** DAY 10 -- Open Your Mouth

Sunday we will have the privilege of speaking in Sacrament Meeting.  There won't be much time, but we will be able to share testimony about what we will be doing in the coming months.  The rest hymn will be " Called To Serve" and I am sure we will both blubber through it.  Then I get to speak.  Nice.  I was driving to our storage unit yesterday, listening to my Ipod and bawled through it as I listened to it.  I really don't believe the reality of us serving as full time missionaries has settled into my mind.

Being missionaries is serving in one arm of the three pronged goals of the church.  As young missionaries, we are involved in proclaiming the gospel, searching for those interested in the truth, teaching the gospel, and tracting.  Young missionaries are often also involved in finding those who have lost their way and helping  them come back to the fold.

Old missionaries, or should I say senior missionaries, are often involved perfecting the saints.  My parents served four missions, and most often they were setting up family history centers, and activation.  Bonnie and I will be involved mainly with strengthening the youth of the church, teaching them the gospel, encouraging them to remain faithful, and recruiting those who have lost their way, or at least lost their enthusiasm for the gospel.

When we are in the MTC, we will also be learning all about the Perpetual Education Fund.  We will be teaching a six pronged preparation plan for those interested in using this Fund.  We may also be used by the younger missionaries to help teach some of the older investigators looking into the church.

Since I loved the proselyting so much, I am going to try to be involved with that kind of work also, finding new interested people who want to learn the truth.  There are thousands who are seeking the truth and know not where to find it.

I am haunted by the scripture in D and C which says that Father is not well pleased with those elders who won't upon their mouth.  I hope I remember that scripture and never pause to worry about opening my mouth.  We will be living around many who are not members of the church, and often all that is needed is to open one's mouth and invite them to know the truth, the joy, and the peace the gospel brings.  I am excited to open my mouth in the DR.