That They Might Have Joy

Tonight was my first night studying with the help of Preach My Gospel.  I bought it today.  I want to read it cover to cover, so I started with the First Presidency Message.  That's as far as I got.

The first thing to strike me was in the first paragraph.  It says, "There is no ore compelling work than this, nor any which brings greater satisfaction."  The words compelling and satisfaction stood out to me.  At first glance they seem a bit off.  I'm not being forced to go on a mission, and satisfaction is used more to say that you're barely ok with it, that it fits the bill and that's about it.

Looking closer, and with the help of my handy dandy scriptures, there's a bit more too it.  Compelling is linked to Constraint in the Index.  Nephi was constrained to kill Laban in 1 Nephi 4:10.  Constraint is an action of the Spirit, confining you to the path you are meant to be on.  I am being constrained to go on a mission.  I am being compelled to serve.  I could deny the Spirit and find my own path, but it would not be nearly as fruitful as this one.  

I feel that being satisfied is more akin to when Jehovah ended a day of creating the Earth and called it "good" (Genesis 1) and then rested.  This satisfaction is of the eternal sort, by knowing that we have had a hand in someone changing their path and creating a better eternity for themselves and their family, we can rest and rejoice in the knowledge that we have done the work of the Lord.

Laborers in a Vineyard

That is something else that stood out to me.  In the third paragraph it says that every missionary is a part of the Lord's work and His glory.  I've never thought of it that way, but as a missionary, there are many descriptions of me in the scriptures.  Maybe not me specifically no, but when the Lord of the Vineyard labors with his servants in Jacob 5, that includes me now.  It's a bit daunting, but also really exciting.  I can already feel my horizons expanding.  My memory is improving, I haven't been able to pull scriptures out of my mind for a situation for a long while.  My mind is stretching, I can comprehend things or think of new ideas easier. Part of this is, I am aware, inspiration.  Tonight I was confronted with a choice, a conscious choice, of returning to my easier life that pleased the natural man in me, or shutting out someone who needs my help.  The Lord opened my mind to suggest something that keeps me focused on the Lord, "having an eye single to His glory" if you will, while also allowing me to be an instrument in His hands to help this young man.

It's like I've arrived in a whole new world.  Like I was blind, deaf, and utterly emotionless and cold to the world around me.  My world is exploding with color and music.  I can see the souls of my fellow man in the bright, beautiful sunbursts.  I cannot help but be astounded by it all.  The Lord's work is indeed good, and what's more, He is calling me to help Him improve it in my own way.

What can I say more?

Adieu!

Crazy Score for the Day: 7 of 10