Connecting the Plan of Salvation and Missionary Work

I've heard lots of people talk about how the Plan of Salvation and missionary work are totally intertwined, and I've understood that, on a pretty basic level. But today I kept thinking about it, and I'd like to share my thoughts with you...

I recently heard a great talk by John Bytheway. He shared this scenario (I'm paraphrasing):

"Imagine if suddenly everyone heard a voice, as if from a loudspeaker. It says, 'Attention everyone. We regret to inform you that the Plan of Salvation has failed.' Pause. 'You may now resume your purposeless existence.'"

Wouldn't that be awful? Think about it. All of us, in the backs of our minds, know that there is a reason for our existence and that we can return to Heavenly Father because of and through repentance and the Atonement. But if the Plan of Salvation weren't in place, I know I wouldn't be living the way I am now! I would be living like there's no consequences and no heavenly home to reach for, no greater purpose. I wouldn't be happy. I'd be wondering what the point of life is.

But we all know that most of Heavenly Father's children aren't aware of Him, or of their purpose and potential.

This is why we need to share the gospel! In Mosiah 28, verse 3, it talks about the sons of Mosiah, preparing to serve missions after repenting of their sins. It says: "Now they were desirous that salvation should be declared to every creature, for they could not bear that any human soul should perish; yea, even the very thoughts that any soul should endure endless torment did cause them to quake and tremble."

This is how we need to feel! We need to be reaching out to our brothers and sisters and sharing our amazing knowledge with them, or we'll be held accountable!!! So the next time someone starts a talk about missionary work and you're ready to fall asleep, you just might want to take them a little more seriously...

"I Cannot Say the Smallest Part Which I Feel"

Alma 26:16

Hey, crew!! Sorry for the wait--eleven days?! I can hardly believe myself. If you want an excuse, the best I've got is that we've had company since Saturday and they just left yesterday. 

But the reason they were here is the reason for this post. It's a long story, so if you don't have time, stop here. If you have a few minutes, sit back and read on.

My family moved to a new home in July. We knew about one family in our new ward and we were three hours away from all of our close friends. We started having the sister missionaries over for dinner every other week. In early September, they came over. They told us about a part-member family that they were working on who had three daughters. 

My sister and I had met the two younger ones once or twice before--they were in our church classes, but we had had no idea who they were. The sisters asked us if we would help fellowship the mom and her three daughters. 

We agreed, and then my mom made a suggestion. There was another family in our ward who had moved in just days after us. Their youngest daughter was my age, and she was coming to my house later in the week to hang out. My mom told the sisters that we could invite the two non-member girls over on the same day. 

I have to admit, I was not thrilled with this idea. It was the first time the other girl (the member) was coming, and I didn't want her to think that I was trying to pay less attention to her because of the non-member or something like that. But I grudgingly agreed. 

Friday, the day everyone was coming over, arrived. I had been crazy nervous the rest of the week, hoping that everyone would get along and like each other, etc.

Best day ever. All three of us got along really well and became very close friends, and my sister and the other non-member hit it off, too. Eventually, my mom and their mom also built a strong friendship, and my mom started going with the sisters to teach the lessons to them. 

A month and a half to two months later, the mom told us that she and her younger two daughters were getting baptized! We were so excited for them! They were, however, going to wait until May because their youngest daughter was turning 8 at the end of April and they wanted her to be baptized with them. So we settled in to wait. Remember, this was the end of October/early November. There was a lot of time between us and May 9th. 

The oldest girl still had not decided to get baptized. Everyone loved her so much, and we all prayed like crazy. I don't currently have permission to tell her full story, but I am just going to say that I know that miracles still happen and the Lord's timing is always totally perfect in every situation. Another thing is that He puts people in the places they are needed. And prayers are answered. Especially when there are multiple people praying for the same thing. So, two weeks before the rest of the family was scheduled to be baptized, the oldest daughter received her answer and decided to be baptized. 

It was a week and a half before their baptism and the girl my age and I were filling a bag with clothes for our yard sale and her older sister was leaving with another family. The sister said, "Bye." 

After the sister left, I asked the Beehive-aged one, "Oh, how's your sister?" Just passing conversation. 

"Good. Oh, did you hear that she changed her mind?" I wasn't sure what she was talking about, but I started to barely hope that it was for what I thought.

"About being baptized," she clarified quickly.

My jaw and the bag in my hand dropped at the same time and I started bawling in the middle of the hallway at church! Thankfully, the only other people around were two Beehives, including my non-member friend. 

So, they were baptized this past Saturday and I cried the whole time. Tears just streamed down my face! Happiest day ever!

I encourage each member of the Church to ask the missionaries if there is somebody who you can help fellowship. As Presidents David O. McKay and Thomas S. Monson have both said, "Every member a missionary." (There are two separate links in the last quote.)

And if you were wondering about our company and why they were here for the baptism, staying with us, I'll tell you. They were the awesome R.M.'s who, in tandem with the Spirit, went to the family's home each week and helped bring them to the truth. They flew out from Utah at great cost to attend the baptism and confirmation of this amazingly faithful family. Thank heaven for missionaries!

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