Becoming A Life-Long Disciple Of Jesus Christ

Intro:

My mission began in a way I can only describe as chaotic, yet unforgettable. After arriving in Botswana after 2 days of travel and spending some time at the mission home, I was sent to a village called Kanye, where I would serve several times during my mission. I was with my trainer, Elder Pirie, a fellow Albertan, and Elder Thomas. On our way, we stopped in what seemed like the middle of nowhere. It was dark, the air was smoky, people were speaking a language I didn’t know, and I had no idea what I was doing. Before I knew it we were back in the car on our way home.

That night ended with a plate of something I couldn’t identify—something I would later come to be familiar with: Pap (maize meal) and beef/bone soup, cooked by Elder Thomas. The next morning began with my long hair being buzzed off. President Walker had told me in orientation that “your trainer will show you where the barber is”. I guess the barber was Elder Pirie, a kitchen chair, and my cheap pair of clippers.

I was confused. I was overwhelmed. And I had no idea that this experience would mark the beginning of the most spiritually transformative time of my life.

I quickly came to love the people, the language, the food, and the culture of Botswana and Namibia, and I was blessed to share the gospel with them every day. I also found a better barber.

Good afternoon, brothers and sisters. My name is Heath Miller, and I recently returned from serving in the Botswana/Namibia mission. Botswana and Namibia are 2 countries located in southern Africa. They are on the northern border of South Africa. Above these 2 countries, you’ll find Angola, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Botswana is landlocked, while Namibia is on the west coast of southern Africa. Namibia is home to the Namib Desert, the oldest desert in Africa. This means a lot of sand and dunes. Botswana is the world's number 1 exporter of beef, and 70% of the country is made up of the Kalahari Desert. These two countries are very vast and sparsely populated, but the people are some of the kindest and most humble people you can ever meet.

Throughout my mission, I was blessed to serve with 18 companions- some even a few different times. These companions came from many different countries such as Botswana, the US, Canada, Britain, Tanzania, Tonga, Germany, Kenya and Brazil. I loved each of my companions.

Now that I’ve given you a glimpse into what these two countries are like, I’d like to introduce my topic for today. Today, I will be talking about what it means to become a lifelong disciple of Jesus Christ, and how my mission helped me begin that journey.

My decision to serve:

Before my mission, I often wondered and even asked my parents, “Why is it expected or asked that all priesthood holders serve full-time missions?”.

Growing up, I always attended scouts, young men's activities, seminary, church, service projects, camps, and everything that was available to a young man growing up in the church. Despite my best efforts to try and build a testimony through these things, as well as multiple reads through the Book of Mormon, I felt that I still wasn’t getting the testimony that I had desired. 

When the time approached to seriously consider whether or not I would serve a full-time mission, I found myself in a difficult predicament. I didn’t have the testimony that I desired, and so, I didn’t want to preach something for two years that I didn’t even know was true. However, I also knew that serving a mission was something that I had always wanted to do when I was a kid. And I also knew that a mission would allow me to fully invest in developing the testimony that I was seeking.

Brothers and Sisters, I cannot express the overwhelming joy and gladness that I now feel in my decision to serve a full-time mission for my Saviour Jesus Christ. I would not change it for anything, I would never give up the memories I’ve made, or the conversion that I’ve received.

I am confident when I say that the testimony and conversion which I received could not have come any other way except through my full-time service as a servant of the Lord in Botswana and Namibia. For anyone struggling with the decision whether or not to serve a mission, or those that are struggling who are already in the field. All I can say is do it, push through, it is all worth it in the end.

One scripture that pushed me to put in my papers is Ether 12:6. 

6 And now, I, Moroni, would speak somewhat concerning these things; I would show unto the world that faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith

My witness truly did not come until after the trial of my faith, and that is exactly what my mission was: a trial of my faith. But I'm so glad that I trusted in the Lord enough to take that step of faith. And I'm so glad that He blessed me with the testimony that I now have.

Another very influential scripture that helped me to submit my papers is found in 1 Nephi 4:6-7

6 And I was led by the Spirit, not knowing beforehand the things which I should do. 7 Nevertheless I went forth…

This is also the scripture displayed on my mission plaque. 

They helped me to understand that we don't need to have all of the answers to everything. That we can take a step of faith and put our trust in the Lord, and He will help us along the way. I know that the Lord qualifies the unqualified and that he magnifies our efforts when we do our honest best.

How I’m Becoming A Lifelong Disciple of Jesus Christ: 

There were many things during my service as a missionary that helped me along my path to becoming a lifelong disciple of Jesus Christ. These same principles were instrumental in guiding the friends I taught on their pathway to conversion. Today, I'll only highlight a few due to the constraints of time.

One of these things is daily scripture study. Each and every morning, I had the opportunity to study the scriptures for 1.5-2 hours between personal and companionship studies. Being able to truly study, understand, apply, and enjoy the scriptures is one of the greatest blessings I’ve received from my mission. I also had the privilege of seeing the effect that the scriptures had on the friends that I taught. As we answered their questions through the scriptures, showed how the Book of Mormon and the Bible testify together, and gave us guidance in our lives, I was not only helping them to strengthen their testimonies, but it also played a major role in my conversion.

The same promise from the Lord to Joshua in Joshua 1:8 applies to each of us, that 

8 This book of the law shall not depart out of the mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

Scriptures can and will completely change us, our desires, and our testimony, but only when we do as the Lord says in this verse. We need to “meditate therein day and night… [and] do according to all that is written.” Our studies cannot be superficial; they need to be very intentional.

An example of the powerful effect that intentional scripture study has is with one of my friends, named Boipelo. She had previously met with the missionaries by the time I got transferred into the area. She hadn't kept many commitments up to that point. We helped her to read the Book of Mormon and see the power within it, how it answers her questions, and provides clarity to the gospel. From there, her testimony began to grow exponentially. She started keeping commitments, coming to church, and finding joy in the gospel. She was baptized soon after and almost instantly received a district calling.  To this day, she is a very influential member and is very active in the gospel. I believe that is in part due to her commitment to studying the scriptures. Brothers and Sisters, the powerful effect of scripture study on our testimony and our commitment to staying on the covenant path cannot be understated. They have the power to not only inform but transform us.

However, scripture study is just one of many aspects that help in lifelong conversion to the Savior Jesus Christ. 

Another one of these essential factors of conversion was prayer. With prayers upon waking, sleeping, meals, studies, lessons, planning, etc. Prayer was something I was doing each and every day, more times than I could count. I truly acted upon the counsel in Alma 37:36-37, which says to “...cry unto God for all thy support… [And] Counsel with the Lord in all thy doings…” And I received the blessings promised within those same verses that the Lord would direct me and watch over me. As Moroni counsels, we must pray with a sincere heart and real intent. Being on a mission allowed me to exercise my faith and resolve by first praying, and then going into the field and acting on those very things I had been praying for. As Brigham Young said, “Pray as though everything depends on the Lord, and work as though everything depends on you.”

It is only when we have this resolve and desire to act on the answers and blessings that we ask for in prayer that the Lord can bless us with those things.

One sister whom this was very evident in, whom I was teaching, was named Kopano. We had taught her about some of the standards and commandments that we live as members of the church. She had previously read the related pamphlets we had given her, and she committed herself then and there to live them. She even had the faith to ask for a priesthood blessing, something we hadn’t even taught her yet. This was someone who wasn't just praying or asking for blessings because she was curious but because she had the true desire to change, and the faith that this change would bring about great blessings. 

Just before her baptism, I asked her how she had the strength to leave her old habits behind, and she said that prayer was one of the most influential things that helped her to leave those things behind.

Lifelong disciples aren’t perfect, but they turn to God constantly. My mission taught me that consistent prayer invites personal revelation, strength, and peace—things I still rely on today.

One of the ways that I consistently turned to God was through intentional weekly sacrament attendance.

I have a very firm testimony of the joy that we can feel as we have more intentional Sunday worship. As Elder Patrick Kearon said, “The glorious focal point of our services is the blessing and receiving of the sacrament itself…”

Every single person that I baptized on my mission was able to gain a reasonably strong testimony through study and prayer. But for every single one of them, as soon as they attended church once, they hardly ever missed it again, and their testimony skyrocketed. As we develop a “spirit of collective rejoicing in Christ” as Patrick Kearon puts it, and intentionally partake of the sacrament each week, we will have the Lord's support and Spirit with us throughout the week. We receive strength through the Atonement of Jesus Christ as we partake of the sacrament, as we fellowship with our brothers and sisters, learn from them, delve into the scriptures, pray together, and share our testimony with others.

This is very apparent in the scriptural account recorded in Helaman 3:35, “Nevertheless they did fast and pray oft, and did wax stronger and stronger in their humility, and firmer and firmer in the faith of Christ, unto the filling their souls with joy and consolation, yea, even to the purifying and the sanctification of their hearts, which sanctification cometh because of their yielding their hearts unto God.”

The same sister, Kopano, lived in a village named Tloaneng that was very far away. She had reached out to the mission through a Book of Mormon Facebook ad. The missionaries took about a week to reply, and just before Kopano deleted all of the messages that she sent, they reached back out to her. They connected her with us, and we were able to direct her to church the next day. From that day until the end of my mission, which was about 8 weeks, she didn’t miss a single Sunday, and she began bringing her mother and younger sister as well. 

She was one of the most prepared people that I found on my mission. She instantly left behind any bad habits that she previously had, began reading the scriptures daily, asking very inspired questions, and was baptized on my last Sunday. 

Another amazing example of sacrifice, especially in regards to sabbath day worship, was the church trains that we often did in my first two areas. In my first area of Kanye, we would run from door to door to pick up our friends for church. By the time we would get to church, we would have a huge group of people walking with us. I did the same thing with my other trainer, Elder Tolbert, in Swakopmund, Namibia. We would sometimes walk 1.5 hours to church with our friends. And to my surprise, they would continue to come week after week. Why? Because they felt the Spirit! The sacrifices that these people made were truly awe-inspiring and helped me understand that sometimes we need to make sacrifices to keep the sabbath day holy. And also that the Lord will always bless us as we keep His commandments.

 

There are so many things about Sunday worship at church that invite the spirit and help us to become lifelong disciples. I believe that a large part of that is due to us being able to share what we love with others.

This brings me to my fourth and final contributing factor that has helped me on my journey to becoming a lifelong disciple of Jesus Christ. This is sharing the gospel and our testimony with others.

As I referenced earlier from Ether 12:6, we “...receive no witness until after the trial of your faith.” or as the Savior says in the Book of John, “If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God...”

Having the privilege to share the gospel every waking minute of my day for two years allowed me to learn many new things. Such as, how the Spirit speaks to me, the authenticity of the Book of Mormon, the blessings of having a true and living prophet on the earth today, the sanctifying and redeeming power of Jesus Christ, and that the very same church of Jesus Christ that was established on earth 2000 years ago has been restored to the earth through the Prophet Joseph Smith. That all of the proper priesthood authority and keys necessary to perform saving ordinances have been restored to the earth. And that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is that very same church.

This was all made known to me through the Spirit of Truth because of my diligent service and sharing of my testimony on a daily basis.

I was also heavily influenced by the members of Botswana and Namibia. From my first day in the field to my last, the members were always working with us, teaching with us, referring friends, and were so eager to share the gospel.

In my second area, there were many great members, one of whom was Norman Daniels. For anyone who has served in the Botswana-Namibia Mission, has had any kid serve in the mission, or has ever read an email from someone who served in Namibia, they will know Norman Daniels. At the time, I was serving on the coast in a city called Swakopmund. Norman was living in the capital city, Windhoek, which was about 6 hours away. One time, Norman paid for his bus ticket to Swakopmund, accommodations, and everything else that he would need for the next 3 days. He went with us all day for the next 2 days. Teaching, studying, baptisms, etc, before returning to Windhoek to resume his regular life which still largely consisted of working with the missionaries who were assigned there. This is a true lifelong disciple of Jesus Christ.

Another amazing member whom I worked with in my last area is Brother Masutha. He would go teaching and finding with us every day of the week, and has found half of the members that make up the Mogositshane Ward. Whenever we’d go a couple of days without seeing him, he’d start messaging us and asking us where we were. Members like these have tasted and now understand the joy and the strengthening power that we are able to receive through sharing the gospel. They inspire others and help the work of the Lord move forward. What great examples people like these are, through sharing the gospel.

Conclusion: 

Brothers and Sisters, I know that discipleship isn’t defined by two years of full-time service. It’s defined by our daily, personal decisions to follow Jesus Christ. My mission was the beginning of that path for me. It allowed me to develop the testimony, the habits, and the love I needed to keep walking with Him.

I’m grateful for the people who pushed me—my family, leaders, and friends who helped me answer the call. I’m most grateful to Jesus Christ, whose grace and strengthening power through His atonement have shaped my very being and continue to do so.