Our Mission President, President Olauson, was a Chaplin for many years in the Navy. He began a tradition of handing out gold coins that reminded the soldiers of the importance of putting on God's armor before they went out into the field. He asked them to carry the coin with them- as a constant reminder of their inner strength and the power of God. Now there are over a million of these coins out on the battlefield carried by our Navy Soldiers. This is my coin, given to each of us in our mission by President Olauson as a reminder for us to "Put on the Whole Armor of God." He gave it to us, as he has with every soldier that he has served, with the coin in his hand as he shook our hand. (I took a picture of the front and the back of my coin). It is a great gift. The message on the coin comes from the New Testament: Ephesians 6: 11-18. "Put on the whole armor of God..that ye may be able to stand." 
Last week we had another Zone Conference.. a gathering of all our missionaries on this side of Denmark. Our Elders conduct the meeting, and many Sisters and Elders train and inspire us. They are magnificent examples of the soldiers out in the world, who are trying to "Put on the Whole Armor of God." Every day they face hours of study, planning, phoning, riding through all kinds of weather, facing disappointments, and successes. They have a sense of humor about their work, a cheerfullness about their day to day appointments but they are strong, enthusiastic young men and women who are trying to do their best. This month, Elder Smedley, Elder Meyers, and Elder Free created a great demonstration on bringing life into the scriptures that we are teaching. Using objects and short skits to help others understand and visualize the power of the Prophets of old, they built a tower and introduced us to King Benjamin.
Old King Benjamin needed help getting up on the tower.
(Elder Meyers becomes King Benjamin)He spoke with great wisdom as he read his powerful message from
Mosiah 2: 9..."My brethren, all ye that have assembled yourselves together, you that can hear my words.. for I have not commanded you to come up hither to trifle with the words which I shall speak, but that you should hearken unto me, and open your ears that ye may hear, and your hearts that ye may understand, and your minds that the mysteries of God may be unfolded to your view..."
Then we were led to a shady place near a small tree, where Elder Free became Alma the Younger and taught us from his writings in
Then we were led to a shady place near a small tree, where Elder Free became Alma the Younger and taught us from his writings in Alma 32: 28-43.."Now, we will compare the word unto a seed. Now if ye give place that a seed may be planted in your heart, behold, if it be a true seed or a good seed, if ye do not cast it out by your unbelief, .. behold, it will begin to swell within your breast...and it must needs be a good seed."
When we came back into the chapel, the two prophets open a door and we met Elder Smedley who had become Samuel the Lamanite warning us from a high wall about the coming of Jesus Christ. Helaman 14: 2-8 "Behold, I give unto you a sign; for five years more cometh, and behold, then cometh the Son of God to redeem all those who shall believe on his name." Many of us stoned Samuel the Lamanite with paper stones.
Then all three elders (prophets of old)
Our Missionaries, wearing their dark suits, and comfortable shoes put on the whole armor of God every day. They are not perfect, but they carry with them a great desire to have a perfect day.. with lots of people who say "yes" to the message that they bring straight from the words of the Prophets of Old.
(Elder Faylor, and Elder Belnap)
When we came back into the chapel, the two prophets open a door and we met Elder Smedley who had become Samuel the Lamanite warning us from a high wall about the coming of Jesus Christ. Helaman 14: 2-8 "Behold, I give unto you a sign; for five years more cometh, and behold, then cometh the Son of God to redeem all those who shall believe on his name." Many of us stoned Samuel the Lamanite with paper stones.
Then all three elders (prophets of old)returned to the front of the group with ideas about how we can help those whom we teach to not just read the scriptures.. but to imagine
the stories of old as though we were there. They helped us to "live" the scriptures.
Our Missionaries, wearing their dark suits, and comfortable shoes put on the whole armor of God every day. They are not perfect, but they carry with them a great desire to have a perfect day.. with lots of people who say "yes" to the message that they bring straight from the words of the Prophets of Old.
(Elder Faylor, and Elder Belnap)I am so grateful for these men and women,
who have kept their promise to serve the Lord and his children all over the world. I am especially grateful for our dedicated men and women here in Denmark.
It isnot easy to wear a full set of armor.. every day. .. especially riding bikes and knocking on doors.
Hey! I want some of those coins! Where do I get mine?! Serious.
ReplyDeleteIt's fun to act stuff out. It helps people remember the story.