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Unexpected Missionary Assignments

Picture credit: www.churchofjesuschrist.org
There's no denying that we live in a unique time.  With thousands of missionaries returning to their home countries, and awaiting reassignment I thought it would be a good time to address the subject.  First a story, and then some doctrine.

Unmet expectations are the cause of much anxiety in many people, and I don't think anyone was expecting the recent changes.  I myself have never gone through an experience like this.  However, I noticed on the church's website a nice article written by a woman who was evacuated from her mission when the country she was in had a civil war.  I encourage you to read this, as it speaks to current fears much better than I could.

To the Unexpectedly Reassigned Missionary

I also think it's worth reviewing what Elder Bednar said about missionary service in the April 2017 General Conference.

Called to the Work


Some excerpts:

 - "Please note that the first sentence [in a missionary call letter] is a call to serve as a full-time missionary in the Lord’s restored Church. The second sentence indicates an assignment to labor in a specific place and mission. The important distinction expressed in these two sentences is essential for all of us to understand. ...
"a missionary is not called to a place; rather, he or she is called to serve. As the Lord declared through the Prophet Joseph Smith in 1829, “If ye have desires to serve God ye are called to the work.”"

 - "I have learned over time about the concern, the worry, and even the guilt felt by many missionaries who for various reasons were reassigned to a different field of labor during their time of service. Such reassignments sometimes are necessary because of events and circumstances such as physical accidents and injuries, delays and challenges in obtaining visas, political instability, creating and staffing new missions, or the evolving and ever-changing needs around the world in the work of proclaiming the gospel."

 - "I am addressing this subject today because not a single member of this Church should carry an unnecessary burden of misunderstanding, uncertainty, anguish, or guilt about an assignment to labor.
"“Wherefore, go ye and preach my gospel, whether to the north or to the south, to the east or to the west, it mattereth not, for ye cannot go amiss.” As you ponder the words of this scripture and open your heart, I hope and pray you will invite the Holy Ghost to carry deep into your soul the understanding, the healing, and the restoring you may need."

Please read or watch at least the first half of the talk.  I think it incredibly important to properly understand these principles to avoid unnecessary pain.  Rest assured that the Savior Jesus Christ is the one directing the church through revelation.  Both mission calls and assignments are done under His direction.  So if you feel downtrodden, you can turn to Him for healing.

Just a few thoughts of my own then to conclude.

To those who have been reassigned: it is not your fault; it has nothing to do with you being a bad missionary.  There will come a time when your diligence will be tested in the way you may be most used to, but right now, we have a different trial to deal with.  This one is a test of faith and patience.  Faith that we are led by revelation, and patience in waiting for the arm of the Lord to be revealed.

As President Nelson said (and has been quoted many times since) -
"Our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ, will perform some of His mightiest works between now and when He comes again. We will see miraculous indications that God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, preside over this Church in majesty and glory. But in coming days, it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding, directing, comforting, and constant influence of the Holy Ghost."

Now is the time to ask God for yourself if he really is leading the church by revelation.  As He is a just and loving Father, you can depend on Him to answer you.  We must all gain for ourselves a witness that Jesus Christ is our Savior, and that He is directing the church now.

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