“Fear and Love”
Ukraine Kyiv Mission
“Quote: “Therefore, let your hearts be comforted; for all things shall work together for good to
them that walk uprightly...” D&C 100:15
Dear Elders and Sisters,
I asked the Mehrs to write the letter this week. It is wonderful. We are so proud at how focused everyone is on leaving behind a good area for the new missionaries. We have seen miracles in the last few weeks with investigators! Keep it up. Sister Packer and I will be in Tallin this week for Training for Mission Presidents and Wives so the Assistants will be in charge. Keep the momentum going!
Fear and Love
One of the greatest impediments to missionary work is fear. It occurs when we face the unknown and wonder what we will do or what will happen next. Fear causes stress which is physically manifested as anxiety, tiredness, headaches, and a host of other undesirable results. As an Egyptian novelist Naguib Mahfouz wrote, “Fear does not prevent death, it prevents life.” If we do not control fear, it controls us.
Fear comes from the natural being in which our spirit is housed. It is self-focused. It is the expectation that the worse always happens, something that is rarely the case. It is a weakness common to all.
The divinity within has the capacity to control fear and turn it into excitement. Fear is a negative response to the unknown. It is the same emotion as excitement, which is a positive response to the unknown.
Love vanquishes fear. Indeed, fear is the absence of love. When controlled by fear we are being acted upon. When motivated by love we are acting--creating a world of beauty, spirituality, unity, bliss, and delight.
Excitement for spreading the gospel comes from love. It gives us the confidence to face the unknown knowing that God loves us, regardless of how others respond, and that he is directing our life. This type of love is built on scripture study, prayer, fasting, and service.
I asked the Mehrs to write the letter this week. It is wonderful. We are so proud at how focused everyone is on leaving behind a good area for the new missionaries. We have seen miracles in the last few weeks with investigators! Keep it up. Sister Packer and I will be in Tallin this week for Training for Mission Presidents and Wives so the Assistants will be in charge. Keep the momentum going!
Fear and Love
One of the greatest impediments to missionary work is fear. It occurs when we face the unknown and wonder what we will do or what will happen next. Fear causes stress which is physically manifested as anxiety, tiredness, headaches, and a host of other undesirable results. As an Egyptian novelist Naguib Mahfouz wrote, “Fear does not prevent death, it prevents life.” If we do not control fear, it controls us.
Fear comes from the natural being in which our spirit is housed. It is self-focused. It is the expectation that the worse always happens, something that is rarely the case. It is a weakness common to all.
The divinity within has the capacity to control fear and turn it into excitement. Fear is a negative response to the unknown. It is the same emotion as excitement, which is a positive response to the unknown.
Love vanquishes fear. Indeed, fear is the absence of love. When controlled by fear we are being acted upon. When motivated by love we are acting--creating a world of beauty, spirituality, unity, bliss, and delight.
Excitement for spreading the gospel comes from love. It gives us the confidence to face the unknown knowing that God loves us, regardless of how others respond, and that he is directing our life. This type of love is built on scripture study, prayer, fasting, and service.
Love comes from the spirit being within. Love is outward focused. It is the expectation that the angels
surrounding us and tending to those we meet can influence our decisions and actions as well as their decisions and
actions; that things will always turn out well and to the greatest good of all. It is a power common to all who seek to be
saints.
Doctrine and Covenants 100:15 “Therefore, let your hearts be comforted; for all things shall work together for good to them that walk uprightly...”
So this is the challenge: To lovingly recognize the opportunity to touch the life of another with the gospel message, to pray for this to happen and to patiently live until this righteous desire is fulfilled. May we live daily in humility, faith, hope, and charity so that in our missionary efforts the weakness of fear becomes the strength of love.
Doctrine and Covenants 100:15 “Therefore, let your hearts be comforted; for all things shall work together for good to them that walk uprightly...”
So this is the challenge: To lovingly recognize the opportunity to touch the life of another with the gospel message, to pray for this to happen and to patiently live until this righteous desire is fulfilled. May we live daily in humility, faith, hope, and charity so that in our missionary efforts the weakness of fear becomes the strength of love.
Love,
President and Sister Packer
President and Sister Packer
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