What Do You Hope Missionaries Will Always Remember? - Top 20
Elder Tippets with President Quinn - Welcome back!
It has been a wonderful and beautiful week here in CASRM. Elder Tippets is back after his tonsillectomy. We’re so happy and proud of him that he’s back! The third time is the charm Elder!
Lately, I’ve been thinking about questions I’m often asked. Questions like: What is the hardest part of being a mission leader? What has surprised you the most? What is your favorite part? And what do you hope your missionaries will always always remember from their mission?
Sisters Pilling & Thomas in Fort Bragg with Sister & President Quinn
In my next few posts, I’ll share some thoughts on these questions. Today’s question: What lessons do President Quinn, and I most want our missionaries to remember?
Over the past (almost) three years, President Quinn and I have repeated a few simple truths. The most important one is the counsel we received from President Nelson: to be lifelong disciples of Jesus Christ, for this is the path to joy in this life and eternal life in the world to come. The following are our top 20 lessons our missionaries have heard many times, so many times they can repeat them with us 😀! We hope they have a place in their hearts. We refer to some of them as Quinnisms. (They are not in any particular order)
1. Be a lifelong disciple of Jesus Christ - This is so important that we have had our missionaries introduce themselves as disciples of Jesus Christ at zone conferences, when they bear their testimonies, and when they speak in church.
2. Serve in the Lord’s way with high love and high expectations – We have a two-by-two quadrant we talk about often. High love and high expectations go hand in hand. We expect this of ourselves and others.
3. Expect Miracles – In the California Santa Rosa Mission we pray for, seek, and expect miracles. I love our Miracle Monday where we Zoom together as a mission and share miracles from the week.
4. God covers our nakedness with the Atonement of Jesus Christ – Lessons from the Garden of Eden. The Atonement of Jesus Christ covers all those things that we are without. A beautiful story of God’s love.
5. Specific questions get specific answers in prayers – Pray every day! We have challenged our missionaries to offer a daily ten-minute prayer – and to pray with specificity in their petitions to the Lord.
6. Conquer the morning to crush the day! – Start your day off right by getting up on time, making your bed, studying the scriptures and PMG, and following the daily missionary schedule by getting out of your apartment on time. Starting your day in obedience will set the right tone for your day.
7. Motion is lotion for the brain! Move your body. This will help you to not only be healthier, but it will also increase your mental health and your motivation. President Nelson taught us “the Lord loves effort.”
8. It pays to pay your tithing! - This is a fun way to show gratitude to the Lord. To shout out “It pays to pay your tithing” when good things happen to you!
9. “Choose” to obey – do not “should” yourself. - We teach our missionaries to eliminate the word “should” for their vocabulary. Try it. It is very liberating!
10. You will always find what you are looking for – Look for compassion for yourself and others. Learn to hold your value. You are a child of God who loves you!
11. Be curious not critical – have “learning’ conversations - This is a good way to get along with others. It helps in learning to love and understand them.
12. When in doubt throw it out & keep your carpets clean – Live a clutter free life. An orderly home invites the Spirit. Be a good steward over your earthly blessings.
13. Be a truth seeker – Don’t just doubt - seek truth. Go to inspired “vertical” and trusted sources for truth.
14. Give the Lord something to work with – The Lord is a multiplier.
15. How many baptisms have you had? The answer is – “more than I can count.” Your influence it greater than you think.
16. Prepare for the 2nd coming of the Lord by “Coming to Know Him”– Respond to Sister Quinn’s weekly journal prompts. This adds oil to your spiritual lantern.
17. Act and not be acted upon – Faith is a principle of action.
These last few are part of President Quinn’s returning home counsel.
18. Never rationalize missing church – This is counsel President Quinn gives each missionary as they leave to go home. Attending church each Sunday will help our missionaries remain lifelong disciples of Jesus Christ.
19. Seek an eternal marriage – Make investments in your family that will yield eternal dividends. This investment begins by a marriage sealed in the house of the Lord.
20. Give the Lord a fair share of your time! Your time is the most sought-after commodity in today’s world. How will you spend it?
And of course, we hope they will always remember how much they are loved by us! ❤️ Each one feels like a son or a daughter.
President & Sister Quinn with Sister Tappana & Scott - A man came up and said “Thank you for your service” to us - Later we learned he had paid for our dinner. How kind!
We truly hope and pray each missionary will stay faithful to their covenants and continue to walk the covenant path for their lifetime. We tease them (sort of tease) and say that we have millions of frequent flyer miles and if they do not stay faithful, we will come and find them and see why they are not on the path. We want their happiness! We hope they will remember these lessons and the many other lessons they have individually learned while on their missions. Love, Sister Quinn
Here is our Coming to Know Him journal prompt #37!
More photos from the week:
Sisters Steinfeldt, Quinn, and Weller - Just put a friend Jim on date!
Elders Szymanski, Whitman with Sister and President Quinn in Willits
A visit from former missionary Hermana Shelby Linford and her mother! So fun!
A mission wide cleaning day! Thank you Cawleys for your Zone Conference training!
Our missionaries did an awesome job! They sent photos and videos of their apartments and they are looking great!
