Does the journey seem long?

The title of this, my final letter as a full-time missionary, is the title of one of my favorite hymns in the book. #127, written by Joseph Fielding Smith, the lyrics are:

1.Does the journey seem long,

The path rugged and steep?

Are there briars and thorns on the way?

Do sharp stones cut your feet

As you struggle to rise

To the heights thru the heat of the day?

2.Is your heart faint and sad,

Your soul weary within,

As you toil ’neath your burden of care?

Does the load heavy seem

You are forced now to lift?

Is there no one your burden to share?

3.Let your heart be not faint

Now the journey’s begun;

There is One who still beckons to you.

So look upward in joy

And take hold of his hand;

He will lead you to heights that are new—

4.A land holy and pure,

Where all trouble doth end,

And your life shall be free from all sin,

Where no tears shall be shed,

For no sorrows remain.

Take his hand and with him enter in.

Oh boy, if that song doesn't describe the mission experience I don't know what does. The mission, and really life in the gospel is not easy. The journey really is long, but Christ is really there. He spoke to the Nephites in the thickest darkness anyone could imagine, and he can speak to us as well in those darkest moments. 

Reflecting on a two year journey, the biggest and most sacred lesson I've learned is of service. By helping, serving, and teaching others we really do gain access to a higher, holier, power of God and our testimony of Christ and his atonement grows. The old serpent, Satan, enjoys watching us wither in sorrow and often tells us that because we are imperfect, that because we have weaknesses and sins, that every effort to do something good is in vain. Christ tells us the opposite and teaches us that his power is perfected in weakness. Paul begged the Lord 3 times to take away the "thorn in the flesh" and the Lord only responded, and then Paul reflected:

“My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.” 2 Corinthians 12: 8-10

A much more powerful statement than one I could ever write. 

The Book of Mormon is true, Joseph Smith is the prophet of the restoration, we have prophets, seers, and revelators on the earth today, and the prophetic mantle now rests upon Russell M. Nelson. And I know God uses us as instruments in his hands.

The prophet Alma, the founder of the Church of Christ amongst the Nephites, taught us a principle that is found in one of my favorite scriptures In the Book of Mormon (and please forgive me if I'm just rambling now). Alma taught:

“But remember the iniquity of king Noah and his priests; and I myself was caught in a snare, and did many things which were abominable in the sight of the Lord, which caused me sore repentance; 

Nevertheless, after much tribulation, the Lord did hear my cries, and did answer my prayers, and has made me an instrument in his hands in bringing so many of you to a knowledge of his truth.  

Nevertheless, in this I do not glory, for I am unworthy to glory of myself.”

Alma is a legend, and really us as missionaries can relate to this scripture and for that, it's one of my favorite scriptures of all time. The Book of Mormon really just has infinite ways to reflect. 

As I close out the letter, I just want to write a brief experience or two from this week:

About a week or two ago, while knocking doors, we found this lady named Lupe. She sad she was available on Thursdays, so on Thursday we went back and she wasn't there. This Thursday, after having gone to the temple, we came back and felt like we should visit Lupe to see if she was home. We walked over there, knocked her door and she came out. She didn't have a ton of time but she allowed us to share a brief message and we gave her a Book of Mormon. She told us to come back the next day. The next day we were in exchanges and Elder Tippetts and I, walked over to Lupes house to see if she was home. She wasn't, and I honestly was pretty sad. There wasn't anything we could do, and elder Tippetts really had to use the bathroom, so we went all the way home. We prayed that if we went back, Lupe would be home. We walked all the way back, knocked the door andamos she was home! She allowed us to teach a lesson,  and we taught the restoration, at the very end of the lesson a bunch of family or whoever walked in and she had to end the lesson, but she asked us to come back on Monday night so we'll teach her today. It was a really good experience from this week. Anyways, that's all from me today and I guess the rest of my mission (cause today's my last Monday) but I'll see you all on Friday!