(Early) Return With Honor: Missionaries and COVID-19

COVID-19 is affecting much of the world, and missionaries are no exception. Missionaries for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints  from countries around the globe are being sent home or assigned to different missions. Early on March 21st, a Saturday, a group of more than ten young men in the iconic white shirts and ties returned to the Salt Lake City International airport from Madagascar. Three of these young missionaries shared their experience and feelings regarding the unexpected change to their mission plans. Elder Cottle from Virginia, Elder Maguet from Kentucky and Elder Wehner from Indiana stopped at at Salt Lake City International on their way to Fort Worth-Dallas and eventually home.

COVID-19 is a recent problem for Madagascar. The missionaries spent about a week making preparations for the possibility of an outbreak, despite no confirmed cases on the island. Then, the church evacuated every missionary from the island. Elder Maguet said, "When we left Madagascar two days ago, there was no coronavirus. So when all church meetings were cancelled last week, it was difficult to explain to people why church was cancelled. We said it was because of coronavirus, but people were confused because there was no coronavirus in Madagascar at that time."

The first case of COVID-19 on Madagascar was confirmed only the day before this interview, on March 20th.

Some missionaries are being reassigned to other missions, while others are being sent home early, having completed their missions. A mission is a profound experience for Latter-day Saints. Each missionary has a different reaction to these changes. Elder Maguet said, "I'm ok now. When I first found out I was sad that I had to leave three months early, because I knew I probably wouldn't ever be coming back to Madagascar." 

Elder Cottle returned home six months before his expected return date: "It hasn't really sunk in yet, I think. I was really sad about it at first for sure. ... I was really hoping to spend those six months in Madagascar, but I'm really excited to see my family."

Elder Wehner expects to be reassigned. After a few months serving elsewhere, he received his visa and served nine months in Madgascar. He said, "It's really weird because when you go on a mission, you know that you're going to go and serve for two years. ... I've been on my mission for about fourteen months. And knowing that I have this ... problem in the middle of my mission, and coming home and having to see my family and all that, I don't know. It's a little bit different than a typical missionary would expect."

Each missionary shared insights relating to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' reaction to and preparation for the recent pandemic. The church recently suspended church meetings across the globe. Elder Maguet said, "It was really hard to explain and help [people] understand that this is a worldwide church led by the prophet, and that everything we do is by revelation. But I feel like that did help them understand, maybe, more about modern prophets and apostles ... even though there was no coronavirus there at the time. ... Like I mentioned, they didn't really understand why there was no church at first, but the district president ... said you just have to obey. It came from the prophet, so we can't figure out ways to get around it and figure out loopholes, we just have to obey even though it doesn't seem applicable for us."

Elder Wehner shared thoughts on other changes the church has enacted within the last couple years, such as a home-based church curriculum and individualized "ministering" assignments: "It's really nice to know that several years ago the prophet said to have us do ministering ...and now there's a huge push  for ministering and a huge push for these other things outside of church that will help ... Madagascar ... since there's not a lot of church there.

Although formal missionary work faces limitations at the moment, the work of the Lord continues. The three missionaries agreed that member work is the greatest way to support missionaries during these times. Elder Maguet said, "Members could ... ask the missionaries how they need help on Sundays. Maybe invite people to your house to have some sort of study of Come Follow Me. ... The people that are going to be helping people look into the church are the members, that are gonna stay there no matter what. That makes all the difference." Elder Wehner supported this statement, saying, "One thing that  ... members should do is ... go out and teach their friends the church. We always pray for member support."

How Daniel Interpreted Dreams

Last week I read about Joseph of Egypt's interpretation of dreams. I learned that he looked at symbolism with spiritual eyes, and relied on the power of God rather than of men or devils. This week I read about Daniel-- specifically his interpretation of two dreams of Nebuchadnezzar. Daniel's behavior in both instances is similar.
In the first passage, Nebuchadnezzar had a dream, but forgot what he had dreamed. He commanded all of his magicians to not only interpret his dream, but remember it for him (or die!). None of his magicians were able to. In order to save the lives of himself, his friends and the magicians, Daniel offered to discover and interpret the king's dream.
The night before he met with the king, Daniel prayed. Interestingly, he didn't only pray alone, but also with his friends. After praying, he slept and received the king's dream in a dream himself:
"Thou, O king, sawest, and behold a great image. This great image, whose brightness was excellent, stood before thee; and the form thereof was terrible. This image’s head was of fine gold, his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of brass, his legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay. Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces. Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshing floors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth."
In the morning, he went to the king and interpreted the dream. Before offering the interpretation, however, he acknowledged the source of his interpretation to the king and the wise men:
"The secret which the king hath demanded cannot the wise men, the astrologers, the magicians, the soothsayers, shew unto the king; but there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets…"
He also explained the reason why the secret was revealed:
"But as for me, this secret is not revealed to me for any wisdom that I have more than any living, but for their sakes that shall make known the interpretation to the king, and that thou mightest know the thoughts of thy heart."
Daniel then explained that the dream represented the kingdoms of the earth. At the last days, the great and the lesser kingdoms would all be swept away by the power of the Lord. Nebuchadnezzar accepted his interpretation and praised Daniel.
The second dream Nebuchadnezzar had (of the tree) had similar lessons. Daniel's example of interpretation in both instances taught key lessons that are applicable as we strive to interpret dreams. Daniel remained humble through the whole process. He acknowledged that he had no power to know the dream, let alone interpret it. He gave thanks to God. He directed others to know God. We need to strive for this same humility and gratitude.
He also had righteous intentions. Rather than idly wondering about the dream, he wanted to save his life and the lives of his friends. As we seek revelation, it's important to examine our intentions: do we seek revelation to sate curiosity, or for real improvement?
Daniel interpreted Nebuchadnezzar's dreams without fear. In the first dream, he prophesied of the downfall of the king's empire. In the second, he prophesied that the king would become mad. Yet he spoke boldly. The Spirit of the Lord spoke to him, and he believed.

As we humbly seek to receive revelation for righteous purposes, without fear of persecution, the Lord will make his mysteries known.

The great image from Nebuchadnezzar's dream

How Joseph Interpreted Dreams

Joseph of Egypt is known for many things-- his coat, being sold into slavery, saving an entire people. He's also unique in his ability to interpret dreams This spiritual gift is particularly striking because of the consequences: for Joseph himself, he gained comfort and assurance that he had been chosen of God. The butler and the baker learned of their fates as they waited anxiously in prison. The Pharoah, and consequently Egypt and surrounding peoples, were saved from a great famine.
This morning I read through each dream Joseph interpreted, in order to understand how he was able to interpret these dreams.
In chapter 37 of Genesis, Joseph interpreted two of his own dreams to his brothers and his father. He described them this way:
"Hear, I pray you, this dream which I have dreamed: for, behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and, lo, my sheaf arose, and also stood upright; and, behold, your sheaves stood round about, and made obeisance to my sheaf. ... Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me."
His interpretation of these dreams was that his brothers and his parents would someday bow down to him.
In chapter 40 of Genesis, Joseph was in prison, watching over Pharaoh's former butler and baker. Joseph asked why the butler and the baker were sad. The butler told him of a dream that he had:
"In my dream, behold, a vine was before me; and in the vine were three branches: and it was as though it budded, and her blossoms shot forth; and the clusters thereof brought forth ripe grapes: and Pharaoh’s cup was in my hand: and I took the grapes, and pressed them into Pharaoh’s cup, and I gave the cup into Pharaoh’s hand."
Joseph understood that the three branches stood for three days, and that at the end of three days the butler would be restored to serving Pharaoh. The baker, on hearing Joseph's interpretation, felt encouraged to tell of a dream he had had the same night:
"I also was in my dream, and, behold, I had three white baskets on my head: and in the uppermost basket there was of all manner of bakemeats for Pharaoh; and the birds did eat them out of the basket upon my head."
Joseph told the baker that the three white baskets also stood for three days. However, instead of being restored, the poor baker would be hanged at the end of three days.
In the next chapter, two years have passed. Joseph was still in prison. Meanwhile, Pharaoh had a couple of disturbing dreams which his magicians could not interpret:
"Pharaoh dreamed: and, behold, he stood by the river. And, behold, there came up out of the river seven well favoured kine and fatfleshed; and they fed in a meadow. And, behold, seven other kine came up after them out of the river, ill favoured and leanfleshed; and stood by the other kine upon the brink of the river. And the ill favoured and leanfleshed kine did eat up the seven well favoured and fat kine. .... Behold, seven ears of corn came up upon one stalk, rank and good. And, behold, seven thin ears and blasted with the east wind sprung up after them. And the seven thin ears devoured the seven rank and full ears."
After the failure of his magicians, the butler, whose dream Joseph interpreted, remembered to tell Pharaoh that Joseph had power to interpret dreams. Pharaoh called Joseph out of prison.
Joseph then told Pharaoh that both his dreams meant that Egypt would experience seven years of plenty, followed by seven years of famine.
All of Joseph's interpretations would have been impossible if he had understood each item literally. Only through spiritual eyes could he understand dreams. His willingness to see metaphors through the Spirit of God allowed him to make sense out of dreams that would otherwise simply be disturbing or curious. He also saw the value of numbers in dreams.
Another key element is Joseph's acknowledgment of the true power. Pharaoh's magicians were unable to interpret his dreams. "Magicians" today, or people who seek to use spiritual powers other than the Holy Spirit, seek to explain our dreams. Whether their interpretations are accurate or not, the dangers of listening to such sources far outweigh any curiosity. Joseph, however, didn't 'lean unto his own understanding' or mysticism. When speaking with the butler and the baker, Joseph asked, "Do not interpretations belong to God?" He wouldn't interpret for Pharaoh without clarifying,  "It is not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace."
Our Father in Heaven still gives revelation to those who seek it. In order to understand his words, we need to have his Holy Spirit to help us understand and have 'eyes to see' the visions he bestows. Dreams can be unsettling, pleasant or simply strange. Through the Spirit, dreams can be transformative.

Our Birth Story

On August 10th, 2019, my husband and I attended stake conference. Being almost 40 weeks pregnant at the time, my mother encouraged me to skip church and just stay home. However, I decided to go. Labor felt distant, and I wanted to make the most of my last couple of baby-free weeks.

After conference I asked Joseph if we could have a special date night, so we picked up a s'mores cake and went to Alfy's for margherita pizza. As soon as I finished eating dinner I experienced an intense contraction accompanied by a distinct "pop" in my lower abdomen. Clearly, the daughter in my womb enjoyed the pizza as well.

Joseph asked if I was okay. I told him that I was fine, because I didn't feel any liquid so my water must not have broken. Immediately, I felt the trickle. We immediately checked the time (a couple minutes before 9) and headed home. I texted my mom and my sister, Kelsey, so they could get ready to head to the hospital, and called triage. All midwives were busy attending to other births, so I was told to call back.
Even though I knew that I should immediately go to the hospital after my water broke, I wanted to go home! I didn't want to sit at the hospital. I wanted to do laundry, brush my teeth, grab my hospital bag and relax. By the time I got home the contractions were more painful, so Joseph did laundry. I made it to everything else on my list though! We even started watching Mary Poppins. I called triage two more times, and finally I was told to head out immediately. Joseph drove me, and Kelsey and Mom followed shortly.
On the way to the hospital, I stopped at my bishop's house for a priesthood blessing. The Lord promised me that I would be strengthened and know what I needed to do to deliver my child. By this point contractions were 3-5 minutes apart, and I was having a hard time focusing on anything else.

We arrived at Providence Hospital around midnight. After checking in, a nurse took a sample of amniotic fluid for testing. Joseph and I waited in a little curtain-drawn room for about an hour. Contractions were still consistent. Before the nurse came back I had to go to the bathroom to vomit. I had trouble making the short distance back to the room. Finally the nurse came back to confirm that yes, I was in active labor! The nurse inserted an IV. Three times she stuck the tube into my wrist, but only the final try was she able to make it into a viable vein. Then we were able to join my mother and sister in a full room to continue laboring.
When I considered my birth plan, I had planned to stay moving. I wanted to move around the room, try laboring in different positions and above all avoid laboring lying down on a bed. I told myself and my husband that I wanted no medications. I'd hoped to rely on breathing, prayer and my husband holding my hand and rubbing my back. I hadn't realized three key things: I would be attached to some hospital machine, the pain would be so intense and I absolutely would not want my husband touching me.
After yelling at my sweet Joseph, I ended up getting medication and an epidural.
The anesthesiologist began my epidural in between contractions. I sat slouched in the hospital bed, trying to maintain exact posture in order for the needle to be placed safely and effectively. In the middle of the injection, I had another particularly bad contraction.
Shortly after, I fell asleep and drifted in and out of consciousness for the next few hours. Occasionally I'd wake up, talk to my family briefly and go back to sleep.
Around 7:30 Sunday morning I started feeling pressure in my pelvic floor. At first I thought my catheter had somehow shifted, and asked a nurse to check. She said everything was fine. I kept feeling pressure, and decided maybe I needed to poop. By this point I was not only wired up to machinery, but completely unable to use my legs, so I asked for a nurse. When she arrived, the nurse told me that the sensation of needing to poop typically means it's time to push. Then I waited for a midwife.
A few minutes feels much longer when you're resisting the need to deliver your child. That being said, a few minutes later the midwife, Sarah, came. With confidence, a friendly attitude and a heavy Australian accent she taught me how to push. As I pushed, Sarah asked a nurse to bring over a mirror so I could see baby emerge. At 8:33 on August 11th Amelia arrived. She was a deep blue. As Sarah helped me catch her and bring her to my chest, her color evened out.
Joseph cut the cord that had connected us for nine long months.
I cried. None of last night's misery mattered any more, because I finally had Amelia in my arms. I didn't care that the birth hadn't gone according to my plans; despite the changes, Joseph and I finally had our daughter.
The next several weeks were a struggle. For weeks, I couldn't walk without pain and heaviness. I was anxious every time I had to use the restroom. My arms were bruised where the IV had been inserted so many times. Even though I expected breastfeeding to come naturally, it took actual work for me and Millie to learn how to work together. But Joseph, Amelia and I worked things out. My family was there to help with everything. Joseph's family came to meet Amelia when she was only four weeks old.
Six months later, we're still learning, but our struggles are completely different. During pregnancy, I was sick and exhausted. Postpartum, I was in pain, learning to take care of Millie's basic needs, and exhausted. Now, I'm trying to sleep train her, keep her from injuring herself with her newfound mobility, and am (still!) exhausted.
Amelia is a light in our lives. She's a joy to everyone she meets. Birth was the hardest experience of my life, but every minute led to holding Amelia in our arms. It led to kisses, snuggles, new baby laughs and smiles. I wouldn't change a thing.

This Moment

"I was born in the wrong time."
"Don't you wish we could go back to the good old days?"
I've heard variants of these phrases too many times to count, from people old and young. The past is enchanting, seemingly simpler and better than our current state.
But what about right now?
The moment you are living right now will never come again.
I am sitting in my apartment, writing. My family and I worshiped in church this morning. Our neighbors exchanged simple gifts with us this afternoon. My daughter ate some banana for the first time. Now I'm sitting next to my husband, while our daughter sleeps in the other room. He's researching emergency preparedness, and we cherish this quiet moment.
The world is a different place now, and in some ways it's scarier than ever before. In many ways it's much brighter. I'm not here to compare eras; I'm here to thank the Lord I'm alive at this time in history.
When we focus on the past, we let today's blessings pass by without even a glance. Opportunities to improve our own lives and the lives of others are lost. 
I am alive. I am blessed. I face my challenges the same way people in every time have faced their challenges: with grit.
How will you face yours?

A Prophet Speaks

"We live in a world that is complex and increasingly contentious. The constant availability of social media and a 24-hour news cycle bombard us with relentless messages. If we are to have any hope of sifting through the myriad of voices and the philosophies of men that attack truth, we must learn to receive revelation. … In coming days, it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding, directing, comforting, and constant influence of the Holy Ghost."

Noah warned of the coming flood, Moses warned Pharaoh of the plagues, and our prophet today warns, “The battle with sin is real. The adversary is quadrupling his efforts to disrupt testimonies and impede the work of the Lord. He is arming his minions with potent weapons to keep us from partaking of the joy and love of the Lord.”

Like other prophets, President Nelson is the Lord's mouthpiece. He gives warning of upcoming disasters. I read each of his talks since becoming prophet, and identified key themes regarding upcoming days. These themes include receiving revelation, repenting, and sharing the gospel.

Receive revelation and remain steadfast in your knowledge of the truth. In several talks, President Nelson has stressed that you must gain a testimony of the gospel.

He says, “If you are not sure you even believe in God, start there. … Humble yourself. Pray to have eyes to see God’s hand in your life and in the world around you. Ask Him to tell you if He is really there—if He knows you. Ask Him how He feels about you. And then listen."

Our Father in Heaven is listening, and He wants you to know Him. He wants you to know yourself as His child.

Once we receive a witness of our Father, “do the spiritual work” to know the surety of our Savior. Know that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is just that— the church of Jesus Christ. No matter if you’ve never heard of the church, if you’ve been faithful for many years, or if you’ve distanced yourself from the covenant path, come and know for yourself that this is where the Lord wants us to be.

Our Father wants us to receive constant revelation to guide our lives. Testimony is critical, but we must receive guidance everywhere. President Nelson says on choosing his counselors as prophet, “Because I know that good inspiration is based upon good information, I prayerfully met one-on-one with each Apostle. I then sequestered myself in a private room in the temple and sought the Lord’s will.”

The holy temple is an ideal location to gain revelation. But you can and should access the power of heaven anywhere through earnest prayer to our loving Father in Heaven, who “wants to speak to you”. 

President Nelson’s prescription for how to increase your capacity to receive revelation is to live more purely, obey exactly, seek earnestly, feast daily on the words of Christ in the Book of Mormon, and regularly commit time to temple and family history work.

I testify that as I have approached Heavenly Father with my worries, anguish, and confusion he has poured out His Spirit with such abundance I can scarcely take it in. He truly is waiting to answer our concerns, our daily questions and our desire to know His mysteries.

Another key to surviving our mortal experience is receiving ordinances through the priesthood power of God. President Nelson emphasizes that eternal life and family are only possible if we choose to be baptized, confirmed, endowed and sealed under the proper authority, and then live our lives in accordance with the covenants we make at these times. 

It is critical to stay in the church and faithful to our covenants. Nowhere else can we find the keys of the priesthood, so where are we to go?

President Nelson explains that we need to repent:
"The word for repentance in the Greek New Testament is metanoeo. The prefix meta- means 'change.' The suffix -noeo is related to Greek words that mean 'mind,' 'knowledge,' 'spirit,' and 'breath.'
"Thus, when Jesus asks you and me to 'repent,' He is inviting us to change our mind, our knowledge, our spirit—even the way we breathe. He is asking us to change the way we love, think, serve, spend our time, treat our wives, teach our children, and even care for our bodies."

Repentance is a sacred blessing! What joy I have found in Jesus changing my heart!

As we learn to receive revelation, make covenants and repent, it’s critical that we give the same opportunities to those we love (and let us remember, the Lord invites us to love our enemies.)

President Nelson states, "Our message to the world is simple and sincere: we invite all of God’s children on both sides of the veil to come unto their Savior, receive the blessings of the holy temple, have enduring joy, and qualify for eternal life."

Our brothers and sisters need to hear this message. Are you willing to share?
Individuals who have died without receiving ordinances also need the opportunity to make sacred covenants. My husband and I recently had a chance to go to the temple and be baptized for family who have passed. I testify with no doubt that these relatives are overjoyed, and waiting anxiously for further ordinances.

As we follow these principles, we will find happiness now, we will find exaltation hereafter, and we will find miracles. President Nelson says, “Our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ, will perform some of His mightiest works between now and when He comes again. We will see miraculous indications that God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, preside over this Church in majesty and glory.”

We have been blessed with an outpouring of revelation from heaven. Now is the time to continue to seek more revelation. Now is the time to make and keep covenants. Now is the time to build the kingdom through missionary and temple work.

In April of 2019, our prophet of God, President Russell M. Nelson gave us a clear warning: “Do the spiritual work to find out for yourselves, and please do it now. Time is running out.”