Claire's Missionary Mom Talk for Church

Today about in an hour, I will give my missionary mom talk. It is almost thanksgiving so my talk was also to be on gratitude. I want to express my gratitude to you. You are such a great example to me.  You are such an example of love and love of god and positivity. I am grateful that heavely father has given you to me as my first born. I am so blessed to be your mom!!!  I included my talk if you wanted to read it.  I have so much love for you!

Mom

MY TALK:  My name is Claire English. My son Jaren is on a mission in Thailand. I wanted to report a little bit about Jaren on his mission. Here are a few of the interesting facts about Thailand he has written us:

The park is so beautiful and we look over at the ponds and there is just like no big deal these massive monitor lizards swimming around and walking around the park, like WHAT I freaked out and everyone just walked past and was like yeah this happens all the time.

these people are the most loving and happy and jovial people I have met

There are dogs everywhere and cats there are just dogs in the street and they all just chill because its illegal to kill dogs and they just breed and sit around. They don't even move when your driving because they just think they're the bomb.

There are geckos everywhere there like bugs but they're so cool.

It rained a toooooooon. Its the rainy season so at any point of the day we can be blindsided and soaked, but thats the funnest thing! I know I'm gonna get sick of it eventually but right now I just am in amazement how much water can come down at a time. then the next second its blazing hot.

In his letters he talks about his mission moto which is #dailybread.
 

#Daily bread = daily scripture study, daily prayer and daily looking for miracles.

Wow Daily looking for miracles.

Dieter F Uctdorf said “most of the scriptural references do not speak of gratitude for things but rather suggest an overall spirit or attitude of gratitude.It is easy to be grateful for things when life seems to be going our way. But what then of those times when what we wish for seems to be far out of reach?  Could I suggest that we see gratitude as a disposition, a way of life that stands independent of our current situation? In other words, I’m suggesting that instead of being thankful for things, we focus on being thankful in our circumstances—whatever they may be.  Being grateful in our circumstances is an act of faith in God. It requires that we trust God and hope for things we may not see but which are true.  By being grateful, we follow the example of our beloved Savior, who said, “Not my will, but thine, be done.”

Changing our thoughts leads to changed words and then leads to changed actions. We have control over what we think and how we think. When we change our thought process to a thought process full of Gratitude and positivity, we change our world. 

Positivity brings resilience, a more joyful perspective on life and Shows your trust in your heavenly father and the plan he has for you. 

Howard W Hunter said: Outward circumstances do not determine the course of our lives as much as the thoughts that habitually occupy our minds.

For me sometimes this can sometimes be a challenge. I think its human nature to have a little laman and lemuel in our attitudes. When I complain or feel sorry for myself for any reason, I don’t feel peace and I don’t feel the spirit. 

Nephi is such a great example to us. Even when his brothers tie him up on the boat and the Liahona is not working this is what he says: " Nevertheless, I did look unto my God, and I did praise him all the day long; and I did not murmur against the Lord because of mine afflictions."

Jaren tells us stories that could be seen as difficult but he finds the positive. Here is one example: 

We invited there and pretty much knocked on a bunch of doors and talked to a ton of people. Its great. Sometimes they just look at you funny and act like your not there then you just laugh at them and pretty much put the inviting card in their hand. But there are the people who politely listen and thats the the point that makes it worth it, even if it doesn't end up in us gaining a potential investigator. Another thing is just the amazing feeling of teaching someone the true and restored gospel for the first time. To teach someone who doesn't even know who jesus is about the atonement is something you can really only feel as a missionary. Its cool. Sept 22

When I asked Jaren through email to give me some thoughts on what i could share today, this is the response I got back from him.

“First of all I don't know what I did to deserve to serve here, its awesome. But the stories just all blend together mom, What this all comes down to is just love. Gods love for us, and how much he loves everyone no matter what.”

One thing that really stands out to me is how much Jaren expresses his love to others. He usually ends his letters like this:

“Couldn't ask for better friends and family you guys are the BEST! I feel your prayers pushin me forward! love you all!!!!!! Jaren”

Not only can Gratitude, positivity and trust in our circumstances change our situation but Gratitude and positivity in others can change our relationships. 

Jesus christ is the ultimate example of Gratitude and love. If you have a personal relationship with him, you know of his love for you. If he is our example and we are trying to be like him, then how important is it to have gratitude and love for those around us. 

John 4: 7  “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.”

Bonnie D Parkin says “When we communicate gratitude, we can be filled with the Spirit and connected to those around us and the Lord”

Communicating gratitude is one step further than having gratitude for others. Let the people around you know that you are grateful for them. 

I have learned over time that having close and loving relationships with family and friends is the one of my favorite things about being here on earth. 

When I was younger, I was shown growing up that confrontation is how you handle things in relationships. That was how you got what you needed. I did not like confrontation and avoided it. Because I didn’t know how to deal with others when they had an issue or when I had an issue. I would not allow myself really close relationships. It was too easy for me to distance myself from anyone that I felt hurt by. 

What I didn’t understand was that the closer the relationship you have with someone, the more imperfect they get because no one is perfect and you get to see more of who they are fully. And the closer the relationship, the more hurt I could feel because I cared more.  In turn, the closer someone gets to me, the more they see my imperfections and can be more vulnerable to be hurt by me too. I also realized that I was choosing to be offended more than I should have. I was choosing to feel hurt rather than come from a place of understanding and love.

Choosing to be offended easily is a form of pride and selfishness. 

Most people around us are good people. Most people do not try to hurt others on purpose. Most people are just like you and I. Its easy to see the faults in others especially the people closest to us. Especially our family members. 

It is hard to see our own faults. If we all could see our own faults clearly, we would probably be working our hardest to change them.

Can we let go of expectations of others? Can we accept them for where they are at? Can we look at all of their positive qualities and ignore the negative ones? Can we forgive those around us? Can we find the things that we are grateful for in them? 

Would you want others to do these things for you?

What do you want to spend your time and energy focusing on in your relationships? do you look for faults? you will find them. Or do you look for the good? you will find it. 

Dieter F Uctorf said Rather than attempting to force everyone into a mold of our own making, we can choose to celebrate these differences and appreciate them for adding richness and constant surprises to our lives.

In the Book of Mormon we learn of a people who had discovered the secret to happiness. For generations, “there was no contention. … And surely there could not be a happier people among all the people who had been created by the hand of God.” How did they do it? “Because of the love of God which did dwell in the hearts of the people.”4

Whatever problems your family is facing, whatever you must do to solve them, the beginning and the end of the solution is charity, the pure love of Christ. Without this love, even seemingly perfect families struggle. With it, even families with great challenges succeed.

I am Grateful to those around me who chooses to look past my great faults and chooses be grateful for the good in me. I hope I can strive to do this for those around me.

gratitude is positivity and humility which invites the spirit into our life. 

Gratitude will Change our world. 

I want to end with a couple of parts of Jarens letters : he says:

Along with being one of the hardest things that I have done it has forced me to grow so much. I realize now how I needed this experience. It has brought me closer to the spirit. If they would have just sent me out right of the bat or even three weeks into the MTC the result would be me being absolutely overwhelmed, and I know that will happen anyways but it will be more bearable through my time here... Christ can help anyone. Even me. I have never been more humble and am so thankful for him. And I know that if I work all my life to do his will I will still be an unprofitable servant of god. There is no sadness too great, no addiction too great, and no person can fall farther than Christ can lift up. Not only will he lift us up to where we were before but he will take us by the hand and lift us higher than ever. HE IS THE CHRIST. Jaren English August 22

These past two weeks have been insane but I want all of you to know that wherever you are however busy you think you are you can always be comforted that our Heavenly Father loves us. All he wants you to do is feel it. And I also want to express my gratitude for Jesus Christ. Without whom I would not be here. My advice to all the people preparing for your missions to develop a  personal relationship with our brother. He will help you through anything, no matter what life throws at you. 2 nephi 31:20-21 

20 Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life.

21 And now, behold, my beloved brethren, this is the way; and there is none other way nor name given under heaven whereby man can be saved in the kingdom of God. And now, behold, this is the doctrine of Christ, and the only and true doctrine of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, which is one God, without end. 

 Jaren continues: classic scripture READ IT FOR REALS. Think about how it applies to you. My comittment for everyone today.

I pray that we all can press forward with a steadfastness in christ , having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of god and of all men.

I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ Amen.