Set Apart

Today we were set apart. We are missionaries. We are very happy.

We were set apart by Pres Rhine, our stake president, in the Anacortes building. We had several guests, our dearest friends from the ward: Nancy Oczkewicz, Kay and Larry Winebrenner, Bishop Rutter, his second counselor Bro Treiber, Fred Stone, Karen and Norm Buker, and my dear 'brother' Norman Landerman-Moore.

I was set apart first. D and Pres Rhine did it, w/ Pres Rhine as voice. I was blessed with health and strength and the ability to inspire and teach the family history patrons effectively. I was also blessed that during our service our own family would be blessed with the things they need. There was much more that is only vague in my memory. It was very nice.

Then D was set apart. Pres Rhine was voice again, and Bsp Rutter assisted. D's blessings emphasized more of the technical side of the work, and mentioned patrons only toward the end. Again he was blessed w/ health and strength, patience, and blessings for his family during his time of service.

So we are missionaries now.

Our report date is still 12 days away. But this was our last Sunday here. Next week we will attend w/ our new branch.

Which reminds me that we were both promised wonderful new friendships. Stay tuned...

We only hope the friends we are leaving behind will find their way to SLC and visit and have some fun with the wonderful family history facilities that will be our bailiwick. They think they will...

What Elder Hales Said

Years ago Elder Hales gave a wonderful conference talk on senior missionary needs. He then wrote a sequel in the Liahona (May 2005). I have just been reading it as I prepare a talk on Sacrifice for church today.

"My brothers and sisters, if you have felt stirrings to engage in this work, however quiet those feelings may be, do not procrastinate the day of your service. Now is the time to prepare; now is the time to be called, the time to sacrifice. Now is the time to share your gifts and talents, and now is the time to receive God's blessings for you and your family."

"Only through our faith can we heed God's counsel to 'choose ye this day, whom ye will serve' - to serve the Lord God who made you. And only through a trial of our faith can we receive the miraculous blessings we see for ourselves and our families. 'For if there be no faith among the children of men God can do no miracle among them.'"

"If any man serve me, him will my Father honor." John 12:26. (quoted by Elder Hales).

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Sacrifice means to make holy, or to go back to the original Hebrew word korfan, it means to draw closer to God. There are many ways to do this, such as parenthood. But it is my testimony that one way that was prepared by the Lord for senior couples is to serve a mission - when called, where called, done with honor, service, and sacrifice.

It is sacrifice to leave family behind, to sell possessions, to learn new ways. It blesses those whom we serve, but it also blesses us abundantly because we literally draw closer to God.

"And whoso layeth down his life in my cause, for my name's sake, shall find it again, even life eternal."

So be it. PL