My wife and I were blessed to serve in Ghana in 2021 and now we have returned to serve at the Ghana MTC to support the MTC president. We feel humbled and blessed to serve among all these faithful missionaries along with the teachers, support staff, and priesthood and Relief Society leaders, many of whom are local members.
During the departure devotional for missionaries who have completed their training and are going to their assigned missions, several asked the same question: “I wonder if I will be good enough as a missionary?”
Have you wondered if you will be “good enough” in your different responsibilities? Am I doing okay in my assignments and responsibilities and stewardships? How am I doing as a son or daughter, mother or father, teacher or leader or wherever I am called to serve?
President Mark Lords, president of the Ghana MTC, reminded us that Nephi was not perfect. Nephi had marvelous revelations and spiritual experiences. He led his people to safety and taught and served them righteously, yet he exclaimed: “O wretched man that I am! Yea, my heart sorroweth because of my flesh; my soul grieveth because of mine iniquities.
18 I am encompassed about, because of the temptations and the sins which do so easily beset me.
19 And when I desire to rejoice, my heart groaneth because of my sins…” Then Nephi affirms his faith: “nevertheless, I know in whom I have trusted.” “34 O Lord, I have trusted in thee, and I will trust in thee forever.” (2 Nephi 4:17-19, 34). Was Nephi “good enough”?
We have been taught that the important thing is to strive to serve with all of our heart, might, mind and strength, and then to be able to accept counsel and correction when we make mistakes or need improvement.
My old baseball coach said that he yelled at us to make us better. He said “If I quit yelling, then I have given up on you.” [Note: He never really yelled, but his correction was very focused, much like “Reproving betimes with sharpness … “]
Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostle taught “Consecration therefore means repentance. Stubbornness, rebellion, and rationalization must be abandoned, and in their place submission, a desire for correction, and acceptance of all that the Lord may require.” (Reflections on a Consecrated Life, General Conference, October 2010)
In Hebrews 12:5-9, the apostle Paul taught: “…despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: 6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. 7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? … 9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?
There are times when we will be corrected, admonished, exhorted, and called to repentance. When we respond with humility and love, the Lord can help us and bless us and guide us on our path to return to Him.
May the Lord bless us on this journey to accept correction as we strive to be “good enough” as His disciples.
