2001 - Mission Reunion

 

Introduction

 

·        Recognize those who have come from so far for this reunion - from Oregon, California, Washington, from Germany and several different states.

 

·        It is good to see so many of you here tonight. We care about each of you. We pray for you.

 

·        Purpose of this Reunion – From the invitation

 

 

Changing Times

 

·        We live in turbulent and changing times.

·        Mission Closure – Area Presidency asked me in August 1993 why it should not be closed - I told them why; Positive viewpoint – we had a special privilege. Let us support the members in our old mission area.

·        Many of us met together two years ago. What a difference two years can make! What a difference 19 hijackers can make! Two years ago when we last met in a large reunion the US and world economies were soaring. Dot-com stocks were at all-time highs. Unemployment was at all-time lows. Hiring bonuses were commonplace. There were no major wars or apparent world dangers. A great sense of security was felt by all because of these conditions. Most seemed to be happy and were enjoying the good life.

·        Today there is a great sense of insecurity in the world. Some of you have been laid off work or are expecting to be laid off. For some of you the job market in your field does not look very good.

·        My message to you today is a very simple message. It is a positive message of hope and faith and strength.

·        Each of us came upon this earth to fulfill a unique, personal mission. We fulfill this mission not only for ourselves, but for our Father in Heaven, for our ancestors, for our children and their children, and for many others.

 

 

 

There have always been challenges and scary times

 

·        Adam and Eve immediately after the Fall

 

 10 And in that day Adam blessed God and was filled, and began to prophesy concerning all the families of the earth, saying: Blessed be the name of God, for because of my transgression my eyes are opened, and in this life I shall have joy, and again in the flesh I shall see God.

 

11 And Eve, his wife, heard all these things and was glad, saying: Were it not for our transgression we never should have had seed, and never should have known good and evil, and the joy of our redemption, and the eternal life which God giveth unto all the obedient. (Moses 5:10-11.)

 

·        Adam and Eve somewhat later:

 

 27 And Adam and his wife mourned before the Lord, because of Cain and his brethren. (Moses 5:27.)

 

·        And the Lord has suffered:

 

 28 And for these many generations, ever since the day that I created them, have they gone astray, and have denied me, and have sought their own counsels in the dark; and in their own abominations have they devised murder, and have not kept the commandments, which I gave unto their father, Adam. (Moses 6:28.)

 

·        And Enoch, and Noah - preaching repentance for 120 years without much fruit to show.

·        Abraham’s many challenges, which made him Abraham and made possible the Abrahamic blessings we are receiving.

·        The life of Moses is one continual challenge.

·        The condescension of God in the flesh. God among us. How was Christ treated on this earth?

·        How about living in Europe during the dark ages? Or 100 years ago? Or 60 years ago?

·        Joseph Smith constantly experienced challenges and change.

 

·        “Now Joseph and Oliver Came up to see me [Spring 1829 during translation of Book of Mormon] if I Could help him to some provisions, [they] having no way to Buy any. But I was to Cattskill. But when I Came home my folks told me what Joseph wanted. But I had ingaged to go to Catskill again the next Day and I went again and I Bought a Barral of Mackrel and some lined paper for writing. And when I Came home I Bought some nine or ten Bushels of grain and five or six Bushels taters and a pound of tea, and I went Down to see him and they ware in want. Joseph and Oliver ware gone to see if they Could find a place to work for provisions, But found none. They returned home and found me there with provisions, and they ware glad for they ware out. Then they went to work and had provisions enough  to Last till the translation was Done.” (Joseph Knight, Sr. Recollections)

 

 

·        “One particularly dark day in early January 1837, when Joseph was out of the city, many of the Twelve and other Church leaders—even those men who had been special witnesses to the Book of Mormon—gathered for a council in the upper room of the temple. The purpose of their meeting: how to depose the Prophet Joseph Smith. Brigham states that ‘Father John Smith, brother Heber C. Kimball and others were present, who were opposed to such measures.’fn He also gives a thrilling and graphic account of what took place: ‘I rose up, and in a plain and forcible manner told them that Joseph was a Prophet, and I knew it, and that they might rail and slander him as much as they pleased, that they could not destroy the appointment of the Prophet of God, they could only destroy their own authority, cut the thread that bound them to the Prophet and to God, and sink themselves to hell.’ … This was a crisis when earth and hell seemed leagued to overthrow the Prophet and the Church of God. The knees of many of the strongest men in the Church faltered. But Brigham's never did. Though his life was truly in danger, though he was plagued and despised by those who had before been his friends, he had set his course and would not deviate from it: ‘During this siege of darkness I stood close by Joseph, and, with all the wisdom and power God bestowed upon me, put forth my utmost energies to sustain the servant of God and unite the Quorums of the Church.fn’”  (Susan Evans McCloud, Brigham Young, A Personal Portrait [American Fork, Ut.: Covenant Communications, 1996])

 

 

 

These are the times for the virgins to fill their Lamps

 

·        Speaking of the Virgins the Lord said:

 

 57 For they that are wise and have received the truth, and have taken the Holy Spirit for their guide, and have not been deceived—verily I say unto you, they shall not be hewn down and cast into the fire, but shall abide the day. (Doctrine and Covenants 45:57.)

 

 

·        We want to be wise.

·        We want to seek for the truth

·        The Holy Spirit will be our guide only upon certain conditions

·        We will make every effort not to be deceived by the world and the Adversary.

 

·        Financial Integrity

·        Be careful about making large student debts. Make sure your wisest financial partner, the Lord, approves of it.

·        And regarding debts in general. It takes great self-discipline and self-denial to to keep debts at a minimum. We have often heard the old pioneer counsel: "Eat it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without." It is painful to deny self. But this kind of pain is nothing compared to the pain which may be inflicted through worry and even worse consequences, when we can’t pay the debts. We have seen how quickly the times of financial security can change.

·        Someone once said, “In prosperity be prudent, in adversity be patient.”

·        To those of you my friends who have recently been laid-off work or a lay-off is imminent, I would like to say that I pray for you daily – by name if I know of your circumstances. Whenever adversity like this strikes us, it is wise to ask whether I caused it or contributed to it happening. What can I learn from this? Should I repent – how and when? Why is the Lord giving me this opportunity to grow? Write down these questions and answers in your journals. You might want to consider more education at a time like this, possibly in another field or direction.

 

·        Be careful about compromise and rationalizing

 

Vice is a monster of so frightful mien,

As to be hated needs but to be seen;

Yet seen too oft, familiar with her face,

We first endure, then pity, then embrace. - Alexander Pope

 

     

         

 

 

Increase our Faith!

 

Example: Elder Hales of the Quorum of the 12 – Last October, 2000 Conference

 

“In the past two years, I have waited upon the Lord for mortal lessons to be taught me through periods of physical pain, mental anguish, and pondering. I learned that constant, intense pain is a great consecrating purifier that humbles us and draws us closer to God's Spirit. If we listen and obey, we will be guided by His Spirit and do His will in our daily endeavors.

There were times when I have asked a few direct questions in my prayers, such as, "What lessons dost Thou want me to learn from these experiences?"

   As I studied the scriptures during this critical period of my life, the veil was thin and answers were given to me as they were recorded in lives of others who had gone through even more severe trials…

          Dark moments of depression were quickly dispelled by the light of the gospel as the Spirit brought peace and comfort with assurances that all would be well.

     On a few occasions, I told the Lord that I had surely learned the lessons to be taught and that it wouldn't be necessary for me to endure any more suffering. Such entreaties seemed to be of no avail, for it was made clear to me that this purifying process of testing was to be endured in the Lord's time and in the Lord's own way. It is one thing to teach, "Thy will be done" (Matt. 26:42). It is another to live it. I also learned that I would not be left alone to meet these trials and tribulations but that guardian angels would attend me.” (Elder Robert D. Hales, General Conference, Sat. Morn. Session, Oct. 2000)

 

 

 

"Earth's crammed with heaven,

And every common bush afire with God;

But only he who sees, takes off his shoes --

The rest sit round it and pluck blackberries."

 

                -- Elizabeth Barrett Browning

 

 

Who is our Heavenly Father?

 

 

President David O. McKay once related that members of a class were criticizing Church leaders for permitting the Martin handcart company to commence its journey so late in the season.

 

     An old man who was in the class, listened and then arose.

 

     "In substance [he] said, 'I ask you to stop this criticism. You are discussing a matter you know nothing about. Cold historic facts mean nothing here, for they give no proper interpretation of the questions involved. Mistake to send the handcart company out so late in the season? Yes. But I was in that company and my wife was in it and Sister Nellie Unthank whom you have cited was there too. We suffered beyond anything you can imagine, and many died of exposure and starvation, but did you ever hear a survivor of that company utter a word of criticism? Not one of that company ever apostatized or left the Church, because everyone of us came through with the absolute knowledge that God lives, for we became acquainted with him in our extremities.

     "'I have pulled my handcart when I was so weak and weary from illness and lack of food that I could hardly put one foot ahead of the other. I have looked ahead and seen a patch of sand or a hill slope, and I have said, I can go only that far and there I must give up, for I cannot pull the load through it. I have gone to that sand and when I reached it, the cart began pushing me. I have looked back many times to see who was pushing my cart, but my eyes saw no one. I knew then that the angels of God were there.

     "'Was I sorry that I chose to come by handcart? No. Neither then nor any minute of my life since. The price we paid to become acquainted with God was a privilege to pay, and I am thankful that I was privileged to come in the Martin handcart company.'"

                         - Relief Society Magazine, January 1948, p. 8.

 

 

 

What are His attributes and character?

 

 

 

"World, O world of muddled men,

Seek the peace of God again:

In the humble faith that kneels,

In the hallowed word that heals;

In the courage of a tree,

In the rock's integrity;

In the hill that holds the sky,

The star you pull your heart up by;

In the laughter of a child,

Altogether undefiled;

In the hope that answers doubt,

Love that drives the darkness out...

Frantic, frightened, foolish men,

Take God by the hand again."

 - Joseph Auslander

 

 

 

 

 

Closing Remarks:

 

·        Thank - my wife for all her cooking and preparation and speaking to us.

 

·        Thank - the organizing committee: Elders Schoeny, Farnes, Miner, Caldwell, Divall, and Pond.

 

·        Thank - Paul Schoeny for arranging for the building under difficult circumstances.

 

·        Thank - the greeters and servers.

 

·        Thank - Sister Pond and family members, who served in the nursery.

 

·        Thank - the participants in the program – Tyler Farnes, David Cardon, Aaron Pond, Paul Schoeny, and those who prayed.

 

·        Reunion schedule: Please send us emails with your ideas about how often we should have this reunion.

 

·        Our door is always open. Please visit us. Please stay in contact.