Our Environment of Discipleship
Our Environment of Discipleship
President Quinn’s Weekly Message
California Santa Rosa Mission
August 11th, 2025
We extend a warm welcome to the 15 missionaries who joined us last Wednesday. You are an impressive group. We look forward to serving with you here in CASRM.
I also extend my congratulations to all of you for the remarkable number of baptisms and confirmations we were blessed with last transfer. Your hard work and faith were evidenced in the 83 baptisms and confirmations we enjoyed. This is a new record for CASRM. Well done!
Last week my message was inspired by a recent visit Sister Quinn and I made to the Lady Bird Johnson Grove Trail located just north of Eureka. I shared how the coastline fog here in northern California creates an environment where the redwoods receive water necessary to sustain growth. I invited each of you to consider how your decisions impacted, positively or negatively, the personal spiritual environment of your life.
This week my message is focused on what we each can do to contribute to the environment of discipleship in CASRM. Like the redwoods, our environment plays a critical role in our growth and development – particularly our spiritual growth. This is why we speak so often about serving in the Savior’s way of high love and high expectations. Each of us in CASRM contributes to the environment of our companionship, district, zone, and mission. Each of us has the responsibility to make a positive contribution to the environment and culture of CASRM. President Monson shared a lesson he was once taught by David O. McKay:
“There is one responsibility that no one can evade. That is the effect of one’s personal influence.” (Thomas S. Monson, GC May 2004)
The Apostle Paul taught the importance of our influence on one another in a letter to his friend Timothy:
“Be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.” (1 Timothy 4:12)
This is wise counsel applicable to each of us “believers” here in CASRM who, like Timothy and Paul, are disciples engaged in the service of Jesus Christ. We should do our best to lift one another through the words we share in our conversations, the kindness we extend, and the faith we demonstrate in our missionary service. As we all strive to lift one another, we will create an even stronger environment in CASRM upon which we each can build our individual and collective discipleship.
When I was 11 years old, I was a shy young boy lacking self-confidence. One Sunday, my Sunday School teacher asked my class to participate in an activity. This activity began an important transformation in my life. This inspired teacher asked each member of my class to say one kind thing about the other members of the class. I remember going around the room and saying one kind thing I admired about the other members of my class. I believe there were 10 of us in this class. I remember the feelings of confidence that came to me when it was my turn for my classmates to share kind words about me. That experience – and those simple kind words helped to change my life. My self-confidence began to grow that day. I left the classroom feeling different about myself – and my classmates. I learned the truth of a lesson taught by Elder Thomas B. Wirthlin:
“Kind words not only lift our spirits in the moment they are given, but they can linger with us over the years.” (Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin, GC May 2005)
To this day – nearly 55 years later, I have not forgotten the feelings of love and confidence that came to me as my classmates spoke kind words about me.
I invite you to consider ways you can continue contributing to our Christ centered environment in CASRM. Please reflect on the beautiful and majestic redwoods growing across CASRM – and the lessons they teach us. Many of these redwood tress’ stand hundreds of feet tall and have lived for nearly 2000 years because of the rich environment they live in. The environment we create for ourselves and others matters! What words of compliment or acts of service can you share with another CASRM missionary to show love and build confidence? I testify to the power your words and acts of love will have in the lives of your fellow missionaries – and across CASRM.
Love,
President Quinn
(630) 881-4030
