Letter Home

Dear Matthew, Jessica, Sara, Birch, Emily, Ryan, Leah, Geoff, Seth, Caroline, Laura, Jared, and Luke,

It’s Christmas Eve day here and I just wanted to write you all a letter.  Had we known just what weather and other factors were in Fiji, we likely would have left in April instead of October for our mission service.  It would have meant only one Christmas away and two “cooler” seasons instead of two hot seasons!

We think of all of you and pray for you each day.  We were told that while we served, our family would be protected.  We likely mistook that assurance to mean there wouldn’t be serious challenges – that certainly has not been the case.  So many of you have faced serious difficulties that we know of and likely many challenges of which we know not.  We wish we could have been by your side, instead of relegated to long distance contact.  Thank you all for sticking together so well and supporting each other.  That has been such a source of satisfaction for us and softened the pain of not being there.  We know that the Lord has blessed you and protected our family from worse harm.  We also know that many serious challenges are largely endured in the privacy, and sometimes loneliness, of the individual soul.  President David O. McKay once said, that; “the most difficult battles of life are fought within the secret, silent chambers of the soul.”  Thank you all for being faithful through these difficulties when no one else is aware, can completely understand, or, perhaps even give help.

As was said by one of the pioneer company: “We came to know God in our extremities.”   I have felt this to be true.  Though terribly hard to endure these difficulties and what really are awful ironies, they have ministered to me.  I often think of President Kimball, who suffered so terribly during his life when he shared a poem he was fond of entitled, “Pain Stayed So Long:”

Pain stayed so long I said to him today,

“I will not have you with me any more.”

I stamped my foot and said, “Be on your way,”

And paused there, startled at the look he wore.

“I, who have been your friend,” he said to me,

“I, who have been your teacher – all you know

Of understanding love, of sympathy,

And patience, I have taught you.  Shall I go?”

He spoke the truth, this strange unwelcome guest;

I watched him leave, and knew that he was wise.

He left a heart grown tender in my breast,

He left a far, clear vision in my eyes.

I dried my tears, and lifted up a song –

Even for one who’d tortured me so long.

(Author unknown. Quoted by Spencer W. Kimball in,

 Faith Precedes the Miracle, Deseret Book, 1973, p. 99)

Though I often cannot see it, I have complete faith and confidence in the assurance that “the Lord God … doeth not anything save it be for the benefit of the world: for he loveth the world” (2 Nephi 26:24-25, 33).  That promise has given me more comfort and assurance than any other scripture.  He loves each of us, in that we can have perfect confidence even if we cannot understand the challenges which beset us and may seem so wrong from our limited and mortal perspective; “for he doeth that which is good among the children of men.”

We occasionally have conversations with you, or notice on the internet, that former friends and acquaintances have apparently lost their testimonies and are struggling to find their place.  They seem to have left the faith either partially or completely, or hope to mold the Church to be what they think it should be like.  It breaks our hearts to see this, and we know many of them are close friends of yours.  Though I’ve had the opportunity during a long career to read and ponder on challenging issues of Church doctrine and history, I realize that when it comes to the most vexing issues, we often know so very little.  I appreciate the frankness of Nephi: “I know that he loveth his children; nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things” (1 Nephi 11:17).  However, what I do not know has not persuaded me that I know nothing.  I know that God lives and that we are His divine children and this IS His Church.

I feel great sorrow for those who struggle with their testimonies, but want you to know at this Christmas season that I know that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, and our divine and kind Savior.  I know that the Church is precisely what the Lord solemnly declared it to be, and that Joseph Smith was truly a prophet whom the Lord loved and guided and “gave power to lay the foundation of this church, and to bring it forth out of obscurity and out of darkness, the only true and living church upon the face of the whole earth, which I, the Lord, am well pleased” (D&C 1:30).  I also know that testimonies are the most delicate of all living things.  They must be nurtured by faith, study, service, obedience, and repentance.  Truly, we only know the truth of the gospel by the power of the Spirit, which “dwelleth not in unholy temples.”  Your testimonies and individual faithfulness continue to be the greatest of pleasure for Mom and I, thank you – thank you.

We are finally looking toward the end of our mission, we will be so glad to return home and see you again.  We’ve certainly had our own difficulties and challenges, we’ve had to find our faith anew and figure out how to move forward without a critical and judgmental spirit.  Mom and I have grown ever closer together and I’m so grateful for this opportunity to see this wonderful woman adapt and fully engage in our callings.  I will never forget the beauty of her kneeling on a mat, with bugs crawling all over us and bodies dripping with sweat, sharing her sweet and gentle testimony.  It is a scene I will hold in my heart and ever be grateful for.

Our love to each of you, and my deepest gratitude to you for your faithful and loving care expressed to us.  It helped and made a difference to talk with you over the months and strengthened our resolve to be faithful. Thank you.

Dad
___________________________

I wrote the following poem to comfort Elder Luke Smith, who was off on a lonely island and feeling isolated and challenged:

Well Done My Faithful Son

In a lowly manger

On a dusty road,

The Savior of the world

Bore his heavy load.

He knew the road was long

He knew all would not hear,

Yet every step and every word

He gave His Father dear.

We follow in His footsteps

We labor diligently,

Our hearts and lips proclaim

His matchless majesty.

He decides the time and place

For us to labor by His grace.

We work until our time is done

And hope to hear the blessed words,

“Well done my faithful son.”

(Elder Tom Sherry, Fiji Suva Mission, December 2012)