"Ambitious For Christ" January 31, 2017

   Over the last couple weeks we have been blessed to do some extra service in the Mt. Pleasant Branch where we have been assigned to attend church each week during our mission.  On Sunday, January 22nd, I taught Gospel Doctrine class for Sunday School and also taught  Relief Society for the women. Elder Peterson also presented a fireside immediately following church to the youth of our branch on Patriarchal Blessings as requested by President Mayo, our Branch President. The youth thought the huge chocolate chip cookies we made for them were the best!  The lesson I taught in Relief Society that day was based on a talk given by Elder Kazuhiko Yamashita, entitled, "Be Ambitious for Christ", given in October, 2016 General Conference

   The word, AMBITIOUS is defined in the Mariam-Webster Dictionary as " aspiring, determined, enthusiastic, energetic, committed."  Elder Yamashita tells us:"When we are Ambitious for Christ we are motivated, focused, and dedicated to HIS Work."; "We are seldom singled out for public honor"; 'We serve faithfully and diligently ...without complaint and with joy in our hearts."  In today's blog post we will share a few people and places we have experienced recently that exemplify this theme.

   First, meet the amazing, energetic Sister Missionaries who serve in the Mt. Pleasant Branch.  These 2 committed, enthusiastic Missionaries are perfect examples of being "Ambitious for Christ."  Our Branch is a mix of English and Spanish speaking members. Hermana Rushton is from Newcastle, Wyoming and her companion, Hermana Orr is from Phoenix, Arizona.  These Sister Missionaries use headsets to translate the meetings from English to Spanish for the Spanish speaking members.  It is pretty amazing to watch and to listen to.  They are full of fire and the Spirit whenever they are called upon to speak in church or bear their testimonies.  It is a great blessing to see these Sisters "motivated, focused, and dedicated to His Work."

   Last week we took a drive to follow what is referred to as "The Martyrdom Trail."  It is the route that follows the approximate course that Joseph and Hyrum Smith took when they were taken to Carthage Jail, the place which proved to be the site of their subsequent martyrdoms.  We had seen this marker telling about this trail on  Main Street in Old Nauvoo and were determined to find it.

                                                            

    We found the coordinates on the Internet and plotted the course.  The trail actually began at the top of  Parley Street, the street where we live.  Lots of things seem to have began on the street where we live!  The actual trail they followed is now inundated with farms and more farms.  So, we followed the little county roads that were unpaved and meandered  through the farmland  in a zigzag fashion, leading  us the approximate direction.  After traveling about half way, 11 miles, the next turn led us onto some one's farm so we turned back and found the closest paved road to follow the remainder of the distance.  It was actually very serene out there and very enjoyable.  We ended our trek at Carthage Jail and remembered The Prophet Joseph and His Brother Hyrum who were truly "Ambitious for Christ" all their days.  We testify of their "motivation and focus and dedication to His Work."  In Elder Yamashita's talk, he stated, "  In our lives we experience trials, but if we are ambitious in Christ, we can focus on Him and feel joy even in the midst of them and accept them with patience and faith."  This sums up the lives of both Joseph and Hyrum Smith.  I am looking forward to the day when I will meet them and thank them for the blessings of the restored Gospel for which they sacrificed everything in our behalf.

                                                             

   Here are some fun pictures we took of the farms and little towns we encountered on our drive tracing the Martyrdom Trail. They will give you a small idea of the vastness of the farms in Illinois!

My favorite picture is the round brick barn with both the brown cow and the cute pony posing for their picture!

   Our next example of those who are "Ambitious for Christ" was discovered last Friday night when we were driving to Keokuk, Iowa with some fellow missionaries.  We visited the Keokuk National Cemetery. "Keokuk was the location of 5 Civil War Hospitals that treated thousands of injured troops transported up river from the battle fields in the South.  The dead from the hospitals were first interred in a section of the city-owned Oakland Cemetery. The burial of Union casualties continued here until 1866, when the city donated the soldiers' section to the Federal Government, thus establishing the Keokuk National Cemetery."  "In 1912, the Women's Corp of Keokuk dedicated the Unknown Soldiers Monument, a granite pedestal topped with a soldier at parade rest to honor the 48 unknown soldiers buried at the cemetery."( nps.gov, Keokuk National Cemetery, Keokuk, Iowa) It was a beautiful, sobering sight to see the rows and rows of graves containing soldiers whose lives had been sacrificed in the Civil War.  The monument to the 48 Unknown Soldiers is powerful. This cemetery has a very sacred feeling as you notice that each grave had been adorned with a lovely evergreen wreath in remembrance of each individual.  I am grateful for the sure knowledge of the Resurrection and the promise of Eternal Life through the Atonement of our Savior, Jesus Christ. This cemetery should be an interesting place to be on resurrection morning!!!!

                                                               

    While we were in Keokuk, we met up with all the Friday AM shift Temple Missionaries at Angelini's Italian Restaurant to celebrate Elder Despain's January birthday.  It was a nice change to be able to socialize and enjoy getting to know one another better.  The Nauvoo Temple Missionary force is truly "Ambitious for Christ." Elder Yamashita said that those who are Ambitious for Christ "Serve Faithfully, Accept Humbly, Endure Nobly, Pray Fervently, and Partake Worthily."  This defines the special missionaries we serve with in the Nauvoo Temple. What a blessing it is to be part of this motivated and focused missionary force who are dedicated to His Work. We give thanks each new day for the opportunity to be in this sacred place and promise always to remain "Ambitious for Christ".

                                               Elder and Sister Despain, The Birthday Boy!

                                         Elder Mabey, Elder Peterson, Elder Borrowman,
                                          Elder Cordova, Elder Thompson (L to R)

                                           Don't  worry, we didn't visit the Wine Bar!