Mental Health Minute–Was it Enough?
While serving as a mental health advisor for missionaries, more than one missionary, both African and American, became anxious at the end of their mission when they asked themselves: Was it enough? Did I do enough? How does the Lord feel about my service?
As we invite others to come unto Christ and enjoy all of the blessings of His restored gospel, we take seriously the admonition in Doctrine and Covenants 4:2 “Therefore, O ye that embark in the service of God, see that ye serve him with all your heart, might, mind and strength, that ye may stand blameless before God at the last day.”
Sometimes we read the part that says “with ALL my heart, with ALL my might, with ALL my mind and with ALL my strength” and we might wonder if we are doing enough. However, the Lord counseled the Prophet Joseph Smith, “Do not run faster or labor more than you have strength … but be diligent unto the end.” (D&C 10:4)
It turns out that most missionaries are not perfect. Maybe the question is not whether you served perfectly, but did you serve faithfully and diligently? did you give a sincere effort? did you love the people and love the Lord?
In Adjusting to Missionary Life it says “As you exercise your faith and act on the decision you have made to do the Lord’s work, you will develop the skills, gifts, and strengths you need more quickly. You will feel His help and you will grow in confidence in your ability to serve the Lord.”
We are reminded to:
- Examine our expectations. Don’t expect everything to turn out the way we had hoped. We will not do everything perfectly.
- Set realistic goals, and make specific plans for how we will accomplish them. Avoid the common practice of trying to improve too many things at once; this can be overwhelming and may lead to failure. Tackle things that distress us one at a time. Depression responds well to goals and plans. (see PMG, p. 146.) Don’t expect perfection, and include a plan for how we will get back on track when we have a bad day.
- Realize that everything you do can’t be above average. We still want to work hard to improve, but no matter how good we become at something, we will perform below our personal average some of the time. This is not a cause for alarm.
- Turn each day over to the Lord. Once we have done what we can to plan thoroughly, ask Him to work things together for our good. Be flexible and responsive to the Spirit.
Elder Boyd K. Packer visited the France-Switzerland Mission when I served (1974-1976) and taught us that the success of a mission is not the number of baptisms. The success of a mission is when a neighbor sees the light turn on in our apartment each morning at 6am, seeing the missionaries leave their apartment each morning at 9am, then seeing the missionaries return each evening. [Note: missionary hours were different back then and they were different in different countries.] Elder Packer promised us blessings for our service.
In Matthew 25:20-22 we see how the Lord feels about using our talents:
20 And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.
21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
22 He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.
23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
The message to those young elders, and to us, comes on our release:
“You are honorably release from your sacred calling … No greater service can be rendered than to labor faithfully for the Savior in the salvation of human souls. The gratitude of those who have benefited from your unselfish labors will always be a source of satisfaction and encouragement to you.
“May the joy that has come from conscientiously performing your duties … abide with you and inspire you with a constant devotion to the Lord Jesus Christ, whom you have served.”
May we feel the Lord’s love for our faithful and sincere efforts to serve in the gathering of Israel on both sides of the veil.