Oh Elder Oaks, you can’t possibly not like him. Whenever he spoke as of late, he has been often speaking on the role of the church, of its members in the world, as well as our view over non-members and organizations not directly affiliated with the church, and how we all can still work together towards the greater good.

I just might have passed the threshold of listening to his talk 10+ times while thinking what it would be my takeaway from his words.

The Lord gave this revelation to guide its members and, I believe, all of His children worldwide…

Dallin H oaks.

To Call, Support and Act

— To Call

Even though I have listened to it so many times to it, I haven’t come to the realization that I was expecting until I decided to write about it. It’s strange, but still a very well-timed impression. I’m struggling to understand what I should do in my Service Mission. It’s something neither I nor my family have any familiarity with. And we can’t judge whether I’m doing great or not, if I’m hitting all the marks for full accomplishment or not.

But those things aside, as a missionary and as a member of the church, we’ve been called to serve. The Lord had said, “For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you … If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.” (John 13:15,17).

The Savior himself asks us to do as He has done; while applying that to serving others, it’s a selfless and charitable service, without thinking much and analyzing the quality and social experience, or even to feeling fulfilled and to be enjoyably engaged in serving others. Rather, the Lord asks us to do as he has done to us. I would bet on, that in his perspective, I’m a tiresome, troublesome, hard-headed, and little to no joy-bringer. Yet, he loves, forgives, withstands my rebellions and serves me.

— To Support

He washes my sins, provides in my moments when I lack faith, teaching while I reject him and showering me with His love when I haven’t done anything wherewith to repay Him. Surely, had I been on the physical receiving end from Him being on a service mission, I can see him forgo financial aid, social interaction; a feeling of fulfillment or accomplishment in order to provide service to me to the best of His ability. He wouldn’t be at all bitter or resenting for not being able to teach me the gospel with words, but he would show his love immensely to me through his gestures instead. And THAT, that is [The Call], which he called me to do. As a service missionary in His name, and in the name of His church.

Truly, he gives us aid even when we struggle and feel to be lost amid a sea of sadness and pain. We seek answers, demand a reason, request explanations and justifications, as I had been doing even up to a few minutes ago while writing this text.

Though, now it’s the hard part.

— To Act Σ(ＴωＴ)

To be members of a Christian religion, we strive to be like Christ. But, He is perfect, there’s no way in earth that we as imperfect humans can possibly achieve that on our own. And just like me minutes ago, I hoped for rules, guidelines and strict instructions.

It is much easier. By waking up everyday by 6:30am, following other rules and achieving these goals makes my mission fulfilling, it would provide a sense of accomplishment. The environment supports that as well. But for a service mission we’re pretty much left to find our individual threshold on where is that solution to achieve a fulfillment and accomplishment of our purpose as missionaries.

The Lord gave this revelation to guide its members and, I believe, all of His children worldwide:

“Behold, it is not meet that I should command in all things; for he that is compelled in all things, the same is a slothful and not a wise servant.”

Dallin H Oaks / D&C 58:26

Then, Elder Oaks quotes this… yikes.

Until then, I had been personally feeling distressed and disheartened in my missionary service, because I couldn’t feel like I’m being asked anything grand for some divinely intended purpose, like that of teaching the gospel and bringing souls to the knowledge of it. The teaching mission is a unique experience only to most people in the church, only available during a teaching mission. While, actions such as volunteer service at food pantries, helping in the ward in callings, or activities, providing service here and there, felt like it wasn’t anything I couldn’t do without being a missionary, so I questioned what is there for me in this type of mission, or what is so uniquely required of me or expected of me that the Lord has assigned me here instead to go teaching the gospel, what then makes of me A Missionary? The badge? Attending missionary meetings? Having mission leaders?

If the service itself doesn’t make me a missionary, then what does?

I can serve anywhere and anytime, a service mission isn’t necessary for that. Reading the scriptures have been done since I was a child and will be forever part of my life as long I stay a member; so is praying, fasting, bearing testimony, sharing the gospel, etc. So in the end, what is it that singles me out and identify me as a Missionary?

“Verily I say, men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness; For the power is in them, wherein they are agents unto themselves. And inasmuch as men do good, they shall in nowise lose their reward.”

And this gave me a slight answer to those questions. What I was expecting of [to be] a missionary isn’t really that important. He has called me to be a missionary, because it’s my priesthood responsibility, and I was commanded to do it. But I’m not commanded in all things, because from that or doing nothing at all, I would still be a “slothful servant”.

The silver lining in this message is that, I had been given the power to be my own agent into bringing to pass much righteousness. Where I thought I wasn’t able to do anything to offer to my Savior for calling me to be a missionary, I was given the change to offer it all to him as much as I could, and he would receive it. Because all that is good is of God,

“When ye are in the service of your fellow beings, ye are only in the service of your God.”

I’m serving my Lord and Savior, He accepts it, it’s enough for Him and; He says that as long as I do good, in no instance I would lose my reward. Truly, this is a very obvious and straightforward message, I’ve heard it from my mission leaders, for parents, from other missionaries, from other leaders, and only now, after 5½ months of service. Only now sank into my head and was able to comprehend it.

Now, comprehending this, the previous disheartening and feeling downcast, now I have received new-found desire to serve, even as my bones creak and my back hurts. Because I trust the promises He has made to me, that I’d be blessed with strength to carry out my duty, that he’d prepare the way for me to do so, and that there is a reward for me, even joy, which is something I can’t still understand or achieve. But he said I wouldn’t lose my reward, so I’ll choose to trust Him.

Courageously Walking Forward.

Elder Santos, Service Missionary.