When I was a boy my dad used to tell me "El secreto de la felicidad es el servicio" -- The secret of happiness is service.
I truly believe this. Throughout my life as I have met different people, I have noticed that those that feel empty or lack drive are usually people that are only thinking about themselves. That's the person that says "I wish I had friends".
On the other hand, I have met people that are always happy. They are those that devote their lives to the service of others. They are focused on ways to make other people better. Their life is meaningful. They are happy when they work because they are contributing to the welfare of others. These are the people that say "I need to befriend my neighbor".
After all, what are we here on Earth for?
Yesterday was a great and busy day for the members of the Bothell Stake as they celebrated the "Day of Service". I had the opportunity to see many of you serve in different ways. I truly saw a lot of happy people engaged in a good cause. I never saw anyone sad while they served. I did see a few tired people at the end of the day, but everyone was satisfied and happy with their efforts.
Now, I am not saying that serving is always easy. Sometimes it is challenging. I remember one story president Hinckley told us a few times (link):
As a new missionary serving in Preston, England, Elder Gordon B. Hinckley was facing a major trial in his life. He was sick when he arrived in the mission field, and he quickly became discouraged because of the opposition to the missionary work. At a time of deep frustration, Elder Hinckley wrote in a letter to his father that he felt he was wasting his time and his father’s money. A little while later, Elder Hinckley received a reply from his dad. It said, “Dear Gordon, I have your recent letter. I have only one suggestion: forget yourself and go to work.”
Earlier that morning during scripture study, Elder Hinckley had read in the Bible, “Whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it” (Mark 8:35).
“With my father’s letter in hand, I went into our bedroom in the house at 15 Wadham Road, where we lived, and got on my knees and made a pledge with the Lord. I covenanted that I would try to forget myself and lose myself in His service” (Ensign, July 1987, p. 7).
Today I want to talk about the "Full Time Senior Missionary" program. For those younger than forty years old.... please don't go to sleep. What I am about to share with you is very applicable to you as well. After all what better time to commit to serve a mission than now. Then you have more time to prepare yourself for it.
The way I see it, a senior mission is the Mormon version of retirement. ;-) For those not familiar with it, it is a program whereby seniors (usually retired individuals) are called to serve a full time mission.
The missions can last 6, 12, 18 and 23 months. For those married couples, they are both called to serve a mission together and are assigned as a companionship for the length of the mission.
To learn more about the program, I visited https://www.lds.org/callings/missionary/senior?lang=eng. I was planning to read a document quickly, but stuck around to watch the videos. I found them very inspiring and uplifting.
There are so many different types of missions all over the world, that it would not be fair to try to enumerate the different types of service here. From serving as a health care professional in Denmark to serving in family history records preservation in Micronesia or serving at one of the many temples around the world. Looking at the list, I even found a mission for someone with background in petroleum reservoir engineering. There are many missions, and I am sure there is one that matches your current talents or the talents you can develop. I think the only thing that is actually required to serve a mission is the desire to do so. In some situations, there are some missions that may not even require you to relocate.
Now, a bit of preparation is required. Note that the full time missionaries actually pay for their own expenses while they serve. It is truly a labor of love. The cost ranges between about $1000 and $2500 for a couple leaving from the US. Coming to think of it, that is probably similar to the monthly expense for a senior couple living here in the US.
Brothers and sisters, I want you to consider a mission as one of the most important things you can do in your golden years. Please realize that demands of senior missionaries are different from those of the young missionaries. Senior missionaries can keep in contact with their children and grandchildren through phone or Skype or any mode of communication they choose. Senior missionaries are not required to have the same schedule as the young missionaries either.
Let me give you an example close to home.
My in-laws live in Huntsville, Alabama. My mother in law had spent the majority of her life taking care of her children and grandchildren. My father in law is a retired chemical engineer. They look like ordinary people, they are not wealthy but they enough for their needs. They were not in perfect health, but their health was good enough to serve -- my mother in law was struggling with diabetes at the time.
He and my mother decided to serve a mission. They were called to serve a full time mission in the Joseph Smith memorial building working in Temple Square -- they were going to serve a Family History mission, working as part of the indexing program. I was not there when they received their call, but my wife had the opportunity to be there and she remembers my father in law. She says that he looked like a 19 year old waiting to receive his call.
While they were on their mission we had an opportunity to drive to Salt Lake and spend a few days with them. I had never seen the version of my mother in law that I saw when we visited her at the time. I saw a woman who was 100% engaged in the service of her fellow beings. They lived in a tiny apartment close to temple square, but they loved their mission. They introduced us to many of their friends. We even had a chance to go to church with them on Sunday, where we had a chance to see so many senior missionaries. It was then that I realized that my in laws and all those other senior missionaries were no ordinary people, they were called to serve in the Lord's vineyard, They wore the name of Christ on their name tags, but also had the name of Christ written on their hearts. They were truly servants of the Lord.
Upon return from their mission, my mother in law has been struggling with cancer treatments. I truly believe that her health was prolonged so she could serve a mission. Also, they were a blessing not only to those on the other side of the veil and the people that they interacted with while on their mission, but to those of us who could see their service. They blessed their children and grandchildren. They set an example for their descendants.
Potential concerns related to serving a full time mission (link)
(1) Finances: Any expenses over and beyond what would have been needed at home may be subsidized by children, friends, quorums, or by other members of the family.
(2) Fear: Mature missionaries need not fear tracting or learning a new language. Much can be contributed using talents already acquired. Missionaries can venture into another language situation knowing that they will learn what they need to know without demanding fluency of themselves. They will learn some of their mission language and find joy in using each new expression.
(3) Fitness: While a risk-free environment cannot be guaranteed either at home or in the mission field, appropriate provisions can be made for proper diet and exercise. Routine needs for physical care can generally be met in the mission field. In the event of an emergency, evacuation, if advisable, is possible.
(4) Families: Children and grandchildren of senior missionaries will be blessed because of their service. To a missionary the Lord provided this promise:
“Behold, you have had many afflictions because of your family; nevertheless, I will bless you and your family, yea, your little ones; and the day cometh that they will believe and know the truth and be one with you in my church” (D&C 31:2).As those “little ones” pray for their missionary parents, they will be drawn toward the Lord as well as to parents or grandparents.
From Doctrine and Covenants 4:
1 Now behold, a marvelous work is about to come forth among the children of men.
2 Therefore, O ye that embark in the service of God, see that ye serve him with all your heart, might, mind and strength, that ye may stand blameless before God at the last day.
3 Therefore, if ye have desires to serve God ye are called to the work;
4 For behold the field is white already to harvest; and lo, he that thrusteth in his sickle with his might, the same layeth up in store that he perisheth not, but bringeth salvation to his soul;
5 And faith, hope, charity and love, with an eye single to the glory of God, qualify him for the work.
Let us take this invitation personally
Brothers and sisters, if you have a desire to serve ye are called to the work.
Brother and sisters, in the last few general conferences, there has been a pleading to hasten the work of salvation. We just heard about the change in minimum age for young missionaries to enter the mission fields. We have also heard many pleads for more senior missionaries.
I want you to consider this a personal call. Think: What can I do to hasten the work of salvation? If you are of age to serve a senior mission, I want you to consider serving a mission and have a good discussion with your Bishop. To your Bishop, I also ask him to invite you in person to serve a full time mission.
It may be possible or not for you to serve a full time mission, but we know for sure that it is possible to participate in some way in the hastening of the work and to support this work no matter the circumstances.
Actually, even if you don't have the desire to serve you are called to the work. Well, first you are called to get a desire to serve. :-) When I was a young man, a good stake president called me boldly to serve a mission. I still remember him. And I am grateful for his call. He truly understood the importance of serving. I am so grateful for his boldness and direction. He was unapologetic.
Let us all forget about ourselves, and commit now to serve a full time senior mission or to at least start preparing for it.
May the Lord bless you, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
