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"I'm Going to Boise!"

The LDS comedy The Singles Ward plays up the oft-used missionary joke of being called to serve in Boise, Idaho. After a young man opens his mission call, his friends say something polite and quickly come up with excuses to leave, commenting privately how awful his call is. When the young man shares his call at a store, the employee smiles politely and says, "How nice." Other mission calls viewed as awful include a missionary's home country, a place only a few hours away, or a place where they speak the missionary's native language.

Why do we have this attitude about mission calls? The purpose of a mission is not to go on a vacation, study abroad, or collect stories for bragging rights (as played up in The RM). It's not about us! The purpose of a mission is to "bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man" (Moses 1:39). Heavenly Father wants all His children to return to Him and He loves them all the same, regardless of where they live or what language they speak. No people are worth more or less to Heavenly Father, no mission is better than another, and all missions have challenges. We must view a mission call as an opportunity to bless His children with the joy of the gospel. We must learn to love the people, the place, and the culture. Only when we have the right attitude about missionary work will we be successful.

Challenge: Next mission call opening you attend, have genuine excitement and support for the missionary no matter where he or she is going. If the call is your own, pray for sincere love and joy before opening it.

photo from ldsfilm.com
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Comments

Reese said…
I totally agree!! People focus on the wrong part of the story all too often.

Also, not all missions are formal callings from the church, we are all called to serve in many different capacities. Ultimately to spread the message of LOVE and our Savior.

I often think of my personal calling as a mother the most important mission I could serve - and the most challenging. I often sing "I'll go where you want me to go". Motherhood is not glamorous as the world sees it, it often isn't exciting (though often is!!), can be repetitive and is full of hard work and sacrifice. It is also SO rewarding and SO important. There will be no greater influence a person can have on another person, and the love that we give our children comes back to us 100-fold.

That song gives me comfort on the nights when I'd rather be up doing my own projects rather than just sitting still with my children and holding them when they're having a hard time sleeping. It reminds me of the purpose, which removes the feeling of drudgery and replaces it with deep satisfaction.

Great post, Francesca!
September 6, 2010 at 2:17 AM
Anonymous said…
I love serving God and being a misionary right in my own backyard wherever that is-DAD
October 21, 2010 at 1:45 AM
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