Did You Know? Church Service Missions

About a year ago, I saw a "advertisement" on Facebook from the Church.  It was all about serving a Church Service Mission as a part-time missionary for FamilySearch.  I was immediately drawn to the idea.  I love family history and felt I could contribute in that way.  I followed the process of application and began my mission as a FamilySearch Support Missionary Oct 1.  The training process was time consuming and difficult at times.  I will fully admit that there were days when I thought, "This is NOT what I signed up for."  But when my training was complete and I began to actually help people, it felt good.  What do FamilySearch Support Missionaries do?  We answer the phone calls (chats or emails too) from people all around the world who contact FamilySearch through the website's help center.  I enjoy the interactions I have through those phone calls.  Each phone call is a chance to serve - a chance to leave the person on the other end of the line with a positive experience - it is a chance to strive to be like my Savior.

Through the months I have been serving, I have been given various responsibilities and assignments.  I have felt the Lord's hand in those assignments.  I have been stretched, pushed and tested.  I have learned a great deal about myself - my limitations and my strengths - and about working with others in a Christlike way.  Admittedly, there have been things I have not liked about serving this particular mission. But those things do not overshadow the feeling of gladness that I chose to serve.  I know that when my release arrives part of me will be relieved, because my assignment is time consuming and increasingly aggravating to my arthritis issues, but I also know that I will miss the people I serve with and the mental stimulation of my current assignment.  Would I be willing to serve another Church Service Mission? Yes.  I would be careful to know the expectations and ensure that I could meet those. But yes, I would be willing and would be grateful for the blessings that I know always accompany us as we serve.

I have had people ask me how I like my Church Service Mission and honestly depending on how bad my back was hurting at the time, my answer has varied.  But overall missionaries who serve Church Service Missions are happy.  There are so many, many opportunities to serve.  My FamilySearch Support mission is just one option.  Below is the link to the Church Service Missionaries page on lds.org.  If you have ever thought or wondered about serving a Church Service Mission this is the page to look at.  You can follow the links to see what kinds of opportunities exist and to learn about the application process.  There are also links to amazing and inspiring stories from others who have served as Church Service Missionaries all around the world.

https://www.lds.org/callings/missionary/church-service-missionary?lang=eng

-Lorie Pierce

Always Keep Pushing

“To you who think you are lost or without hope, or who think you have done too much that was too wrong for too long, to every one of you who worry that you are stranded somewhere on the wintry plains of life and have wrecked your handcart in the process, we call out Jehovah's unrelenting refrain, 'My hand is stretched out still'. His mercy endureth forever, and His hand is stretched out still. His is the pure love of Christ, the charity that never faileth, that compassion which endures even when all other strength disappears.”
by Jeffrey R. Holland

About two weeks ago the youth of the Columbia Maryland Stake embarked on a Pioneer Trek for 3 days and 2 nights, the amount of spiritual growth and power that this experience brought to our youth is overwhelming, I would like to share with you a bit about my experience.

My name is Jessica Haggerty, I am 17 and also one of the lucky few who had the opportunity to attend trek twice! Both experiences have proven to be hugely important to my spiritual growth and understanding of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Thursday morning (July 13th) we arrived to camp Liahona at 8am sharp to have our bags checked for anything we shouldn't have (like pillows or watches) and to get sorted into our families for the trek. I had an amazing family (go clouds!). Then we set off into the wilderness. The first day we did about 12 or 13 miles of hiking, pulling a cart about 10 times my weight. (Keep in mind that the weather was about 99 degrees).

Friday we hiked about 5 or 6 more miles, then spend the rest of our day playing pioneer games and square dancing (there is nothing a little dancing can't solve).

Then Saturday we had our group devotional, alone time, and testimony meeting.  Finally we walked the remaining 3 miles back to camp, packed up our families things, and went home.

There are a lot of things that I could tell you about the trek, a lot of things I could tell you about the people that were there and the things that we did, but I want to focus on the things I learned about myself and my Heavenly Father. I want to focus on the way that I felt, and the spirit that had touched me.

 I began this post with a quote about struggling to find strength when you feel too weak. Often times on trek, especially during the women's pull (a time when all of the young men go away so the young women have to pull the cart on their own), I felt like I was on the edge. I felt like I could only pull for a few more steps, I could only push for a few more minutes before I would give up and allow the weight of the cart to stop me from continuing on the path. But somehow, I kept moving, I kept pulling, I kept pushing. Even when my energy seemed long gone, somehow I found the power to keep going. In many ways I think this is similar to the atonement of Jesus Christ. Sometimes the weight of the world and the weight of sin seems like too much to handle. It seems as if at any moment my strength will run out and I will have no choice but to stop moving along the straight and narrow path. But when I turn to Christ, because of the strengthening and enabling power of the atonement of Jesus Christ, I find the strength to keep going, to keep repenting, and to keep forsaking. He gives me the power to keep clinging to the iron rod. Christ's love and charity extend to all people, the strong and the weak, the tall and the small.

"Let us never forget the faith of our fathers and the selfless sacrifice of our mothers, those pioneering Saints who set such an inspiring example of obedience. Let us remember them as we strive to be valiant servants in our work to ‘invite all to come unto Christ’."
by Joseph B. Wirthlin

Ever since I had a testimony I've loved to share it. And for the past many years serving a mission has been set in my heart. Trek is an experience that helped me understand even further how much of a gift the gospel is in our lives, and gave me an overwhelming desire to sacrifice my time and energy for the gospel, as the pioneers did while crossing the plains.

The pioneer saints walked, were hungry, were thirsty, they gave up their homes, all of their belongings, their families, they even suffered death so that I can be where I am now, and so I can know about the gospel and so I can be happy. Sometimes it is so easy to forget about where we came from, but trek reminded me of the great sacrifices that my ancestors made.

Because of the pioneers, because of what they sacrificed and gave to their families and to their God, I've found a desire in my heart to serve they way they have served me. I've found a desire to do hard things, because I know that nothing is impossible when I'm on Christ's side. I’ve found a desire to give opportunity in the way that I have been given.

In conclusion, trek was an amazing experience. It was so much more than just a few kids hiking in the mountains of Pennsylvania. It was a spiritual journey that had a heavy impact in the hearts of all of our youth. It has taught me things that I will remember forever, as I do hard things in college, on my mission, and as I journey through the rest of my life. I will always remember the times when I felt as if I could no longer push, but because of Him, I always kept pushing.

You have a possible ancestor....

Have you received an email from FamilySearch letting you know you have ancestors who have temple work ready to be done?  Or have you discovered one of the several family history apps that help you locate ancestors who's temple work needs to be done?

FamilySearch and the other websites and apps are wonderful tools that facilitate our efforts to take our ancestors names to the temple for ordinance work.  However, with each email, alert, notification, etc there is a caution that needs to be noted.  These are possibilities.  We still have a responsibility to verify the information provided to ensure that our ancestors are accurately listed and linked and their ordinances are done correctly.  Often people are very excited with these notifications only to find that there are duplicates of their ancestors in FamilyTree and once merged the temple ordinance work is found to already be complete.

Part of our responsibility to to clean up these records - to find those duplicates - to correct the information associated with them.  Part of our responsibility is to preserve the records associated with these ancestors - their stories, their photos and their documentation as found through verifying hints and other information on FamilySearch and other research sites.  We are not processing numbers through a system - we are linking our families together through data, through memories and recorded experiences and ultimately through ordinances.  This process of verification, research and preservation helps us come to know them - it helps to bind them in our hearts as well as through the ordinances.

“Jesus Christ gave His life as a vicarious atonement. He resolved the ultimate question raised by Job. He overcame death for all mankind, which we could not do for ourselves. We can, however, perform vicarious ordinances and truly become saviors on Mount Zion for our own families in order that we, with them, might be exalted as well as saved.”—Elder Quentin L. Cook, “Roots and Branches.”

Should we be disappointed when a notification or hint doesn't result in a name to take to the temple?  NO - we should be grateful for the opportunity to come to know that person AND we should recognize where that hint might lead us to.  My family line was said to be "all done".  But I have found that the sometimes tedious efforts of verification has yielded more fruit than I imagined possible.  I have found missing ancestors - ancestors that have been waiting patiently for one of their family to take the time to look.  What a joy it is to walk into the temple with those cards in hand and know that the time spent in the looking was time well spent - knowing that those cards with names printed on them represent real people - real people that are my family.

Don't get discouraged in this work.  If you need help to get started or to figure an new way through in finding your ancestors, your family that may be missing - reach out to your ward/branch Temple and Family History Consultants.  If you don't know who that is - ask your Relief Society leadership.  I encourage you to Start - just Start!

I have not only a great love for temple and family history work, but a testimony of it as well.  I have felt the promises of Elijah at work in my life and seen it in the lives of my children.  I have seen the promises of Elder Bednar regarding our youth's participation in the work fulfilled in the experiences of my daughter, Jessica.  I have seen my husband, who never had any interest in the tedium of family history research, allow the Spirit to work in his heart and he has grabbed hold of this work and found his own way to success and satisfaction.  Why does it all matter?  Because families can be eternal through the sealing power of the Priesthood ordinances - the ordinances need to be performed - every member of the family needs to have the opportunity for those ordinances.  Because there is power and peace that comes into our lives as we engage ourselves and our families in the work of salvation.

-Lorie Pierce

Teach the Doctrine

The third section of the Teaching in the Savior's Way manual is titled - Teach the Doctrine.  The opening paragraphs teach us who's doctrine we are to teach and the power behind both the teacher and the learner when doctrine is taught.

The Savior has commanded us to “teach one another the doctrine of the kingdom” (D&C 88:77). As we do, the Holy Ghost bears witness of the truthfulness of the doctrine and inspires people to live it. Doctrine does not change—rather, it changes us, and it changes those we teach.

President Boyd K. Packer taught, “True doctrine, understood, changes attitudes and behavior.” As a gospel teacher, you can trust that “the virtue of the word of God” has a “more powerful effect upon the minds of the people than … anything else” (Alma 31:5). If you focus on simply entertaining learners or keeping them occupied, you may miss out on teaching eternal truths that will help learners make meaningful changes in their lives.

Continually ask yourself, “How will what I am teaching help my class members build faith in Christ, repent, make and keep covenants with God, and receive the Holy Ghost?”

This section then provides helps for the following categories. 

Use Music, Stories, and Art to Teach Doctrine    
Respond to Difficult Questions with Faith    
Teach the Children
Teach the Youth

Each are valuable resources for us a Gospel teachers in our homes and in our Church assignments.  I especially liked the section on responding to difficult questions with faith.  Years ago, I was asked very last minute (as in when I arrived at Church) to substitute for the Gospel Doctrine class.  I wasn't overly concerned.  I had the manual and the scriptures and these "students" were my friends.  There was, however, a visitor that day who for whatever reason decided that his way of participating was to ask questions off the beaten path.  I recall, as he asked one question, just looking at him and thinking, "Why?  Why does that even matter to this discussion?"  But I patiently tried to address the question (which I've long since forgotten).  He clearly wasn't satisfied and began again.  Bless the brethren in that classroom - they knew me well and spoke up in such a way as to not only rescue me from the increasingly frustrating situation, but also to rescue the class discussion.  That one experience did leave it's unfortunate mark on me.  I have never again willingly taught an adult Sunday School class unprepared and truthfully wouldn't even want to teach it prepared.  Should that assignment ever be mine, I would use this inspired resource to better face the challenges that come with open discussions.  How blessed we are to not be left alone - the Lord truly does provide the help, the support, the resources, and the guidance we need to serve in our Church assignments and to fulfill our various responsibilities at home and elsewhere.

-Lorie Pierce

Gospel Topics

This week I was thinking about a topic for this blog post and was led to something I didn't expect.  I thought I would write a post about "What is a testimony?"  But instead, as I typed in a search on lds.org for bearing testimony - I discovered something else.

I found a section on lds.org called Gospel Topics.  Here is what the introduction of that section says:

"Each Gospel Topic includes a brief overview sharing what Latter-day Saints believe about the topic, links to resources that will help you learn more about the topic, and ideas to help you teach it to others.  Learn more about the role of the Holy Ghost in your pursuit of truth and how to become a more self-reliant gospel learner."

I clicked on Testimony and came to an amazing page of basic information, links to related scriptures, talks, lessons, etc.  Curious - I decided to see what equivalent there might be in the Gospel Library app on my phone.  While the mobile app doesn't provide the same presentation of the information - my search for testimony within the app still produced a large list of potential resources for me to review.

Another very nice feature of lds.org is the Notes.  If you are signed into lds.org while reading and studying, you can make notes and create tags and links - your own personal annotation system.  These notes will sync between what you do on lds.org and the Gospel Library app on your mobile device.  That is very helpful!  It's like having a personal copy of all those scriptures, books, manuals etc. that you are able to highlight and annotate AND carry with you where ever you take your mobile device or can log into lds.org.  Truly we are blessed through this technology to have the words of the Lord and His prophets and apostles, the teachings of general Church leadership, the uplifting messages of the publications, etc. always within our reach.

If I had written a blog post about "What is a testimony?" or "What does bearing testimony mean?" - I had at my fingertips a multitude of useful and relevant resources to guide me.  My post would have included these paragraphs from the Gospel Topics page for Testimony:

"A testimony is a spiritual witness given by the Holy Ghost. The foundation of a testimony is the knowledge that Heavenly Father lives and loves His children; that Jesus Christ lives, that He is the Son of God, and that He carried out the infinite Atonement; that Joseph Smith is the prophet of God who was called to restore the gospel; that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the Savior's true Church on the earth; and that the Church is led by a living prophet today. With this foundation, a testimony grows to include all principles of the gospel.

Testimony grows gradually through experiences. No one receives a complete testimony all at once. It grows as individuals show willingness to serve in the Church and to study, pray, and learn. It increases as individuals obey God’s commandments. Testimony grows as it is shared.

Part of a testimony’s development comes when it is shared. In the Church testimony is shared often in fast and testimony meetings, in Church classes, and in conversations with family members and friends."

Today is Fast Sunday and with it we have the opportunity to bear our testimonies in our Sacrament Meetings.  Let me end this post with mine.

We have a Father in Heaven who knows us individually and loves us.  He knew that as we came into this life, we would make mistakes, we would fall short, we would sin.  Because of His great love for us, He provided a plan of salvation.  I know that Jesus Christ is our Savior, that it is through Him, the Father's plan of salvation is made possible.  I know that as I daily strive to keep the commandments, to live the Gospel, to repent and apply the healing power of Christ's atonement - that I am blessed.  How grateful I am to know that my prayers are heard by a loving Father in Heaven, who along with my Savior is waiting to help me succeed and return to live with them again.  I bear witness of their love and of the peace that comes through following the principles of the Gospel.  In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

-Lorie Pierce