I was cleaning the top of my refrigerator this morning and found this mixed in with my fridge magnets:
My eyes only welled up a tiny bit. Nathan’s missionary service has changed him. And he is carrying that missionary spirit with him as he moves forward in his life. Our newest fridge magnet is a valuable reminder of how by simply living the gospel openly, in normal and natural ways and in even the most routine of activities, we can strengthen ourselves and our families as well as share the gospel with those around us.
For my birthday earlier this year my mother-in-law gave me a book by Sis. Wendy Nelson entitled “What Would a Holy Woman Do?” The idea of the message shared is to look at our day to day lives and ask ourselves how a holy woman would accomplish each task, no matter how mundane, so that we can incrementally become more holy one day and one task at a time. I feel like this missionary magnet in the center of our kitchen is another such reminder. How would a representative of Jesus Christ act in each daily chore, activity, and interaction?
Back when Daniel was in the MTC preparing for his mission to Oregon, he was asked what it was like going to church in Utah. His response was that there are members of the church and there are disciples of Christ. I feel like that is a perfect way to describe someone who is living the gospel casually as opposed to someone who is really committed to the Savior. It is a phrase that has made its way into our family culture, and I personally use it all the time. It is a distinction that is continually helping me determine how I’m doing on the covenant path. If I’m feeling lackadaisical or indecisive about something, I’ll ask myself if my choice is consistent with being a true disciple or if my level of commitment is just enough to qualify as a member of the church. And being completely honest with myself has helped me make some changes that I hope will be for my eternal good.
Both Daniel’s and Nathan’s missionary service have influenced our entire family. Being able to talk to them regularly as they served helped us feel like we were a part of their lives while they were away. The additional element of streaming church meetings allowed us to have a front row seat for several big events in Nathan’s time as a missionary. And watching both of them become truly converted through the course of their missions has had a profound impact on me. As these phrases and magnets serve as reminders for me as well as them, it has shown me that while I worked diligently to teach them while they were young, now they are teaching me. And I love that I’m learning from my children.
