April 4, 2011

Setting apart of Hayden Devin Shaum

as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

 

Tuesday, April 5 2011

8:25 a.m.

 

Elder Hayden Devin Shaum, by the authority of the Melchizedek Priesthood which we hold, we lay our hands upon your head and set you apart  as a full-time missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, with the initial assignment to labor in the Chile Santiago West mission.  With this setting apart we bestow upon you those rights, authorities and responsibilities which are associated with full-time missionary service.  And we charge you to be faithful, to be obedient, to be diligent in your service, to be desirous of keeping your missionary rules with exactness.  We bless you that as you do so you will be blessed with an extra measure of the Spirit, which will direct you, and inspire you to go to those places you should go, to go to those homes you should knock on and approach people.  And you will be enabled to testify to them in such a matter that they will have a desire to hear the Gospel and change their lives.

We bless you physically, that you will be protected from harm and danger, and that you will be strong and healthy, your body will be able to adapt to the change in climate, the change in living conditions, diet and we bless you with the ability to adapt and your body will serve you well in the course of your mission.  We also bless you with a clear mind, one that is clear and clean from the sins and temptations of the world,.  When temptations arise you will have the ability to quickly dismiss them, and that you can use your intellect to recall those things you had learned throughout your life, and that you will be able to teach them and apply them in a manner that will be understandable to the people that you are teaching. 

We bless you that your fears about learning the language will lessen, even though it will not come immediately, in time, as the Lord has prepared for you, you will be able to communicate well and understand clearly and have the capacity to describe the principles of the Gospel which are important for people to understand to allow conversion to take place in their lives.

We bless you to truly be the means to allow the people to understand the gospel.  You will have a desire to teach clearly and concisely and bear testimony.  You will be prompted to do so at unusual times that might seem out of the ordinary context of discussion when you follow the prompting to do so, hearts will be touched, lives will be blessed. 

We bless you to be wise in your goings about each day, to avoid those places where evil lurks, where Satins influence controls.  As you avoid such harmful and dangerous circumstances you will be able to continue to have the spirit with you and guide you.  We bless you to be willing to adapt to missionary companions. Many of which will be native elders who have ways different than your own.  We bless you to be understanding to be patient, also to be able to teach them in some regards of a better way of living and dealing and interacting with others.

We bless you that others in the mission will view you as one who is happy, one who is a good and righteous leader and one who is setting a proper example of service, not only to non members but to members and fellow missionaries alike.

We bless you to be willing to take council and correction from your fellow missionary leaders and from your mission President and other leaders who interact with you.  We bless you with the desire to learn from their experiences, to grow from their strengths and their witness, and from their council.

And when you are in position to do so, to offer the same council and direction to others, to help encourage and strengthen them.

Now we send you forth with a positive spirit, with a mantel of a missionary which others will see and recognize and others will be drawn to you, because of this mantel.  Do not be lifted up in pride because of your successes, or because of your circumstances which come, but always be meek and humble and recognize the hand of the Lord in all your doings. 

As you do so you will return home from this mission with joy in your heart, with the tremendous gratitude to a Father in Heaven for the opportunity you’ve had to serve others and to grow and develop yourself.  We bless you with these things, and do it in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.