Worth More Than A Million

As a missionary we are always looking for people to share our message of the restored gospel with. As a missionary you also walk around from appointment to appointment during your day. This often creates an opportunity to come across those people who are outdoors to share our message with. Sometimes this may present an awkward situation though as someone working outside on their lawn or doing other activities can often be startled or caught off guard when two Mormon missionaries in white shirts and ties, who they don't know, walk up to them, say hello, and ask them how they are doing. As a conversation is started usually we, as missionaries, can pretty quickly learn how interested, or not, someone is who we've just walked up to. Whatever the case though we always ask "is there anything we could do for you today?" The answers back do vary, but one of the most popular responses back is "Give me a million dollars." Usually I just laugh this off as nothing but a response to get us on our way quicker and say "Ok, have a nice day!" but the other day when this happened it caused me to think about this statement more. If only these people realized how valuable this message we have to offer really is.

 The message of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ can not be bought or purchased. Neither can the peace and happiness that comes from it. It is truly worth more than a million dollars, it is priceless! Those who realize and find this live rich and wealthy lives. Not the rich and wealth the world thinks of though. They live rich lives because they are inviting God, through their obedience, to poor out blessings of spiritual wealth. It is my hope that we can share this priceless message with all of Gods children in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

  To learn more about this Priceless message visit mormon.org

Mormons and Their Basketball

Why Do Mormons Have a Basketball Court in Their Church Building?

If you were to walk into any LDS church building and head for the center you'd find a large full size, hardwood floor, basketball court complete with two hoops. A lot of non-members when they see this comment that our church is the only church they've ever seen this in. Some wonder, as I'm sure some members do, if this is necessary and I'm here to tell you there is a reason to everything our church does.

    Now I can assure you there are many other reasons and purposes for this large basketball court. In fact many refer to it as a cultural hall rather than a gym because it is used for many other social events, meetings, and it serves as an overflow for Sunday worship. But I can also promise you that during the week the balls will be pulled out, the shots will go up, and the basketball will begin.

   I believe there are three main reasons to why the church has both pick up and league style basketball. The first reason being to have fun. 2 Nephi 2:25 says that Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy. Now I know that basketball and joy don't necessarily go together for every member of the church but for the majority of the male LDS population playing basketball at the church is a great time to step away from the stresses of life, get some much needed exercise, and have FUN! Growing up in the Young Men's program of the church I participated in Scouts. The majority of the time if we were doing a Scout requirement that wasn't the most fun our leaders would bribe us with basketball if we'd pay attention and pass off our requirements. As an Eagle Scout I am grateful to my leaders who not only taught me valuable life lessons but helped us have some physical fun while doing it.
    Later in my life of Young Men's, and beyond, pick up basketball on a Tuesday or Wednesday night at the church was the thing to do. In Arizona there were four church buildings with courts within five miles of each other. You could show up at any of those buildings and find yourself some basketball with members and non-members alike. This is another reason I believe the church has basketball courts. It's a great missionary tool.
    Basketball as a missionary tool may seem odd to you but there is a lot of truth to it. It really does help people learn more about the church. When you invite someone to church they may be frightened because they've never attended one of our church services let alone even stepped into a building. But when you invite them to come play basketball it is a good ice breaker. It allows them to come into the church to see what it's like and helps them feel more comfortable to the point that they may attend a church service someday. A member once told me that his first learning experience about the church was when he came to play basketball. After being with members and in the building he was comfortable enough to ask to meet with the missionaries and was later baptized. And to think that it all started with a simple game of basketball.
     The final reason I believe church basketball is an important part of who we are is the brotherhood that is built while playing basketball. As a young Deacon of 12 years old I played on my wards organized basketball team. Though the league was intended for young men 14-18 our ward didn't have enough boys in that age group to fill a team. So they called upon and invited us younger boys to participate. I will never forget little 12 year old me guarding a giant of a junior or senior in high school. And though our team struggled on the score board we grew closer and closer together as friends and priesthood holders. This pushed us to be the under dogs that upset the big dogs and soon enough we accomplished our goal by winning a few games towards the end of the season. It was never about the wins or the losses though. Looking back all I can remember is the life long friends I made and the good times we had.

     So why do Mormons have basketball courts in their church? Because it has been instituted by God for our pleasure, to create brotherhood among His priesthood holders, and to potentially bring someone unto Him, His church, and His Gospel. So let us be thankful for that basketball court that sits at the center of our buildings and let's take advantage of what it's intended for.

I'll Go Where You Want Me To Go- Part 2 of 2

*If you haven't read yesterday's post about how missionaries receive their mission calls please first read that before reading this post.
   So now that you have an idea of how the Apostles receive revelation for us missionaries and our mission calls I would like to tell you about when I received my call. There is first some paper work you have to submit to the church that states you want to go on a mission and that you have been approved by your local leaders and found worthy to serve a mission for the church. Your paper work and assignment of the call then goes through the process Elder Rasband spoke on. You then receive a letter stating when and and where you'll be serving. This is a very big deal to those who have prepared themselves to serve the Lord and to their families to see where they'll be serving.
   The night I received my mission call is one I'll never forget. As I opened the letter from President Monson I was surrounded by family and friends both in person and over the phone. I had felt pretty calm about opening it and finding out my fate until  I ripped open the envelope, took out the paper, and started to read. Then my heart started to pound. As I slowly read aloud making sure my eyes didn't creep down to where it said I'd be serving I finally reached it. You are hereby called to labor in the Montana Billings Mission.
   My family and friends cheered and the first thought that came to my mind was hey, I know where that is! My quick next thought was I have no clue what is up there. This is when a quick thought of disappointment hit me....Montana? That quickly disappeared though as I soon heard a lot of great things about Montana from my parents, grandparents, and good friend. I went to bed that night with a feeling of great excitement!
   As I look back on that experience, being out on my mission a year now, I can't think anything other than what Elder Rasband testified of. I was called to this mission for a reason! I have been placed in the Montana Billings Mission by inspiration and revelation from an Apostle of the Lord and I continue to be placed in areas of that mission by a mission president for a reason. They both have and continue to be guided by our Heavenly Father who knows the people that I personally need to touch and those who need to touch me. He will continue to place me in the right paths to bring His sheep back to Him.
   As I ponder this and as I leave an area to a new and unknown place one of my favorite church hymns comes to mind. It says
     It may not be on the mountain’s height,
     Or over the stormy sea;
     It may not be at the battle’s front,
     My Lord will have need of me;
     But if by a still, small voice He calls,
     To paths that I do not know,
     I’ll answer, dear Lord, with my hand in Thine,
     I’ll go where You want me to go.
     I’ll go where You want me to go, dear Lord,
    O’er mountain, or plain, or sea;
     I’ll say what You want me to say, dear Lord,
      I’ll be what You want me to be.
I'll go where you want me to go, dear Lord. I have trust in Him and I know I have been called to serve in Montana for a reason. Some I already know and others continue to be discovered each day.

I'll Go Where You Want Me To Go- Part 1 of 2

For anyone who has ever wondered about the process by which missionaries are called to their designated missions here is an expert from a talk in the April 2010 General Priesthood session by Elder Ronald A. Rasband of the Quorum of the Seventy. He tells the story of being able to sit in on this process and how it built his testimony that the Lord truly calls each missionary to their specific mission that is best for them and the people they'll be serving. Check back tomorrow to read about how this has affected me in receiving my mission call to serve the good people of Montana.
    
Elder Rasband: I joined Elder Eyring early one morning in a room where several large computer screens had been prepared for the session. There was also a staff member from the Missionary Department who had been assigned to assist us that day.

First, we knelt together in prayer. I remember Elder Eyring using very sincere words, asking the Lord to bless him to know “perfectly” where the missionaries should be assigned. The word “perfectly” said much about the faith that Elder Eyring exhibited that day.

As the process began, a picture of the missionary to be assigned would come up on one of the computer screens. As each picture appeared, to me it was as if the missionary were in the room with us. Elder Eyring would then greet the missionary with his kind and endearing voice: “Good morning, Elder Reier or Sister Yang. How are you today?”

He told me that in his own mind he liked to think of where the missionaries would conclude their mission. This would aid him to know where they were to be assigned. Elder Eyring would then study the comments from the bishops and stake presidents, medical notes, and other issues relating to each missionary.

He then referred to another screen which displayed areas and missions across the world. Finally, as he was prompted by the Spirit, he would assign the missionary to his or her field of labor.

From others of the Twelve, I have learned that this general method is typical each week as Apostles of the Lord assign scores of missionaries to serve throughout the world.

Having served as a missionary in my own country in the Eastern States Mission a number of years ago, I was deeply moved by this experience. Also, having served as a mission president, I was grateful for a further witness in my heart that the missionaries I had received in New York City were sent to me by revelation.

After assigning a few missionaries, Elder Eyring turned to me as he pondered one particular missionary and said, “So, Brother Rasband, where do you think this missionary should go?” I was startled! I quietly suggested to Elder Eyring that I did not know and that I did not know I could know! He looked at me directly and simply said, “Brother Rasband, pay closer attention and you too can know!” With that, I pulled my chair a little closer to Elder Eyring and the computer screen, and I did pay much closer attention!

A couple of other times as the process moved along, Elder Eyring would turn to me and say, “Well, Brother Rasband, where do you feel this missionary should go?” I would name a particular mission, and Elder Eyring would look at me thoughtfully and say, “No, that’s not it!” He would then continue to assign the missionaries where he had felt prompted.

As we were nearing the completion of that assignment meeting, a picture of a certain missionary appeared on the screen. I had the strongest prompting, the strongest of the morning, that the missionary we had before us was to be assigned to Japan. I did not know that Elder Eyring was going to ask me on this one, but amazingly he did. I rather tentatively and humbly said to him, “Japan?” Elder Eyring responded immediately, “Yes, let’s go there.” And up on the computer screen the missions of Japan appeared. I instantly knew that the missionary was to go to the Japan Sapporo Mission.

Elder Eyring did not ask me the exact name of the mission, but he did assign that missionary to the Japan Sapporo Mission.

Privately in my heart I was deeply touched and sincerely grateful to the Lord for allowing me to experience the prompting to know where that missionary should go.

At the end of the meeting Elder Eyring bore his witness to me of the love of the Savior, which He has for each missionary assigned to go out into the world and preach the restored gospel. He said that it is by the great love of the Savior that His servants know where these wonderful young men and women, senior missionaries, and senior couple missionaries are to serve. I had a further witness that morning that every missionary called in this Church, and assigned or reassigned to a particular mission, is called by revelation from the Lord God Almighty through one of these, His servants.

       Check back tomorrow for Part 2

To read Elder Rasbands full talkClick Here.

To learn more about Mormon MissionariesClick Here and scroll down to "Missionary Program"

   

Sharing the Gospel Using the Internet

This last Sunday I was privileged to speak in the Dillon 2nd ward. Knowing that I would soon be getting involved with our missions new online proselyting pilot program I wanted to let the members know why I would be online and how they could help.

   I based my talk off of a commencement address given at Brigham Young University–Hawaii in 2007 by Elder M.Russel Ballard titled: Sharing the Gospel Using the Internet (link below). In this talk he asks an important question of how will we use Facebook, blogs, Twitter, and the Internet in general to share the gospel? As a missionary and a big user of the internet I see why the church would be pushing for church members to get on line and share their testimonies with others. This month's Ensign focuses on mormon.org and how it was created for the 6 billion people in the world to be able to meet a Mormon and in a way have a conversation with one. Elder Ballard said we need to join the conversation "There are conversations going on about the Church constantly. Those conversations will continue whether or not we choose to participate in them. But we can not stand on the sidelines while others, including our critics, attempt to define what the Church teaches."

    I believe this is the first and easiest step to member missionary work. So my challenge to everyone would be to follow the counsel of Elder Ballard, join the conversation. Create a mormon.org profile, share gospel related things on blogs, in emails, and on Facebook and Twitter. You never know when you may plant a seed or get someone asking questions.

Elder Ballard's Talk Link: http://lds.org/ensign/2008/07/sharing-the-gospel-using-the-internet?lang=eng