Homecoming Talk: True and Lasting Joy

Hello! Brothers and Sisters! My name is Devyn Pischer. I recently returned from my mission in France, Belgium, and Luxembourg. I want to share with you what I learned from this amazing experience.

I want to start out by asking a couple questions that you can think about in your head. Why does missionary work exist? What is the purpose of missionary work?

Well there is an answer! When we turn in Preach My Gospel page 1, it states the missionary purpose, which is to “Invite Others to Come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored through faith In Jesus Christ and his Atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end.”

Now let's look at God's purpose. In the Pearl of Great Price in the Book of Moses Chapter 1 Verse 39, it says, “For behold, this is my work and my glory to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.”

These purposes are the same.  We are to bring people unto Christ so that they can live with God again in immorality and eternal life. The Missionary Purpose is God’s Purpose! They go together, the work together, and they are the same.

If we look and search in the scriptures, we will find people preaching the Gospel and accomplishing God’s purpose. There are many stories in the Bible and the Book of Mormon that testify of the power of Missionary Work. One of the people who have been called to teach and testify of our Savior and his Gospel are Prophets. A Prophet is a man called by God to make known the will of God and to bear witness of Christ, which is his most important role. In Acts Chapter 10 Verse 42 it says, “And he commanded us to preach unto the people.” Prophets preach repentance so that people can receive a remission of their sins so they can return to live with God again. 

 Jesus’s Apostles were missionaries!! In Matthew Chapter 28, Verses 19-20, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them of the Father, of the Son, and Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” Jesus commanded his apostles to go teach his doctrine and whoever accepted their message got baptized. By being baptized by someone who holds the authority of God is the way to come unto Christ and accepting him. But the thing that I love the most is the very last phrase. “Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the World.” The lord was with them! The apostles were preaching the Gospel and that was God's work, he was there with them as they went from place to place preaching His Gospel. The same promise is with us. God will be with us, strengthen us and give us the words we need to say as we preach His Gospel.

In the Book of Mormon, one of my favorite people is Alma the younger. Because he was changed by the redeeming power of God. He went against the church and tried to lead people away. Then an angle appeared to him and sons of Mosiah so that they can be brought to the knowledge of the truth. After the visitation from the angle, Alma had a change of heart. In Mosiah 27 verses 25, it says, “And the Lord said unto me: Marvel not that all mankind, yea, men and women, all nations, kindreds, tongues and people, must be born again; yea, born of God, changed from their carnal and fallen state, to a state of righteousness, being redeemed of God, becoming his sons and daughters;” He was talken from a carnal state to state of righteousness and redeemed by God. He truly became a Son of God. Then in Alma’s own words he says in verses 29-30, “My soul hath been redeemed from the gall of bitterness and bonds of iniquity. I was in the darkest abyss; but now I behold the marvelous light of God. My soul was racked with eternal torment; but I am snatched, and my soul is pained no more.

I rejected my Redeemer, and denied that which had been spoken of by our fathers; but now that they may foresee that he will come, and that he remembereth every creature of his creating, he will make himself manifest unto all.” Alma preached the gospel because it changed and saved his life. He was redeemed from his sins and became a son of God. Verse 32 “And now it came to pass that Alma began from this time forward to teach the people, and those who were with Alma at the time the angel appeared unto them, traveling round about through all the land, publishing to all the people the things which they had heard and seen, and preaching the word of God in much tribulation, being greatly persecuted by those who were unbelievers, being smitten by many of them.”  He wanted others to know the same joy that he had found. He was blessed because he preached the gospel. Verses 36-37, “And thus they were instruments in the hands of God in bringing many to the knowledge of the truth, yea, to the knowledge of their Redeemer. And how blessed are they! For they did publish peace; they did publish good tidings of good; and they did declare unto the people that the Lord reigneth.” We can be instruments in God’s hands by publishing peace and good tidings. We will be blessed.

Why did the Prophets, Apostles, and Alma the Younger share the gospel? Because they loved God and Jesus Christ. They loved what the Gospel brought into their lives. They knew the good news that the Gospel would be for all the inhabits of earth so they wanted to share it! The purpose of God became their purpose. Even if was tough and people didn't accept their message all the time. Their reward was great in heaven because they preach the Gospel anyway. They felt joy and had the spirit of the Lord more abundantly in their lives.

We don’t have to be apostles, prophets, or set part full-time missionaries to preach the Gospel and receive the blessings from it. We are disciples of Jesus Christ.  We took upon us the name of Christ and we stand as a witness of Him. “As [we] live the gospel faithfully, [we] will set an example, showing our family members and friends the great blessings that come from living the gospel. [We] should also take advantage of opportunities to answer questions, share printed materials or digital media, and invite others to learn more about the message of the restored gospel” Preach My Gospel page 84. We can pray for others! We can serve them! We can go out with the missionaries! “Members who share the gospel experience joy and have the Spirit of the Lord more abundantly. As we share the gospel, we appreciate how precious and meaningful it is to us, and we feel a greater love for God and others” Preach My Gospel page 84.

I was a full-time missionary. I got to meet so many amazing people! I saw people get baptized, less actives members came back to church, new people came and felt the spirit, souls and heartache were healed. All by the true teachings and the redeeming power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Many of these people were invited by members like you and me. I know that as we Aline our will with Gods and make his desires our desires we will help many come unto their Savior Jesus Christ. We can invite our friends and family who have never heard the Gospel to activities, church, or lessons with the missionaries. Invite less actives to come back and truly be their friend and care for them as God and Jesus Christ do. A simple smile can change someone’s day. Everyone is loved by Heavenly Father and we can help them to feel that love and see the blessings that are in store for them.

I have never experienced as much joy in my life as I shared the gospel with others. There is a scripture in Doctrine and Covenants that I love and is why I preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ, verses 15-16 it says, “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! And now, if your joy will be great with one soul that you have brought unto me into the kingdom of my Father, how great will be your joy if you should bring many souls unto me!” How great will our joy be with others in the Kingdom if we bring them unto our Father in Heaven.  I will always be share the joy that I have found through the Gospel with others. There is no greater joy that I have felt than bring souls unto our Savior Jesus Christ and God. There is no greater joy than seeing someone come into their savior Jesus Christ and their lives be filled with love/joy/peace. God knows his children and he knows when they are ready no matter where they are or who they are.

Now I want to share my testimony in French. Je sais que Dieu vit. Il vous aime énormément ! Je me ressens cela.  Vous êtes tous les enfants de Dieu. Il a envoyé son Fils Jésus Christ pour nous d’avoir une chance de vivre avec  lui encore. Grace à l’expiation du Christ nous pourrons être racheté de nos pèches et trouver le vrai bonheur dans cette vie. Je sais que le livre de mormon est la parole de Dieu qui contient la plénitude de l’Evangile éternel. Joseph Smith était un prophète de Dieu. Il a rétabli l’église de Jésus-Christ avec l’autorité de Dieu. L’église de Jésus-Christ des saints des derniers jours est la vraie église sur la terre. Je suis reconnaissante pour la chance que j’ai eu de partager ce témoignage avec les gens dans ma mission et avec toutes les personnes qui ont vu mes blogs pendant ces 18 mois. Je sais que tous les choses qui j’ai dit sont vraie. Ça C’est mon témoignage et mon discours que je vous laisse. Au nom de Jésus Christ. Amen.

*These photos are from when I meet my family at the airport!* This was the Best Moment Ever.

Thank you for being of this Journey With Me. Until Next Time!! Bisous!