Dear Sisters and Elders,
Every one of you has been assigned a missionary companion. Assigning companions is always something that I do very prayerfully and carefully. Companions are one of the biggest blessings of serving a mission. By serving with a companion, you can do the work of the Lord much better. You can find, teach, learn and live better with a companion. A companion also keeps you safe and helps you avoid temptation. Learning to work well with a companion prepares you to be successful in your future career and family as well. In fact, the most important rule of the mission is "Never Be Alone."
In addition to your assigned companion, the Lord has given you some other companions for your mission and for your life. Many of you are new in the Church or are new to the scriptures. As I meet with you I often feel that you are missing some important companions from the scriptures. These companions are waiting for you. They will strengthen you, help you and become your friends. I cannot imagine living my life without my companions from the scriptures.
Let me introduce you to just a few of them, especially those whom you may not know very well:
Joseph (Genesis)
Enoch (Book of Moses)
Daniel (Book of Daniel)
Caleb (Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua)
Mary, Mother of Jesus (particularly see Luke chapter 1, but also Matthew, Mark, Luke, John)Peter (New Testament)
Gideon (Book of Judges)
Joshua (Numbers, Joshua)
Amulek (Book of Alma)
Moses (Exodus, Deuteronomy, Book of Moses)
Abraham (Genesis, Book of Abraham)
Josiah (2 Chronicles 34-35)
Hyrum Smith (Doctrine and Covenants)
Noah (Genesis)
Nehemiah (Book of Nehemiah)
Benjamin (Words of Mormon - Mosiah 6)
David (1 Samuel 16...)
Elijah (1 Kings 17-2 Kings 2)
Elisha (2 Kings 2 - 2 Kings 13)
Shadrach, Mechach, Abed-nego (Daniel 1-3)
Melchizedek (Genesis 14, Hebrews 5, 7, Alma 13)
Paul (Book of Acts, other epistles)
I invite you to receive these new companions into your life. Learn from them. Gain strength from them. Adopt their good traits into your life. I love them so much that our sons have their names: Joseph, Joshua, Daniel, Benjamin and Caleb. "Never be alone" without your friends from the scriptures!
Mahal ko po kayo,
President Creg D. Ostler