I’m out and posting from my phone.
This week, study:
“Preparing the world for the Second Coming”
By Elder Neil L. Andersen
Share your insights in the comments below.
Have a great week!
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Diapers and Divinity 
It was a little sad to move out east and realize the 24th of July isn’t a recognized holiday. *sigh* Hope everyone had a great weekend! 🙂
This was such a great talk. It really struck me when Elder Andersen asked the question that all missionaries need to ask of themselves- ‘not “What can I get from my mission?” but rather “What can I give?”‘ Such a poignant question for mothers too- sometimes I approach a day with SO much that needs to be done that I don’t really pause to look at my kids and ask myself what I can give them today. I guess that’s that true goal of motherhood- finding that balance of physical provisions along with identifiying and meeting the emotional and spiritual needs too. Sounds like a tall order, but the quote Elder Andersen shared from the Strength of Youth pamphlet was just what I needed to hear: “We pray for each of you… that you can do the great work that lies before you…that you will be worthy and willing to carry on the responsibilities of building the kingdom of God and preparing the world for the Second Coming of the Savior.”
This talk made me think about the effort I need to be making to help prepare my son to receive the priesthood and then for his mission. E. Andersen’s quote really rang true for me: “Your actions before your mission will greatly influence the priesthood power you bring with you into the mission. Prepare yourself well.” As an RM myself, I certainly found a wide range of abilities & preparation in the other missionaries I served with. I hope I can encourage my son to be ready and worthy to go.
I loved the story at the beginning. It is always so inspiring to me when these young men (or women) give up (or set aside) something that means a lot to them and go serve faithfully and whole-heartedly.
A line that stuck out to me was “Worthiness and preparation are essential…In the years prior to your mission, please remember the sacred assignment ahead of you.” Then it continues on to share the portion of the quote in the previous comment, which I also love.
But the word that really stuck out to me was YEARS, not the year prior to, not the months prior to, not the days prior to but the yearS prior to their missions they must remember the sacred responsibility that is ahead of them.
I have the same feelings of the others that I feel a great responsibility to help prepare my son(s?) for the great priesthood and missionary work that lies ahead. Great talk.
As I was reading this I was keeping this question in mind: as a mother how can I prepare the world for the second coming?
And it comes down to fulfilling my responsibility as a mother. Teaching my children the gospel so that they gain testimonies and desire to serve the Lord.
Plus making sure I’m setting aside enough money to serve a mission with my husband at some point. As well as making sure the gospel is alive in our home each and every day with prayers, scriptures and testimony.
I thought Melody’s comment was great-what can I give my children today? What a fabulous question to have in mind each day as we go about our responsibilities.
I read this talk a couple of weeks ago as part of my preparation to teach a lesson on missionary work in Relief Society. I, too, was struck by the reminder that sharing the gospel is essentially a priesthood duty (although as sisters we’re not off the hook – all members should be missionaries).
We have five sons. Several years ago Elder Bednar gave a talk in conference on the importance of “being” a missionary long before you “go” on a mission. As a mother I felt a strong sense of responsibility to help my sons understand that. It’s a wonderful feeling to see the fruits of that hard work, and it is hard work, even if it’s a bunch of little things over and over (for example, having family home evening consistently, encouraging seminary attendance, teaching skills like studying the scriptures and preparing meals and washing clothes and learning how to work and talk to strangers and being kind to others, etc. etc. etc.) We had son #4 return home from his mission last month, and son #5 is off to college next month for a year of living on his own before his mission. And they have wonderful friends. It feels great to have confidence in the next generation, and the responsibilities they’ll have to further the work of preparation for the second coming.
Although the talk was geared to the Aaronic Priesthood, I still felt the power of Elder Andersen’s closing testimony -“I testify of the majesty, but most of all, of the certainty of this magnificent event. The Savior lives. He will return to the earth. And whether on this side of the veil or the other, you and I will rejoice in His coming and thank the Lord that He sent us to earth at this time to fulfill our sacred duty of helping prepare the world for His return.” I want to do all I can to live worthy of rejoicing at that great day.