Mission Log - September 18, 2017 - T8, W6 - Companionship Blessings

The historic Douglas Chapel

Goodbye pictures! (Yes, we're tired :) )

The bishop's son is going back out to Jacksonville, Florida to finish his mission!​

I've been called to train again!!  I've been thinking a lot about companions and relationships lately.  Here's something our mission president shared with us recently:

"One of the great blessings of being a missionary is learning to work with a companion.  You’ve been called to a place you haven’t chosen, and assigned to work with a person you don’t know!  Think of how this prepares you for your eternal companionship.  You think you’re going to marry someone you know a lot about.  Guess what?  Unless you take some unusual steps, you’re going to marry someone that you really don’t know as well as you may think!  You’ll come to realize that more fully several months after you’ve been married.

But that is part of the adventure of life!  We really did want to come to mortality just so we could experience these types of things.  And a true disciple of Christ can make any relationship work.

The Savior said, “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”  Our mission vision, given to us as part of our Area Vision developed by the Seven Presidents of Seventy, encourages us to “become true followers of Jesus Christ.”  So a hallmark of true disciples, including missionaries, has to be having love for each other, and demonstrating that love constantly.

Exaltation, the highest form of life we know, is largely based on our ability to get along with others.  Chapters 12, 13 and 14 of 3rd Nephi contain a number of lessons that the Savior gave to the Nephites about how to get along with each other.

One of the most important features of a companionship, whether missionary or eternal, is the habit of daily companionship prayer, at morning and at night (and in between as you feel the need).  A good practice to develop is to talk about what you would like to remember in your prayer before starting the prayer.  It helps each of us to contemplate that we are about to have a conversation with Our Eternal Father, something we should not take lightly.  And it shows respect for each other by showing you care enough to ask for their thoughts on what to pray for.  A true sign of spiritual maturity is whether we think taking the time to do this is important, and not just say prayer to “check the box.” "

Have a good week!
Love,

Hermana Smurthwaite