Week 46: Labor Day Tribute

Harwoods & Hadlocks at the Cookie Company in Rainier, WA

 We were able to go on a little excursion Saturday. We went with the Harwoods to check out a couple of new apartments for missionaries. One of the apartments had blackberries growing nearby. They actually grow everywhere here. We love to pick and eat them every chance we get.

Our adventures also took us to the coast where we got to see the ocean and walk on the beach.

We especially enjoy seeing the missionaries.

Crab Shell

Elders Short & Werk labor in McKenna

Sisters Allred &  Rasmussen labor in Lakewood

Our young missionaries are amazing. We acknowledge and admire their hard work. They labor daily for the souls of men and women seeking truth and a better way.

Since it is Labor Day weekend, this blog entry is a tribute to them and their "labors." They labor under divine commission.

Thou art called to labor in my vineyard, and to build up my church, and to bring forth Zion, that it may rejoice upon the hills and flourish. (D&C 39:13)

Sisters Wilkins & Stevens labor in Deschutes

They labor with obedience, cheerfulness, and dedication. They are so good.

And now my beloved son, notwithstanding their hardness, let us labor diligently; for if we should cease to labor, we should be brought under condemnation; for we have a labor to perform whilst in this tabernacle of clay, that we may conquer the enemy of all righteousness, and rest our souls in the kingdom of God. (Moroni 9:6)

Elders DeLaigle & Clark join us for Sunday dinner

Wherefore we labored diligently among our people, that we might persuade them to come unto Christ, and partake of the goodness of God, that they might enter into his rest,  (Jacob 1:7)

And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father! (D&C 18:15)

For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe. (1 Tim 4:10) 

The missionaries do suffer reproach at times. In fact, we had two sisters who were street contacting recently and endured a "mocking" and being filmed while being mocked.

Beautiful missionary feet!

And again, how beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of those that are still publishing peace! ((Mosiah 15:16)

Wherefore, labor ye, labor ye in my vineyard for the last time—for the last time call upon the inhabitants of the earth. (D&C 43:28)

 The allegory of the tame and wild olive trees found in Jacob 5 tells us  about the Lord's vineyard and many "labors" and extra efforts made to "gather Israel." Jacob provides a wonderful insight into the nature of God. He is anxious to gather us "as a hen would gather her chickens." He is patient, long-suffering, and will do everything He can to help us choose to return to Him.  Truly it is His work (labor) and His glory "to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man." (Moses 1:39)

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (Matt 11:28)

I am grateful for the opportunity to "labor." We will be cheerfully "laboring" tomorrow at the mission office. No resentments. We love our work; it is quite rewarding. We are glad to be busy -- "anxiously engaged in a good cause."

For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do. (2 Nephi 25:23)