Stake Conference Talks

We were ask to speak about preparation for a senior couples mission at our Stake Conference in February.

Dennis's Talk

Preparation for a Senior Couples mission begins long before its time to go.

            Couple should include in there companionships prayers the desire and willingness to serve when the time comes.  This includes newlyweds right up until the time to serve.

Taking advantage of your callings and striving to do the very best job all prepares for the day you will serve a full time mission.

I have had this dream since I was serving as a young elder.My mission president was such a good example of how good life is serving and having your family or companion with you.

Probably the most important things to do is to decided to serve and then set a time table for when you can be available. Five years ago we set the spring of 2013 as our available time knowing that was as soon as Melody would be finished with the commitments she had made for her preschool.  At the time it felt it was forever in the future and we had lots of time to prepare financially and spiritually, mentally.

We have found that time passed very quickly.

There are many resources available as you begin to plan for a mission.  One of the big questions is do I have to proselyte, because I don’t really like doing that.  Well if this is you, you are in luck.  If you have the desire there is a mission for you. You can go to LDS. Org sign in, go to the resources tab, then to missionary.  There is material for the young elders and sisters, and there is a tab for couples. There you will find short recaps of the needs for couples through the world.  Humanitarian, welfare services, church education, temple, farm service, construction, and the best is leadership development and member support.   This website gives information on each of these missions and the basic costs for that particular mission.  So spend some time looking over this information and watching the video clips from couples serving all over the world.  It is constantly changing and having new videos added.

You will find the requirements greatly differ from the young Elders and Sisters.  You have the ability to talk to your children more frequently and when necessary.  You can return home for a short time weddings or births, or funerals. you just have to cover the costs your self.  The Church pays for your transportation to and from the mission field.  The Church recently set a limit on housing expenses.  They set $1400.00 as the ceiling you have to pay.  Of course in many areas the cost is much less and you only have to pay those costs.

In visiting with friends that have served it is more of an exciting adventure, one supper date with your best friend and you make life long friendships that bless your lives for years to come.  Mike Waite said he almost felt guilty because they had so much fun.

You can serve in your local area where you stay in your own home, We have a mission headquarter right here in Farmington, and there is always needs that can be filled.  We have the bishop’s storehouse, and CES missionaries on our college campus.  Family History Centers always can use more help. Many are serving in the Albuquerque temple as temple workers. 

After you have review the needs for couples and they are vast, next you need to make an appointment with your bishop.  He will get you set up on the computer so you can access the on line process of filling out your papers.  The Church allows you to start this process nine months ahead of your available time.  At first we thought that wasn’t really necessary, but we were anxious to know where we were going and wanted that extra commitment to discourage us from possibly of changing out minds. 

President Shulz, had ask us to let him know when we were ready to start our paperwork. And so I called his daughter in law and mentioned we were starting the process.  A couple days latter Mike Waite, Buddy Tafoya and I were riding our ATV above Mancos Co and we were sitting on the side of the Mountain enjoying the view and the wonderful fall colors when my phone rang, It was President Shulz calling on his SKYPE phone, Buddy just could not believe that call was from Africa , so clear and close, when we had not had cell service all morning.

Once you start the paperwork you have to have your medical and dental exams, if you are willing to leave the country you have to have a passport It is good to start your immunizations right away because some of them take 6 months to complete.  As you fill out your paperwork and gets your physicals you get to that all important step of pushing the button.  That means you are ready to send the papers to the bishop and you are ready for his interview.  He then gets to add comments to your papers and He then push’s the button to send them onto the Stake President.  After His interview he gets to add comments to the application and the final button is pushed and your paperwork is off to Salt Lake City.

Now eternity has begun, at least that what seems like for that three to four weeks to pass before your call arrives in the mail.  It is anxious time even if you have made a special request of where you would like to serve.  You do agree to go where the Lord Calls you to go.  It is exciting to know that at least one of the Apostles reviews your papers on that special day and makes the assignment where the Lord needs you to serve

When our call finally arrived I was out of town, and we put off opening the letter until Saturday morning.  That morning at 8 AM our children that live in Farmington had gathered, and we had the rest of the family connected on SKYPE and smart phones.  They were in Alaska, Washington State, Utah, Arizona, and Korea

As Melody and I both had separate letters we read them together that said your are called to serve as MISSIONARY OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS, You are assigned to labor in the Ghana Cape Coast Mission.  I am not sure who was more relieved Melody or President Farnsworth. Let me explain.  When Melody was having here interview with President Farnsworth he ask if she was willing to serve wherever the Lord Called Her.   She clouded right up and said as long as it is in Africa.  He said he had really prayed for her mission call to be Africa.  We were excited because that was the mission we requested.

Now the work begins in earnest.  You now have a lot more paperwork to fill out to get the right information for VISAs, shopping for the right clothing necessary for your mission climate, making sure you have the right size of luggage, because the requirements can be different in the different parts of the world.

           

My cousin Barton Palmer and His wife Jean receive there call the same day we did and they just left for Russia.  We are in the tropics and our clothing requirements are light.  They were instructed to not purchase there heavy clothing because of the weight and size restrictions and they will go shopping as soon as they arrive in their sub zero climate.

It takes time to decide what you are going to do with your home.  Do you close it up, have family live in or possibly rent it. We are cleaning and reducing lots of stuff and plan to leave an empty home for our Son and his family to move in while we are gone.  They have a desire to sell there home and buy or build while we are gone.

Deciding how you are going to take care of the bills while you are gone.  Make arraignments for auto drafts or make arrangement for family or someone to look after the bills and your account..  Several couple said they paid their bills from the mission field but would have rather had someone at home take care of those things,

We have to make arrangements for insurance that cover you while out of the country.  We will be able to rent a car from the Church and will be in an area where transporting missionaries will be necessary.  We are asked to bring our four generations and to be familiar with the Family Search program and be able to help teach new member how to begin the family history.  We have the Accra temple just 90 miles from our assigned area, and will have the opportunity attend the temple.

The letter from President Monson sums it all up in these 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 by keeping the commandments, living the mission rules, and following the counsel of your mission president.  As you devote your time and attention to serving the Lord, leaving behind all other personal affairs, the Lord will bless you with increased knowledge and testimony of the Restoration and the truths of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

The Lord will reward you for the goodness of your life.  Greater blessings and more happiness than you have yet experienced await you as you humbly and prayerfully serve the Lord in this labor of love among His children.  We place our confidence in you and pray that the Lord will help you become an effective missionary

Melody's Talk

How we have prepared to serve a mission as a Sr. couple:

A few weeks back Pres. Farnsworth asked Dennis and I to discuss with you ways that we have been preparing to serve a mission.

 I believe Dennis and I have been planning to serve a mission together all our married lives.  It’s hard to believe that, now, the time has actually arrived!  This is something I have anticipated for decades and I sometimes I feel very sad for those sisters whose husbands don’t want to go on a mission in their later lives.   We’ve observed Senior missionary service first hand as we helped support my parents as they served a mission in Germany in 1990, and were with Dennis’ parents as they served a temple mission in Denver, CO in the 80’s.  We even visited our dear friends, the Waites, when they were serving in Martin’s Cove, and saw first hand, what it was like for them as they greeted visitors, conducted tours, and kept the grounds. As we served in the Alb. Temple we watched some of our fellow ordinance workers leave and return from their missions.  We would listen to their experiences with great interest.

Some couples expressed to us that a window of opportunity opened up for them to go on a mission.  They grabbed it, served, and then because of health, family situations, or finances, the window closed.  They were so happy that they had responded when they did.  They received precious experiences and associations that they would treasure for eternity. 

In preparing for this talk, I visited with returned missionaries, asking how they had prepared, and how they wished they had prepared better.  They said they  could have read their scriptures better, but that just living the gospel the best they knew how was the best preparation;  accepting and magnifying their callings, and learning to genuinely love people… even those that seem to be on a lower spiritual plane.  At the MTC they were told that the Sr. couples invariably tell investigators too much at one time.  They need to be taught as Primary children.( I think I can relate to that)  The By-word is… KISS…”Keep it simple Seniors”. 

I also want to talk a little about developing Faith.  This whole mission experience is involving a huge amount of fear, intimidation, sacrifice and faith.  I am constantly referring back in my memory to all the many times I have felt the Lord’s tender mercies on my behalf;  When I knew without a doubt that my prayers and fasting were answered. I try to keep focusing on the times when I felt actual miracles bless our family.  Every time I wake up in the night experiencing a small anxiety attack I cling to those memories, reminding myself that the Lord has asked us to serve and He will provide where we come up short.

Let me talk a little about our thoughts on serving in Africa.  Over the past several years, as I personally contemplated where we might be called on our mission a vague idea started to formulate that with my teaching back-ground and Dennis’ construction experience we might be useful as humanitarian missionaries to some 3rd  world country.  We didn’t speak any foreign languages so knowing that many nations in Africa have English as their official language, Africa seemed like a good choice.  Then my thought patterns started to change.  It started one day as I was watching a program on the BYU channel about a group of black people  in an African country who came upon some teaching materials and the Book of Mormon.   Their leader, who was a sincere and faithful man, sent requests to church headquarters for missionaries to be sent to them… they were ready to fully embrace the gospel and wanted baptism.  At that time the church had not yet opened up Africa to missionary work as the Priesthood had not yet been made available to all worthy males. This African congregation flourished and grew on their own through the 1970’s.  When Africa was finally opened up to missionary work, many hundreds of people were already living the gospel and whole congregations were baptized.  Watching this commentary changed my perspective.  I was so touched that tears streamed down my face for many minutes.  I was filled with a great desire to teach the gospel to humble, spiritual people like these!  As the months and years passed, I couldn’t even discuss the possibility of a mission to Africa without getting a lump in my throat and tears coming to my eyes.  The desire just grew and strengthened.  Then about a year and a half ago we had the opportunity to visit with a couple who had served a mission in Guana, West Africa.  They were visiting their kids who lived in Farmington, and we asked if we could come over and ask questions about their mission experience.  We had a glorious discussion with them.  They expressed the deep love they had for the wonderful people there… how humble and kind and loving they were.  One comment  I will always remember them making was

“ We were sad to leave our grandchildren and children, knowing we would not see them for 2 years, but when our mission was over, we were completely devastated to leave our friends in Ghana, knowing we would probably never see them again, in this life. We cried and cried.”  You can imagine their joy, as several years later, they were called back to Ghana as the mission Pres.

6.    Now a year and a half later, we have the special privilege of serving with this same couple in the Guana Cape Coast mission.  We will be member support and leadership training missionaries.  They have asked us to serve in a district called Agona Swedru.  There are 7 strong branches in the district.  It is their desire that we help the district become a Stake.  To say that we feel intimidated and humbled by this assignment is an understatement!  We have no idea how we will proceed to accomplish that goal.  But we do know is how to fast and pray for guidance.  We have seen how strong Wards and Stakes operate. We have served in all of the auxiliaries at one time or another. We have a strong testimony of the beauty and goodness of the church.  We love the prophets and believe their teachings.  We are thrilled to be considered worthy to serve.  I know the time will go way too fast.  I know we will love this experience, as we grow closer to the Lord and grow closer to each other.

7.  Now there is still much to do physically to prepare.  We are grateful that we submitted our papers early and received our call early, almost 8 months before we had to report to the MTC. We are clearing out our house.  Our son and his family will live in it while we are gone. We have a 20 year accumulation of lots of STUFF.  It’s amazingly liberating to clear it out, contemplating living in a culture that has very little material possessions.

8.  To close my talk tonight I would like to give you a brief history and overview of the growth of the church in Ghana.  Through the missionary portal we accessed the history of the church in Ghana.  This is what we found.

Members have been in Ghana since 1978.  IN the 1950’s The Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Christ along with various pamphlets about the Church found their way to Ghana.  These were read by many Ghanaians who were converted to the gospel and used them as a basis to start their own Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  In 1964 Joseph W. B. Johnson gained a testimony of the Book of Mormon and provided leadership in organizing and directing congregations consisting of hundreds of followers.  In 1978 two missionary couples entered Ghana from Nigeria and baptized many of Johnson’s congregations.  Within  3 years 7 branches were functioning in Ghana.  All converts were taught the gospel in their own language and trained in leadership skills.  Now, 35 years later, Ghana, which is only 75% the size of New Mexico, has 48, 578 members, 7 Stakes, 1 temple, and 28 family history centers.

I was deeply touched when I realized that the same Church commentary I heard on the BYU channel so many years ago, that inspired me to want to preach the gospel in Africa was the very story of the history of the Church in Ghana.  We will have the privilege to serve these people who, without benefit of church leadership, missionaries, baptism, or support , embraced the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon, forged forward, teaching and living the Gospel the very best they knew how for 20 years, until Church Headquarters sent them missionaries, support and leadership.

9.  I would like to add my testimony that that of Elder Alexander B. Morrison of the council of the Seventy when he said: “Only the Gospel of Christ will save Africa. Schemes of men, no matter how well intentioned, will not do it.  Science and technology and economic investment, although desperately needed will not do it.  The salvation of Africa, like the salvation of the rest of the world will come only through the sweet fruits of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.”  This is also my testimony.  In the name of Jesus Christ.

Amen