Be Sober

About a jillion things have been on my mind this week. I’m not quite sure where to start…

How about here:

I felt really awful after sending my email two weeks ago. I went to bed reflecting on the photos from the last transfer that I had sent home, and the name I wear on my chest. I wondered if the images truly reflected a representative of Christ, a missionary that understood the importance of their calling.

In my call letter are written the words: “You have been recommended as one worthy to represent the Lord as a minister of the restored gospel. You will be an official representative of the Church. As such, you will be expected to maintain the highest standards of conduct and appearance…”

And the missionary manual reminds that “when you accepted your call, you promised to live by these standards. You are accountable to the Lord and to the leaders of the Church for how well you honor this promise. Always keep in mind the importance of your calling. Strive constantly to magnify it.”

The Lord has truly been chastening me, but He chasteneth whom He loveth, right? (See Heb. 12:6, I think…)

Maybe I’m crazy, but thousands of miles away, as I’ve been reading the Book of Mormon, I seem to hear Dad’s voice chastening me as well as I read passages that tell me to the following: “…and be sober…” “…walk in the ways of truth soberness….” “…Now go, my son, and teach the word unto this people. Be sober. My son, farewell.”

Oh and don’t forget the words Elder Ellis yesterday in our zone conference as he read to us this scripture: “When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.” (I Cor. 13:11)

It seems SOMEONE is trying to send me a message.

Well, I’ve been on the mission for almost eight months now, and only have 10 months left. Sometimes the thought enters my mind that if I’ve gone this long without leaving behind all I need to, that there’s little hope in doing it in the time I have left. And then I remember the Atonement of Christ, the reality of forgiveness, and of the ability to change.

There’s a time and a place for everything.

When Christ entered the temple and found “…those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting, …he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers’ money, and overthrew the tables; And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father’s house an house of merchandise.” (John 2:14-16)

Selling oxen, sheep , and doves wasn’t the problem, the problem was that it was being done in the wrong time and place.

The time I have here is sacred, the time I have here is the Lords time, just like the temple is His house. And His time here in the mission field is not to be filled doing childish things.

I need to be willing to give all of myself, I need to be willing to sacrifice all of who I am to become a better representative of the Lord.

“For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.” (Luke 9:24)
It’s 18 months… well, it’s 10 more months… and I want to give it 100%.

But I feel I’m progressing, I feel I’m truly changing, I feel the Spirit in my work, and I’m hopeful and thankful for the bright 10 months that lie ahead.

I love you lots and lots,

Sister Rachel Smith