Jesus Speaks To Women

The General Relief Society Meeting is gentler than the General Priesthood Session, and for good reason. Men and women respond to different styles of repentance invitations.

I can't speak for my gender, but I know myself. I respond to kindness and empathy. I rise according to the excellency of my role model. I don't need to be told that I'm doing poorly. Tell me that I'm doing a job well, and I'll do it better. Sharpness only makes me pitiable and helpless.

Satan knows this.

His words to me are biting. He tells me that I'm falling short of expectations. He tells me that I'm unlovable. He points out everything that I do wrong, until my wrongs overwhelm all of my rights.

The Savior knows better.

When he spoke to women, He appealed to their goodness. He taught them to simplify, and to focus on priorities (Luke 10:38-42). He protected them from judgmental crowds (John 8:1-11). He appreciated their gifts, and He often lodged in their homes and ate food that they prepared.

When his disciples criticized Mary Magdalene's sincere offering, He stepped in as her protector. His words have been ringing in my head all week:

"Let her alone; why trouble ye her? She hath wrought a good work on me...She hath done what she could." (Mark 14:3-8)

When I notice myself feeling overwhelmed and inadequate, the Savior steps in to deflect the lies. Satan says, "You're not a good Sister Training Leader. You're not prepared for this lesson. You didn't meet your goals. You don't know how to bless these people."

Jesus says, "Let her alone! Why trouble ye her? She hath done what she could."

My best, no matter how poor by comparison, is always pleasing to the Lord.

Great Expectations

My Expectations:
Looking good, sounding good, saying the right thing, being on time. Being gracious, patient, forgiving. Loving my companion. Finding investigators easily. Teaching powerfully. Loving and being loved by members. Improving daily. Pristine apartment. Safe driving. Taking care of other missionaries. Ministering to others. Planning powerful lessons. Following the Spirit.

Mission President's Expectations:
Go on eight exchanges in a five-week transfer. Maintain a model area. Train a new missionary. Obey all of the rules. Score high numbers.

God's Expectation:
Love


Expectations eat me up. Perfection is what I read in Matthew 7, and perfection is the thing that ever escapes my grasp.

But focusing on Jesus Christ clears things up. When I am calm and forget the perceived judgments of others. I feel the Spirit whisper that I am doing a good job. That I can do better still. And that God is pleased.

Saved

The sweet, dirty smell of weed rushed out at us when the man opened the door. He looked a little gruff but his approach was not unkind, and so we told him honestly why we were there.

"We are representatives of Jesus Christ, and we felt that we should stop and offer to pray with you." It was true. We were lost, and we passed by the street three times before we finally heeded the prompting to get out and knock on a few doors.

"No thanks, I already prayed today. I'm a Christian, and I'm saved by the blood."

And with that he closed the door.

The irony filled me with questions-saved from what? From weed? Maybe Christ would like to save you from those drugs. Or from a bad marriage. Or from unkind words and bad habits and cheap living. There is a better salvation!

That is what I want to say. If I had the voice of an angel, I would tell Oklahoma that salvation requires us to emulate the Man whose blood saves us.

"Saved" is the word on Oklahoman lips. It's so common, it's almost cheap. It becomes an excuse. They don't need to go to church because they're saved. Don't worry about praying with them: they're saved. So they're living out of wedlock and mistreating their children-what's it to you? They're saved!

But God is saving us for greater purposes. For lasting relationships, for beautiful surroundings, for gracious words, for inspiriting service and uplifting occupations and mighty knowledge. He's saving us from low-living, degrading behaviors, and debilitating thoughts.

Emulation. That is the essence of salvation. The moment we begin to emulate the Savior Jesus Christ, we experience a sanctifying, ennobling change within ourselves. And as our hearts change, our lives change. And then it's infectious. My goodness rubs off on you; yours rubs onto your family; your family blesses your community; and before we know it, the world is a better place.

Salvation is only in and through the Savior Jesus Christ. And the way to enjoy this sacred gift is to become like Him! Read His words, and do His works. Obedience, self-discipline, sacrifice. This is the way.

This is the salvation of Jesus Christ.

Liberal

I thought Mormons were generally conservative. Missionaries, more than anyone, should be conservative. Then why is my heart so liberal?

KJ told us that he couldn't pray with us because he was Elohist. He started to shut the door, and I said, "Wait. Who are you? What did you say you believe?"

And he told us. For one hour we stood in the rain and asked him questions. We exchanged beliefs and compared doctrine, but mostly we just listened.

Jehovah as Korean man in the early 1900s? Well, I claim a 14 year-old American boy in the 1800s as prophet. Mother God? Hmm, I have no problem with that. Intense religious fervor? Again, I relate too well. But we both believe in Jesus Christ, in families, in divine inheritances.

His millennial beliefs differ. The timing, order, and characters are unusual. But still, the only thing I can feel to bear testimony of is that God loves all of His children, and that He adores our quest for truth.

And so our conversation ended thus: "KJ, thank you for being a disciple of Jesus Christ! You reflect the spirit of Peter. When thousands left from following Jesus, the Savior asked his disciples if they would also leave him. Peter said, Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe, and are sure that thou art the Christ, the Son of the Living God. (John 6:67-69) We are also sure that Jesus is the Christ. We bear testimony of Him, as do you."

And with words of mutual admiration, we left our newly-made friend and went our way.

Loving others. Respecting their beliefs. Listening. Asking. Admiring. Learning. These are the days of a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Exclamation Point, Smiley Face

I fear that my writing is becoming stagnant. There are really only so many ways to say "God must really love me; let me tell you how." So once again, I attempt to convey the humorous affection of our Heavenly Father.

I went on exchanges with my beloved MTC companion this week. Sister Cooper and I have been out for eleven months now, and we agree that text messages from missionaries should end with an exclamation point and a smiley face. Elders have contested against this uber-happy use of the phone, but after nearly a year as a missionary, I find nothing so happy and worth exclaiming as is God's love.

As members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, our lives (as our text messages) should always convey a spirit of "exclamation point, smiley-face!"

When I tell people that we believe in the Book of Mormon, in a living prophet, and in the restoration of ancient truths, I say it with a metaphorical "exclamation point, smiley-face." It shows in my face, in my tone of voice, and in the choices I make. It's not just a bunch of doctrinal dogma, it's life-changing, highly motivating truth. We believe that God cares about us as individuals. We believe that we are innately good, and that we can be better. We believe the radically generous truths taught by Jesus Christ-that we are here on earth for the express purpose of blessing others and learning joy.

So let us live what we preach. Let us pour over the scriptures, sink into prayer, and jump to serve our neighbors!

Say It, Sister Hinckley

"We women have a lot to learn about simplifying our lives. We have to decide what is important and then move along at a pace that is comfortable for us. We have to develop the maturity to stop trying to prove something. We have to learn to be content with what we are."

~Sister Marjorie Pay Hinckley, the ever-sensible and easily-humored wife of beloved Prophet Gordon B. Hinckley

Miracles

"We become the stories we tell."

This is one of my most beloved spiritual truths. The phrase was Spirit-inspired, and it has become my creed of sorts. It defines the music I listen to, the books I read, the classes I take, the way I use the internet, and the friends I choose. It defines how I write and how I talk. It is with this spirit that I feel to share my miracles today. If we would do might things, then we must spin our tellings of daily life as the miracles that they truly are.

I find that my miracles usually take shape in the people around me:

Glinda Hildegaard*

Outspoken. German.

I tried to think of five word to describe Sister Hildegaard, but I think that these two will suffice. From what I know of Germans, the first word could actually be engulfed by the second, and "German" might be the only necessary descriptor.

Maybe it's the Schleckmann in my blood, but I rather adore Germans.

Sister Hildegaard was one of our first member visits, and she continues to be the highlight of my new area. Sister Ott warned me that Sister Hildegaard was very inactive and wouldn't be pushed into anything. This proved to be true on all accounts.

But by some miracle, Sister Hildegaard decided that she liked me, and that she wants to come to church. She dictated the content and length of our 75-minute visit, and what resulted was a lengthy exposition on why the church is superior and why she might want to come...could we arrange a ride for her? And bless the member who brought her to church - she also took her on a tour of the temple grounds. So Sister Hildegaard, who won't be pushed and who thinks that I'm the bees knees (bless her for it, I was feeling rather frightened and unloved) is coming to church. And looking froward to the temple. :)

George Thompson*

"Intellectual blackjack dealer."

This is how we describe George to members and missionaries.

Thirty-three years old with a bachelors degree in philosophy. A dreamer, as all 20- and 30-year-olds should be. Insists on sailboats and trips to South America, and hopes that the Plan of Salvation will allow for such things. In response to his first exposure to Elder Oaks at General Conference he said, "He's scary." ...We're praying that he'll look past the severity of the commandments and start enjoying them.

George is a miracle of a personal sort. He was the first investigator that I taught in our new area, a true kindred spirit. We introduced Adam and Eve, and he immediately referenced Sunset Limited, a compelling book and one of my favorite works of literature. I was tickled.

His current concern is that he might not fit into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints because he asks too many questions. Ha! Matthew 7 long ago put that worry to rest for me. As an avid question-asker (and recovering doubter), I take seriously the admonition "Ask, and ye shall receive; knock and it shall be opened unto you." It is a miracle to share my testimony with one who will ask questions as I do.

Ray Zalufa*

Mid-thirties. Native-American. Two adorable little girls and a non-member wife. Ray was baptized as a teenager, but hasn't attended church since then. We knocked on his door my first day in Moore. He's not listed on the ward records, so we were bemused when he asked us if we had eaten dinner.

We returned two days later to have dinner with the family and to teach primary songs to his little girls. Now we are praying for Ray and his entire family to join us at church.

God is serious about His rescue, and He allows us to be participants.

Most miraculous of all is the realization that God is preparing people to receive Him, through us. His work is exciting ("the most remarkable era in the history of the church," says Elder Perry), and WE get to be His hands!!

For behold, angels are declaring it unto many at this time in our land; and this is for the purpose of preparing the hearts of the children of men to receive his word.  Alma 13:24

*Names changed, as usual. I hope that I can remember their real names post-mission! :)