Letter From Mom

My Dearest Landon,

When you receive this letter, you will be in Frankfurt, Germany. I already miss you! Having just arrived at your mission and your new home for the next two years, I remember one morning when you were 7. We had just moved to Virginia, and I was upstairs sleeping. You were hungry and decided you were going to make your own breakfast. You ran up the stairs when you were finished and said, "Ok mom, I am ready to go on a mission, I can make my own breakfast." I remember that day like it was yesterday, and here it is 12 years later, and the time has come for you to depart on your mission. Time sure went by fast, and you have grown into such an incredible and amazing young man.

I am so excited for you and this great journey that you are about to begin. I have loved watching you grow spiritually over the years, but especially over the last six weeks while doing home MTC. I am so grateful for the opportunity that you were able to do your MTC training at home. You continue to amaze me with how quickly you have learned the German language and your commitment to your mission.

Being the mom that I am, I wanted to offer you a few pointers while on your mission:

You Make Your Mission Successful

Your mission will be exactly what you decide to make it. Your excellent mission president and good missionary companions will help you along the way, but keep in mind that you are the central and decisive factor in the success of your own mission. Your young but strong shoulders bear the responsibility of the call you willingly and happily accepted. You have seen missionaries in a variety of countries and circumstances. You have also observed that in rather similar situations, one missionary is successful, another a little less so. The difference lies in the attitude and desire of the individual missionary. Make the inevitable challenges of missionary work stepping stones for your own spiritual growth. Determine now that nothing will keep you from magnifying with honor your missionary call.

Simplify Your Life

As most missionaries, Landon, you come from school years rich in their variety of choice and activity. But your success as a missionary will depend, in part, on your ability to simplify your life and focus on the purpose of your call. You now move from a life centered on your own needs to one concerned with the welfare of others. Some missionaries struggle, not wanting to let go of the past and consequently never fully committing themselves to the labor at hand. There is no way a successful missionary can have one foot in the world and one in his missionary labors. Successful missionaries make that transition. They leave behind everything that may distract them from their primary purpose. Resist bringing extra luggage with you into the mission field, both in your suitcase and in your mind.

Be Teachable

Whatever calling you hold in the Church, someone will always preside over you. That person will teach and encourage you in your responsibilities. Landon, be wise enough and humble enough to learn from them. By being teachable, we activate the full force and blessings of the Atonement in our lives. We become sensitive to the whisperings of the Holy Spirit so that the righteous principles taught by the prophets and the truths from the earth can place Christ deeply into our lives. We become His true disciples.

Be Obedient

Mission rules are important in the same way commandments are important. We all need to keep them, understanding that they give us strength, direction, and limits. The smart missionary will learn the intent of the rules and make them work for him. Your mission is a time of discipline and single-minded focus. Elder Ulisses Soares taught, "If you obey with a willing heart, you will be demonstrating to the Lord your willingness to follow Him, your love for Him and for our Heavenly Father. Your spiritual progress will be broader. You will come to know the Savior, and this will make all the difference in your mission and in your life." Our obedience is a sign of our love, friendship, and discipleship to the Savior who we represent as missionaries. Obedience to the commandments leads to blessings from God and shows our love for Him and for His Son Jesus Christ.

Stay with the Scriptures

Missionaries sometimes feel they need doctrinal reference books to enhance their understanding of the gospel. Believe me, Landon, they are not necessary for your gospel study in the mission field. Make the scriptures the basic doctrinal textbook of your mission. The Lord has told His elders: "Teach the children of men the things which I have put into your hands by the power of my Spirit." "And ye are to be taught from on high. Sanctify yourselves and ye shall be endowed with power, that ye may give even as I have spoken." (D&C 43:15-16.) You will find the Lord to be a man of His word. The promise He extends to you as a missionary is true.

Respect the Title You Hold

There are few men in the Church who are referred to as "Elder," but one is you—a full-time missionary. Respect that title, Landon; refer to it with reverence. Many men have brought honor to it. You do the same.

Keep a Proper Perspective

The real success of a mission is not measured on a chart—it is etched in your heart and in the hearts of those whose lives are eternally changed because of you. Share your testimony often. I have seen nothing in a missionary that exerts more power and positive influence than the bearing of pure and simple testimony. Your testimony is the first step in the conversion of those whom you teach. Have courage to invite others to change their lives and come to Christ through obedience to the principles and ordinances of the gospel.

The Lord taught the Nephites: "Now this is the commandment: Repent, all ye ends of the earth, and come unto me and be baptized in my name, that ye may be sanctified by the reception of the Holy Ghost, that ye may stand spotless before me at the last day. Verily, verily, I say unto you, this is my gospel." (3 Ne. 27:20-21.)

Bless the lives of others with your priesthood and your presence.

Landon, love every minute of your service to those wonderful German people. Love their country, their food, customs, language, and heritage. They will enrich your life and understanding.

Please always remember the work in which you are engaged is true. You are teaching the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. It is the promise of salvation to all who will listen and accept your message.

You are truly blessed to be able to serve a mission. The wonderful people of Germany are so lucky to have you for the next two years. Please know how much I love you and how extremely proud I am of you. I am so grateful to my Father in Heaven for blessing me with you and choosing me to be your mom. I love you more than you can ever imagine, and I am your biggest fan. Please know that I am always here for you and you are constantly in my thoughts and prayers.

Remember, journal, journal, journal, and pictures, pictures, pictures!

You're my boy. Love you always and forever, Mom.