Called to the Work

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Regarding Doctrine and Covenants 80, Elder David A. Bednar taught, “Perhaps one of the lessons the Savior is teaching us in this revelation is that an assignment to labor in a specific place is essential and important but secondary to a call to the work”

This lesson hit home with our family when our oldest daughter received her call to serve a full-time mission. Shayne was assigned to labor in the Australia Perth Mission. By the time she was to depart the Provo MTC, she was still waiting for her visa and was temporarily assigned to serve in the Washington Spokane Mission. Many in her group were saddened by this as they had been anticipating their trip and arrival in Australia. Shayne’s attitude was different. She trusted that there must be a work for her to do prior to going to Australia. Shayne had great success for the six weeks she served in Spokane and learned things that helped her during the rest of her mission and beyond. She also got to serve near the Spokane Temple and became familiar with its design and beauty. Upon arriving in Australia, she passed by the Perth Temple and noticed immediately that it was almost an exact duplicate of the Spokane Temple. Shayne felt at home and that the Lord was aware of her feelings.

Many of our recent and current full-time missionaries have had similar experiences as a result of the pandemic. Missionaries abroad returned home for a time and were also temporarily or permanently reassigned to different locations.

Each of us has an assignment to labor in our various callings, minister to those around us, and gather Israel. May we continue to trust the Lord and magnify our individual call to the work.

In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

The Washington Utah Stake Presidency

President Joel Beckstrand

Stake Presidency Second Counselor.