Blanca's Dream

Blanca was born in a small rural village in Colombia. The village was poor. There was no electricity and no cars. Her family had nothing. Of their eight children, Blanca was number five.

When she was 13 her father sent her to live with a relative in the city of Cali. She attended school and also worked for her survival. She was expected to provide for her three younger siblings.

It was when she was 14 that she had the dream. A dream that would not make sense for another 30 years. In this dream she was taken by a guide to a large white home. Upon entering the home she saw a woman. She remembered the facial features of both the guide and the woman in the house. And she had a very distinct feeling come over her – that her life would change forever as a result of being in this house.

In 1994 Blanca moved from Colombia to the Philadelphia area. Although she was unable to speak English, she and her younger sister Yusnay created a successful house cleaning business. One of her current clients was Mary Jane Babbel. Mary Jane and her husband David served as mission presidents in the Brasilia Brazil Mission, 2002–2005, and they had returned to Philadelphia where he was a professor at the Wharton School, the graduate school of business affiliated with the University of Pennsylvania.

Within the first couple weeks of arriving in Philadelphia in July 2007 we had lunch with the Babbels. A few days later Joyce called Mary Jane seeking leads to hire a new house cleaner for the Mission Home. Mary Jane suggested that she introduce Joyce to Blanca and Yusnay.

When Blanca entered the Mission Home she had a stunning surprise – her dream from many years ago rushed back into her mind. And then she recognized Joyce as the woman in the home and then she realized that Mary Jane had been the guide in the dream. And the powerful feeling came back to her – that somehow her life was going to be changed forever.

Blanca and Yusnay came to the Mission Home every Tuesday, and some Wednesdays, to clean the house. They were always friendly and polite, but we weren’t able to communicate with them due to the language barrier. Occasionally I would have Spanish speaking missionaries with me and I would ask them to speak to Blanca and Yusnay. Eventually these random conversations turned into formal teaching appointments at Blanca’s home.

A couple months ago Blanca was baptized. She asked me to baptize her. I memorized the words in Spanish and it was a very special, spirit-filled baptism.

Yesterday Yusnay was baptized by David Babbel. Blanca, now 46 years old, spoke at the baptism and told us, for the first time, of her dream that occurred 32 years ago. As a relatively new member of the church, Blanca can already see that her life has been changed forever. She is passionate about her membership in the church and feels in her heart the truth to which she subscribes.

Joyce was both surprised and overwhelmed when she heard Blanca tell of her dream. When Blanca had the dream, Joyce was a 25 year old young mother with two children. She was living in a small apartment on the campus of Stanford University where I was in graduate school. We had no money and we certainly had no idea that we’d be in Philadelphia in 30 years, serving as mission presidents! There are millions of little details, decisions, coincidences and events that transpired in Blanca's life and Joyce's life over the past 30 years. And God knew this. As He does about each of our lives. He is more involved in the details of our lives than we can imagine.

A scripture from the Book of Mormon comes to mind: "Now ye may suppose that this is foolishness in me; but behold I say unto you, that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise," (Alma 37:6 - about 73 B.C.)

It has come to my understanding that if we follow God’s commandments and fill our hearts with His love, then all that is supposed to happen in our lives…will! That the hand of God has been involved with both Blanca and Joyce is undeniable. It fills me with awe and wonder.

Just When You Thought It Was Safe

Just when we thought it was safe to empty all the shelves, give away all leftover food supplies, pack our suitcases, clean up the mission home, and double-check our airline reservation, we got whacked by a severe wind storm on Thursday afternoon.

A powerful thunderstorm rolled through the region with a hurricane-force gust knocking out power to at least 280,000 homes.  Many large tree branches fell on major roadways, causing massive traffic jams and detours.  As of Friday 190,000 homes were still without power and a power company spokesperson said some would go days without power.

Our Office Elders, Service Elders and Assistants to the President all live in the same apartment complex.  And they are still (Sunday morning) without power.  This means their refrigerator is warm and their food is spoiled.

So last night at 11PM, I drove to the local Wawa (convenience store) and bought supplies for breakfast:  waffle mix, syrup, eggs, orange juice and butter.  The six hungry elders arrived at 8:30AM and responded like a troop of boy scouts staggering in from a 50 mile hike.  They ate EVERYTHING in site!

Thinking of Home

The movers have packed all of our personal belongings and are already on their way to our home on the west coast.  According to Google Maps, it's a 2,813 mile journey. We've spoken in our last stake conference, held our last batch of zone conferences and will finish up the last of our personal interviews this week.  We depart for home on June 29.

Some say, "Wow, three years have already gone by!?!?" Well...our answer is that it is most definitely three years, a day at a time. But three good years indeed!

If a man's home is his castle, then you'll see why we can't wait to get home.  Actually this is a photo of Blair Castle in Scotland.  It is the ancestral home of the Clan Murray.  The Murray part of my family tree came from Scotland, so I claim that bedroom on the third floor.  I've never visited Blair Castle, but hope to get there someday.

Why I Believe

On Sunday night I spoke at a "fireside" event in Newark, Delaware. In addition to me, the other speakers were Bruce and Nancy Winn who are departing in a couple weeks to become the mission president couple in the Salt Lake City mission. The topic we were all ask to address was: Why I Believe. Approximately 350 people were in attendance plus others watching remotely in two locations. About 45-50 attendees were employees from Bruce's company who were curious to learn what their CEO will be doing for the next three years. You'll find my comments below.

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I would prefer that this be a one-on-one conversation. This is because the topic is intimate and personal. It deals with the heart and the essence of whom one is. It should be a conversation, full of questions and explorations.

The words “why I believe” beg the question “what?” “Why I believe … what?"

Let me expand the phrase into a more descriptive sentence: I will be speaking on why I believe the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is God’s only true church on the earth. This is a big, bold, potentially polarizing statement. And yet, it is where we stand. I will be speaking on “Why I believe its true.”

When such a statement is made, it behooves those on the inside to provide some convincing evidence. And those on the outside, who are so inclined, are welcomed to refute the evidence.

Many religions of the day see themselves sitting next to one another on a big Lazy Susan. Spin it around, check them out and pick this one or that one. One is as good as the other. Just choose to believe and you’ll be saved. Any church will do. This seems to be the sentiment of the day.

The Mormon view is a different view. We teach and we believe that this church is the only true and living church upon the face of the church. We also believe that all religions have some elements of truth within them. And, in the words of the Prophet Joseph Smith, “We don't ask any people to throw away any good they have got; we only ask them to come and get more. What if all the world should embrace this gospel? They would then see eye to eye, and the blessings of God would be poured out upon the people, which is the desire of my whole soul.”

In a revelation given in 1830 to Emma Smith, the wife of Joseph Smith, the Lord counseled her, “And verily I say unto thee that thou shalt lay aside the things of this world, and seek for the things of a better,” (D&C 25:10).

For the past three years my wife Joyce and I did lay aside the things of the world – giving all we have to help build up the kingdom of God.

Prior to serving as a mission president I have spoken at similar events, explaining why I believe. But tonight I’d like to focus on a new reason that my wife and I have discovered during our three years of service here in Delaware, Maryland and Pennsylvania. This reason is based on witnessing the love of God descend upon 300 or so young missionaries as they individually and courageously let go of their fear and employ great faith and truth in their Heavenly Father. And when the love of God descends upon his obedient children, He accelerates the development of their talents and abilities. It is tangible, it is real, and it is available to all who travel this path.

Over and over again we have seen young men and women, most who have yet to attend college, respond to challenges and opportunities far beyond their normal abilities. We see the development of Christ-like attributes in young people who, just months before, were selfish, lazy, insecure, shy and full of teenage pride. We marvel as barren land becomes full of blossoming flowers – in the form of beautiful character attributes such as faith, hope, charity, love, virtue, knowledge, patience, humility, diligence and obedience. What usually takes 10-15 years to develop within an adult, happens in just 18 months to 2 years. It is simply remarkable. The term I use for it is deepening.

These attributes cannot be forced upon anyone. They must be discovered through personal daily effort. These attributes can only be developed as one lets go of their natural self-centered desires and habits, and lets God change them from the inside out.

Here in the mission field we do not have a “Personality Adjustment Department” or a “Mental Makeover Manual”. Instead we invite each missionary, upon arrival in the mission field, to do an experiment with the way they live and act and think.

The experiment we are conducting is described in the 32nd chapter of Alma in the Book of Mormon. The prophet Alma teaches that faith is a principle of action and power. He invites all to “awake and arouse your faculties, even to an experiment upon my words, and exercise a particle of faith, yea, even if ye can no more than desire to believe, let this desire work in you, even until ye believe in a manner that ye can give place for a portion of my words.”

Alma invites all to experiment with the gospel of Jesus Christ – the teachings of Christ and the reality of His Atonement. He invites us to make these a part of our lives and to see if anything changes for the better. If they do, then Jesus Christ’s message and purpose is validated.

Once these teachings of Christ go down deep into our hearts, a wonderful thing happens that is promised to all by Alma: They “enlighten [our] understanding”. This means we literally grow in understanding, knowledge and emotional capacity.

We are asking 19-year-olds to live in a way that is decidedly unnatural for young adults their age. We ask them to follow many rules designed to help them make best use of their time and talents. But we do not compel them or control them. We do not pay them. They are free to leave, if they desire, at any time. During the duration of their missionary service they are ask to let go of their old life and to focus on serving God by inviting others to come to Christ. There is no TV, no Internet, no instant messaging, no movies, no dating, no parties, no shopping malls, no sports events. Someone hearing about this for the first time might say: “No LIFE”.

And here’s what we see, over and over again: When a young missionary begins living on a restrictive diet of frequent prayer, scripture study, clean and purposeful living and centering one’s life on the words, teachings and practices of Jesus Christ, something both amazing and predictable happens every time:

The missionary’s countenance changes. What is countenance? It is the appearance conveyed in one’s eyes and face.

And a countenance only changes externally when a heart changes internally.

Joyce and I see this happen on a regular basis. It signals the end of a self-indulgent life and the beginning of life centered on the teachings of Jesus Christ.

This is WHY I BELIEVE. It is a very, very happy reason to believe. And I’m confident the same excellent outcome can be achieved by anyone who comes unto Christ. The Lord lifts, elevates, expands, brightens and accelerates a person mentally, emotionally, physically and especially spiritually.

Each missionary is required to write a short letter to me every week. In these letters they tell me how things are going. The letters are short, usually just 1-2 paragraphs. Remember – our missionaries come from all kinds of backgrounds. Some are from solid families while others are from fractured families. Some grew up in families with a rich Latter-day Saint history and others converted to the religion while in high school. A few were straight A students while the majority were very typical teenagers, easily distracted by anything and everything.

With that as a backdrop, I’d like to read from a few of the weekly emails I’ve received. What I’d like you to assess are the big questions: Does this way of life improve a person? Does this person create a personal relationship with God and Jesus Christ? Does this person seem to be doing better or worse as a result of living like this?

1. Dear President Murray: I am very happy right now. I'm as tired as my body has ever been but I've been trying to do what I know is right no matter the cost. It has always been my duty, but I'm really beginning to internalize that Christ doesn't necessarily want us to merely do what He needs done; rather He invites us to become as He is. The "doing" is part of the process. The diligent effort and sacrifice are what count. When we remember Him instead of remembering how tired we are. When we decide to Never Stop. Ever. As I've been striving to push beyond my abilities, I've noticed that I am simply happier.

2. Dear President Murray: Things down here are going great. My attitude has completely changed. I recognize the Spirit more easily. I have seen miracles down here, and how if you truly have a broken heart and contrite spirit, and desire to serve God, we can be a instrument in the Lords hands. It makes me happy to know that I go to bed at night, giving it everything I’ve got, and trusting that the Lord will do the rest to lighten our burdens. It fills my soul with exceedingly great joy to see people change their old ways and really come unto Christ! I love being a servant to the Lord, and helping people. I love working hard. I love the promised blessings we receive by giving it our all and to just lose ourselves in this marvelous work.

3. Dear President Murray: I am so grateful for the experiences that have been afforded to me these past 22 months. With God's help, I feel that I have been able to see life from a purer perspective. I feel that I am better able to determine what is important and what is not. It is amazing that if we are not careful, Satan can, by degrees, tempt us into peruse things of little value, all the while, losing sight of what matters most.

I pray that I may be blessed with the gift of remembrance; to remember what is important and what is not. I have learned that faith has a short shelf life. When I return home, I cannot rely on my faith building experiences on the mission alone, but I must continue to move forward and build off of these to years, increasing in faith, truth and love. It is the desire of my heart.

4. Dear President Murray: Today is my one year anniversary as a missionary and so I made a list of things I have done, changed, or experienced going from 10 to 1 (with the number one being most important.)

11. Don't do dumb stuff
10. Independent living skills
9. Crash course in marital relationships
8. Effective study habits
7. Honesty vs selfishness
6. Pro-activity vs. The Routine
5. Faith over fear
4. Patience over Pride
3. Love for the "one"
2. The miracle of forgiveness
1. Personal Conversion

5. Dear President Murray: I am saddened to say that my mission is coming to an end. I am in tears even as I write this. I have worked my hardest. I have loved. This is the greatest blessing. It has changed me forever. I love you so much Pres. Murray, I leave you with this letter in tears. I will miss my brothers and sisters here. I have labored with them shoulder to shoulder. I will miss these dear missionaries and these dear members, investigators, and recent converts. I have even seen their souls saved...I have seen MY soul saved. I cannot express to you how real God has become to me now. I cannot express to you the burning that I feel in my heart right now. I know that I have more to learn and I desire to become closer to my Heavenly Father. Oh, how my soul longs to be there with Him! I have felt that earnestness of the Spirit and there is nothing greater. I want to lose myself in the service of others. I will live for them, not for myself. My life is not my own, but yours, theirs, and God's. I love you so much. I will continue to labor in God's kingdom.

6. Dear President Murray: Yesterday while we were tracting I experienced a break through in controlling my anger. Someone came to the door and went ballistic, and starting swearing and cursing. Went off for a while about the how evil the white man is and lots of other nonsense. Usually this makes me pretty angry despite that I always behave calmly towards the aggressor, but after I left his door the thought immediately entered my mind that truly Jesus Christ descended below them all. When this thought entered my mind my anger was swept away as I realized that I truly have never experienced anything worth complaining about or being angry about. I realized how little the Lord asks me to endure and then I was filled with gratitude for being given the privilege to be rejected and despised for his names sake. Truly it is an honor to serve the Master and even to suffer what little we do for his cause.

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There are many, many more emails and more stories similar to these.

At the conclusion of his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus teaches that actions speak louder than words:

“Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them,” (Matthew 7:20)

God’s fingerprints are all over this religion. There is too much goodness that comes forth from the fruit of our labor. Without God’s involvement our missionaries would depart, after two years, with much enhanced study skills, communication skills and organization skills. But none of the emails addressed this.

What we are seeing, over and over again, is the change of heart, the change of countenance, the very change of character. And the change is making them happy in a deep and meaningful way. This is not the work of man…this is the work of God.

Christ instructs in the scriptures: “And for this cause ye shall have fulness of joy; and ye shall sit down in the kingdom of my Father; yea, your joy shall be full, even as the Father hath given me fulness of joy; and ye shall be even as I am, and I am even as the Father; and the Father and I are one,” (3 Nephi 28:10).

Our missionaries are becoming Christ-like in word, deed and being. God could not let allow this to happen if the work of the missionaries was false and not His work – the work inviting others to learn of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ and then join this, the only true church on the face of the earth.

I testify this is His work. This is the bottom-line. And this is why I believe.

In Their Own Words

From my mailbag:

"Dear President Murray,

My companion and I are really enjoying exact obedience this transfer. We pray anytime we enter or exit the house or car, we contact more, and plan more effectively. I think some missionaries forget how good it feels to be exactly obedient. I remember from the Missionary Training Center, when we would watch the Preach My Gospel DVD sessions, and you would catch the spirit of missionary work when watching the Sister missionaries get right to their knees when they went in the apartment instead of eating or whatever, and how good it feels to give it all up for the Lord.

He blesses you with a continual happiness that you can't shake off when you obey exactly. The atmosphere about everything you do changes.  When you do what is expected of you as a missionary, the attitude and atmosphere of missionary work brings sweet memories to your soul of obedience to God in the pre-mortal life, and allows us to continually act and do our part effectively."