Life of a Sister Missionary part 7: Learning with the Companion

Hour 2 is companion study.  Companion study begins with a song (you thought I was going to say prayer, that's coming).  Music is a wonderful way to invite the Spirit.  I will confess, my voice is not the greatest, but that doesn't stop me from singing praises to the Lord.  The next step is the opening prayer.  Have I stressed prayer enough?  We pray for guidance and to know what insights to share with one another, what to talk about, and how we can work together best.  After the prayer, we read from our missionary handbook, the rulebook for missionaries.  As representatives of Christ, we need to know how to act appropriately.  How we can be better representatives of Him.  Then, we share what we learned during personal study.  I can't count the number of things that I have learned from my companions.  Not only do I get the chance to study for myself in personal study, but I get to hear what my companion learned.  It is a humbling experience.  There is so much you can learn from someone else.  There are things I never dreamed that my companions would teach me.  Once we have discussed what each of us has learned, we plan what to teach during the day and what we can do to better help the people in the area.  We end with a prayer, of course.  Companion study has helped me so much!  My family better be ready because when I get home, I intend on having companion study.  Someone will have to be recruited to join me.

Life of a Sister Missionary part 6: Feed the Soul

Each morning we spend an hour in personal study.  We study from the Book of Mormon, Holy Bible, Preach My Gospel, and other church-approved literature.  So basically, we study the "words of life."  As missionaries, we are promised that we will be given the words we will need to say in the very hour we need them (D&C 84:85).  This promise requires us to do our part and study.  What I study usually depends on the day.  What we will be doing makes a huge impact on what we as missionaries study.  We may study by reading straight from the Book of Mormon or Holy Bible.  Other times we may do a topic study. 

To begin the "personal study" time, I say a prayer (see a trend here?).  The next step I take is I get out my study journal and write down what I plan on studying.  It helps me to stay on topic and really get my mind focused.  When I have down what I want to study before beginning, the study time flies by.  The end always comes too soon.  Throughout the hour, I also write down things that stick out to me, things I learn, "a-ha" moments, and whatever else inspires me.  At the end of my study, drum roll please..........a prayer.

How has this helped?  The days I study and the days I don't have a completely different feeling.  There has been maybe 2 days (for shame) that I didn't get to do my personal study on my mission.  Those days were horrible!  The Spirit was not there.  When it did come, it was after a lot of repenting and pleading for help.  Study time is precious.  My days are substantially better when I have a good and focused study.  Basically, personal study is phenomenal!

Do you have a streak going?

"You want to get a streak going.  You can carry a streak forward, but when you start losing a few you can get in a real dive."  Personally, I don't think President Monson was applying this statement just to sports.  We learn in science from Newton's first law that "an object at rest stays at rest and an object in motion stays in motion with the same speed and in the same direction unless acted upon by an unbalanced force".  Our daily efforts to do what's right can be considered our "spiritual streak". 
At first, it is hard to start.  Starting from ground zero is always a daunting task.  An unbalanced force is necessary to get that streak going.  But what force can help?  Well, here's a couple of things that have helped me out.
1.  Pray daily.  By doing this, we invite the spirit into our lives.  "As you make a habit of approaching God in prayer, you will come to know Him and draw ever nearer to Him"1.  Heavenly Father wants to hear from us.  He is there for us whenever we need him.  His line is never busy. Moroni 7:48 reads: "Wherefore, my beloved brethren, ^apray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true ^bfollowers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall ^cbe like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be^dpurified even as he is pure. Amen" 2.
2.  Study the scriptures.  Scripture study is key!  The purpose of the scriptures is to draw us closer to Him.  They testify of Christ and lead us to eternal life.  Daily study will help us to be receptive to the promptings of the Holy Ghost.  It is also how we put on our daily "armor" to protect us from the things in the world.  Helaman 3:29-30 reads "Yea, we see that whosoever will may lay hold upon the ^aword of God, which is ^bquick and powerful, which shall ^cdivide asunder all the cunning and the snares and the wiles of the devil, and lead the man of Christ in a strait and ^dnarrow course across that everlasting ^egulf of misery which is prepared to engulf the wicked— And land their souls, yea, their immortal souls, at the ^aright hand of God in the kingdom of heaven, to sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and with Jacob, and with all our holy fathers, to go no more out" 3.
3.  Attend Church each week.  It is a commandment, plain and simple.  The Lord has asked us to set one day apart, Sunday, for worship and rest.  Sunday is a day for us to partake of the Sacrament and remember what our Savior has done for us.  "Our Sabbath-day behavior is a reflection of our commitment to honor and worship God" 4.  By going to church and keeping the Sabbath Day Holy, we will be filled with joy and peace.
By doing these 3 things, it will be the start of a whole new streak.  You will be able to feel the spirit more abundantly in life.  It will make it easier to continue to make right choices and stay on the straight and narrow path.  We will be prepared for the things that the adversary will throw at us.  Starting them may be rough and you will face challenges, but I know that the Lord will provide a way for you to be able to do them all.  He will help you down the path and help keep you there.  The "spiritual streak" is the "streak to success".  Get the ball rollin'!

Have you had an "Ah-Ha" moment today?

Each morning, as a missionary, we study for 2 or more hours.  To some, this may be considered the ultimate torture.  Others, don't think this is even close to enough time.  I'll admit, sometimes, the first one is how I feel.  Studying has never been a strong point for me, but I am learning to develop it.  As I have been developing my study habits, I have found that the more effort I put into it, the more results I see.  Yes, a shock I know.  But, it truly does make all the difference.  The days I am completely engrossed in the study are the days when I have put forth the right amount of effort.  We get what we put into our studies.  As that effort is applied when studying the scriptures and other church doctrine, the spirit will manifest new truths that we have not known before.  “True doctrine, understood, changes attitudes and behavior. The study of the doctrines of the gospel will improve behavior quicker than a study of behavior will improve behavior.” (PRESIDENT BOYD K. PACKER).  We can each have our own "Ah-Ha" moments as we study the scriptures.  We will realize truth both in our heart and mind.  Open your heart and mind so you can learn the things that the spirit will make manifest.  I know it has helped me and can help others.

Life

This morning while studying I found myself reading about life on earth.  Why we are here and what is the purpose in life.  In the May 1998 Ensign Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin of the Twelve Apostles gave this analogy: "This is the day of our mortal probation.  We might compare our eternal journey to a race of three laps around the track.  We have completed the first lap [our pre-earth life] successfully and have made wonderful progress.  We have started on the second lap.  Can you imagine a world-class runner stopping along the track at this point to pick flowers or chase a rabbit that crossed his path?  Yet this is what we are doing when we occupy our time with worldly pursuits that do not move us closer to the third lap toward eternal life, the greatest of all the gifts of God".  This isn't the time to stop and "pick flowers".  We are to prepare to meet God and have joy.  By doing what the Lord asks, we will find joy.  Let's not worry about things that are "worldly pursuits".  I know that now is the time to prepare for that third lap.  The basics are how we prepare.  Study the scriptures, listen to the prophets words, go to church, pray, and daily strive to be the best you can be.