Dear Elders and Sisters,
This is the greatest time in the history of the earth to be a missionary! And you have been blessed to serve on these beautiful islands where the Lord has been carefully preparing the people for the gospel for many years. There are many, many people here who are prepared for our message about the Son of God.
Our purpose as a missionary is to Invite Others To Come Unto Christ. Our purpose assumes that you and I have ALREADY come unto Christ ourselves. It is true. We have been baptized, confirmed, endowed in the temple and have made sacred covenants. We wear His holy name on our chest. We carry with us the Book of Mormon and the Bible--testaments of Jesus Christ. We follow 2 Nephi 25: "And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ..."
You do a wonderful job inviting others to Christ, but I ask you: Have YOU come all the way to Christ?
Here are some questions to ask yourself:
Am I completely pure and clean? (Isaiah 52:11 "Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch no unclean thing; go ye out of the midst of her; be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the Lord." Alma 45:16 "...for the Lord cannot look upon sin with the least degree of allowance.")
Have I eliminated all desire to do evil? (Have I stopped doing sinful or worldly things but still have a desire for those things? Mosiah 5:2 "...the Spirit of the Lord Omnipotent, which has wrought a mighty change in us, or in our hearts, the we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually.")
Do I really trust the Lord? (Or do I spend time worrying about my future? Or do I unlock my heart? Do I worry about my family? Or do I trust the Lord in all things? Alma 36:3)
Why am I doing this work? Is it 100% because I love the Lord and love these people, or because I am "aspiring to the honors of men?" (DC 121)
Am I truly striving to become like Jesus Christ in my actions? (Do I treat my companion, people on the street who ridicule me, and others like He would treat them? John 13:35 "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.")
Am I truly striving to become similar to Jesus Christ in my thoughts? (Or do I foolishly think that God does not know my thoughts? Am I physically a missionary but sometimes mentally not so much? Alma 12:14 "our thoughts will condemn us..")
Is obedience to the Lord's commandments and the rules of the mission a burden or a Quest? ("When obedience ceases to be an irritant and becomes our quest, in that moment God will endow us with power." Ezra T. Benson)
Am I serving with all of my heart, might, mind and strength? (DC 4)
Am I filled with "the pure love of Christ?" (Moroni 7:48 "Wherefore my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart; that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ...")
Looking at this list of questions can be overwhelming, but ask yourself each one with humility and faith and the Lord will bless you. He does not expect us to be perfect. He invites us to travel the path of discipleship one step at a time, one day at a time. I know you can do this. You are marvelous, faith-filled disciples of Christ.
Mahal na mahal po kayo,
President Creg Ostler
