I realize these two topics aren't exactly tied together but I went to an Enrichment night this week for Relief Society and we watched a clip about a rugby player- destined for great things. At a major point in his career he decided to serve a mission. He shocked rugby fans with his decision. The clip draws attention to the fact that every missionary leaves something behind, but those who choose to serve see it as a way to give back to the Lord and a worthwhile choice. The prophets and apostles have counseled that EVERY WORTHY young man should serve a mission. Not every bored young man with nothing better to do. Not every young man who finds it convenient. As one who has served a mission- it is NOT convenient. Ever. And I didn't have anything "major" in my life.
Then I think of the Archuleta boy (forgive me I can't remember his name... David, Jared?) who at one point said he was too famous to serve a mission. That he was afraid that if he served a mission and people joined the Church it might be for the wrong reason. The world is a large place. I served in a country where a Mormon (Romney) was running for President and there were still doors I knocked on where people said they had no idea what a Mormon was or what our Church was. Once again the mandate is EVERY WORTHY young man should serve a mission. Not every obscure young man who won't be recognized. Not just unknown young men who haven't received awards or acclaim for things they've done. Now, I will say that even though I served and had wanted to serve a mission since Primary, I went through a phase where I doubted and tried to rationalize a mission away. I believe the Archuleta boy was going through a similar phase because he did decide to go and I know he is being blessed for it.
As far as careers go, or life paths and a mission getting in the way. I know a person who was amazing in football. He decided to stay home and play and did amazing things in football. He no longer can play, but he also decided to go late for a mission- and I know he doesn't regret choosing to serve. I know another man who was amazing in music and thought he would miss out on chances if he served a mission. He didn't serve and he can't play professionally anymore. I know a man who pursued hockey and was good. He wasn't active from age 16 til after the age of 21. But when he became active he decided he did want to serve and loved his mission. I know a man who was pursuing a career in a sport. He has decided not to serve. He still gets awards in college sports events but he's not good enough to make a career of it. I don't know if these people would've been able to continue had they served a mission at 19, because sometimes the Lord just has different plans for us than we have for ourselves, but I know they would've been blessed for serving.
If the Lord wants what's best for us, and that best thing is to be great in a certain area, do you think he would punish you for your efforts to be obedient in serving a mission? If you are meant to be a star athlete the Lord will help you more if you put your trust in Him instead of yourself, some college or program or agency. And if you choose not to do what the Lord has asked of you, well then, you're on your own. If you achieve greatness, then imagine how much greater you could've been with the Lord's help.
And now to address those who are or feel unworthy. We are supposed to always do our best to live worthy. When we slip or fail, the Atonement is there to help us become worthy once again. Our Bishops are also there when extra help is needed. If we are not living worthy, we cannot make it into the Celestial Kingdom with our families, so if we want Exaltation, then feeling unworthy isn't really an excuse- the answer is GET WORTHY! Sometimes it is really hard, but I promise, if you have faith in Jesus Christ, He can help you through. If you doubt the Atonement applying to you, I would recommend seeing your Bishop, even if it's not for anything serious. The Atonement is infinite and complete. Jesus Christ is perfect- that includes loving everyone unconditionally, to say He doesn't care about you, diminishes His perfection, so if you feel that way, know that it is Satan and that Jesus Christ DOES care and is always there for you and you can find COMPLETE repentance for anything you may have done. Some things can be repented of completely but still hold you back from serving a mission- if that's the case, then just do your best to live worthily and you will receive every blessing you want and deserve.
Now, for how the Sabbath Day fits in: the rugby player who left to serve a mission came back and made it into the professionals. But he refused to play on Sunday and most of the games were on Sunday. Here's the thing: God wants what's best for us and He wants us to be happy. All of His commandments are to help us achieve the most happiness. He told us to keep the Sabbath Day Holy for OUR benefit. He gives us promises of what happens when we keep the Sabbath Day Holy. First off, the Sacrament is an essential ordinance for us. It is part of the repentance process and we cannot become whole without partaking of the Sacrament- it is the final step to repentance. Also, we are blessed when we keep the Sabbath Day Holy.
So now, let's say you get an opportunity to do something big. But some of the people involved tell you, you won't be able to compete with others if you don't do stuff on Sundays. You pray about it and you feel that this opportunity is right for you. Does that mean that it is right to do stuff on Sundays? Here's the thing, you weren't told you couldn't keep the Sabbath Day Holy, but some worldly person told you HE didn't think you'd be able to compete unless you broke the Sabbath Day and did stuff. But, God obviously wants this for you, otherwise when you prayed you wouldn't have felt right about it. So, who do you trust more? God or some guy who doesn't really know what he's talking about or know the blessings of keeping the Sabbath Day Holy? If you are meant to do this, won't the Lord continue helping you and even magnify your talents when you listen to Him and keep His commandments? When we do what He asks, we have His help and His blessings. Now, I know someone who decided the opportunity was worth more than attending Church (forget about the rest of the Sabbath Day). She did well, but I guarantee that the Lord would've helped her go farther had she put the Lord first. If we want His blessings, we do what He asks- knowing that He wants what is best for us and our happiness.
If you or your child is destined for greatness, I promise that you or your child will go farther with the Lord's help than they can do by themselves. Seek the Lord's help and His blessings by trusting Him first. The extra sports game on Sunday is not going to make a world of difference if the Lord withdraws his help from it. And if your child decides not to play on Sundays and keep the Sabbath Day Holy and he doesn't end up being an all-star, know that the new route is his best chance for happiness- more than pursuing the sport would've ever brought. It takes a lot of faith- but who do you trust? God- or some worldly sports coach who has no vision beyond that season, or maybe just to getting your sons into the major leagues. What about the rest of his life? I promise that if you trust in God, He will never fail you. If you sacrifice the sports or activities on Sundays to fulfill your part of keeping the Sabbath Day Holy- I promise your life will be blessed more than it can ever be by pursuing worldly goals without the Lord's help. Part of D&C 82:10, "...when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise." Do what he says and keep the Sabbath Day Holy and you will have the Lord on your side.
So now, let's say you get an opportunity to do something big. But some of the people involved tell you, you won't be able to compete with others if you don't do stuff on Sundays. You pray about it and you feel that this opportunity is right for you. Does that mean that it is right to do stuff on Sundays? Here's the thing, you weren't told you couldn't keep the Sabbath Day Holy, but some worldly person told you HE didn't think you'd be able to compete unless you broke the Sabbath Day and did stuff. But, God obviously wants this for you, otherwise when you prayed you wouldn't have felt right about it. So, who do you trust more? God or some guy who doesn't really know what he's talking about or know the blessings of keeping the Sabbath Day Holy? If you are meant to do this, won't the Lord continue helping you and even magnify your talents when you listen to Him and keep His commandments? When we do what He asks, we have His help and His blessings. Now, I know someone who decided the opportunity was worth more than attending Church (forget about the rest of the Sabbath Day). She did well, but I guarantee that the Lord would've helped her go farther had she put the Lord first. If we want His blessings, we do what He asks- knowing that He wants what is best for us and our happiness.
If you or your child is destined for greatness, I promise that you or your child will go farther with the Lord's help than they can do by themselves. Seek the Lord's help and His blessings by trusting Him first. The extra sports game on Sunday is not going to make a world of difference if the Lord withdraws his help from it. And if your child decides not to play on Sundays and keep the Sabbath Day Holy and he doesn't end up being an all-star, know that the new route is his best chance for happiness- more than pursuing the sport would've ever brought. It takes a lot of faith- but who do you trust? God- or some worldly sports coach who has no vision beyond that season, or maybe just to getting your sons into the major leagues. What about the rest of his life? I promise that if you trust in God, He will never fail you. If you sacrifice the sports or activities on Sundays to fulfill your part of keeping the Sabbath Day Holy- I promise your life will be blessed more than it can ever be by pursuing worldly goals without the Lord's help. Part of D&C 82:10, "...when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise." Do what he says and keep the Sabbath Day Holy and you will have the Lord on your side.
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