[Our investigator family] got baptized and confirmed this weekend! They are the cutest family ever!! They are already so dedicated to living the gospel! They even brought their tithing to church yesterday! The spirit was very strong and everything went so smoothly. Our ward mission leader and his wife were wonderful in putting it all together and making it a special experience for [this family]. We love them so much and are so happy for them!
Also, another one of our investigators came to the baptism! Afterwards we had a lesson with him and one of the ward members, Sister Flamm, where he actually accepted a baptism date! September 27th is what he is working towards! He is a slightly older man (50's or 60's) and the sisters had been working with him for about 2 months before I got to Jackson. He has slowly made progress to the point where now he is ready to commit to a date! We are so happy for him!
We had our monthly MLC (missionary leadership council) meeting with President and Sister McDonough this last Thursday and Friday. The bar was literally lifted. We ended up making a change that I know and felt with my whole heart and very being will change this mission and those who serve in it.
This last meeting we set a new standard for the music we listen to. Since I've been out, the guideline for music has simply been, follow the guidance given in the missionary white handbook, which councils us to "listen on to music that is consistent with the sacred spirit of [our] calling,...invites the Spirit, helps [us] focus on the work, and directs [our] thoughts and feelings to the Savior." We're not to listen to music "that pulls [our] thoughts away from [our] work, merely entertains, has romantic lyrics or overtones, or dulls [our] spiritual sensitivity by it's temp, beat, loudness, lyrics, or intensity."
Most missionaries in our mission are not listening to "bad music," but there is a higher level of work that we are wanting to accomplish, and we know that some sanctification will need to happen in order to see those goals accomplished.
With great discussion, pondering, prayer, and consideration of new and current missionaries, we set a standard to listen to only General Conference approved music. I know this is going to be a sacrifice for many missionaries, including myself. Many of you know that I love EFY music and other similar songs, but I am willing to give it up to achieve higher goals - to sanctify myself to do the Lord's will.
I know that this plays a parallel to each of our lives. At MLC we talked about how our mission is at a kind of plateau right now, and that if we want to do better we need to raise to a higher plain. It is similar in each of our lives. We can be content and comfortable with where we are at and what we are doing, but if we stay there too long, we will end up on the other side of the plateau - going down. As we commit to a higher level of living, we will be able to accomplish greater things, because we will be accessing more of the power of the atonement of Christ. We will be replacing the natural man with the spirit of the Lord.
I have felt the desire to raise the bar and live a "higher law." To commit to be more like the Savior and be more obedient. I hope each of us will reflect and ponder how we can "try a little harder to be a little better" and align our way of living with the Savior. I know He loves us and wants us to be happy with who we are, where we are, and what we are doing. Be the best you can be. He will help you and enable you.
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