Called to Serve

“Called to Serve”

In General Conference Priesthood Meeting, Saturday night, April 1, 2017, Elder Bednar's talk, "Called to the Work" was wonderful. One of his points was that the "Call to Serve" comes from God through his Prophet. Another was that the “assignment” to a specific mission comes from the Quorum of the 12, again through inspiration from God - the "assignment" to labor. For both brothers and sisters,  if you have not heard or read the talk recently, you might find it very inspiring. https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2017/04/called-to-the-work?lang=eng

His talk got us thinking about a key part of our MTC experience.

One of the things we have been looking forward to about the MTC is singing "Called to Serve" with hundreds of missionaries. It has always been so inspiring to see it on video, to sing it anytime, anywhere, and especially to sing it in the MTC as missionary parents back in the day when parents got to bring their young missionary to a MTC launch meeting.

"Called to Serve" - Hymn #249

1. Called to serve Him, heav’nly King of glory,

Chosen e’er to witness for his name,

Far and wide we tell the Father’s story,

Far and wide his love proclaim.

Onward, ever onward, as we glory in his name;

Onward, ever onward, as we glory in his name;

Forward, pressing forward, as a triumph song we sing.

God our strength will be; press forward ever,

Called to serve our King.

2. Called to know the richness of his blessing--

Sons and daughters, children of a King--

Glad of heart, his holy name confessing,

Praises unto him we bring.

Onward, ever onward, as we glory in his name;

Onward, ever onward, as we glory in his name;

Forward, pressing forward, as a triumph song we sing.

God our strength will be; press forward ever,

Called to serve our King.

The hymn is one of the great and popular anthems of missionary work. We all love singing it and it immediately fills us with the power, spirit, and urgency of missionary work. It is one of our favorites. It has always motivated us to be missionaries and serve God. It stirs our souls as few other hymns do.

"Called to Serve"  became "our song" in the early 1990s when it was used in a church video of missionaries singing it in the MTC (including Christine Schreck Hansen, a member of our Plymouth Ward back then, who was in the video as a new missionary singing it at the MTC). It sunk even deeper into our souls every time we heard it sung by a missionary chorus, and especially as it was sung during our dropping off of our children for their missions at the BYU MTC.

At any rate, it is, and has long been, an emotional and spiritual favorite. Singing it as part of a large chorus at the MTC was one of the things we were really looking forward to as a senior missionary.

Missionaries who serve in our area gather together for FHE twice a month at the MTC for a large group gathering and on the off Mondays we gather in small groups for an activity and lesson. We all look forward to Monday evenings!

But there is no  "Called to Serve"!

We arrived at the MTC late Sunday afternoon, January 8, 2017. They very helpfully got us registered, and settled into our quarters. Although our group did not "officially" report until Monday AM, they encouraged us to quickly get down to the assembly room for the Sunday Departure Devotional. This devotional was focused on all the young missionaries who, having completed their training at the MTC, would be leaving in the next few days for their various fields of service around the world.

It sounded like a wonderful meeting and we were excited for it to be our first meeting at the MTC - and obviously our first opportunity to sing "Called to Serve" with hundreds of other missionaries.

The meeting was even better than anticipated. It was a spiritual feast of instruction, inspiration, and motivation as the final shot in the arm for those departing missionaries. We were so glad we got there in time to attend.

Ironically, although it was the very first thing we attended in the MTC, it also served as our personal Departure Devotional since we were not going to be there the following Sunday. As we learned that most of our group of seniors did not get there in time (official Monday reporting and since most seniors brought cars, they did not need to arrive early like those of us flying), we felt bad for them. Tip to future senior missionaries: Get there Sunday afternoon for the Departure Devotional - even if you have your car.

One highlight of the devotional was a trio of young departing missionaries: a vocalist, a bass player, and a pianist. They performed a magnificent rendition of "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing." They were great. They performed as an ensemble, and they all had extensive solo elements. A beautiful arrangement. The piano had the most solo work, and his arrangement was beautiful. We loved it. A favorite song of ours.

But we chuckled and swelled with pride as we realized that our 12 year old granddaughter, Annie Jaynes, plays a more complex version even more beautifully. You might enjoy it. We love to listen to it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJ9cWd2xcrM&feature=youtu.be  We wish we could be in the MTC to hear her play it in this special environment (let's see, how soon does she go on her mission; could we report at the same time…..)

A second highlight (of so very many) to share was a young sister going to one of the eastern European countries. She and 6 elders were her district. She talked about how hard it was not having a female companion to share the MTC experience with - just her entire district of Elders ("Thank heavens for showers to cry in"). She is surly an amazing missionary.

It reminded us of our oldest daughter, Laura, and her MTC experience at the turn of the century (wow, Laura, that really makes you seem old – lol; actually the "turn" was only the 21st) prior to going to her mission in Brazil. She likewise did not have a female companion at the MTC. It was hard. Very hard. But we do hard things and the Lord strengthens us through them.

But as wonderful as the meeting was, and how inspiring and uplifting the music was, WE NEVER SANG "CALLED TO SERVE." Was this an issue of minor apostasy? What is going on? How can these young missionaries (to say nothing of us old ones), be launched, full of excitement yet trepidation, into their mission fields without the power of the hundreds of them singing together "Called to Serve"?

We had the opportunity to attend a concert together for a co-workers children. Impressive!

Some of the missionaries sampled the traditonal Dominican Easter drink at the Area offices. It was kind of like hot chocolate with raisons.....

Fortunately, just a couple of hours later, we gathered again for the regular Sunday Night Devotional. All of the several hundred departing missionaries. All 1,200 young missionaries in total at the MTC at that time. The dozen or so couples from our group who officially started the next day. The couple of dozen or so couples who reported the week before and still had a week of "department specialized" training to complete. Many of the MTC ecclesiastical leaders (district and branch presidencies), the MTC presidencies and assorted volunteers, and a few of the new MTC presidents, and new visitor center presidents to be trained over the next few days. (Turns out we spent the week in the MTC with our new Dominican Republic MTC President.)

The auditorium was an impressive site. It was in a new building on the south end of the MTC campus. Much more impressive that the assembly rooms or chapels that we had our children check-in to. When the MTC choir sang (pretty much all the sister missionaries and about half the elders - maybe 800 or more in total), you just got tingly all over.

Having lunch together is always a favorite activity for those assigned to work in the Area office.

The church-wide Director of MTCs spoke. He gave a very interesting video tour and explanation of all 15 MTCs of the church around the world. He taught much through the medium of the video tour and the stories he told. We did a lot of chuckling, sometimes laughing, as he shared insightful cultural anomalies from each of the MTC (and boy, did he have great examples to share). The faith of the young people willing to serve missions around the world is so uplifting, touching, and inspiring.

In sharing missionary stories, he showed a video that reminded us of the talents of our 15 year old granddaughter, Brianna Wilson. Brianna is a very accomplished percussionist - especially a great drummer. We are still waiting for her to do a drumming video for us. But the video he showed is part of the "I am a Mormon" series and is about a young woman, a professional drummer, who was lost and got found. If you have not seen it, you might enjoy it. Her clip is "I'm Elaine Bradley and I'm a Mormon." The link is here:  <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwUv-IOF1gQ> .

The music at this devotional was inspiring. Singing with this large audience/choir in an outstanding acoustical environment was wonderful. It was spine tingling every time the choir sang (actually one of the highlights of the evening was the half hour before the devotional listening to the choir rehearse). BUT WE NEVER SANG (neither us nor the choir) "CALLED TO SERVE."  What is going on here?!?!?!

A wonderful as everything was, as uplifting and inspiring as the two devotionals were, after just a few hours in the MTC we had some concerns. Where is "Called to Serve?" It most definitely was not part of the Sunday Devotional. Nor part of the Monday night one either, great as that also was.

Long story shortened. Tuesday night Elder Neil Anderson of the Twelve came down to the MTC to speak (talked about in an earlier post). All was made right with the world. We did sing "Called to Serve!" It was magnificent. Its spirit and power both reverberated and filled every corner of the auditorium and each of us individually. It was worth the wait. Our previous disappointment and joyful recovery were both fully justified.

Go on a mission just to sing "Called to Serve" in the MTC as a called and set apart missionary ! ! !