Letter to Myranda - 3/23/2020
3/23/2020
Myranda,
It was so great to visit with you today. What an amazingly difficult time to serve as a missionary. Thank you for sharing your frustrations, your excitement, and your day-to-day thoughts. I love your mission president and his wife’s comments. I’m so glad to know that they understand you and seem to have such love for you already.
Recently, I finished listening to The Saints Volume 2. It was great to learn more of the Church’s history after arriving in Salt Lake. After it ended, I wondered what I should listen to next. I found several things and even tried them but they didn’t feel right. Then, I noticed the book Daughters in My Kingdom: The History and Work of the Relief Society. I’m in chapter 5 of the book now. When I was listening to it this morning, I was impressed by a story:
A sister in Tooele, Utah, learned that a quilt she made had offered relief to a British family during the war. This Relief Society sister had made the quilt in 1906, tucked a note inside it, and sent it to San Francisco, California, to help victims of a terrible earthquake. Eleven years later, the quilt was given to the Red Cross and sent to Great Britain. When the British recipient found the note, she sent a personal thank-you letter, saying that the quilt “came in very useful, as I lost my husband at the front.” Left with eight children and no possibility of working, this widow admitted, “It is as much as I can do to keep going.”
The thing that impressed me about this is that World War 1 began in 1914 and ended in 1918. The Lord prepared a quilt for this sister eleven years before she needed it. This quilt was made for California (where a warm quilt probably wasn’t as important). During the cold British nights, I know this widow tremendously appreciated the selfless service of a person she’d never met... who followed the impressions the Lord had given.
Myranda,
It was so great to visit with you today. What an amazingly difficult time to serve as a missionary. Thank you for sharing your frustrations, your excitement, and your day-to-day thoughts. I love your mission president and his wife’s comments. I’m so glad to know that they understand you and seem to have such love for you already.
Recently, I finished listening to The Saints Volume 2. It was great to learn more of the Church’s history after arriving in Salt Lake. After it ended, I wondered what I should listen to next. I found several things and even tried them but they didn’t feel right. Then, I noticed the book Daughters in My Kingdom: The History and Work of the Relief Society. I’m in chapter 5 of the book now. When I was listening to it this morning, I was impressed by a story:
A sister in Tooele, Utah, learned that a quilt she made had offered relief to a British family during the war. This Relief Society sister had made the quilt in 1906, tucked a note inside it, and sent it to San Francisco, California, to help victims of a terrible earthquake. Eleven years later, the quilt was given to the Red Cross and sent to Great Britain. When the British recipient found the note, she sent a personal thank-you letter, saying that the quilt “came in very useful, as I lost my husband at the front.” Left with eight children and no possibility of working, this widow admitted, “It is as much as I can do to keep going.”
The thing that impressed me about this is that World War 1 began in 1914 and ended in 1918. The Lord prepared a quilt for this sister eleven years before she needed it. This quilt was made for California (where a warm quilt probably wasn’t as important). During the cold British nights, I know this widow tremendously appreciated the selfless service of a person she’d never met... who followed the impressions the Lord had given.
Myranda, during these difficult times do your best to follow the impressions that the Lord has given you. I know that your selfless work will bless individuals (perhaps 11 years from now, perhaps 11 generations from now, or perhaps in the next life). The key is that the Lord knows you and your amazing talents. He isn’t just building you stronger, he’s also using you to bless so many others. We may never see the fruits of your labors, but just as those who built bridges as they moved West across the United States, you can be certain others are grateful. Encourage your companions, your branch members, and everyone you teach to follow that little voice inside.
You were born to lead. While this isn’t always done by being in the front, you’ve been blessed with vision. The Lord also has given you a great gift of communication. Some great leaders are on the white horse, at the front of the battle, rallying the troops to victory. Other great leaders are recognizing things that the captain is not seeing. These leaders present ideas to their captain and the captain sometimes, immediately, takes the idea and runs with it—victory happens. Sometimes the idea will be tucked away for later. Sometimes the idea may never see the light of day. No matter what, this leader helps the captain and in turn the battle.
You’re not the captain now. Keep sharing the impressions the Lord gives you. The time will come when you are a captain and at that time, turn to your advisors and trust their counsel (and help them understand your love for them and your need of their counsel—even when it will be saved for a later time, or never see the light of day).
I sure love you and am grateful for the joy you bring into our lives. It was so great to visit with you today.
Dad
You were born to lead. While this isn’t always done by being in the front, you’ve been blessed with vision. The Lord also has given you a great gift of communication. Some great leaders are on the white horse, at the front of the battle, rallying the troops to victory. Other great leaders are recognizing things that the captain is not seeing. These leaders present ideas to their captain and the captain sometimes, immediately, takes the idea and runs with it—victory happens. Sometimes the idea will be tucked away for later. Sometimes the idea may never see the light of day. No matter what, this leader helps the captain and in turn the battle.
You’re not the captain now. Keep sharing the impressions the Lord gives you. The time will come when you are a captain and at that time, turn to your advisors and trust their counsel (and help them understand your love for them and your need of their counsel—even when it will be saved for a later time, or never see the light of day).
I sure love you and am grateful for the joy you bring into our lives. It was so great to visit with you today.
Dad
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