メリディアン
日本語
帰還宣教師から
From Returned Missionaries
Dwayne N. Andersen-Excerpts from Autobiography
Mission President continued
SPIRITUALITY AND LABOR OF THE MISSIONARIES
As I made a survey of the missionaries in the beginning, I found that the missionaries were at a very low spiritual level, which resulted in many problems. Many of them were seeing three and four movies a week. One missionary reported that he was putting 10 hours weekly on proselyting. They were having problems between companions, with girls, and also having bouts with Satan, plus other activities not conducive to missionary work. I was getting many calls during the night hours from distressed missionaries. The older missionaries were telling negative missionary experiences to the newly arrived, spiritual missionaries, with the intent of breaking them down. The pressure was on the missionaries to baptize, so many of them were working with 12 to 18 year old girls, who were easily influenced and then baptized. The goal was to get baptisms; and they were not too concerned whether the person was a genuine convert or not. Because of these problems, I noticed there was quite a gulf between the missionaries and the members. The members were not too happy with the baptism of all these young girls. Before coming to Japan I had taken a course on the subject of positive mental attitude, (which we called P.M.A.). I felt impressed to start training sessions and personal interviews centered around the positive mental attitude. From my visits, I had noticed that a number of missionaries had negative attitudes and were doing poorly in the language and development as a missionary. I felt that if we could get the new missionaries started right, it would improve their language skills and their spirituality.
I asked Elder Groberg to begin a new language-training program. We would keep the new missionaries in the mission home a few more days to get them started on the positive mental attitude and the importance of their call as a missionary. Then we would help them develop skills in learning the language, which was exciting for them. (Remember, this was before any language training centers for missionaries. They came straight into the field without any help on the language.) I alerted the branches to which they were being assigned and the missionaries who would be companions to the newly arrived missionaries. I told the old missionaries that one of the greatest contributions they could make on their mission was to leave behind a well-trained junior companion. I was impressed to tell the older missionaries that if they did or said anything to discourage these new missionaries, they would have to answer personally to the Lord for the damage they had done. So the new missionaries were put in branches that had previously been prepared to give each missionary a good, positive start on his mission.
The positive attitude and new language program seemed to make some improvements in the spirituality and labors of the missionaries. In the early stages of this program, Elder Gordon B. Hinckley made a visit to Japan in order to interview all of the missionaries in our mission. I remember the occasion very well. I could see Elder Hinckley’s shoulders droop as he listened to the missionaries giving him all their complaints and problems. It was very apparent to me that the missionaries were burdening an apostle of the Lord. Before he left, he gave them a stern message to improve their performances. After Elder Hinckley’s visit, I gave much thought and prayer as to how I might improve the spirituality of the missionaries. As I was praying and thinking, the spirit brought to my mind a talk given by my former stake president in Walnut Creek, President Ranker, about a spiritual bucket. I had been very impressed with his talk and felt that the principles he gave might be a great help in improving the performance and spirituality of the missionaries.
Putting this information into action proved to be one of the most spiritual experiences of my life. I made some adjustments and additions to Pres. Rankers’ talk and then proceeded to present this message to all of the missionaries in their various district conferences. I want to include the message that I gave to them. The message was entitled “The Spiritual Bucket.”
“THE SPIRITUAL BUCKET”
EACH OF US HAS A SPIRITUAL BUCKET. THIS IS A SPECIAL BUCKET FILLED WITH HOLES, SO THAT THE SPIRITUAL FLUID GRADUALLY LEAKS OUT. IT WAS DESIGNED THIS WAY BY OUR CREATOR SO THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO MAKE A CONSTANT, PERSONAL EFFORT TO KEEP IT FULL. IF WE COULD FILL OUR BUCKET UP JUST ONCE AND IT WAS TO REMAIN FULL, WE WOULD BECOME SPIRITUALLY STAGNANT. THE SIGN THAT INDICATES OUR SPIRITUAL FLUID IS GETTING LOW IN OUR BUCKET IS DISCOURAGEMENT. DISCOURAGEMENT IS ONE OF SATAN’S MOST EFFECTIVE TOOLS. WHEN WE ARE DISCOURAGED, WE ARE MORE SUSCEPTIBLE TO SATAN’S TEMPTATIONS. SO WE MUST WORK HARD TO KEEP OUR SPIRITUAL BUCKETS FULL. (I then discussed with the missionaries some ways by which each of us can fill his/her spiritual bucket...)
1. STUDY THE SCRIPTURES. Think of Alma, Moses, Nephi and their challenges. Learn how they solved their problems. Seek answers to YOUR problems. 1 Nephi 19: 23-24 “And I did read many things unto them which were written in the books of Moses; but that I might more fully persuade them to believe in the Lord their Redeemer I did read unto them that which was written by the prophet Isaiah; for I did liken all scriptures unto us, that it might be for our profit and learning. Wherefore I spake unto them saying: Hear ye the words of the prophet, ye who are a remnant of the house of Israel...hear ye the words of the prophet, which were written unto all the house of Israel, and liken them unto yourselves, that ye may have hope as well as your brethren from whom ye have been broken off; for after this manner has the prophet written.”
As you liken the scriptures unto yourself, or in other words, apply them to yourself, it will refill your spiritual bucket. 2 Nephi 32:3 “Angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore, they speak the words of Christ. Wherefore, I said unto you, FEAST upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do.” When we feast on food, we don’t just look at it or rub it on our body, but we take it inside where it becomes part of us. Therefore, we must internalize the scriptures and make them part of us, this will build us up spiritually. 2. PRAY. Learn to really talk and communicate with Heavenly Father. I suggested that the missionaries spend 10 minutes on their knees at night, praying and talking to their Heavenly Father. In one district, when I returned at a later time, the district leader said to me: “President Andersen, I tried praying for 10 minutes; but in a few minutes I became bored and I’m sure the Lord was bored.” I then asked him if he had any problems in the district. He replied that he did. I further inquired: “Did you ask for help?” He stated: “ Yes, I asked the Lord to help me with problems in this district.” At this point, I showed him a notebook in which I made a list of the problems and concerns I had for the mission. Then I told him that when Elder Hinckley would come to visit me, we would go down the list; I would carefully discuss each problem at length, one at a time. Then I would tell Elder Hinckley how I planned to solve each concern. His answer would either be “yes” or “no.” Sometimes he would make a suggestion, or else ask me to think it through again. I suggested to the district leader that he take his problems to the Lord in the same manner, one by one, but that also he must do some homework and have some decisions for which he could seek confirmation from the Lord. His eyes lit up as he exclaimed: “I can hardly wait to talk to the Lord tonight!”
3 Nephi 18:18-20 “Behold, verily, verily, I say unto you, ye must watch and pray always lest ye enter into temptation; for satan desireth to have you, that he may sift you as wheat. Therefore ye must always pray unto the Father in my name; And whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, which is right, believing that ye shall receive, behold it shall be given unto you.” Prayer is a powerful tool to receive spiritual help.
3. SERVE OTHERS - -Work Serving others lifts us spiritually. Mosiah 2:17 “And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God.” When you are in the service of God, He fills your spiritual bucket.
4. FAST WITH A PURPOSE Fast for the purpose of gaining the spirit. Ammon and his brethren resorted to prayer and fasting and received the spirit of prophecy and revelation as recorded in Alma 17:3. “But this is not all; they had given themselves to much prayer and fasting; therefore they had the spirit of prophecy, and the spirit of revelation, and when they taught they taught with power and authority of God.” Fasting with a purpose will increase our spiritual level.
5. BEAR TESTIMONY TO OTHERS I like what it says in D&C 62:3 “Nevertheless, ye are blessed, for the testimony which ye have borne is recorded in heaven for the angels to look upon; and they rejoice over you, and your sins are forgiven you.” If bearing one’s testimony lifts sins, it must have a great effect on spirituality.
6. ATTEND CHURCH MEETINGS To feel the spirit in a meeting a person must be in the meeting physically, mentally, and spiritually. Matthew 18:20 “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” So we see that in every meeting the Lord’s spirit is there, but we must prepare ourselves to partake of it.
7. KEEP A POSITIVE ATTITUDE If we look on the brighter side of things, rather than the dark, we are more apt to be spiritually uplifted. If we always remember that we are children of God, with the potential to become like our Father or Mother in Heaven, we will never remain discouraged. 2 Timothy 1:7 “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” With such knowledge, we can find ways to keep our spiritual bucket refilled.
8. KEEP GOD’S COMMANDMENTS President David O. McKay once said that: OBEDIENCE is the key to spirituality.” Alma 57:21 “Yea, and they did obey and observe to perform every word of command with exactness; yea, and even according to their faith it was done unto them; and I did remember the words which they said unto me that their mothers had taught them.” Strict obedience gives power from above and fills us spiritually. Disobedience or sin drops the bottom out of one’s spiritual bucket. Only through repentance can the bucket be repaired; then a person must start over again to fill it.
AFTER THE DISCUSSIONS ON HOW TO REFILL THEIR SPIRITUAL BUCKETS, I THEN CHALLENGED EACH MISSIONARY TO HAVE HIS/HER SPIRITUAL BUCKET FULL WHEN ELDER HINCKLEY NEXT VISITED OUR MISSION, TO SEE IF WE COULD LIFT HIS SPIRIT RATHER THAN BURDENING HIM DOWN.
At Elder Hinckley’s next visit the missionaries from the northern half of the mission gathered in Tokyo. Eighty missionaries assembled in a converted room in a lovely, large Japanese home. Upon arrival, Elder Hinckley wanted to inspect the living quarters for the local “chapel-building missionaries” located in a large storage building behind this home. After this inspection, we approached the rear entrance to the room where our young proselyting missionaries awaited.
All 80 of them were singing “Come Listen to a Prophet’s Voice” with the fervor that only missionaries can do! (In entering a Japanese home, a person steps into a small entrance, called a ‘genkan’ where he takes off his shoes, and then steps up about 16 inches onto a tatami (rice) mat floor.) Elder Hinckley removed his shoes and stepped up onto the tatami floor. I was taking off my shoes and following him in this procedure, when I was forced to step backwards into the ‘genkan’, for Elder Hinckley had stopped and was not moving forward. After a moment or two of hesitation, Elder Hinckley then proceeded across the back of the room and up the middle aisle. As he made the turn up the aisle, I could see that he had tears in his eyes. Reaching the front of the room, he turned and faced the missionaries, his face showing tender emotions. As I reached his side, he asked me just to have a song and prayer and then turn the meeting over to him. Our usual pattern had been to partake of the sacrament before any talks. I followed his instructions and turned the meeting over to him.
Elder Hinckley stood at the podium for a moment or so, visibly trying to gain control of his emotions, as he wept. (I had never seen a general authority shed so many tears.) After some time, he gained composure; and his first words spoken were: “ I felt your spirit when I came in!” No one had told him about the missionaries refilling their spiritual buckets. His next words were: “Are there any sick among you?” At this particular time we had about five missionaries who were suffering with fairly serious health problems.
He then asked those who were sick to come forward; and, after asking me to assist him, he gave them, one by one, a wonderful blessing. The spirit was so strong in the room that everyone was in tears. The spirit of an apostle was lifted and deeply moved because the missionaries had come to the meeting with their spiritual buckets full. It was a marvelous and joyous occasion. This experience had a great effect on the attitude of the missionaries and helped them throughout their missions. It had demonstrated the importance of keeping one’s spiritual bucket full at all times.