Sunday, February 22, 2015

A Week to Go

For the past four months, Chrise and I have been preparing for our mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We are going to Mexico City. Most of our preparation has gone into learning to speak Spanish. For me, it meant relearning a language that I once spoke fairly fluently, some 42 years ago. Chrise has been learning the language with no prior experience, and, in my opinion, is doing a wonderful job.

We will be leaving for Salt Lake City next Monday. As the time to leave has drawn closer, I think often of what I'm giving up, especially the people who I am leaving behind. This last weekend, we visited my elderly parents in Redding. My mother was in tears when it was time to say goodbye, and more by his actions than his words, I could tell my father was very anxious about us leaving. I wondered at the time if they thought this might be our last goodbye. We will be gone for eighteen months and they both are at an advanced age. I pray that we will be able to say hello to them again while we are all yet in this world. Since people change the most at old age and in childhood, I will also be regretting the time away from grandchildren. Chrise and I have always been willing to donate our time to them. We have been very close to all four of them, but especially our two grandsons, Tyler and Chase.

Some might ask why we are doing this? Since the day of our marriage, more than 45 years ago, Chrise and I have often talked about going on a mission. We both have a deep love for our Father in Heaven, born partly because, through our many trials, we have both felt his presence in our lives. It is our small way of trying to show our gratitude for the many rich blessing we have received. More than that, it is our gift to our family. We pray that our sacrifices will bless and enrich their lives. Perhaps the greatest reason is our desire to share the source of our happiness with others. For me, it is my idealistic attempt to make the world a better place.

I believe that the Gospel of Jesus Christ holds the keys to lasting peace and happiness in our world. It has a wonderful power to change hearts and minds and to turn enemies into friends. I speak from my own life and the lives of many others which I have witnessed. The true Gospel of Jesus Christ can embrace all, no matter what nationality, race, gender, or sexual orientation they may be.


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