Missionaries

With the Wray Reunion approaching, I have been thinking about missionary work quite a bit and feel so blessed to have so many examples of great missionaries in my family.  (I am not confident in where each person served, so I will fill this in as I learn.)

Wray Family Missionaries:
(Grandpa) Gerald N Wray--
(Grandma) Rhea Moss Wray--
       Together they served as Mission Presidents in the Sacramento, California Mission, and                    the Sendai, Japan Mission
Stephen Story--
Grover Wray-- Knoxville, Tennessee
Louis Billy--
Clyde Johnson-- Hong Kong
Michael Shurtz--
Troy Hansen-- Mexico
       He is also currently serving as a counselor in the Tempe, Arizona Mission Presidency
Richard Wray--
John Wray--
Nathan Story-- Frankfurt, Germany
Austin Story-- Panama
Aaron Hunt--
Phil Pemberton--
Matt Reichman--
*Jeff Wray-- Culiacan, Mexico
Cameron Johnson-- Nashville, Tennessee
Joe Johnson-- Lima, Peru
Bryan Shurtz-- Calgary, Canada
Talon Jones--
*Daniel Shurtz-- Independence, Missouri
Aaron Bulter-- Rochester, New York

*= missionaries who have there calls and will be leaving shortly, but have not yet gone to serve

My Aunt Stacie also sent our family a link to a great talk about missionary work from the home.  It is called "Creating a Gospel-Sharing Home" by Elder M. Russell Ballard (found at: http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2006/04/creating-a-gospel-sharing-home?lang=eng&query=sharing+gospel).  Simply reaching out to others and sharing our love for them can have a profound influence on how people view the gospel of Jesus Christ.  We teach the principles of the gospel in the way we live.


“Live in such a way that people who know you but don’t know Christ will want to know Christ because they know you” (in H.David Burton, in Conference Report, Apr. 1994, 89; or Ensign, May 1994, 68 ).

I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

This upcoming weekend is the annual Wray Family Reunion!  This is an event that I look forward to every year.  In fact, it is probably my favorite thing about summer!

This year the Hansen Family is in charge and have chosen the theme "Wray's the Bar" (aka "Raise the Bar"-- for clarification on what this means, read Elder L. Tom Perry's talk entitled "Raising the Bar" found at http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2007/10/raising-the-bar?lang=eng&query=raise+bar).  With many family members who have served or will soon be serving missions for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, missionary work has become our theme.


One great missionary tool for the church is the website Mormon.org.  This is directly linked to the church's website lds.org and contains great information about the gospel in church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  On this website, people have created "I'm a Mormon" profiles and movies.  The movies can be truly inspiring for every person, regardless of their membership in the church.


So, as one of the activities in preparation for the reunion, each family created their own "I'm a Mormon" video.  With no set format of how it had to go, my family chose to focus on the reasons why we are Mormon.  Each family member was recorded individually with 3 different reasons of why they personally have chosen to be a member of this church.  Doing this has been a great experience for me as I was reminded of the things that have brought me to the gospel, to gain a testimony of my own.


I am a Mormon because...

• I have felt the peace that the gospel brings
• I have received answers to my prayers.  From this I know that the Lord does know me individually, he cares about my personal needs, he wants me to return home to Him, and he knows what is best for me even when I don't
• I have recognized in my life that when I do what the Lord wants rather than following my own desires, things turn out better and I am a happier, more productive person
• I have been blessed with so many examples and loving people in the church
• The more I learn about the gospel, the more I want to be in it more and the more I know it is true.  According to Alma 34 in the Book of Mormon, as I have planted a seed and nourished it, it has grown; therefore, I know it is a good seed
• Being a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints makes me want to be a better person.
• The gospel teaches us to reach out to one another.  To love, to learn, and to serve.
• There is an unlimited capacity for what we can learn.  There is always so much more that the Lord is ready and willing to give us if we put our faith in Him, do all that we can with what we have already been given, and ask.
• A faithful and earnest study of the Book of Mormon (and other scriptures) brings peace to my mind
• I receive relevant guidance every time I study the general conference talks and words of the Lord's prophet on the earth.
• I have been taught in the ways of the gospel.  It is my family's faith and their examples have guided me to the church.
• I know that paying a full tithe brings blessings.  We are blessed by the Lord both temporally and spiritually.
• I can be sealed to Joe and to my family forever through the sealing ordinance of the temple.
• It helps me build relationships with people around me.
• The church has given me friends
• I have been given opportunities to develop my talents in the church
• I feel accepted and a part of something so much bigger than me.
• I have seen and felt the power of the Lord's atonement in my life.  I know that I can be forgiven for the mistakes I make, and that even though it may not be an easy path, it is worth it all in the end.
  
• The gospel brings joy! and I like to be happy
• By living the standards of the church I feel safe and protected.  I am guided in how to be a good person.  It makes me want to be the best I can be and outlines how I can do that.

I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and I love this gospel.  I'm a Mormon!


I can't wait to see everyone's videos this weekend!

Temples

The Mesa Arizona LDS Temple

 This is the temple I grew up with and will always have a special place in my heart.  This was the first temple I attended to do baptisms for the dead as a twelve year old beehive and served as an icon to me throughout my teenage years.  Seeing this temple was a reminder to me of where I wanted to end up, what the Lord wanted me doing, and the importance of the covenants that I had and would make with my loving Father in Heaven.  It helped me keep a spiritual mindset and to focus on the things that truly matter most.

The Salt Lake LDS Temple

Joe and I were sealed together as an eternal family through the Lord's sacred sealing ordinance on May 4, 2012 here in the Church of Jesus Christ of Later Day Saints' Salt Lake City Temple.  This power is only found in the temple and is the greatest blessing I have ever received in my life.  Because of it, I can be with Joe and our family for eternity.  I know that by keeping my covenants and staying steadfast in the gospel, these eternal blessings can be ours. 

The gospel is true and I know it.  I have felt of its power and peace as I enter the Lord's holy temple and as I pray.  The Holy Ghost is real.  Its influence is real.  It is strong and more powerful than any earthly power.  I will stand unshaken in my faith, for it is true and the Lord is on my side.