Mission Blog #72

 How Do You Slow The Passage of Time?

Hamills Falls on the Cart River just below our flat's 4th floor windows, looking west to Paisley Abbey and beyond that to Dumbarton. 

We've walked these paths next to the falls many, many times but had never taken a proper look at what this bronze marker was all about. 

Upon close inspection, the marker is inscribed as follows: "Remember Alexander Wilson 1766-1813 Here Was His Boyhood Playground".

The name wasn't familiar to me so I used the device technology to find out more. Wikipedia gave quite a bit of background. Alexander Wilson, a Scottish born poet, ornithologist, naturalist and illustrator; and called by some as 'the Father of American Ornithology'. That O word meaning - the study of birds. He was born in Paisley. He emigrated to America in 1794 and soon began his project of publishing a collection of illustrations of all the birds in North America. Every day is an education.

When the clouds of rain eventually lifted, we were treated to a wonderful sunset. All around us, wherever we are on this planet, God has given us so many beautiful things - birds of many varieties, sunsets, waterfalls, green grass, trees, mountains....

As a missionary there is no greater moment than seeing one of the people you first came in contact with, accept the teachings of the gospel and then make covenants and enter the waters of baptism. Justice is a fine young man who Sisters Larkin and Gwynn have been teaching. And last night he was baptized.

Samuel, on the right, performed the baptism, and today Justice was confirmed by the laying on of hands. Justice also spoke to the congregation and thanked everyone for extending their love and acceptance. Justice is from Ghana in west Africa and has been in Scotland since August.

Emerson and Wendy moved into Paisley recently, refugees from El Salvador. We visited with them in their modest flat and got to know them. Their families were victims of crimes (involving a gun), had to go into hiding, and they were able to get safely to the U.K. They were in two previous locations in England before being sent to Paisley. Only recently they received approval of their 'refugee' claim and can now find employment. We are teaching them English class once a week and working with the Elders Quorum President to help in their employment search. They are wonderful people.

It was great to have Sister Gwynn and Larkin over for a delicious Sunday dinner. We had some wonderful gospel discussions over dinner, and they really brought the spirit with them. They sure appreciated Tina's cooking. They have 8 weeks left in their 18 month mission, and will be missed by the Paisley Ward members.

How Does a Fence Get Blow Down?

Our good friends, George and Christina Broadfoot, who live in Irvine, received a wallop from the winds of one of the named storms that came through recently. Winds were 85-90 mph. When I saw their once-sturdy fence laying in their garden, I couldn't help but apply some kind of gospel metaphor to it.

When the fence was built, the posts were secure and firm. Each section was attached using patterns and instructions proven over time and recommended by experts. The wood was not too expensive and seemed to require only occasional maintenance by a re-application of paint. However, in this extremely rainy and stormy area of the west coast of Scotland, the wood became weakened eventually by moisture penetrating the wood. From a distance it still looked solid, but beneath the paint the wood posts at ground level were beginning to weaken and rot. When the big storm came up last week, it sheered all three posts and tossed the fence aside with ease. As in our spiritual lives, we may have at one time had the strongest and surest testimonies - built on firm and sure principles and experiences. Storms came up in the form of trials of all types, but our testimony was unshaken. We relied on those old experiences and memories of tender mercies to carry us through, but we began to neglect some of the basics that we once applied and treasured - like daily scripture study, daily prayer, weekly church attendance, regular temple attendance, and so on. We became casual about those things and over time we began to forget some of those faith pillars that needed strengthening and we weren't adding to it. Our faith was fading. On the surface we may have looked to hold up to our challenges pretty well, but our foundation was weakening as we neglected to gain strength and reinforce our testimonies. We stopped praying, then we stopped studying the gospel, and we didn't attend our church meetings as often or at all. And we stopped looking out for others like we once did. And when we do that, it is very predictable and very sad - that one day our faith will fail. It will not be strong enough to endure the new faith challenges. The Book of Mormon prophet, Helaman, warned his sons with these inspired words that we all would do well to read, and apply:

"And now, my sons, remember, remember, that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall."  (Book of Mormon, Helaman 5: 12)

So continue to keep your foundation strong, always. Don't neglect it. Don't get casual with it. And if you have, it's not too late to make a few changes to get it strong again. 

God bless,

Elder Eric & Sister Tina McMurray

Member & Leader Support Missionaries

Scotland-Ireland Mission

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

www.churchofjesuschrist.org