The True Measure of Success in Missionary Work

From Hyrum Fluckiger

Teaching in California

I've had an interesting experience being a missionary here in California! It's been amazing first of all, second it's been work, and third... I have absolutely loved it!  I have amazing opportunities to
meet and be apart of so many people's lives!

After my second transfer, leaving an area only seemingly slightly better than I found it, and feeling like my time there was for naught; I arrived to my new area and had only been there for a week or two when I received a letter from an active member we worked with. While keeping details confidential ,this member expressed to me that us missionaries had made such a difference in his life and that we played a key role in helping him stay on the gospel path. 

When he hit his low, he had actually made a plan to take his own life.  He said that one night he asked us for a blessing, of course we adjusted our schedule so we could do that. He told us that was the night he was going to kill himself and the blessing was meant to be a release from this life.  But the words of the blessing were so uplifting and what he needed to hear at the time that he was restrengthened and recommitted to live and strive to improve his life. He is now attending college and working toward a mission. He has trials and temptations just as all of us do, but thanks to our Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus Christ, we were able to participate in helping him along his way, and I now truly know that no effort is wasted in helping others come to Christ.

It was such a powerful reminder and testimony builder to me of many things; the authenticity and reality of true priesthood power, the guidance of the Holy Ghost, and by dedicating our all to the service and work of God, we can not fail. Missionary work is not just with non members. It's all who need to be strengthen and brought closer to Christ. The measure of success in missionary work is not just baptisms. I'm grateful for the opportunity I have to be a missionary, to serve God, to hold the Priesthood. I know the church is true, it's good, and pure.

No Doubt About It!

From Jonah Bench

Teaching in New York

So I had have had companions for the last six months of my mission who are struggling with obedience and motivation and desire. My current companion also struggles with obedience and diligence and is going home soon. He is my friend and I want him to have a good end to his mission. So the last four companions are struggling missionaries. I have been privileged to become a tool in the Lord's hand to help these missionaries. 

The last six months has been tough, I got sick from stress and that led to me having to go home to get my tonsils out. Now I'm back and the companions I have had are again those who need help. I have really loved seeing them change to become better! I have loved seeing the Atonement of Jesus Christ our Savior work in the lives of the missionaries I have worked with. I can't do squat on my own! I would be faced with concerns they have and things they need to talk about and have no idea how to approach it! But I'd say a quick prayer and then things would become clearer. I would be able to discern what they needed to hear. That is a testimony to me that the Lord will bless us with help and direction and what those around us need. I know this is the Lord's work. No doubt about it! Otherwise a bunch of 18-20 year old kids would have messed it up a long time ago!  

Heavenly Father Will Put Us In All Situations We Need To Be In

From Karsten Hinckley

Teaching in Thailand 

On our way home last night we were walking by this abandoned market. I saw man who was sitting there and felt impressed to go talk to him. As we talked I asked if he wanted to go to church 20 yards away and he said yeah. This man is homeless, but he was willing to come. We showed him around the church and asked if he liked to read. He said he did, so we gave him a Book of Mormon. We invited him to come to church this next Sunday. If he takes some time to read he will come to know that Jesus is the Christ. He was a really humble man from everything he told us. 

Today at church one of our investigators brought her daughter. She came up to us after and asked for the Book of Mormon so she could read it. This little 10 year old girl came up and asked for a Book of Mormon! "I want to read it," she said. Wow! Never had that happen before. She is a really smart! In primary she listened as they read and liked it. She wanted it, so we gave it to her.

We went to this market last P Day. When we were about to head home we went into this gift shop because there was AC [air conditioning]. We were just walking around when a lady asked what we were doing. We told her who we were and so forth. She said, “I haven’t seen the Elders for 20 years now." She is a member of the Chruch. As we talked to her she said she hasn’t been to church in a long time. She didn’t even know about the temple. She said she might not be able to see the temple because of her cancer. I don’t know if she was happy to see us or not.We told the Elders in that area about her and told her she needs to be visited.  Heavenly Father will put us all in situations that we need to be in for whatever reason.