Don't you teach your little children to stay away from the stove? Don't cross the road without looking both ways? And be cautious of strangers? Well Heavenly Father wants to teach his children to keep his commandments, to read the scriptures and pray, and to stay away from things that will bring you pain like drug addictions, pornography, and other addictions that destroy families and individuals. Many members of the church that have gone through difficult life changing events like family deaths, health issues, family crisis, and financial struggles have said things like "I don't know how I could have gone through that without the gospel, without my faith in Christ, and without the peace that the gospel brings". Can you imagine going through something so difficult that shakes you to the very core of your being and still feel peace? That's what I have experienced in my life. It's the most amazing feeling! I have received blessings to my questions and pleadings in forms of a prepared Sunday school teacher who's message spoke directly to me and provided an answer to my problem; a priesthood holder who's blessing upon my head answered the questions of pain and distress in my heart and helped me feel that I was not alone and that God knows me personally; blessings in forms of a check that I desperately needed and wasn't expecting when I didn't have any money but still had paid my tithing; protection to my family when we were in the path of danger; and little miracles like praying to find lost keys, lost books, and a much needed lost DVD player for our long road trip that were found minutes after my children knelt in prayer for direction.
These wonderful miracles and blessings that we have experienced in our life, we want everyone to have the same opportunity to receive and experience. It's like finding an awesome deal at the store or an awesome product you just discovered. Don't you share that with all your family and friends? Why would sharing the gospel, such a priceless gift, be any less than that? No, it is much more than that!!
In our world today maybe it's a hard concept that someone might want to share something with you without getting commission from it; or that someone could care about you and your family without having ever met you, with no strings attached, or any ulterior motives. Is it hard to believe that someone you don't know might actually care about you and want the best for you? If you understand how God operates on this earth, that he uses prophets and apostles to lead and guide his church and uses everyday people to do His work on this earth by helping others and sharing His good word; then no it's not that difficult to believe. I can't tell you how many times missionaries have, by no effort of their own, been prompted to go to a certain house or given a message or talk that they had not prepared for or had any knowledge of prior to opening their mouths. These missionaries and their families pay for their entire missions, which is an average cost of $12,000. These young people take time off from college or work to serve where they are sent, they sacrifice 18 months to 2 years of their life. And what they do during their mission will astound you. They wake up at 6am to do scripture study, both individually and with their companions. They eat, work out for at least 30 minutes, do planning and meditation, and by 10am they are off to start their day seeking those who will hear their message. Then at noon they come for a quick lunch, do some more planning, then the rest of the evening they continue their gospel sharing activities. Knocking on doors, meeting people in the streets, or going to see referrals from local members. Families from their congregation usually have them over to their homes for dinner Tuesday through Sundays. On Monday, which is a day of preparation, these missionaries do laundry, shopping, and other preparations for the week. Some days they are involved in training and teaching and various meetings with their entire mission of anywhere from 100-250 missionaries. They drive, bike, take the train or bus, or they simply walk to where they need to go. In wintry snow or shirt drenching hot days, these young people endure the climates to go out and share the gospel with their neighbors and communities throughout all the world. They never go swimming or any recreational activities of that sort, they never go to movies, and seldom can watch a movie at a members home. They don't call their families but twice a year. The are watched and cared for by a few older couple missionaries which include the mission president and his wife; who often meet with each missionary individually to make sure they are doing well or need anything. They learn skills such as keeping their homes clean, sometimes requiring members or missionary "mom's" teaching them these skills, they learn to cook, iron, mend, learn to ask directions, order at restaurants, stopping to help someone with their flat tire or carrying groceries. Service in their community is important, they usually are seeking ways to help their neighbors by helping repair a roof, clean their cars, help in local food banks or shelters, or other local churches. They sometimes are invited to other churches to speak and share their beliefs and strengthen religious ties with other Christian and non-Christian churches.
Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints are just like any other family, parents that work at regular demanding jobs inside and outside the home. Children that go to school, attend after-school activities, college, or work. There's bills to pay, homes to clean, meals to prepare and loads of laundry to do. There's sick kids, doctor appointments, and pets to care for. There are aging parents that need assistance, a neighbor that just had a baby and needs help with meals, cleaning or baby sitting. Hobbies that fulfill people like running, hiking, reading, cycling, snowboarding, boxing. There's talents that need to be developed and shared like drawing, painting, piano playing, dance lessons, singing. There's carpooling a car load of kids to practices and games. Then reading scriptures, saying prayers, and family time. Mormon families are just like your families but we also have our youth in high school attend seminary, many early morning seminary that meets before school. These seminary classes are deep and thorough classes that teach the kids the scriptures. Mormon families help in their congregations fulfilling callings at church some that take Sundays and a few weeknights away from our homes, all without any monetary compensation. We pay tithing which helps build church building and temples and help missionaries that are unable to pay their own way. Our tithes bless families in our congregation who are going through financial difficulties who might need a little help to get back on their feet. Our tithes also help our world-wide humanitarian efforts. Food and necessities that arrive throughout the world in areas hit by natural disasters and man-made atrocities. Many times these life-saving supplies arrive before any other help from other government agencies. I could go on and on about things that members of the church do throughout the world to help in God's work.
So next time the Mormon missionaries knock on your door to share a message with you or you have peculiar neighbors that want to invite you over for a BBQ, I hope you'll be open to letting them into your home or accepting their invitation. You just never know how their message will touch your heart or change your life. But if anything you will meet some neat people with a great life story and a big heart.
