Christ. He experiences the same heartaches, and disappointments that come with being a missionary, but because he gave his whole self to Christ, he experiences eternal as well as very immediate blessings. Blessings of contentment and peace in the Lord's service. Blessings of happiness, and true joy, both of which are qualities of the Kingdom of God, which Christ teaches is really found within ourselves. The 4th missionary is a disciple of Christ and is redeemed from the natural man or missionary, who may work diligently, but fails to give his whole self to Christ with his heart and his mind. This can apply not only to missionaries but to members with a calling. May we give and loose all ourselves, and work with not only our might and strength, but with our heart and mind. Only then will we be not followers of Christ, but true disciples of Christ, making us like him. I love you all. Have a wonderful week!