Tag Archive for: one

Assembled Ones

After our final mission conference on Friday, Monic and I excused ourselves for a short time, whilst everyone gathered outside for our last photographs together.
Minutes later, we emerged from the chapel, dressed in our national costumes, catching everyone by surprise!

Gathering

We were greeted with smiles, laughter, whistles and a huge round of applause.
It was a very special moment.

Gathered around us were 138 of our dearest friends.

Individuals we love immensely.

Assembled Ones

The group comprised of one hundred and thirty-eight, unique, individual, ๐’‚๐’”๐’”๐’†๐’Ž๐’ƒ๐’๐’†๐’… ๐’๐’๐’†๐’”.
After the initial gathering (see pictures below), a line was formed and individual pictures were taken ๐จ๐ง๐ž ๐›๐ฒ ๐จ๐ง๐ž, with Monic and I.
It took 75 minutes to capture individual photographs together.
Earlier in the day, Iโ€™d shared the principle of ๐จ๐ง๐ž๐ฌ, as taught by Jesus Christ in 3 Nephi 11-28, in The Book of Mormon.
In chapter 11, our resurrected Saviour visits 2,500 assembled ones, gathered at the temple.

One by One

Verse 15 reads: โ€œโ€ฆ.the multitude went forth, and thrust their hands into his side, and did feel the prints of the nails in his hands and in his feet; and this they did do, going forth ๐’๐’๐’† ๐’ƒ๐’š ๐’๐’๐’† until they had all gone forthโ€ฆ.โ€
Just 30 emotionally charged seconds, with 138 of our dearest friends had taken us around 75 minutes to meet with each of them individually, ๐’๐’๐’† ๐’ƒ๐’š ๐’๐’๐’†.
Can you imagine if you had been one of those 2,500, โ€œuntil they had all gone forthโ€ seeing with your eyes, feeling with your hands and knowing of a surety, bearing record, โ€œโ€ฆthat it was he, of whom it was written by the prophets, that should come.โ€ (verse 15)
At 30 seconds each, without any breaks, that equates to around 21 hours to complete the process.
And yet He spent every precious second with His dearest friends.
Would 30 seconds be enough?
The Book of Mormon is another testament of Jesus Christ.
It contains a powerful witness of His ๐จ๐ง๐ž ๐›๐ฒ ๐จ๐ง๐ž personal ministry.
Over the last three years, our ministry has been focused upon and directed to ones.
Every one of our missionaries, minister, individually, ๐จ๐ง๐ž ๐›๐ฒ ๐จ๐ง๐ž, to help others find the peace and joy that only the gospel of Jesus Christ can bring them.
Hundreds of thousands of ones, find Him every year, and you can be ๐จ๐ง๐ž too.
Speak with a missionary todayโ€ฆ

Strength in unity

Why should less be more?

A few days ago, we received a letter indicating the Belgium Netherlands Mission had been chosen to pilot a programme to integrate service missionaries into the traditional mission structure.

It is an exciting opportunity to reduce duplication of effort, have more aligned reporting structures and to be more unified in our missionary labours โ€“ together, as one.

As we unite, we will create an even stronger missionary force to spread the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

As we read in Ephesians 4:13; โ€œTill we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.โ€

The Forth Road Bridge

As I considered the transition over the last few days, my thoughts returned to Scotland and the Forth Road Bridge, which is only a short distance from our home.

It was opened in 1964 and at the time was the longest suspension bridge in Europe, spanning 1005 metres across the Firth of Forth.

Suspension bridges have to be strong and tough enough to overcome a number of extreme obstacles โ€“ long distances, high winds, and water.

A suspension bridge is held up by individual wires, which when spun together make strands.

 

Several strands are then combined into giant wire cables that can hold thousands of tonnes of weight.

In a like manner, speaking figuratively, this principle is evident in our new mission structure, allowing us an opportunity to discover new strength in unity.

Unity grows when we serve together, teach each other, and encourage one another. Our hearts can be โ€œknit together in unity and in love one towards anotherโ€ โ€“ Mosiah 18:21

When it comes to structure, less, frequently is much more.

There is beauty in simplicity.

What blessings have you seen by being unified?

#Unity

Being one.

Manchester, Dundee, Leeds, Newcastle, Carlisle, Torquay and even West Ham all have something in common….. do you know what it is?
The answer…
……Football teams with the word “๐ฎ๐ง๐ข๐ญ๐ž๐” in their title.
Historically, football teams were often amalgamated from more than one smaller club, and then became united.
United – made into or caused to act as a single entity, agreed, in harmony, when people are united, they agree about it and act together.
How united are you – at home, with your neighbours, in your community or in your workplace?
Being united, does not mean being the same.
I know that listening closely to and learning from the perspectives and experiences of others can sometimes be very uncomfortable.
Yet doing so, helps us recognise just how much we see the world as we are rather than as it is.
It may require a change in attitude, building on our many shared common interests, but we must learn to appreciate the differences in others.
Our differences enhance our ability to work together in harmony to accomplish the most difficult of challenges.

Being United…

I have learned that we must constantly work hard at creating unity in diversity.
Working to achieve your goals all alone can be difficult, frequently you need the support of people around you to help – that is what diversity and unity is all about.
Staying united can provide us with a sense of security, support and inner strength in times of difficulty and can allow us to achieve great things.
If ever there was a time for people to stand together it is now.
There is a great power that comes as we work together with others as one.
United we stand, divided we fall.
Unity, harmony and goodwill are virtues that we can all foster in our homes, communities and business organisations. It is essential for any family, community or organisation to thrive.
J.K. Rowling said “We are only as strong as we are united, as weak as we are divided.”
What can you do to build unity?